"Shi, Aegis, Kyuuketsuki. I'm off to see my masters," Ryosen said as he pulled on his boots.
Shichiro didn't even look up.
"Mhm. Good luck."
Aegis waved happily alongside Kyuuketsuki.
"See you! Good luck!"
Ryosen pressed his palms together and closed his eyes.
"I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the Dharma. I take refuge in the Sangha. Blessed One, be my armor against the darkness, and let your light guide my hands."
At the Temple
Ryosen finally returned to the temple.
But something felt strange.
It was clean.
Untouched.
Not a single scratch in sight.
Ryosen tilted his head.
"They must've cleaned up."
Before he could enter, the elder monk stepped outside and smiled warmly.
"Ryosen! Welcome back. How were your journeys?"
Ryosen smiled and nodded.
"Pretty good, pretty good. How are you all holding up? Especially after Typhon?"
The monks exchanged confused glances.
"Typhon?" one asked.
"Who is Typhon, Ryosen?"
Ryosen laughed.
Once.
Then stopped.
"...What?"
"The monster that destroyed the village."
He pointed down the mountain.
"The one that attacked-"
Ryosen turned his head.
And froze.
The village was untouched.
No ruined buildings.
No signs of battle.
No scars left behind.
Nothing.
The elder monk slowly approached him.
"Child, you must be tired. Long journeys can-"
Ryosen took a step back.
"No."
His voice shook.
"No, no, no."
"It was real."
"Bellerophon."
"Typhon."
"Isocrates."
"ISOCRATES DIED RIGHT THERE!"
He pointed toward the village.
Toward the place where he remembered destruction.
Fire.
Screams.
Death.
Yet all he saw now were children playing in the streets.
Another monk stepped forward, crossing his arms.
"You're acting crazy."
"Bellerophon? Typhon?"
He shook his head.
"And Isocrates? That false hero hasn't been seen in years."
"FALSE HERO?!"
Ryosen snapped.
The monks didn't react.
No laughter.
No nervous smiles.
No signs of a cruel joke.
Just confusion.
Genuine confusion.
Ryosen looked from face to face.
Every expression was sincere.
Every word.
Every reaction.
They looked at him as if he were the madman.
As if he were remembering a history that never existed.
And for the first time since arriving...
Ryosen felt afraid.