Not the absence of light—
but something deeper.
Endless.
Weightless.
And within it—
a voice.
_"You must remember…"_
It didn't echo through air.
It settled—
quietly—
inside him.
_"Remember who you are… Aetherwyn."_
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Pressing in from all sides.
"…Who am I?"
The words felt wrong.
Like they belonged to someone else.
"…Where am I?"
Nothing answered.
Only the void.
"And… that voice…"
His thoughts slowed.
"…why does it feel… familiar?"
Time passed.
Or maybe it didn't.
There was no way to tell.
Something pulled at him.
Faint.
Distant.
A name.
"I…"
It slipped.
Then returned.
Clearer.
Stronger.
"I am…"
The darkness trembled.
"I am… Aetherwyn."
Light broke through.
Not blinding—
but warm.
It spread slowly—
like the world was being rebuilt around him.
And the voice returned.
Closer now.
_"…Yes."_
A pause.
_"…that is your true self."_
His name echoed again.
_"Aetherwyn."_
The light grew.
_"Lend us your strength…"_
Another voice cut through.
Sharp.
Real.
"Aetherwyn!"
"Aetherwyn!!"
His eyes snapped open.
Air rushed into his lungs.
Too fast.
Too real.
Color flooded his vision.
Green.
Endless fields stretched beneath a clear sky. Wind moved through the grass in slow waves, brushing against him as if testing whether he was real.
Mountains stood in the distance.
Still.
Unmoving.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
"…What—"
"I can't believe you got taken down by a single punch from a goblin."
The voice again.
Sharp.
Female.
Annoyed.
Aetherwyn pushed himself up slowly, one hand pressing against his head.
A dull ache pulsed behind his eyes.
"…I blacked out," he said.
A pause.
"…I think I forgot some things."
"…Wow."
A breath.
"…Way to be a cliché."
He winced.
"But whatever," she continued, tone shifting. "We've got a situation."
That word stuck.
Aetherwyn looked out across the field again.
Nothing changed.
At first.
Then—
movement.
Subtle.
Off to the side.
A shape where there shouldn't be one.
Breaking the rhythm of the wind.
"…That?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said.
"…That."
The figure stepped forward.
Small.
Crooked.
Watching.
Aetherwyn didn't realize his hand had tightened—
until it already had.
"For now," she said,
"we fight."
A pause.
"…Or you die."
His breath steadied.
"…Got it."
"Focus," she said.
"Bring it up."
He didn't understand—
but his body did.
Something flickered at the edge of his vision.
Not clear.
Not fully there.
But present.
And when he looked up—
The creature was already moving.
The goblin lunged.
Fast.
Too fast.
Aetherwyn reacted—
before he thought.
His hand moved.
A pulse.
A shimmer.
Something formed in his grip.
A wand.
No hesitation.
Energy flowed through him—
steady.
Familiar.
He thrust forward—
_CRACK._
Aether burst outward, striking the goblin's shoulder.
The creature staggered back, snarling.
Aetherwyn blinked.
"…I did that?"
"Yeah," she said.
"Try doing it again before it kills you."
He tightened his grip.
The wand felt…
right.
Too right.
He tried again.
Nothing.
"…Why didn't it—"
"Cooldown."
"…Of course it is."
The goblin rushed him again.
Too close.
Too fast.
Aetherwyn swung.
_CRACK._
The wand struck metal.
They both froze.
"…Did you just—"
The goblin snarled.
Aetherwyn stepped in again—
this time on purpose.
_CRACK._
The helmet dented.
The goblin stumbled.
Aetherwyn didn't stop.
He brought the wand down—
_THUD._
The creature collapsed.
Still.
Silence returned.
Aetherwyn stood there.
Breathing.
"…Bam."
A beat.
"…Nice job, A."
He exhaled slowly.
"But wow," she added, "it's been a while since I've seen a mage use a wand like a club."
Aetherwyn looked at it.
"…It worked."
"Yeah," she said.
"…let's not make that a habit."
"…Right."
A pause settled between them.
Then—
"Anyway," she continued,
"looks like you've got the basics back."
Aetherwyn looked out across the field again.
"…Basics."
"Yeah."
A step.
"…and we're not stopping here."
He turned.
Trying to place her voice.
"…Who are you?"
Silence.
Then—
footsteps.
Soft against the grass.
He turned—
and saw her.
She moved with control.
Not fast—
not slow—
just… deliberate.
A blade rested at her side.
Light caught its edge.
Her eyes met his.
Sharp.
Focused.
"Filo."
A pause.
"Your master."
Aetherwyn blinked.
"…Master?"
"Swordsmage," she corrected.
One arm folded.
Relaxed—but ready.
"High rank."
"…Right."
She turned.
Already moving.
"Come on."
Aetherwyn followed.
---
Grass brushed against his legs.
Wind carried warmth.
For a moment—
everything felt normal.
Too normal.
"…Midpoint of what?" he asked.
Filo didn't slow.
"Our route."
A pause.
"We're between zones."
"…That doesn't sound safe."
"It's not."
Aetherwyn glanced back.
The goblin's body was still there.
But it already felt…
far away.
"…You said you'd explain things."
"I did."
"…So explain."
Filo exhaled lightly.
"Alright."
She raised a hand slightly as they walked.
"This world runs on Aether."
Aetherwyn frowned.
"…Everything?"
"Everything."
A pause.
"Magic. Abilities."
Another step.
"Even what you just did."
Aetherwyn looked at his hand again.
"…That didn't feel learned."
"No," she said.
"…it felt remembered."
That sat differently.
"…That's worse, isn't it?"
Filo didn't answer right away.
"…It can be."
They walked in silence for a few steps.
The ground shifted beneath them—
firmer now.
A faint trail appeared.
"…And classes?" Aetherwyn asked.
Filo smirked.
"There it is."
"…What?"
"Curiosity."
She tapped her blade.
"Classes define how you fight."
A pause.
"…You don't have one yet."
"…Great."
"Don't worry."
She glanced at him.
"You're not expected to survive long."
"…You say that like it helps."
"I know."
Aetherwyn let out a quiet breath.
"…What are you?"
Filo didn't hesitate.
"Swordsmage."
A glance.
"Hybrid class."
"…And?"
"…High rank."
Aetherwyn nodded slowly.
"…Of course you are."
"Keep up," she said.
A structure appeared ahead.
Small.
Worn.
Filo slowed slightly.
"There."
Aetherwyn squinted.
"…That's the midpoint?"
"Yeah."
A pause.
"And if you thought that goblin was bad…"
She didn't look at him.
"…you're gonna want to remember faster."