When the bowls were empty, their mother poured tea and placed a plate of honey biscuits in the center of the table. They were not made with cinnamon, the way she used to prepare them for him. He took one anyway. The crumb was warm, the honey clinging to his fingers.

After they ate, Mira and Sera carried the dishes into the kitchen, water running and crockery knocking faintly together.

"Come on, Ren," Elian said, standing from the table. "Let's go to the backyard."

"In this cold?" Ren asked.

"Yes, why not! You just come with me. It will be fun." Elian said. As if the childhood inside him had awakened. His eyes held a boyish spark.

After everything Elian lore Ren towards the backyard of their house. Outside, the snow crunched under their boots. The garden, tucked behind the house, was still green in places, sheltered by wards. In the middle, a circle of stones surrounded an unlit campfire. Then he said to Ren...

"It's best here in this season," Elian said. "The cold breeze with the stars. It's a different kind of fun. Let's light a campfire."

Then Ren and Elian took out wood from the nearby storehouse and kept it in the campfire. Both of them lit the wood. They stacked wood carefully. Sparks leapt as they lit the fire, its glow pushing back the frost-dark air. The stars shimmered faintly overhead, their light sharper in the mountain sky.

Then they looked at the stars too. After that they both were talking. They spoke of small things weather, neighbors, old stories. The warmth of the flames eased the sting of the air. After the dishes were finished, Sera and Mira joined them, settling into the circle.

They all looked like a family. Like a happy family. They were really a family. But now they did not know anything about Ren. Ren enjoyed this moment without thinking anything. Without worrying about the past and future. He enjoyed this moment even though he was a stranger. They all were sitting in a circle. Around the campfire. All four of them. They were talking. They were enjoying this moment. After spending some time like this, Mira started feeling sleepy. Her eyes grew heavy. She leaned toward her mother. So she said.

"Now we should sleep. Come on mom. I want to sleep with you today."

She was about to say no when she started feeling sleepy. They were tired after working. Ren noticed. He caught Sera's hesitation and spoke before Sera could reply.

"You are right, Mira. it's too late now. And I have to leave tomorrow. By the way thank you very much for all things."

"I told you earlier. You are our guest. It is our duty to do all things for you. We were not did things much. We did according to our capacity." Elian said.

"Your honesty touch my heart. I hope I will be in future like you." Ren said.

"I am just an ordinary person. You will definitely be a great person in future. My blessings with you. God bless you. We can't do anything if he don't want. He is the almighty." Elian said.

Ren agreed.

They stood. Elian stamped snow onto the campfire, hissing steam rising. Sera and Mira wished Ren goodnight and went inside. Sera had already prepared a room for him.

Elian showed him to the guest room a small space beneath the eaves with a low bed, a heavy quilt, and a faint smell of pine.

"Here is your room Ren. Sorry it's a quite small in comparison of City."

" No problem. It's enough for me. It's really good and pretty."

" I'm glad that you don't have any problem. Okay, then we'll meet at breakfast. Good night," his father said,

"Okk, sure. Good night to you too."

After that Elian went towards his room. Then Ren closed the door. And he went and sat on his bed.

The door shut quietly. Ren sat on the bed, listening the faint creak of floorboards, the clink of dishes being put away, the low murmur of voices in the other rooms. Outside the window, snow fell in slow spirals through the lamplight.

They were here. Alive. Safe. But the years they had shared were gone for them, erased like footprints beneath fresh snowfall.

He lay back, pulling the quilt over him, letting the warmth of the house seep into his bones. For a moment, he imagined that morning might bring his memories back. But deep down, he knew that when the sun rose, he would still be a stranger in his own home.

The bed felt warmer than the air. Ren lay on his back, eyes fixed on the neon lights in the settlings. The outside insects sound was the only sound heard in the room. Somewhere deep inside him, Nyxa stirred in the black sea. Then she spoked...

"You did well today."

Her voice was softer than usual, a ripple through the stillness of his thoughts.

"You carry more weight than most could endure, yet you keep moving. That is not weakness, Ren. That is your power. You are truly capable to be my master. You was and you will."

His fingers curled slightly against the blanket. "Power… doesn't feel like much."

"Your power is extraordinary. You can't feel it now but will. But you are emotionally strong. Don't worry they will gain their memories."

"Hope. It will became true."

Ren let out a slow breath, tension bleeding from his shoulders. Nyxa did not say more, but her presence lingered like a quiet ember in the dark. His eyelids grew heavier until sleep finally claimed him.

★★★

When he awoke, the light spilling through the curtains was thin and pale. The faint scent of snow drifted in with the cold air. He sat up, rubbing his face before standing. His joints cracked lightly as he moved toward the adjoining washroom.

The water in the basin was icy against his skin, but it chased away the last threads of sleep. Steam began to rise as he filled the bath. He sank into the warmth, his breath leaving him in a long sigh. The heat eased the tightness in his muscles, yet his mind was already bracing for the day ahead.

By the time he dressed and stepped into the hallway, the house felt alive. Voices murmured from the main hall. When he entered, Elian and Sera were already seated, waiting for him.

Sera smiled faintly, her hands resting neatly on her lap. "You're awake. Good morning. Sit. The food's still warm."

Ren took his place at the table. A small fire in the hearth crackled softly. The smell of bread and roasted roots filled the air. Then he stepped towards the table and sat.

"Good morning." He spoked.

"How are you feeling? You look so tired." Sera asked, her eyes searching his face.

"I feel better. It's bcz my body have not habit to live in snowy areas," he said simply.

Elian leaned forward, his tone lighter. "Ohh! Right so many peoples feel like that bcz their energy is consume faster here to protect them from cold weather. Don't worry! After breakfast, you will feel better."

Then Elian spoked...

"After breakfast I'll take you around the village. Show you where everyone's settled. Your mood will be better than."

"Sure!"

Ren nodded.

They ate without hurry, the quiet punctuated by light conversation. Sera asked about the road he had taken here. Elian spoke of the last snowstorm and how the villagers worked together to clear the paths.

When the meal was done, Elian rose, gesturing for Ren to follow.

★★★

The village lay tucked between frost-crusted fields and a line of dark pines. Snow crunched beneath their boots as they walked. Elian greeted passersby by name, each returning a smile or nod.

Ren noticed their clothes simple, handwoven layers against the cold. Faces weathered but calm. They spoke to Elian with warmth, yet their eyes carried no flicker of recognition when they glanced at Ren. So they asked about him and Elian replied them that... "He is our guest and friend of commander."

After that they did conversation with Ren politely. Ren also did conversation with them. Then they moved ahead slowly slowly...

"This is where the blacksmith set up his forge," Elian said, pointing to a squat stone building with smoke curling from its chimney. "He doesn't remember much either. But he knows his craft better than anyone."

They passed children laughing in the snow, their games leaving tangled trails of footprints. An elderly woman offered them roasted chestnuts, pressing the warm paper bundle into Ren's hands with a toothless grin.

It was a life built on what remained after forgetting. A place where the past had been cut away, leaving only the present to hold onto.

When they returned to the house, the commander was already waiting outside. His cloak was heavy with frost, his stance straight as a drawn blade.

"Sir Ren, Good afternoon. We have to leave as soon as possible. You have to go elsewhere also." he greeted, inclining his head.

"Good afternoon commander. Yaah, i know. We have to leave now." Ren understood that something is important. That's why commander said to leave as possible as soon.

Elian said , " Now, it's too early commander. Atleast both of you should stay for lunch. Sera's cooking."

The commander gave a polite smile but shook his head. "We cannot. We must leave soon. It's an important to leave now."

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