READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 45: What was that?
"You will forget," the voice commanded, calm and absolute. The runes flared briefly, their glow intensifying as a wave of energy swept through the room. Rui's tiny frame shuddered, the pressure unbearable. "This is not your place to remember."
The memory snapped back into the present, and Rui staggered. A sharp, searing pain erupted in his head, forcing him to clutch his temples as his vision blurred. He dropped to one knee, a strangled gasp escaping his lips.
"No…" he hissed, his voice trembling. "What… is this?"
The pain intensified, spreading like a wildfire behind his eyes. His silver aura flickered erratically, pulsing out of sync with his breath. He pressed his palms harder against his temples, as though he could physically block the memory from resurfacing.
For a brief moment, fragments of the memory clawed at him again. The shadowed figure. The cold voice. The light of the runes.
"Forget…"
Rui let out a guttural cry as the migraine surged, a blinding lance of pain that made his knees buckle. The mana fountain in the courtyard pulsed erratically, responding to his unstable aura. The tranquil energy of the estate twisted under the strain, faint cracks forming in the air around him.
Finally, the pain ebbed, leaving Rui gasping for air. His hands dropped limply to his sides, his entire body trembling. The memory was gone, locked away once more, but the void it left behind felt raw and unrelenting.
"What… was that?" Rui whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. His silver eyes, dulled by exhaustion, stared blankly at the ground. He felt hollow, like a vital piece of himself had been exposed and ripped away in the same breath.
The estate's mana field hummed softly, gradually returning to its steady rhythm. Rui forced himself to his feet, his movements slow and deliberate. He leaned against the fountain for support, his breathing shallow as he tried to piece together what had just happened.
"This place…" he muttered, his voice laced with unease. "It's not just for training. It's for control."
He clenched his fists, his silver aura flickering faintly around him. The memory was gone, but the migraine had left an unmistakable mark. Whatever it was, whatever he wasn't supposed to remember, it wasn't going to stay buried forever.
Rui looked back up at the stars, their distant light unwavering. His resolve hardened, his jaw tightening as he made a silent vow.
"If my past is locked away, then I'll find the key. No matter what it takes."
The estate hummed softly in response, its ancient energy seemingly acknowledging his determination. The night grew colder, but Rui stood firm, his silver aura steadying as his thoughts shifted from pain to purpose.