Memories Record [#]


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    He who jumps into the void, owes no explanation to those who stand and watch.


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    Memories Record [1]


    After Deon recovered from the mental damage caused by Vierenna, he decided to take her advice and rest for a while. He truly felt drained, not tired.


    What awaited him was a cup of coffee with milk, his favorite drink, for breakfast.


    “Can I even trust that clumsy maid?”


    Nevertheless, Deon rested his head on the pillow, allowing himself to drift into a light sleep.


    ...


    The sun rose in all its glory, spreading its warm rays over the world.


    Deon had already woken up, feeling much better. He had changed from his sleepwear into casual black clothes from his wardrobe.


    Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he combed his hair with his fingers, mimicking Vierenna''s precise movements from the previous morning.


    Satisfied with the results, he left his room and headed directly to the room where he had his first meal in this world. Though he couldn''t recall the meal, as his mind at the time was still preoccupied with countless possibilities.


    He moved through the now-familiar spiral staircase and the similarly designed hallways, which blended ancient architectural designs with advanced magical devices, such as motion-sensitive lights that adjusted brightness based on the space.


    Deon knew a little about the various magical devices used daily in this world. He had to, as the main character Emlyn had worked in a magical device shop throughout the first volume.


    That didn''t change until the end of the volume, where luck favored him, elevating his chances as a commoner.


    ‘The thing is, I’m the one who made luck favor him more than anything else! But, who really knows?’


    Deon arrived at the same room, where a massive redwood table adorned with intricate decorations reflecting the culture of this world stood.


    The morning sun streamed through the large glass windows, reflecting off the white marble floor and giving the room a majestic ambiance, as if it were more than just a dining room.


    Around the room, several servants cast glances at Deon as he made his way to the window overlooking the front garden. He didn’t want to sit while the breakfast table was still being prepared.


    The servants exchanged what looked almost like shocked glances, as if unsure of what they were supposed to do.


    Still, each of them maintained enough composure to continue their work professionally.


    A certain figure flashed through Deon''s mind, and he couldn’t help but feel pity for her.


    “Good morning, young master.”


    Interrupting his contemplation of the garden, a middle-aged man with a trimmed beard and neatly combed brown hair approached. His attire was that of a servant, but it was also different—shinier, as if its wearer didn’t soil his hands often.


    “The breakfast table will be ready shortly, if the young master…”


    “You weren’t in the room before?”


    Deon interrupted the man, pointing out the fact he had noticed.


    Deon had looked at every servant in the room upon entering, but this man hadn’t been among them.


    He was surprised he could tell so casually and spoke without thinking.


    ‘Does this have to do with mana? Did my memory improve as Vierenna said?’


    The servant''s face twitched, but he responded with the same professionalism.


    “The young master has sharp eyes. This humble servant indeed just arrived to greet his masters and deliver a message from the young lady.”


    ‘Vierenna?’


    "The young lady tasked me with informing you that she will not be joining you for breakfast today or later in the day. She strongly advises you not to neglect your training and will meet you in the palace''s back garden after sunset."


    Deon almost laughed at the servant’s words. He found it impossible for Vierenna to leave such a professional message, given her unique personality.


    He also admired the servant''s ability to rephrase Vierenna''s words in their current form.


    ‘Or maybe I’m mistaken? Could she have actually delivered the message as the servant relayed it? Vierenna only acts freely around those she likes but formally with everyone else.’


    "Very well. Do you know what she’ll be doing in the meantime?"


    The servant bowed his head sorrowfully, giving the impression he had disappointed me.


    ‘So professional!’


    "This humble servant does not know. The young lady''s words were clear and direct."


    He kept his head bowed.


    ‘Perhaps she’s trying to obtain the memory record she said she would bring?’


    Deon still felt some guilt toward Vierenna, but what could he do?


    He looked at the servant in front of him and addressed him.


    "Alright, I didn’t expect you to know. You may leave now. Good work."


    The servant bowed deeply, placing a hand on his chest.


    "I am only doing my duty."


    As he was about to leave, Deon addressed him again.


    "Also, I’d prefer to receive such messages through my personal maid. You did well regardless."


    The servant seemed saddened by my words, but he bowed respectfully again.


    "This humble servant understands."


    And he went on his way.


    Deon resumed his contemplation of the palace''s front garden, waiting for the breakfast table to be ready.


    ...


    Soon enough, Deon was seated at the breakfast table, alone except for his personal maid, who had kept her promise by preparing the coffee with milk.


    He had dismissed the rest of the servants from the room, following Vierenna’s example from the previous morning.


    Yven stood across from her master, nervously watching him take his first sip of the hot drink she had prepared for the first time in her life.


    She was tense, almost scared of the reaction her master might have. Unknowingly, she gripped her skirt tightly.


    ‘I can’t fail this time too.’


    She hadn’t forgotten her disastrous mistakes earlier that morning, each of which could have been grounds for dismissal. Yet, her young master had only forgiven her.


    ‘Everyone makes mistakes!’


    That’s what he had said.


    Yven pondered those words all morning but couldn’t find them reasonable enough to justify forgiving her clumsy errors.


    ‘A personal servant embodies professionalism; mistakes are unacceptable.’


    That’s what her mother had always said, having been the personal maid of Viktoria de Avila, Deon’s mother and the first lady of the Eirenios Household.


    "How did you get this job?"


    Yven nearly jumped at her master’s sudden question, having been so lost in her thoughts that she missed his reaction to the coffee with milk after tasting it.


    ‘How did I get this job? As a personal maid? Did I do something wrong? Am I going to be dismissed?’


    "Don’t think too much. I’m just curious, considering your relatively young age."


    Her master’s calm voice came again, as if reassuring her that her thoughts were far from the truth.


    Nevertheless, she remained tense as she replied.


    "I received news of my appointment from my mother… ah, from the first lady’s personal maid… and I started afterward."


    In truth, Yven herself didn’t know why she had been given such a position. However, she suspected her mother had a hand in the first lady’s unusual decision.


    "So my mother appointed you as my personal maid?"


    Deon asked with great curiosity, unable to hide his interest in the matter.


    "Yes, Master, I believe so."


    Yven’s tension eased slightly as she noticed the current direction of the conversation, though she remained cautious.


    "Did she tell you anything?"


    Yven fell silent for a moment, not fully understanding the question.


    ‘Did she tell me something? The first lady?’


    As the daughter of the first lady’s personal maid, Yven had interacted with her often. She recalled the first lady always being kind to her and teaching her many things, no matter how busy she was. But had she told her anything?


    "The first lady, before her unfortunate passing, requested to see me. This was after I was appointed by her personal maid. Her words were, ‘Take care of my son.’ I will do my utmost to fulfill her orders."


    Of course, at the time, her master hadn’t yet awakened, so she hadn’t officially started her duties until after his awakening ceremony. There was also more to the first lady’s words.


    Her exact words had been, ‘Take care of my son. I believe you’ll do your job better than your mother.’


    Yven couldn’t say this; she would seem desperate, even though she truly was. Her mother’s sudden death had left her alone in a world she knew little to nothing about.


    "Since they’re my mother’s orders, I’ll rely on you."


    Deon said as he took another sip of the hot, delicious coffee with milk.


    Yven smiled brightly, and just as she was about to reaffirm her determination to fulfill her duties toward her master, he spoke first.


    "You’ve done an almost perfect job with the coffee with milk."


    Yven’s smile widened further, her green eyes gleaming with a golden light within them.


    Her master seemed captivated by her eyes as he added,


    "One thing: instead of adding honey after mixing the coffee and milk, add it just to the milk after frothing it. The sweetness is balanced as I like it. Great job."


    ‘How does he know all this just from tasting it?’


    Despite her curiosity, Yven didn’t dwell too much on the matter. What occupied her thoughts was that she had finally done something right without embarrassing herself.


    Thus, she bowed at a ninety-degree angle, renewing her resolve to herself and her master from that moment onward.


    "Thank you for your praise, Master. I’ll make sure to prepare it according to your instructions next time. Your orders are always my priority."


    She returned to her usual upright stance with steady composure as she waited for a response from her master, who looked at her with suspicion, almost discomfort.


    Her earlier enthusiasm nearly crumbled under her master’s uneasy gaze.


    She deduced that something about her words had made him uncomfortable and was about to ask, but her master spoke first.


    “What’s your name and age?”


    ‘He doesn’t know? But he said he knew I was his personal maid!’


    Despite her thoughts, Yven answered without allowing them to affect her outward expression.


    “My name is Yven, and I’m three months away from becoming an adult.”


    ‘Not much left until I turn eighteen!’


    Deon nodded at the uncommon name, murmuring it softly under his breath.


    “You have a beautiful name; I like the sound of it.”


    Yven’s smile lit up again.


    “Thank you, sir. I like it too!”


    “...!”


    ‘Why did you say that, you idiot!’


    The young maid smile turned to embarrassment. despite Yven’s attempts to keep a neutral expression, the intense redness of her cheeks betrayed her outward appearance.


    Deon smiled at the amusing sight and said nothing for a while, simply watching the entertaining display.


    ‘What an interesting girl.’


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    Memories Record [2]


    “No need to feel embarrassed. There''s nothing wrong with liking your name. Many don''t, and it''s a blessing that you do,” Deon finally said, noticing that the young maid could no longer endure the tension she was trying to suppress.


    Her flushed expression and burning embarrassment were so intense that it almost created the illusion of smoke rising above her head—or was it perhaps real?


    Deon''s words didn’t seem to help Yven, so he shifted the topic to something that had intrigued him about the girl from the very first day.


    “I’ve noticed your work attire is quite different from the other maids. I thought it was because you were my personal maid, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”


    Indeed, compared to the other maids in the palace, Yven’s uniform was much more... provocative.


    The standard uniform for the maids was a longer dress that nearly touched the floor, with long, classic, and elegant sleeves. The outfit included a white apron with ornate edges that softened the black dress, creating a balanced yet practical look.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    In stark contrast, Yven’s uniform embraced a design reflecting lightness and boldness—a short black dress ending just above the knees, paired with a white apron adorned with soft ruffles. The apron was tied neatly at the waist with a carefully knotted ribbon, and a small black necktie rested around her exposed neck like an ornament completing the look.


    Even her black stockings, which covered her slender legs, seemed like they were added purely to harmonize the black-and-white color scheme.


    Yven''s expression returned to one of embarrassment at her master’s observation. She was fully aware her attire was far more daring than the other maids—and much less practical, especially with the high heels that made standing steadily a challenge. Yet, it was all she had, and she wasn’t permitted to change it.


    “My apologies, Master, but this is all I own,” she said, her voice low.


    That was all she could say; she couldn’t burden her master with her grievances.


    “This is all you own? Not what you were given? Explain,” Deon commanded firmly.


    Yven flinched at his authoritative tone. She clasped her hands together behind her back to stop herself from trembling and began explaining as she had been ordered.


    “My uniform belongs to the De Avila Household... When I moved to House Eirenios as your personal maid, I submitted a request to the head butler for a new uniform that matched the standards of my current workplace... But... but I was told that what I had would suffice.”


    Deon’s expression didn’t change as he elegantly drank his orange juice, finishing the last of his breakfast.


    “A hierarchy among the staff,” he muttered aloud without realizing it.


    Hearing this, Yven lowered her head, her body trembling slightly.


    “Master, there are kind servants here. I—”


    Deon interrupted her. His curiosity was piqued for multiple reasons.


    “You''re being suppressed, why?”


    He could also learn more about the world through the underlying details of her answer.


    Yven’s shoulders shook even more. She truly didn’t want to talk about it, as it would only bring her more trouble. She didn’t want to face more oppression within the palace than she already endured.


    At least now, she had a few people she could talk to.


    But under her master’s command, she had no choice but to answer his curiosity.


    “When any noble family member comes of age, it is tradition for one of the head butlers—the most experienced servant—to become their personal attendant…”


    “And your appointment as my personal maid is a challenge to tradition and a disruption of norms. More importantly, in the head butler''s eyes, you took what was supposed to be his opportunity.”


    Yven lowered her head as Deon finished her sentence for her, though she would never have said it so boldly herself.


    “But, again, it was Mother who chose you as my personal maid. You shouldn’t lower your head because of that—not to anyone. Do you understand?”


    Yven raised her head to meet Deon’s calm, violet eyes. She did her best to suppress the tears threatening to spill as she nodded.


    “Were you a maid at the De Avila Household?” Deon asked, steering the conversation back to what truly interested him.


    The mother of the body he now inhabited was Viktoria De Avila, and her personal maid had grown up in that household. She might know something.


    “No, Master. I was never a maid there.”


    Her answer caught Deon off guard.


    “Then what was your position there? And why do you own a De Avila maid''s uniform if you were never a maid?”


    Under Deon’s string of questions, Yven felt her master''s curiosity was unusually intense.


    ‘Why does he want to know so much about me?’


    “I was studying to become the librarian of House De Avila... I received the maid’s uniform when I learned I would be your personal maid.”


    ‘She’s educated! There’s something odd about this girl’s sudden change in status,’ Deon thought.


    “So, Mother was the one who altered your future plans?”


    “No, no, no... It was by my choice. Lady Viktoria gave me an option, and I chose it. I wasn’t forced into anything,” Yven answered quickly, not wanting her master to get the wrong idea. The truth was as she stated: she had chosen to become a personal maid rather than a librarian. The benefits of the former far outweighed the latter.


    “So you and Mother were close! She gave you a choice instead of issuing a command. Was this because you’re the daughter of her personal maid?”


    “Lady Viktoria was always kind to me, and my mother, Yolna, encouraged me to pursue becoming a librarian, as it’s a safe and low-pressure job,” Yven replied honestly.


    “As for why Lady Viktoria gave me the choice, or why she would want someone as inexperienced as me as your personal maid... I don’t know, and I beg your forgiveness for my ignorance.”


    She couldn’t say it was likely that her mother might have had a hand in Lady Viktoria’s decision.


    ‘Although my mom wanted me to become a librarian. She would jump at the chance of me being a personal maid.’


    Deon’s curiosity about the girl skyrocketed. Her status made her close to Viktoria De Avila, the woman he sought information about due to a possible connection to his transition to this world.


    He wanted to ask more, to dig deeper, but Deon knew his limits. The maid was already suspicious of why his curiosity was so intense, and he didn’t want to draw undue attention to his interest.


    ‘At least she’ll be near me as my maid. I can slowly extract knowledge from her,’ he thought.


    For now, Deon decided to change the subject.


    “Since it was your choice, I have no objections. I’ll count on you to take care of me from now on.”


    “I’ll do my best, Master.”


    “One more thing, regarding your work uniform: why would De Avila Household settle on such impractical attire? Does it have something to do with the over—interest of someone important in the household?”


    Yven’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment. Deon wasn’t wrong, but his assumptions were slightly off from the common truth.


    Indeed, her attire had brought her both embarrassment and attention, but Yven was also somewhat different from a typical maid.


    “The differences in the uniforms for House De Avila’s servants are due to the orders of one of the family heads—the fifth generation. She insisted that elegance and sophistication were symbols of the family, and this had to be reflected in everyone under their authority. A woman’s elegance is her beauty, and a man’s elegance is his precision.”


    “As a result, apart from Magicians, the roles of men and women in the De Avila Household were distinct. Women occupied roles in service and care, while men took on roles requiring strength and endurance.”


    Deon nodded with interest. He wouldn’t say he agreed with this fifth generation’s policies, but waking up every morning surrounded by servants as beautiful as Yven sounded refreshing.


    Still, despite his preferences, Deon couldn’t help but feel pity for the girl. It wasn’t easy to face rejection for something beyond her control.


    “I understand that. But if you wish to obtain a uniform like the other maids, you have the right to do so. You may use my name or my sister name as leverage if you’re still being oppressed.”


    Yven’s breath hitched for a moment, her green eyes widening. She felt a deep sense of gratitude toward her kind master.


    Using his name would solve many of her problems, but Yven felt it would be wrong.


    ‘I won’t do that, even if I face an impossible situation,’ she resolved internally.


    Yven made her decision and smiled a dazzling smile that lit up her beautiful face.


    “Thank you, master, for your kindness.”


    Deon nodded silently, wondering what had caused the sudden shift in her demeanor.


    But his curiosity vanished as she quickly returned to her usual nervous and overly active behavior.


    Deon simply shook his head as if she were beyond help. He wanted the girl to feel comfortable enough around him that he could ask her anything without her overthinking it. But that would take time—he couldn’t force her to develop positive feelings for him.


    After all, to her, Deon was still her master.


    He rose from his seat at the large redwood table. He was very pleased with his breakfast, especially the milk coffee. Even more so, he was glad he could request it whenever he wanted without consequences.


    But for now, Deon had a duty to himself.


    ‘It’s time to return to the cube. I can’t waste any free time,’ he thought.


    “Yven, I’m heading back to my room now. I don’t want anyone disturbing me until sunset. You have permission to bring lunch at the appropriate time, and when sunset begins, remind me.”


    Before making his way to his room, Deon gave a few orders to Yven, who responded with as much professionalism as she could muster—which wasn’t much.


    “I will fulfill the master’s orders.”


    “Also, no one is allowed to enter my room except for my sister and you. Keep that in mind.”


    With those final words, Deon made his way out of the dining hall, leaving Yven alone with her excited smile.


    ‘This went better than I could have hoped. The young master is different from the rumors... better than the rumors.’


    As if recalling something suddenly, her expression shifted.


    “Oh no, the cleaning! The cleaning!...”


    Yven hurried off, her steps quick and slightly unsteady due to her high heels, intent on fulfilling her duties. Despite her nervous energy, a spark of determination gleamed in her green eyes.


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    Memories Record [3]


    Deon spent most of his day alternating between training and resting. He couldn’t push himself the entire day, as his mana reserves would run out eventually.


    During these rest periods, he examined the books on the shelves around the room. The subjects of the books were not focused on specific themes but varied greatly in content.


    There were books on the history of the Macezar Empire and other empires, from their rise to the current era. Books on the history of the Four Great Houses within the empire, including the history of the Eirenios household as one of these great houses and the significant figures who contributed to its prominence in the present age.


    Other books described the empire''s internal and external policies, as well as the politics of House Eirenios in particular—its relationship with the imperial family and the other three great houses, its governance of its territories, and much more.


    Deon tried searching for the name Viktoria de Avila in the books discussing both House Eirenios and House de Avila but found nothing about her. The books themselves hadn’t been updated in a while, and Viktoria had only recently passed away.


    Deon, however, was not one to give up easily. He shifted the direction of his search to his next step—the Academy.


    The place where he would be and learn for who knew how long. He needed to know as much as any other person in the world about the things he currently did not understand. He had to fill the gaps in his knowledge and would use his current time in the family estate to train and build his strength, as well as learn and expand his knowledge.


    At some point, Yven entered his room to deliver his lunch. She didn’t interrupt his training and quietly placed the tray on the study desk.


    Deon appreciated her discretion; he really didn’t need distractions right now. The young maid seemed to understand that well enough.


    Replenishing his energy with the awaited meal, Deon returned to his training. His progress with the threads forming the complex patterns was already swift, aided by his mana sense, and his pace only increased as he grew more familiar with the training process itself.


    Not to the point where the training became routine—he still struggled initially to create synergy between his mana sense and his five physical senses—but the process had definitely become faster now.


    Surprisingly, despite the repetitive nature of the training, Deon didn’t feel bored. But neither did he find it enjoyable. This was something he needed to do and succeed at. If he allowed boredom, enjoyment, or any other emotions to take control, it would affect both his training and himself.


    Time passed quietly and steadily.


    Deon opened his eyes from his cross-legged position on the bed, holding the blue cube in his hands. The black patterns on its surfaces still dominated, but the blue patterns were steadily forming.


    He nodded to himself, allowing a calm smile to grace his expression.


    “Yes, Yven?” Deon raised his head to meet Yven’s gaze. She stood at the far side of the room, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.


    “The sun has set, and I… You had your eyes closed, so I didn’t call for you!” she said with a hint of nervousness in her voice.


    “That’s a good thing. Thank you for reminding me.”


    ‘I need to head to the backyard. If Vierenna is waiting for me, I’ll never hear the end of it… I can’t let that happen!’


    Rising from the bed, Deon returned the cube to the gray box and placed the box back on one of the empty shelves where he stored it. From there, he went straight to the dressing room, entering without sparing another glance at Yven, who seemed like she wanted to say something.


    He quickly changed into something more formal and adjusted his overall appearance with the help of his reflection in the mirror.


    Satisfied, he stepped back into his room to find Yven tidying the sheets on the bed where he had been sitting moments before.


    “Thank you!” he said in passing and left the room in a hurry. His destination—the small lake in the backyard.


    …


    Following the now-familiar path, Deon soon stood before the small lake, where the familiar sound echoed as soon as his eyes landed on the colorful stones beneath the water’s surface.


    Hello, you’ve finally found your way here—


    The surface of the lake began to change as the familiar words started forming. Deon ignored this, having memorized them by now, and focused instead on the single new addition to the surroundings.


    On the wooden bench sat a single, thick book at one end.


    Deon approached the bench to inspect the book.


    On the outside, the book was beautifully crafted, with a light blue cover adorned with intricate decorative patterns. In the center of the front cover, elegant words read—Memories Record.


    “Where’s Vierenna? Why did she leave the book here alone?”


    He glanced around, expecting her to jump out at him from behind one of the surrounding bushes, but the bushes remained still, disturbed only by the occasional breeze.


    “....”


    In the contagious stillness of the area, Deon picked up the book and sat on the bench.


    He ran his fingers over the hard cover of the book, then, with a deep sigh, opened it to the first page.


    What met his gaze was a small folded note resting on the first page.


    Deon felt an inexplicable tension as he unfolded the note. But as soon as he read it, he couldn’t help but smile helplessly.


    The note was from none other than Vierenna, and it read:


    To my little brother, who harbors impure thoughts (Note: I’m the only one who knows! And I won’t tell anyone), I managed to get our memories record. But to gain something, you must lose something (in your case, the thing you want most—which is me). But only for today, and maybe just until tomorrow morning (take the time without me by your side to train; it might help purify your thoughts, though I doubt it), I have things to prepare for. When I return, I’ll give you the attention you crave. I might even entertain some of your fantasies. Don’t get your hopes up—I’m just a little girl.


    ‘V,’ my baby brother’s sis. ???


    ‘What did I do to deserve this? I don’t know whether I’ve done something disturbingly wrong or distressingly right!’


    When writing Vierenna’s character, Deon had envisioned her as the playful one, the kind of person who lightens the mood with questionable remarks.


    He hadn’t even gotten the chance to properly introduce her in the second volume, and here she was now, causing him damage.


    Even though he knew she meant no harm and simply enjoyed teasing him, Deon still felt uneasy.


    If he asked her to stop, she’d do the opposite. If he gave her the cold shoulder, it would only hurt her.


    Despite her outward appearance, Vierenna was a very delicate person, especially with those she loved. And now, Deon felt he had no right to hurt her—not even in the smallest way.


    ‘What a dilemma!’


    Deon cleared his mind of his personal troubles and focused on the book in his lap.


    He was familiar with how the book functioned, recording images and sounds, as he had mentioned it in the first volume of his novel.


    But when he tried to open it, he hesitated for a moment.


    He felt like an intruder, prying into the memories of others just to satisfy his curiosity.


    Deon wasn’t the type of person to do that, but if he was determined to return to his world, he would have to do this and worse.


    The guilt will stay.


    Deon reminded himself as he attempted to maintain the illusion of morals and values while he began flipping through the pages.


    ‘Perhaps I deserve a little worse than what Vierenna puts me through?’


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    Memories Record [4]


    Despite the external appearance of the Memories Record book, it was, in reality, an artifact capable of storing still images and live ones with sound.


    In the first volume of Deon''s novel, this artifact, the Memories Record, was described along with how it could be browsed. Yet, holding it in his hands, he remained astonished.


    He felt a desire to praise himself for coming up with the concept, but at the same time, he couldn''t.


    Even though he had created the idea as ink on paper, Deon knew nothing about how such an artifact could actually be crafted.


    Even the idea itself was probably just borrowed from another source, like so many cases with modern fantasy novels.


    SIGH


    He sighed.


    Deon cleared his wandering thoughts, looked around at the calm of the lake and the surrounding bushes, then turned to his task with a serious expression.


    As he flipped to the second page, he was greeted by an image that filled the entire page.


    It was a family photo, with all four family members dressed formally, exuding wealth and noble status.


    Deon immediately recognized Vierenna, though in the image, she appeared to be about six years old. Her features were unmistakable. She held the hand of the man who was presumably her father—short black hair, light blue eyes, and a sharp, serious expression.


    Surprisingly, the man bore a striking resemblance to Deon’s current appearance. After all, he was his father.


    Deon shifted his focus to himself—the younger version of himself in the photo. Unlike Vierenna, he looked very different. Apart from his wide violet eyes and raven black hair, the sharpness of Deon’s current demeanor was entirely absent from the innocent expressions of the child with chubby cheeks.


    Young Deon held the hands of the woman, whose own hands rested gently on his small shoulders.


    Deon observed the woman who looked much like Vierenna in her present form. Shining white hair, eyes like gray obsidian, and sharp yet gentle features. Even the smile she wore was beautiful and captivating.


    ‘So, that’s her!’


    Though she appeared as a reserved and kind woman, the air of authority mixed with a touch of wildness was unmistakable.


    ‘So, she’s the one who corrupted Vierenna?’


    Deon stared at the photo for a few seconds before turning the page.


    It was a simple image. The animated ones were still deeper within the book.


    In the following few pages, Deon found only still images echoing the memories of the Eirenios family, depicting moments of pride, nostalgia, joy, and grandeur, marking the passage of time as they aged.


    Each page carried the spirit of the people frozen in the images—a life they had lived, now left as mere memory and trace.


    The guilt returned to cloud Deon''s vision, yet it only made him see things more clearly. His resolve to return to his world and reunite with his family grew sharper.


    With every page he turned, the presence of Viktoria de Avila was prominent and constant, as if this Memories Record belonged to her alone, with the other individuals serving merely as supporting characters.


    There were others from the family, too, but their appearances were limited compared to the main figures.


    Deon continued flipping through the pages until he found what he had been searching for.


    An image of two small children playing by a small lake, with a beautiful woman seated on a wooden bench. Sunlight reflections added a golden shimmer to the water, and the children''s laughter seemed frozen in time.


    But unlike the previous still images, this one was marked with faint blue patterns, signifying it as a live image.


    Deon placed the tip of his finger on the picture, and the blue patterns began to shatter and fade, bringing the image to life.


    The scene felt strange, unlike playing a video on a phone. Yet, that oddness only made it feel more real and believable.


    Deon focused intently on the now animated image, determined not to miss anything.


    ---


    "Mommy! He’s going to drown! Grab him, or I’ll let go!"


    The first voice belonged to a young Vierenna, who was holding the collar of young Deon’s clothes to stop him from dipping his head into the lake. Her expression was a mix of worry and anger.


    The woman on the bench brushed her long hair aside and lifted her gaze from the book in her hand.


    "V, you worry too much about your baby brother. He’ll be fine. Let him live. If he wants to drown, that’s his life to live and his decisions to make."


    Her voice was clear and calm, with a hint of amusement.


    "I’m not going to drown," Deon retorted, ceasing his struggle against his sister''s grip.


    "You will, you idiot!"


    "Your baby sister is right. There’s a big chance that my little D will drown. What would I do without you? But if it’s your decision to drown, this poor momy won’t stop you. She’ll just cry a lot if her baby makes bad decisions. Bad decisions are very, very bad."


    Young Deon looked at her from his spot by the lake, his innocent violet eyes seemingly lost in deep thought.


    Slowly, he rose to his feet without saying a word.


    He turned to Vierenna, who was still holding onto him, and spoke.


    "V! You go."


    He spoke with a seriousness that made Viktoria laugh heartily under Vierenna’s confused gaze.


    "I’m not going. I don’t want to dirty my dress, you filthy little big-headed boy."


    "You’re scared."


    "I’m not scared. I’m smart."


    "You’re scared."


    "I’m not... Mom, tell him to shut up, I’ll hit him!"


    Viktoria stifled her laughter, though her cheeks turned red from the effort.


    "Don’t hit your baby brother. He’s just... I don’t even know what he’s thinking!"


    "She’s just scared. I was going to go, but I don’t want to make a bad decision."


    Vierenna spun furiously toward Deon.


    "And why should I go? I’m smart enough to know better, unlike you, you stupid big-headed boy."


    "V!"


    "What?! What?!"


    "You’re scared."


    Vierenna’s expression turned red with anger as she grabbed Deon by the head and threw him into the lake, falling in after him.


    "I. Am. Not. Scared!"


    Viktoria resumed laughing, her book falling to the ground as she clutched her stomach. She seemed unbothered that her children were now drenched in water.


    Vierenna made her way out of the lake, her eyes brimming with tears.


    She glared at Deon with hatred, but as soon as she noticed his condition, she began to scream.


    "Mommy! Deon’s drowning!"


    She rushed back into the water toward Deon.


    "Don’t worry, V. The lake is shallow; he can’t... Oh no! Deon’s drowning!"


    Viktoria rose from her bench with a speed the animated image couldn’t capture. That was also where the recording ended.


    ---


    The image froze on the last frame it had stopped at, with the blue patterns reforming as if to seal the moment in time once again.


    Deon, in a silence that mirrored his surroundings, closed the book quietly and rested his hands on it.


    He had found what he was searching for. There was no point in looking any further.


    ‘It was her voice.’


    Indeed, Viktoria de Avila’s voice from the Memories Record was the same as the greeting message Deon had received from the lake.


    Though this only confirmed his suspicions and turned them into truth, Deon still preferred facts. He could work better with facts than doubts.


    Now, he had a lead to follow to unravel the mystery of his arrival in this world.


    And Viktoria de Avila was directly connected to that mystery.