Chapter 8: T-This... this actually works!?

"Do you recall who she is now?"

"Sera."

Vaan replied what came to his mind.

"Sera huh, so you do remember her."

Astra spoke, her expression seemed a little... strange.

"I don't." Vaan shook his head.

"That name just instinctively came into my mind. I do not know who that girl is or what kind of relationship I have with her."

Hearing those words, Astra's expression returned to normal. No, Vaan even felt like she looked slightly relieved.

"What kind of relationship do you feel like you have with her?" Astra questioned with a curious look on her face.

"It is hard to guess."

"Hmm? Why is that?"

"She acted like she was close to me, but something didn't feel right."

Astra raised her eyebrow in slight surprise,

"Explain more clearly, what do you feel about that girl."

"That girl... she is suspicious."

Vaan spoke out his thoughts.

"Suspicious?"

Astra tilted her head in confusion.

"I do not know how to explain it, the way she asked if I had gotten what she wanted, then acted disappointed when she realized I didn't, and then acted like she understands and forgave me. In that whole conversation, she acted like I failed to meet her expectation and she was the bigger person who forgave me, when in truth, she was the one who asked for the favor in the first place.

Then she talked about you, she indirectly compared me to you, then insinuated that you do not fully trust me and I need more time to 'earn' your trust, it was as if she was trying to create a ridge between the two of us.

That girl...

She is definitely up to no good."

Vaan explained.

"Heh, to think you would say that about Sera or all the people."

Astra chuckled.

"You used to regard her as the most important person in your life."

"That can't be true, the most important person in my life is my mother." Vaan was quick to answer.

Hearing those words, Astra couldn't help but smile.

"You have gotten good at buttering me up. I feel scared now."

"I am not buttering you up, Mother. You are the most important person to me, you are someone I absolutely cannot lose again."

"Again?" Astra's expression changed.

"N-No, I meant that even if I did some stupid things before, I am different now." Vaan quickly corrected himself.

A small smile appeared on Astra's face.

"Do you think you will be the same once you get your memory back?"

"I will," Vaan replied with a confident look on his face.

He was not planning to go anywhere now. He would stay here with his mother for a long time.

"Well then, the Healers are here, shall we go?"

"Healers?" Vaan frowned.

"Mhm, the people who would help you get your memories back."

'Huh?' Vaan couldn't understand.

That was possible?

Why was his mother acting like it is something that can be done with a snap of one's fingers? Don't they usually need long therapy sessions to get something like that? Also, it is not like he can simply recall all the memories, there is no way he could do that since he is not the real Vaan in the first place.

"What are you thinking about? Let's go." Suddenly, Astra held Vaan's hand and took him to a certain room.

Inside the room, there sat 3 people wearing white robes.

'Is this a cult or something?' Vaan questioned inwardly.

He looked around and noticed that there was no one else inside the room except for him, his mother, and these 3 white robbed men.

'Are they the ones mother called to help me get my memory back? How are they going to help me? They don't even have any medical instruments around.'

This all seemed... foolish.

Did his mother seriously believe in these kinds of stuff?

'Whatever, as long as she is happy.'

Vaan sighed.

"Go sit on the chair."

Astra spoke, Vaan nodded and sat on the chair. The three white-robed men extended their hands toward them,

"Heal."

They spoke at the same time.

'Heh, not even some inaudible words that you can call a chant, huh? Even if they are trying to scam people, shouldn't they try to be smarter about it?

So what's gonna happen now?

A white light would come to me and heal all my wounds under the name of the holy god? Kek, stupid things like these are always so entertaining to watch, to think I would be a part of all this someday.'

Vaan giggled inwardly, but suddenly,

"!!!"

His eyes widened in surprise,

A white light came out of the bodies of these white-robed men, the energy then moved and surrounded Vaan's body.

'Is this some sort of VFX?'

Vaan wondered, however, suddenly, a powerful sense of comfort washed over his body. The places where his body felt sore, some injuries that weren't properly tended to or needed more time to heal naturally, they all healed in an instant.

'T-This... this actually works!?'

Vaan's eyes widened in fright.

What he just said as a joke actually happened!!

This... This is real Magic!!

Vaan couldn't believe it.

However, he didn't have the time to process all this,

There was a bigger problem he had to deal with.

Suddenly, new waves of information rushed into his mind,

'NO!'

Suddenly, Vaan shouted in his head.

This Magic, it was working!

He had started recalling things, if it continued, it was not impossible for his mind to be overwhelmed by all these new memories of a different person and he might end up losing his sense of self.

He had to stop this magic!

He had to get out of here!

With that thought in his mind, he tried to move, soon, however, he realized that he couldn't move his body.

"You cannot move when the Heal is being cast on you, it could be dangerous," Astra spoke, a small magic circle could be seen on the top of her hand.

Binding Magic.

Vaan's heartbeat quickened because of how scared he was.

He wanted to stay in this place a little longer.

However, he knew he couldn't break away from his mother's magic.

That was simply impossible because...

His mother, Astra Elicia Vesta, was one of the strongest Mages in the world!

'Fuck it! I'll endure it all myself!'

In the end, Vaan just prepared himself for all the memories that would rush into his mind.

He swore in his heart.

No matter what, he wouldn't forget his sense of self.