The group climbed the mountain, returning to the cave with the ancient scribbles. The cave looked the same: scribbles everywhere and a giant human skeleton in the corner.
Outside, the blue sky was dotted with crows gliding along the wind. Their numbers had increased this time.
Bel entered the cave first, still mesmerized by the ancient scribbles as they told stories of the past. Fenny and Grey followed, with Denber and Kenji joining soon after. They gathered the fruits and dried branches they had collected.
Denber noticed Hender standing outside, glancing at the horizon. Denber walked outside and was shocked by what he saw. The dense forest below had turned black, filled with thousands of rats. The sky was covered by flocks of crows, turning the surroundings into darkness. The sun was no longer visible, and the forest was no longer green.
The birds glided down to Hender's location, and the rats climbed up the mountain. Before Denber could react, a blade was at his neck. His heart raced in terror.
"Hender, why are you doing this?" he whispered. Kenji and the others saw Hender pointing his blade at Denber's neck.
"Woah," Fenny stood up at the sight. Bel covered her mouth in shock. "No," she sighed under her breath. Grey observed the situation.
"What are you doing, Hender? This is no time to joke. We have to seal the entrance before it's too late," Kenji shouted.
Hender and Denber faced the group, Hender's blade still at Denber's throat. "Kenji, Kenji, Kenji," Hender chuckled. "You didn't forget about your past, did you?"
Kenji froze in shock at Hender's statement. "What are you talking about? Come on, we have to seal the entrance," Bel shouted, while the others were confused.
The crows and the rats were getting closer. Hender started murmuring, his voice growing louder and louder. "I thought I was the chosen one here since that spell didn't work on me. What a surprise. I'm not the only one." He started to laugh.
"Spell?" Fenny shouted in confusion.
Bel glanced at Kenji, trying to say "do something," but instead saw him standing in shock. She knew Kenji had something to do with what Hender was murmuring.
"Yes, a spell!" Hender shouted. "Did you all really think we just exist here without any parents who bore and raised us?" He laughed madly. "Fools! The truth is, those priests summoned us here and wiped our memories with a spell. Some summons aren't affected by the spell, just like me... and Kenji!"
Bel, Fenny, and Grey all glanced at Kenji. "What is he talking about, dude?" Fenny started. But before he could answer, Hender continued.
"And those who aren't affected are the chosen ones! Worthy of surviving not just this forest but this darkened world. I thought I was the only one, but Kenji asked me a question that led me to believe he was also chosen."
A flash of young Kenji appeared in Hender's mind. "Where are you from?"
"Why are you doing this? Is this worth it? Is this why you constantly ask about worthiness? Hender, listen, everyone here is worthy. We are chosen for a reason."
Hender bit his lip and shouted, "I am Hender! One of the worthy and the only one who will stand alone!" He glared at Kenji. "Therefore, I must eliminate the others or be eliminated myself."
The blade created a small cut on Denber's neck, and blood started to drip. Kenji noticed the incoming crows and rats. He collected himself and started to act. He knew Hender wouldn't change his mind.
"Hender," Kenji's voice was serious and firm. "You have two choices here."
Kenji closed his eyes, took out both his daggers, and pointed them at Hender. A drop of water marked his surroundings. "Stop this foolish act or die right here, right now."
Everyone was shocked on Kenji's decision. "Wait Kenji.. Let's calm down." Fenny tries to calm Kenji.
Hender recognized the move. "This stance..." He let out a crescendoing laugh, then laughed like a madman. "Fine, Kenji! Let's see who is worthy. Let's see who will__"
Kenji cut him off by disappearing and reappearing in front of him in a blink of an eye. Everyone was surprised. Bel and the others didn't expect Kenji to attack his own friend. Fenny grinded his teeth due to the situation. It's a situation they didn't expect to happen.
"I expected you to change your mind" Kenji whispers.
Hender felt something flow from his neck. He touched it and saw blood on his hand. He looked at Kenji's cold eyes like as if they aren't friends. Enraged, he raised his dagger and attempts to stab Denber when Kenji swung his sword again, cutting Hender's eye. Kenji then followed a kick which leads Hender to the edge. He fell into the tall waterfalls below them.
Kenji pulled Denber inside. The rats and crows had reached their location. Kenji jumped inside, and Grey pushed a huge stone to cover the entrance. His body enlarged from the stone's weight sealing the hole. Birds crashed into the stone, immediately covered by rats. After completing his task, his body slowly returned to normal.
Denber was on the ground. Kenji faced the wall while the others stood around, watching him. The cave was filled with light from the cracks. It was silent. No one made a noise or knew how to react. Fenny clenched his fist and rushed to Kenji, pushing him against the wall.
"I can't believe you can do such thing to your friend!" He shouted. "But more importantly. What is he talking about? What's with these memories, families, or whatever nonsense he's murmuring?" He then added.
"Stop it, Fenny!" Bel also shouted.
"Stop Fenny! He only did that to save my life" Hender was about to stand up and stop Fenny, but Kenji stopped him.
"It's alright. It's about time everyone has to know the truth."
Kenji glanced at everyone, seeing their uncertainty and Fenny's anger. They are silent. Kenji gently pushed Fenny aside and sat in the middle of the room. "All of us have families and friends." He started.
Bel approached him and held his hand. "What do you mean?" she questioned.
Kenji holds Bel's hand. It was soft and full of bruises. He stared at Bel's eyes while he suffers in pain. "We aren't from this world. We were summoned." One by one. Grey, Fenny and Denber sat around Kenji. "Bel and I grew up together due to our parents relationship. And because of it. We often spent time together," Kenji explained. Bel was surprised, as were the others. This was new to Bel, who only knew she woke up in a room and questioned her existence.
Everyone listened quietly as Kenji continued. "One day... We were playing in a garden when a tall, dark humanoid with a smoky aura charged at us. I tried to hide Bel behind me, but it swallowed us both. The next thing I knew, we were surrounded by dozens of priests. They tried to erase my memories with a spell, but it didn't work...."
"Then does that mean. You still have your memories from the past?" Bel questions. Grey and Denber looked at each other. Noticing the seriousness of the situation.
Fenny swallowed hard as Kenji continues. "Day after day, I kept it a secret to avoid trouble. I let them tie this string to me and control me like a puppet. But it turns out, I'm not the only one. Hender wasn't affected by the spell either." Bel noticed the pain in Kenji's eyes and worried for him.
Everyone is shocked by what they heard. Fenny clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. "So you're telling us...," Fenny whispered, "you're telling us that we have families all along?" He glared at Kenji, now shouting.
"You're right," Kenji replied.
Fenny clenched his hair, his face full of confusion and anger. "All this time, I thought I was just a puppet without a family who cared about me. I am watching the kids play on the street while I suffer." Fenny paused and grasp for air. "I am watching other families having thier time together while I'm here thinking that my weapon was my only friend. Wondering what would it feels to have someone special. Now you're telling me that was a lie?" Fenny was on the verge of breaking down.
Denber knew what he feels. Everyone does. Everyday, all summons wonder the same thing. Due to intensity of their training and lack of interactions. It's easy to feel lonely.
Kenji just stared at the ground without answering. Fenny stares to the ground, knowing Kenji's silence meant he was right. Tears flowed from his eyes as he cried and shouted in pain. The others remained silent, sharing Fenny's grief. This revelation was a shock to them all.