Chapter Five: A Repeated Day
Rion woke up for no reason. Was it insomnia? No… maybe overthinking.
It felt like he hadn't sensed anything for days—as if his senses were slowly returning.
Why didn't he feel satisfied? Was there something in his memories?
Did he even have memories?
He sighed deeply, his eyes lost as they stared at the ceiling.
Without realizing it, tears welled up.
Wiping his face, he murmured softly: I wonder… who am I?
He left his room in a hurry, heading to the bathroom at the end of the hallway.
His room was right next to it, barely two steps away.
He entered—empty.
He walked up to the sink and splashed water on his face.
Then he looked up at the mirror. Stared at his face. His features. His eyes. The blond hair.
Then turned away, whispering questions that flowed like water: Who am I? Where did I come from? Should I search? For what? Why do I feel I don't belong here? Why… am I here?
Before the last question could form, Chloe's mother called his name.
He left the bathroom with slow steps. Sat at the table before uttering a single word.
No one noticed him.
Maybe because the world doesn't hear silence… or maybe because what changed today… was only within him.
A feeling of estrangement. A sense of being lost.
Not the loss of place… but the loss within.
Emotions tangled. Thoughts choked.
As if something inside him was searching for something… but had no idea what.
He finished his food in silence.
And when he stood, he already knew where he was headed: the guild.
But this time, without a clear goal.
Maybe training.
Maybe escaping.
He entered the guild, speaking in hesitant, fragmented words as he tried to gather the language: Hello… Penila, can I take the same spot… like yesterday?
Penila smiled as usual, calm and composed: Of course… just head the same way.
He descended the stairs and entered the white room.
Swords hung on the wall. Training dummies in their places.
He took a sword and stood in front of a wooden dummy.
Then began striking with everything he had.
Once… twice… dozens of times.
He wasn't training.
He was unloading.
Hours later, Penila came to check on him.
She noticed his intense focus, but had no idea he wasn't truly in the room… he was somewhere else, within himself.
She asked gently: Are you okay?
He tried to smile as he replied: Why do you ask?
Her tone remained steady: I noticed you're focused… and yet, you haven't made a single mistake.
He answered: Hah… no, I'm just trying a new… special move.
She said calmly: For this long? With the same move? You're very persistent.
He smiled broadly, but the smile was tired: Yes… very persistent.
She left, and Rion remained alone with the dummy.
He stared at it in silence.
In his eyes, it wasn't a dummy.
It was him.
The one taking all the hits without flinching.
He wished he could be like that.
He lowered his body, hands resting on his knees.
Sweat dripped to the ground.
But with it… tears.
He wiped his face.
Then lifted the sword with both hands.
In a single, swift strike, he hit the dummy…
But it didn't move.
He whispered to himself: I'll try again… tomorrow, I guess.
He left quietly after bidding Penila farewell.
The guild was nearly empty.
He headed to the same public bath.
Showered silently, then left.
Returned to his usual spot outside the guild, waiting for Chloe.
He sat there for hours.
Night began to fall.
She didn't come.
He sat silently on the public bench.
The city's wide road ahead.
The gate in front of him.
No one around… except for a little girl who pulled back a curtain from a nearby window.
Her curly hair tied in two puffballs.
She wore a small blue dress.
She looked at Rion… and waved.
He smiled.
Waved back.
Then another hand—perhaps her mother's—pulled her away, and the curtain closed quickly.
Rion smiled again… faintly.
Stood up.
Returned home.
Opened the door—and was surprised to find Chloe right there, about to leave.
She said quickly: I was heading out to look for you… you came back early today.
Rion replied calmly, like a mountain unmoved by wind: Don't worry. I was with some new friends… nothing more.
She smiled: Oh, nice… want dinner?
He replied with the same tone: No, thanks. I already ate with them.
He greeted the family and avoided them.
Entered his room, set down his sword and clothes. Left the door half open.
Washed his face.
Drank a bit of water.
When he returned to his room, he saw Chloe writing in her notebook—like every evening.
He sat at his desk.
Continued his language study a bit.
Then closed his eyes and laid on the bed.
He muttered, tired: I want to fall asleep fast… I don't want to think.
But his body refused.
He thought.
Suddenly, a strange question came: "Doesn't this mean I'm running away from myself?"
He answered himself without hesitation: "It's all because of fate."
Sleep took over him…
And tomorrow…
Another day.
End of Chapter