The memory comes without warning. A girl.
She has a dazzling smile, a face so perfect it could have been carved by angels. Brown eyes, vibrant orange hair. And when she sings... oh, it's like a goddess singing a hymn meant only for me.
But how do I know her so well? The familiarity is deep, a comfort in my chaotic mind.
A wave of giddy excitement washes over me. "Maybe she's my girlfriend!" Then, an even more thrilling thought hits me, my eyes filling with hope. "Or... my wife?"
Thinking of her gives me a reason. A purpose. I need to find out who I was, for her.
---
Okay, Maki, focus. What have you learned in a month?
First, the impossible is just... normal here. I've stopped being surprised.
Second, people here aren't just humans. I've seen elves with pointed ears, dwarves with stout builds, and other beings I don't even have names for.
Third, magic is real. Everyone has a status window, but you can only view it at a church or a guild using a special device.
Fourth, skills are earned through repetition. Do something long enough, and your status window will officially recognize it.
And fifth, Talents—or "Godly Gifts"—are everything. They define your place in this world.
And my Talent? It seems I'm a cheater.
I can see my status window anytime I want, without any help. When I focus on something, details about it just pop into my head. And my favorite part? Storage. I can put anything I can touch into a private, pocket dimension.
For the last month, I've been lying low, watching, learning, and getting a handle on my abilities. It's time to use them.
I've been surviving by stealing.
It's not something I'm proud of, but my storage ability makes it terrifyingly easy. A merchant looks away for a second, my hand brushes against a loaf of bread or a piece of fruit, and boom—it vanishes straight into my personal dimension. My status window even registered a Thief skill because of it. Now, I could probably pick a pocket without leaving a trace.
But today, the guilt finally caught up to me. What am I doing?
If my old self could see me now... if she saw me like this, what would she think? I can almost see the disappointment in those beautiful brown eyes. I'm a loser, skulking in the shadows.
No more. Starting right now, I'm changing. I need to find a job, a real one that doesn't involve being a parasite.
Seeking perspective, I climb to the highest point I can find—the city's outer wall. I look down at the bustling streets, observing the people. I see the blacksmith hammering at his forge, the stable boy brushing down a horse, the merchant haggling with a customer.
I focus, trying to guess their jobs, searching for a place where I might belong. Where does a man with no past, but a powerful talent, fit in?