Ugh...

Why does my body feel so heavy?

Shin felt his whole body being heavy.

What happened?

Shin thought to himself before trying to open his eyes slowly.

All he could see was a blinding light, after being in a daze, Shin managed to observe a roof.

“Mhmm.”

Shin groaned as he tried to raise his chest up.

After breathing out and in a couple of times, Shin managed to raise his body up. He leaned at his pillow behind him, glancing at where he was staying at.

He saw that he was sleeping on a gigantic bed with white covers.

The room was quite simple, it had two windows to the wall, he could see the blue sky and the sound of birds.

He turned his glance towards the room once again, seeing two sofas and a chair.

Where am I?

While being slightly vigilant, the door opened with the least amount of sound.

What Shin saw was a girl in a maid outfit, she had black hair down to her shoulders and her eyes were green.

Before Shin could open his mouth, he saw the maid widening her eyes while staring back at Shin in surprise.

“He's awake!!!”

The maid roared out, Shin was shocked, to say the least. He widened his eyes while trying to push himself back towards his pillow.

Shin’s whole body was shaking as he was staring frightfully at the maid.

Not even a second later, two others appeared.

One was a young girl wearing a gothic purple dress, her hair was purple like her eyes. Shin could see that she was smiling brightly, but he had no idea why she would smile like that.

While the other one was a little older, she had silver hair and black eyes. Shin saw that she breathed out heavily as she stared at him intensively.

“Shin, are you alright? How’s your body?”

The women who had silver hair asked with a warm voice as she stepped towards Shin.

Shin trembled, sweat was running down his face, he could only stare at the women in fear.

The woman in the purple dress furrowed her eyebrows when she saw Shin’s reactions.

“Are you fine?”

Her eyes turned golden as she swept over his body carefully before it turned purple again. She narrowed her eyes and mumbled.

“There’s nothing wrong with his body...”

Shin wasn’t able to answer, he only stared at them. He wanted to say something, but he was too afraid.

Not much longer, the silver-haired woman noticed it.

She came closer towards Shin and extended her hand towards him slowly.

“Shin, are you confused? Don’t worry, you’re home right now.”

Shin lowered his head, not minding the silver-haired woman.

He mumbled in a soft voice.

“home?”

He raised his head and asked carefully.

“Who are you?”

Shin’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was like a thunderbolt in the ears of the women.

Shin could see that the hand of the silver-haired woman tremble. He raised his head and glanced at her face, Shin widened his eyes as he saw tears running down her face.

Shin glanced at the other two, seeing the same, streams of tears running down their faces.

“Ugh!”

Shin moaned, he covered his face with his hands. He felt like his head being split into two.

“Shin...!!!!”

Shin heard some voices, but he couldn’t distinguish which of the women that it was.

Shin saw scenes appearing in his head.

A girl in a maid outfit with black hair, smiling towards him. Giving him, a platter filled with food, she talked to him with warm words.

Not long after, another scene appeared. A young girl in a purple dress smiled brightly as she declared.

“I will be your fairy!”

Shin’s body was trembling as he was reliving these memories.

The last thing Shin saw, was a woman with silver hair and black eyes.

She was staring at Shin with the warmest eyes possible, her every word was soothing and calming his soul. Shin could sense that the woman was giving off an aura filled with warmness which protected him against every harm.

Shin raised his head slowly, he could only see hazily as his eyes were moist.

“I remember...”

“You, you are all the ones that have been protecting me, loving me and been caring for me.”

Shin had tears running down his cheeks as his eyes were glancing at the women.

“I remember, I remember there was something horrible happening. Everything turned dark, I was so afraid, but I still continued, I didn’t stop!”

Shin’s voice turned hoarse as he continued speaking, not wanting to forget this feeling.

“I, I didn’t want to lose anyone, there was something, someone? Everything turned black and I didn’t know where I was.”

Were his injuries so heavy that he lost his memories?

The girl wearing a gothic purple dress – Kali thought as she heard Shin’s sobs.

He, he wasn’t fully unconscious, that’s bad...

Shin’s feelings during his fight are still in him.

Fighting for us, bearing these kind of injuries because of our carelessness and weakness.

Kali’s mood turned bad as she was thinking further.

This isn’t something to celebrate, pushing our enemy back.

This, this was our loss!

Kali’s deep purple eyes shone coldly for a second before it turned normal once again.

I will recover and crush you!

Kali vowed as she gazed at Shin with the warmest eyes she could muster.

She stepped forward, being right in front of Shin. She drew Shin towards her, embracing him while closing her eyes. Enjoying the warmth his body was giving off.

Shin choked on his sobs as he was hugging the woman in purple.

As he was enjoying the warmness, he heard an ice-cold voice, sending shivers through his body.

“Get off my son!”

The woman with silver hair spoke loudly and then mumbled something Shin wasn't able to hear.

“You perverted old witch, don’t go taking my son!”

Kali got thrown away by the silver-haired woman – Aria ruthlessly, crashing into the wall head first.

Shin could only watch it happen with a dazed expression. He had no idea what to say or think when seeing something like this.

He glanced at Kali and saw her rubbing her head while cursing in a low voice.

Afterwards, he turned towards Aria, he suddenly remembered what she just called him.

Did she call me, her son?

Does that mean she's my mother?

Is my mother this ruthless and fierce? I hope that she won’t throw me like she did to that girl.

Shin trembled slightly before he saw her warm gaze.

“I know that everything is hard to understand.”

She spoke in a calm and warm tone. Aria stared deeply into Shin’s dark eyes, a warmth inside of her sprouted as she continued speaking.

“You seem to have forgotten your memories, but still remembering some small things like there exists people who love you.”

“Let’s start with something easy, your name is Shin and my name is Aria.”

“Of course, you must call me mother, hehe.”

Aria giggled foolishly before glancing at Kali.

“That witch right now, her name is Kali. Do understand that if she tries something funny, tell me and I’ll send her flying!”

“Hey! How can you say something shamelessly like that!?”

Kali yelled her lungs out, feeling that Aria was taking advantage of Shin’s lost memories.

She hurriedly glanced at Shin and anxiously spoke in a hurry.

“Don’t believe her!”

“I’m, I am no witch, can’t you remember me being your fairy?”

Kali asked nervously, she had never felt something close to this feeling before.

If Shin really pushed her away, she would really be helpless, she could only wander around without any emotions...

“Fairy...”

Shin mumbled as he stared at Kali, he could clearly see that she was nervously staring back at him.

He remembered the same girl in his memories smiling at him and telling him that she was his fairy…

Shin stared deeply into Kali’s deep purple eyes as he was unconsciously saying.

“My fairy…?”

Kali nodded anxiously.

“I remember you being my fairy…”

“But, what does a fairy do?”

Shin tilted his head as he asked curiously.

Kali smirked as her eyes shined for a second. She smiled sweetly as she thought of something…

Hihi, he was way too innocent before, let’s see if this works.

Aria had a bad premonition when she saw Kali’s sweet smile, but it was too late.

“Of course, I as your fairy has to stay by your side forever.”

“Remember, you have already accepted it, you can’t throw me away.”

Kali thought it was her victory.

Aria narrowed her eyes and wanted to say something, but at that moment, someone entered the room.

A girl in a maid outfit and a girl with horns on her head.

“Oho!”

“You’re awake!”

The girl with horns – Azane said joyfully when she saw Shin awake.

“Quiet down!”

Aria said in a cold tone.

“He is suffering from amnesia, let him slowly remember things and don’t act too friendly with him, you haven’t even spoken with him yet!”

Azane closed her mouth as she remembered that she had only seen Shin in battle and unconscious, how could he even remember her when he was suffering from amnesia?

Azane furrowed her eyebrows as she stared at Shin.

Did he injure himself too much in battle?

She swept over his body and opened her eyes widely.

WHAT!?

Is he only at Cultivation Warrior stage?

How the hell did he fight like that!?

Even that aura and oppressive power during the final fight, he could easily defeat me with only just that.

Who the hell did he fight against and how was he even able to use strength beyond Half-Divinity stage?

While Azane was in deep thoughts.

Peutoa walked towards Shin with a complicated expression.

She could clearly understand that Shin right now might not even know who she was.

She slowly bowed in front of Shin, waiting for his response.

Shin, on the other hand, stared at Peutoa for a couple of seconds.

No one in the room spoke, clearly waiting for Shin to say something.

Wait, can he remember that chick?

Kali widened her eyes and closely watched Shin.

Shin closed his eyes, he felt like being sucked deep into himself.

Shin fell unconscious and his body slowly dropped on the bed.

At the same time, a light-yellow light within Peutoa flew out and entered Shin.

Her body also drooped slowly.

Aria saw it and quickly grabbed her body and slowly laid her on the bed near Shin.

She glanced at them and mumbled softly.

“It has to be something with his powers or Guardians.”

Kali nodded when she heard Aria's soft mumble.

“That should be it, I can’t think of anything besides that when I saw Peutoa's light-yellow light entering him.”

Laura also understood it and quietly watched them.

Only Azane wasn’t able to figure out what happened.

She quickly thought of when she met Peutoa and that she said she was his Guardian.

“What just happened?”

Azane could only muster this question as she felt everything was weird.

Kali glanced at Azane and said casually.

“Peutoa is one of his Guardians.”

She shook her head as she could predict Azane’s next question.

“We do not know what a Guardian means in Shin’s terms, nor how to become a Guardian of his.”

“Shin had twelve Guardians, not long after Shin came back to this world, he somehow managed to make Peutoa one of his Guardians.”

“Where are his Guardians then? Wouldn’t they protect him?”

Azane asked while glancing at Shin.

This time, Aria answered.

“They are within him.”

She shook her head as she quietly spoke further as her eyes were narrowed.

“But, Shin has said himself the existence of Phoenixes and a woman called Mekina.”

Aria glanced at Kali before staring at Shin once again.

“I, Leo and Kali have thought of this for a very long time before coming up with a theory.”

When Aria said this, Laura and Azane stared at Aria in expectancy.

“Mekina; the Goddess of Phenoxies...”

Aria spoke slowly as her eyes narrowed slightly.

“The Wolf Ker'Vrak.”

“Golden King of the Spirits; Kira.”

“Zura; the Queen of Spiders.”

“The Giant Bayoun.”

“Malika of the Woods.”

“Abyss Ruler; Lia.”

“Knight of the Underworld; Ovan.”

“Gladius, the Master of time and space.”

“The Queen of the Undersea, Mermaid Murutha.”

“Succubus Princess; Shenya.”

“Kuugo, Possessor of the all-seeing eye…”

Aria stopped for a second before continuing once again, but this time her voice was ice-cold.

“Finally, Muir Meors, Ruler of Death.”

“These thirteen were once the rulers of the continent in the Ancient Era. They all had their own territories, but they were all in the same group.”

“I do not know what happened between them, but our theory is that a conflict between the twelve and Muir erupted.”

“Leaving to our situation right now, those twelve are protecting Shin while Muir is trying to kill him.”

In the deepest part of Shin

In the darkness, stood thirteen sculptures, twelve in a circle while one in the middle.

Every single of sculptures had a different colour.

Shin glanced around and saw a gap between two sculptures and didn’t know why there would be a gap.

Not long after, each of the sculptures shined brightly and a body appeared in front of each sculpture.

There were men and women, with different type of builds and hair colour. When they appeared, they all knelt down respectfully, even the young woman in front of the light-yellow sculpture knelt without being shocked by her current situation.

“Master.”

In unison, they all said respectfully without any hesitation.

All in all, they eagerly waited for Shin.

Shin was confused over where he was, but he thought of the dream he had.

A small smile appeared on his face as he closely glanced at each of them, burning their image in his memories, to never forget once more.

“You.”

Shin spoke as his mind became peaceful.

“Each and every one of you, thank you.”

“Haha.”

Mekina laughed out loudly as she rushed towards Shin, hugging him in her embrace.

“I knew that you wouldn’t forget about me!”

Everything happened way too swiftly, Shin had no idea what was going on until Mekina held him tightly.

“Do not harm our Liege!”

A burly man in a brown robe roared.

“Humph!”

Mekina turned her head and narrowed her eyes at him.

“Bayoun, a muscle-brained person like you doesn’t understand these kind of things!”

“Cough cough.”

Bayoun coughed as he scratched the back of his head while angrily cursing under his breath.

“Big flying chicken…”

Peutoa glanced at the other eleven Guardians, trying to memorize their appearances and personalities.

She was glad that the other Guardians were truthfully following Shin, and not using him for their own good.

“Why am I here?”

Shin finally managed to ask as he was trying to push himself away from Mekina.

“Huh?”

A person in a grey robe walked towards Mekina and Shin.

“Master, this is a ritual.”

He glanced at Peutoa then respectfully bowed and said again.

“This girl was appointed to be your Guardian.”

“Respectfully, us Guardians will give her a worthy title.”

“Wait…”

Shin carefully stared at him before hesitating.

“Old man…?”

Ker’Vrak widely opened his eyes as he tried to suppress coughing up blood.

He bowed with difficulties.

“Yes, Master.”

“Puh, hahahaha.”

Mekina laughed out loudly.

“My Liege, do you remember me?”

Ovan stepped forward and knelt, but still staring at Shin with a humble expression and eagerly waiting for his answer.

Shin stared at Ovan, especially at the large green shield on his back.

“Knight.”

Shin only said a single word, his eyes shined for a second.

“Your defence, I have used that before.”

“Haha, I’m glad that my Liege remembered this significant Guardian of yours.”

Ovan bowed deeply as he laughed with a smile on his face.

“Ritual, how are we going to do that?”

Shin asked curiously, he remembers more things about Peutoa than anyone else.

But…

The things I saw, the scenes revealed everything.

Shin smiled gleefully as he watched Peutoa in admiration.

“Let’s start the ritual, we’re running out of time.”

Ker’Vrak suddenly spoke as he turned back to his position in front of the grey sculpture.

Mekina’s smile vanished as she backed off from Shin slowly and kneeling in front of her sculpture towards Shin.

“Let us begin the ritual.”

Ker’Vrak said in a respectful tone.

“Us Guardians with our Master will welcome a new Guardian.”

They all glanced at Peutoa at the same time.

“A Guardian, the thirteenth Guardian.”

Mekina continued after Ker’Vrak.

“A Guardian, the one who will protect our Master with us.”

Kira was next, he spoke in a serious tone.

“Thirteenth Guardian, are you willing to sacrifice your own soul?”

The Guardians spoke in unison.

“I will!”

Peutoa yelled out as she deeply bowed.

Right at that moment, the sculptures behind the Guardians shined brightly.

A smile appeared on their faces as they glanced at Peutoa, welcoming a comrade.

A light-yellow light which shone brightly escaped Peutoa’s body, her whole body was trembling as she tried to suppress her roars.

The light slowly entered the sculpture behind her, making it shine like a sun.

“We welcome you, Peutoa the Night Empress!”

Each Guardian yelled in a loud voice, making the air itself tremble.

Peutoa, Night Empress…

It really sounds cool!

Shin couldn’t manage to hold back his smile.

Everything turned dark once again…

“Sigh…”

Ker’Vrak sighed when he couldn’t see Shin’s body any longer, he stood up slowly and turned towards Peutoa.

“Peutoa the Night Empress, I welcome you, you can call me Ker’Vrak.”

Peutoa bowed slightly towards the other Guardians.

“Peutoa, you can enter this space with your subconscious whenever you want and either ask us questions or if you want to meet Master in here.”

Ker’Vrak spoke rather quickly, but his every word was calmly spoken.

“There are only two things I need to tell you right away.”

“1; From this moment on, you are his thirteenth Guardian, the Night Empress, you must serve him in any way.”

Ker’Vrak’s tone was serious as he thought of the first rule to be important.

“2; Do not mention anything about a Silver Guardian, the empty gap there, or the name Kuugo.”

“Tell those near him about this, to not mention anything about it, this is absolutely important!”

“Wait.”

Peutoa furrowed her eyebrows and asked swiftly.

“Are you the cause of his amnesia?”

Ker’Vrak nodded and shook his head.

“It didn’t start with us, it began when he went amuck.”

“Mekina healed it as time passed, but Kuugo reversed it.”

“He wrote away everything about himself in Master’s subconscious. To make it seem right, he gave Master an amnesia that will only be active for a short amount of time.”

“This will make sure that Master will not notice the gap in his memories about Kuugo, or his sacrifice for Master.”

Ker’Vrak narrowed his eyes.

“When the time is right, everything will be known to Master.”

Peutoa nodded and everything turned dark.

She raised her head once again and saw everyone surrounding Shin and her.

“Mother.”

Shin smiled faintly as he watched Aria.

Aria caressed Shin’s cheeks softly, chuckling and smiling.

“I will not leave you alone, do you have any idea of how long you have been sleeping?”

“Sleeping?”

Shin tilted his head meekly.

“Hihi, Shin.”

Kali laughed heartily as she grabbed Shin’s hand, softly touching him.

“You have let this fairy been waiting for a whole week, you know how long that really was?”

“You made me really worried.”

Laura nodded deeply at Kali’s remark.

“She’s right, you have been letting us wait for a week now.”

Aria rolled her eyes and spoke in a warm tone.

“Even if years passed, I would patiently wait, Shin.”

She gazed deeply into Shin’s eyes.

“You are my everything, everything I own is yours.”

“I will forever be by your side, my dearest son.”

Shin still had a large gap in his memories, but he could clearly sense their real feelings towards him.

He let out a bright smile and stared at the ones in the room, one by one.

Not wanting to ever forget their faces once again.