Serhelus handed me a letter he had been holding since earlier. A letter inside a black envelope similar to the one he carried. I opened it without hesitation.

But there were no words written on the letter taken out from the envelope. I turned it over, thinking it might be upside down, but there was still no content.

“There’s nothing in it?”

“If you ever feel a strange sensation one day, look at this letter. It won’t reveal its contents until then. You’ll find out at that moment what gift I gave you.”

His smiling face seemed to prove that he was not lying.

Serhelus had never lied to me even once. So, I knew too well that what he was saying now was not a lie.

Therefore, my anxiety grew even more than before.

“Because of what you said last time, I’m anxious. Serhelus, you’re not going to die, right?”
“Don’t worry. There won’t be such a thing.”

“Really? If you lie… I won’t let it go.”

“Yes.”

“You won’t be sad… You won’t go to the funeral… The funeral… So please don’t die.”

Suddenly, sadness overwhelmed me. Perhaps I looked pitiful, as Serhelus gently stroked my head.

“There won’t be a need for my funeral. I’ll live longer than Bella. Since I’m a magician and live a very, very long life, don’t worry.”

It was reassuring to hear him say that.

“Alright. But still, don’t act suspiciously. It’s too suspicious right now.”

“I’ll only be suspicious to this extent. Is that okay?”

“Okay!”

“Instead, keep the letter safe and read it later. There will come a day when you suddenly feel the need to read it, so keep it until then.”

I inspected the letter that had nothing written on it. It wasn’t because it was too dark to see.

Light was emanating behind me, and there was enough light to read. Still, the letter remained empty, raising questions.

Like Serhelus.

“Alright. I hope it’s not something that worries me.”

“It won’t be, so don’t worry.”

Lian and Serhelus both had smiles they only showed to me. While Serhelus often smiled at Merkin and the children, his current smile was much more beautiful than the one from that time.

Watching him, I remembered Ruedello’s situation.

“Serhelus, I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

“Can you lift the magic on Ruedello…?”

I expected him to say he would do it right away or something similar, but he unexpectedly wore a serious expression.

“Isn’t it something you should ask the person involved if they want?”

“I’m asking Serhelus first before asking the person involved. If it turns out to be impossible, there’s no need to ask. If he wants it… if Serhelus feels uncomfortable, then it might be a torment for him.”

Only then did he nod.

“I can do it?”

“Yes, you can.”

“In the Imperial… no, in the Imperial Library, it says that a stronger magic needs to be broken, but Serhelus can do it, right…?”

“Don’t worry. In the Empire, no, in this world, there’s no magician stronger than me.”

Why did that statement feel so sad? His expression and actions, declaring himself better than anyone else, seemed strangely uneasy.

“I’m relieved.”

“I can… do it.”

And his added words continued to be very unsettling. However, I couldn’t continue to press on. I was afraid it would become coercion. So, I just kept looking at him.

Normally, after such a conversation, Serhelus would have left.

But unlike usual, he kept looking at me in silence. As if trying to capture everything with his eyes, he stared at me for a long time.

“You’ll wear out staring like that.”
His gaze was so poignant, and yet playfully narrated, but he smirked.

“Even if it wears out, I want to capture a lot in my eyes today.”

“Then capture as much as you want. Today… It should be fine.”

He sat on a chair on the terrace and quietly gazed at the sky. An unusually dark sky. The darker the night, the brighter the comet.

So it was more anticipated. Our present, with its uncertain future ahead. So I cherished every moment.

The passing wind, the dark night. The countless hours of contemplation.

Serhelus continued to watch me until the sun rose.

Feeling his gaze, I welcomed an unusually warm morning.

“Ruedello, what if your memories suddenly come back all at once?”

After breakfast, while Shasha went to wash up first, I asked Ruedello directly.

“Memories…?”

“Aren’t you afraid? You don’t feel anxious about not knowing what memories will come flooding back all at once, or what happened in the past?”

Ruedello hugged the doll Shasha left behind tightly. Observing his action, seemingly seeking peace of mind, I lowered my head and met Ruedello’s gaze.

I’m not saying my words are absolute. Ruedello, I just want to hear your story. If you truly want to recall all your memories, I think I can help.”

“You can help? How… Then, was there another reason why I lost my memory…?”