Chapter 5, Hermes Town and Memories

We've finally arrived. The Town of Traders and Travellers, Hermes Town.

"Well then, we'll see you around." Jason-san said as I headed for the bookstore. "If you need help, we'll be staying at the Silver Drift Inn for a bit."

"Thank you." I said and bowed my head.

"Next time, don't be formal okay." Veronica said and I nodded my head.

I headed for the library to learn more about the Guardians. It's a small shop with bookshelves that tower up to the second floor.

I spent half the day researching about the Guardians and the state of the nation I'm in. From what I've gathered, there's not much about the Guardians except about their legends and the nation's current state isn't favorable. I'd better find a way to get back home as soon as possible. First up, joining their Hunter Association or something.

I asked around a bit and found that the Hunter Organization was at the heart of the town. I went there and it was a large building, similar to the size of our guilds. I entered and inside I saw countless people taking up jobs or looking for them. I went over to the counter where an elf with emerald hair, white skin and amber eyes stood.

"Greetings, how may I help you?" She asked.

"I'd like to join." I said and she looked me up and down then shaking her head.

"I'm sorry, there's no way. I'm not being rude it's just, you're..." She trails off, worried what she should say.

"I can insure you, I'll be fine." I said but she was still worried.

While I was thinkjng about a way to persuade her, I heard a ruckus from the group of people and a brawl had started. She immediately ran off to stop them and among the crowd I saw Jason and everyone else.

"Jason, Veronica, Misa!" I called out to them.

"Yo, we haven't even parted for a whole day and we're already back together." Jason said and I just laughed.

"So, what's happening?" I asked.

"Ah~, just someone trying to show off." Misa answered. "So did you get to join?"

"Not yet." I answered and just then a sword came slashing my way and slashed off my arm.

"Haruka!!" Verobica exclaimed.

"A-a-are you okay?!" The elf woman from earlier asked. "No, of course your not!! I'll get a potion just wait."

"No need." I said and picked up my dismember arm. "Ahh, there's no way I can put this back huh? That sword has an enchantment against Demonkins?"

I sighed and burnt the dismember hand. What a waste of my magical energy. I waited a bit and my arm regrew itself.

"W-w-w-what?!" They stared in shock.

"How?! No race has regeneration properties?! At most vampires can reattach dismember limbs but regenrate a whole arm?!" Veronica exclaimed. "What are you?!"

"Ahahaha." I just laughed stiffly. "If I had to say, I'm a mixed blood."

"Even so!!" Misa took my arm. "How did you regrow it so quickly?!"

"That's a secret." I answered.

Well, my body is made from magical energy that's been compressed. Similar to spirits, our bodies aren't real. Both Haruki and me, but I'm more so. My body can regrow itself countless times. So long as there's magical power I'm fine.

"As for the one who slashed me." I turned to the fat man with a sword in his hands.

"W-what ya got a problem!!" He shouted.

He's already injured me but he won't even apologize? I think these kind kf people won't learn unless you teach them.

I walked up to him and realized he was taller than me. I stared at him before grinning.

"What're ya grinning about ya runt?!" He said and grabbed my collar.

"Nothing much. It's just. You're only this big because of your giant blood?" I mocked him.

"What was that?!" He beought the sword to my neck

"I'll chop off that pretty little head of yours."

"I think your a thousand. no a billions years to early for that." I said and kicked his chin.

"Ya little!!" He charged at me with his sword.

"I order you, halt." I said and he froze in place.

"W-what?! I can't move?!!" He exclaimed.

"How does it feel? The Vampires power of domination." I grinned.

"Y-you're a vampire?!" He exclaimed.

"Remember to choose who you're picking fights with." I laugged before snapping my fingers and freeing him but he still was stubborn and cut of my head.

"Not so hot now are we?" He laughed.

"Oi, killing someone is punishable by death!!" Jason grabbed him.

"Don't waste your time." I said as my body picked up my dismember head and placed it back on my neck.

"H-h-how are you still alive?!" He exclaimed.

"Can you kill magical emergy? I doubt so." I answered him and went to the elf woman whose name is apparently Dahlia. "About my registration?"

"Ah right! Come this way." She said as she lead me back to the counter.

"For your information, I'm just a physical manifestation of magical power. I can't be killed." I said with a mocking grin and followed Dahlia-san back.

After signing the registration form I got my idea and I went to meet up with Jason and the others.

"Picking out jobs?" I asked them.

"Ah, yeah." Veronica answered.

Are they perhaps worried or surprised by what happened just now?

"Hey, do you guys find it wierd?" I asked them as we were going over the possible choices.

"What?" Misa asked.

"My body." I asked them.

"Well we were surprised." Jason answered. "But what did you mean physical manifestation?"

"It is what it is. I'm not really human, more like a culmination of emotions, memories, magical power and more." I answered.

To put it simply, I'm the "vessel" or physical manifestation of Haruki's power, memories and emotions that have been lost. He is the "heart" of my existence. If he disappears so do I but if I disappear so does the "existence" of Haruki. It other words, the life he has lived, the memories he has made, all of it will disappear along with me but his body will luve, he'll only forget everything. One cannot exist without the other. Haruki and my life and tied together by a small string that could snap should anything happen to the other.

Right now, I've only surpressed his memories, they haven't been forgotten, they've only been sealed. Because, that day, My existence was compromised. So Haruki would lose his memories and everything that made him Haruki. I know Aria and the others would blame themselves for the rest of their life if they what would happen so I took the risk. Took Haruki's memories and surpressed them and disappeared. The spell requires that they make Haruki remember who he is properly, because that day, Haruki was wavering. On who he was and what we were. Because when the seal was undone, I'd disappear into Haruki, leaving nothing of my existence. He probably felt guilty. My kind hearted brother.

I can only hope from here, that they can bring Haruki hope in the dark abyss that straggled the two of us.