Scars and Memories

Yuto bit his lip, considering the question. ["Going into someone's memories?"] He was curious, but he also felt a bit of trepidation. He had never done anything like this before

After a slight pause, he nodded. "I accept"

A wave of dizziness overcame him as the world around him shifted and blurred. He felt as if he was falling until everything went black. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a world of misty gray, memories swirling around him like wisps of smoke

It took a while for his eyes to get used to the fog, and he noticed a little girl with blonde hair, sitting on a chair, staring out to the abyss, her pale hair flowing down her back. She looked small and vulnerable, her gaze lost in the swirling mists around them

He approached her slowly, the mist parting around him as he moved. As he drew closer, he could pick up whispers, and snippets of her thoughts, he stopped a few feet away, watching her as her thoughts flickered through his mind

Fear, loneliness, curiosity, determination…

He hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should disturb her. But his curiosity was too strong, and he took a step closer

As he drew nearer, the little girl seemed to sense his presence. She turned her head slowly, her violet eyes meeting his. They were surprisingly clear and sharp for someone so young

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice soft yet firm. "You're not part of my memories"

Yuto blinked, a little taken aback by the girl's astute observation. He had been expecting her to ignore him, but she seemed very aware of his presence

He took another step forward, careful not to startle her. "I...I'm not a memory," he admitted, his voice a little hoarse. "I'm Yuto. Who are you?"

"What's a Yuto?"

Yuto blinked again, a little surprised at the girl's question.

"I'm...a person," he said, trying to keep his explanation simple. "Like you, but different"

"Different how?"

Yuto paused, trying to come up with a way to explain himself. How could he put into words the fact that he wasn't part of her memories, that he was real and she was...something else?

"I'm outside your memories," he finally said, gesturing to the foggy surroundings. "This place, it's...it's a record of your memories"

"You're seeing your past, your memories," he continued, trying again to explain. "But I'm not a part of that. I'm...I'm real. I'm standing here, talking to you"

The little girl tilted her head, her eyes scanning Yuto carefully. She seemed to understand his explanation, at least partially. Her mind was so sharp, it was surprising for someone her age

"If you're outside my memories, why are you here?" she asked, her voice still soft but with a touch of curiosity

Yuto considered her question. ["Why am I here?"] He wasn't sure himself. The System had given him access to her memories, but why? 

What was the purpose?

He shrugged, trying to hide his confusion. "I'm just...looking around," he said, trying to sound casual. "Your memories...they're interesting"

The little girl watched him for a moment, her gaze unwavering. There was a depth to her eyes, an intelligence that seemed almost out of place for a child

"You're not being honest," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "You didn't come here just to look around"

"You're right, I have many questions, and I was hoping you could show me"

The little girl tilted her head again, a sly smile playing on her lips. She seemed to be enjoying this, this little game of words

"What do you want to know?" she asked, her tone slightly mocking

"Jeez, maybe Claudia was right about you," he covered his mouth, shocked that his thoughts came out, it seemed that lying was impossible 

The little girl's smile widened at that, the mention of Claudia sparking something in her mind.

"Oh, you know Claudia?" she asked, her tone a little too innocent

"Yes, she's your little sister, correct?"

The little girl nodded her head, her gaze turning almost impish. "Oh, yes," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "My little sister, the perfect princess. Everyone adores her"

["What? Is this how she feels about Claudia? I can sense sarcasm as if she's denying any love"]

"Do you like your little sister?"

The little girl let out a scoff, her eyes rolling. "Like her? Hardly," she said, her tone full of disdain. "She's too perfect, too sweet. It's almost sickening"

"Rosalind, stop lying to yourself"

The little girl's expression faltered for a moment at Yuto's words, her mask slipping, "I...I'm not lying," she protested, but her voice lacked the usual conviction

"I have a little sister too, and I adore her"

The girl's eyes widened at Yuto's words, a flicker of something passing through her gaze. It looked a little like envy, but...not quite

"Oh, you adore her," she repeated, her tone teasing. "How sweet. Tell me, does she adore you back?"

"She does. Even when she sent me through a tree during training, she cares about me as much as I care about her"

Rosalind's expression shifted, her eyes narrowing slightly. 

"Send you through a tree, hmm?" she repeated, sounding half-amused, half-irritated. "I bet you deserved it. And of course she cares about you. You're siblings. She has to"

"Just as you care about Claudia, I know you love your little sister"

Rosalind's expression hardened at Yuto's words, the mask of indifference slipping again. 

"I...I don't love her," she protested, but her voice trembled slightly, betraying her. "She's...she's just a spoiled brat. That's all"

"Then, why are you crying?"

Rosalind's head snapped up, her eyes widening as she realized tears were running down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away, her face becoming stoic again

"I'm...I'm not crying," she said, her voice wavering. "I...I just...it's just...dust or something. In my eyes"

"It hurts lying to yourself, I know"

Rosalind's expression darkened, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She glared at Yuto, her hands clenched into fists

"I'm not lying..." she whispered, her voice a choked whisper, "I don't...I don't care about Claudia. I...I don't"

Yuto walks over and pulls Rosalind into a hug, "A child is still a child, you remind me of my daughter"

Rosalind stiffened at Yuto's embrace, clearly unused to such a display of affection. But after a moment, she slowly relaxed, her body slumping against his

Tears began to fall again, silently slipping down her cheeks. She didn't make a sound, but her body trembled slightly

"Alyssa, your stepmother doesn't treat you right, correct?" Rosalind let out a small sniffle, her fingers gripping tightly onto Yuto's shirt. 

"No...no, she doesn't..." she admitted, her voice hoarse. "She...she's always so mean. She hates me. She hates that I exist"

Yuto's heart ached at the sadness in Rosalind's voice. He could only imagine how hard it had been for her, growing up in such an unloving environment

He hugged her tighter, wishing he could shield her from all the pain and hurt. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice gentle. "You don't deserve that. You deserve to be loved and cared for"

["That might explain her 10,000 mentality stat, as a child born into royalty, having to deal with her stepmother, not feeling any love, maybe she closed herself off"]

"And your dad?" Rosalind's body tensed slightly at the mention of her father. 

"My dad...he's..." she trailed off, biting down on her lower lip. "He...he doesn't care about me. He's always too busy with his duties, with the kingdom. He's always putting Claudia first, pampering her like a little princess"

"Really, I spoke to your father and you know what he said"

Rosalind looked up at Yuto, her eyes wide. "You...you spoke to my father?" she whispered, her voice full of surprise and disbelief

She pulled back a little, looking at him in confusion. "What...what did he say?"

"I'm sorry, my Rosey"

Rosalind's breath hitched at Yuto's words, her eyes widening even more. Her fingers clutched at his shirt again, her body trembling. 

"He...he said that?" she whispered, her voice raw and choked with emotion. "He...he said he's sorry?"

"And your sister Claudia, she was worried about you, see came rushing in when she heard you were hurt"

Rosalind's expression changed again, her eyes widening in surprise. "Claudia...she was worried about me?" she repeated, her voice filled with a mixture of disbelief and hope

She looked up at Yuto, her eyes searching his face as if looking for any hint of a lie

"She said she was sorry for not trying to understand you"

Rosalind's lip trembled, her eyes filling with tears again. She sniffled, her voice a little shaky. 

"She...she said she was sorry?" she repeated again, as if the words couldn't quite sink in. 

"But...but she's never been sorry before. She's always called me names and treated me like a brat"

Yuto could see the confusion and pain etched on Rosalind's face. Clearly, she was struggling to reconcile her perception of her sister and the words Yuto was telling her.

He gently pulled her closer, offering her comfort. "People can change," he whispered. "Maybe Claudia had a change of heart. Maybe she finally realized how you've been feeling"

Rosalind was quiet for a while, her mind clearly working through what Yuto was saying. Her fingers played with a loose thread on his shirt, a small sign of her unease

She spoke, her voice soft and a little hesitant. "And…and Claudia really was worried about me?" she asked, looking up at him again

Yuto gave a big smile, "Yes, to the point she told off your step mother for the bad treatment she gave you"

["I did hear from Ruby that Claudia went off on her mother for the treatment she gave Rosalind, still it is hard to believe"]

Rosalind's eyes widened even more, her mouth forming a small 'o'. She stared at Yuto for a moment before looking away, her fingers still fiddling with the loose thread

"S-she really did that...?" she whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of shock and awe.

Yuto couldn't help but smile warmly. It seemed that Claudia's actions had resonated deeply with Rosalind, causing her to view her sister in a completely new light

He placed a hand on top of her head, patting her hair gently. "Looks like your sister does care about you after all," he said, his voice soft

"Now, will you guide me through your memories, I need an excellent guide"

Rosalind looked up at Yuto, her eyes finally dry of tears. She seemed different now, less wary and more open

"I...I can show you my memories," she said, nodding slowly. "I can guide you through them...if you want"

Yuto smiled warmly at her, glad that she was opening up to him. "Thank you," he said, reaching out and taking her small hand in his. "Lead the way"

Rosalind seemed shy and hesitant as she led Yuto through the vast, gray landscape of her memories. They walked in silence for a while, the mist swirling around them 

Finally, they came to a stop in front of a door that seemed to appear out of nowhere. It was a normal-looking door, nothing out of the ordinary, but Rosalind regarded it with a mixture of longing and sadness

"Something wrong?"

Rosalind pulled her hand away from Yuto's and wrapped her arms around herself. "This...this is a memory I don't want to revisit," she whispered, her voice shaky

She gestured at the door in front of them. "This is the day...the day my mother died…"

"Whitney, the first queen, correct?"

Rosalind nodded, her eyes downcast. "Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "My mother...she was a wonderful person. Kind and loving. She...she didn't deserve to die"

["Didn't deserve to die? Was she assassinated?"]

"What happened if you wish to view it or talk about it"

Rosalind took a deep, shaky breath, seeming to steel herself. 

"It was a hunting accident," she whispered, her voice quavering. "My mother and father... They thought a hunting picnic would be nice. They were ambushed by a demon...a very powerful one. My mother...she was killed trying to protect my father…"

The memory played out in front of them like a movie, each scene more vivid than the last. 

Yuto saw the happy family on their hunting trip, seemingly enjoying themselves and without a care in the world. He saw the chaos that erupted when they were ambushed by the demon, the fear and desperation on Rosalind's parents' faces as they tried to defend themselves

And then he saw the moment when Rosalind's mother was struck down, shielding her husband with her own body

Rosalind watched the memory in silence, her body trembling slightly. There were no tears this time, but her face was pale and her eyes dull

She watched the aftermath of the attack, where her father held her mother's lifeless body, his anguished sobs echoing through the forest

["Shit, how do I comfort a child?"]

"You know, I lost my father to demons as well"

Rosalind slowly looked up at Yuto, her expression a mixture of surprise and sympathy

"You...you did?" she whispered, her voice soft

"Strongest, man in the kingdom died fighting against them, it's hard, right? Losing a loved one to such a foul beast"

Rosalind's lips trembled as she nodded her head. "It's...it's unbelievably hard," she whispered, her voice quivering. "The pain, the emptiness...it feels like nothing will ever be right again…"

"We can keep moving, this must be hard for you to see"

Rosalind let out a shaky breath and nodded again, her eyes still dull. "Yes...let's keep going," she murmured, her voice hollow

She led him away from the memory of her mother's death, moving deeper into the swirling gray mist

They walked in silence for a while, Rosalind leading the way with a resigned stride. The memories around them seemed to blur together, each more bleak than the last 

Finally, Rosalind stopped in front of another door, this one looking a bit older and more worn than the last

"What's this door?"

Rosalind's expression darkened a little as she looked at the door. "This...this is a memory of my fourth birthday party," she said, her voice toneless

"Rosalind, what happened?"

Rosalind took a shuddering breath, her hands curling into fists at her side. "It's...it's not a happy memory," she whispered, her voice strained. "It's...it's a memory of the worst day of my life…"

Yuto patted her head, "We can skip this memory, it's fine"

Rosalind looked up at him, her eyes wide and surprised. She seemed to be taken aback by his kindness, as if she wasn't used to someone being so empathetic

"You...you would skip it?" she asked, her voice soft. "You wouldn't make me show you?"

"My daughter has a lot of things she wants to say but keeps a secret, I would never force her to tell me, I won't force you to show me something you want to keep private"

Rosalind's eyes widened further, as if she couldn't believe what Yuto was saying. Her body seemed to relax slightly, the tension in her shoulders loosening 

"You...you're different from everyone else, Yuto," she whispered, a hint of awe in her voice

"Most people would just force me to show them, to relieve my pain over and over again...but you won't do that"

Yuto smiled at her gently, his hand still on her head. "I believe in understanding and consent, Rosalind," he said quietly. "Forcing you to show me memories you don't want to see would be wrong. I want to understand you, not control you"

Rosalind looked up at him, her wide eyes brimming with gratitude. A small, tentative smile tugged at her lips, the edges of it wobbly but genuine

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice cracking a little with emotion. "I...I don't know what to say...nobody's ever cared about what I want before…"

"You don't need to say anything," he assured her, his voice kind. "So moving on, yes?"

Rosalind nodded, a little more of the tension from earlier bleeding out of her, "Yes," she said, her voice still a bit shaky. "Let's...let's move on…"

["There's something unnerving about that the door, I'm curious but I won't pry further"]

Yuto's eyes lingered on the old, worn door, wondering what could possibly be behind it

He was tempted to ask Rosalind about it, to satisfy his curiosity. But at the same time, he knew he had promised not to force her to show him memories she wasn't comfortable with 

Reluctantly, he turned away from the door, focusing on following Rosalind through the sea of swirling memories

They walked on for a while, the gray mist shifting and swirling around them. Rosalind kept a relatively steady pace, her eyes on the ground as she led him through the ever-changing landscape

Rosalind stopped in front of another door. This one was larger than the last, looking a bit more foreboding, the expression on Rosalind's face was grim as she stared at the door, her shoulders tense. She seemed almost reluctant to approach it, as if it held painful memories within

"This..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is the day I..." She trailed off, her gaze fixed on the door, her body going rigid

Yuto looked at her, his heart clenching in his chest. He could tell she was struggling in front of that door. He could sense the fear and pain rolling off of her in waves

"I'll open it, stay back"

Rosalind gave a shaky nod, taking a step back. She hugged her arms around herself, her eyes still fixed on the looming door

Yuto approached the door, feeling the weight of its age and ominous presence. Without another thought, he pushed the door open, bracing himself for what he might see inside

As soon as Yuto opened the door, a wave of intense pain and sorrow washed over him. It was as if all the negative emotions that filled this memory were pouring into him, threatening to choke him

He felt breathless, as if he was drowning in a sea of despair, ["It's suffocating, I feel as if I'm dying"]

The memory unfolding before him was filled with pain and anguish. There were screams, tears, and a sense of overwhelming loss. It seemed to be a memory of Rosalind's most painful experience, the one that had left her with such deep scars

"Rosalind stay back"

Rosalind, who was standing a few steps away, flinched at Yuto's outcry. She knew exactly what he was feeling inside the memory, and it seemed to pain her deeply

Yuto didn't even notice her reaction, his focus entirely on the memory. The pain and anguish he felt were so intense that he felt nauseous. He stumbled back a few steps, clutching at his chest as if the memory itself was stabbing him in the heart

"Argh fuck this hurts"

Rosalind watched in horror as Yuto stumbled back, his face twisted in pain. She took a half step forward, as if wanting to reach out to him, but stopped herself, unsure if she should intervene or not

Yuto gasped, struggling to draw breath. The pain and despair in the memory were like physical weights, pressing down on him, threatening to crush him. He looked up, meeting Rosalind's eyes, his own filled with a mixture of pain and pleading

"This memory," was the memory that haunted her, the one that had left her so broken and lonely 

"What is it, I can feel the emotions, but it's not clear," he tried his best to stand, to leave this memory of pure agony 

Rosalind hesitated for a moment, her hands fidgeting nervously. She took a deep, shaky breath, steeling herself.

"That…that's the memory of the day…the day…"

She couldn't seem to force the words out, her voice catching in her throat. Yuto could see the fear and pain etched on her face, the memory still so raw and traumatic for her

He took a step towards her, his eyes soft and full of understanding. He could see how difficult it was for her to talk about this memory, how much it still haunted her

He took a step towards her, his eyes soft and full of understanding. He could see how difficult it was for her to talk about this memory, how much it still haunted her

"Rosalind, you don't have to say it," he said quietly, his voice gentle. "I can see how much it hurts you...you don't have to relive it again"

"B-but-"

Yuto shook his head gently, cutting her off. "No buts," he said firmly but kindly. "You've been through enough. You don't need to force yourself to show me something that hurts you this much"

"We can close the door again"

Rosalind looked at him, her eyes wide and filled with gratitude. A small sense of relief washed over her face as she nodded her head. "Yes...please," she whispered, her voice pleading

"Let's...let's close the door and move on"

Yuto nodded, his heart aching for Rosalind's pain. He backed away from the door, pulling it shut and effectively closing off the memory and the negative emotions that came with it

Yuto swayed a little as the overwhelming pain and despair from the memory faded away. As he regained his composure, he noticed the scars and bruises that had appeared on his body. It was as if the memory itself had inflicted these wounds upon him, the intensity of the pain leaving physical marks on his body

Rosalind looked at him in shock, her hands covering her mouth as she took in the sight of his injured body

"Y-Yuto..." she whispered, her voice shaking with worry. "What happened? Are you...are you okay? Those marks...they came from memory, didn't they?"

Yuto chuckled as he patted her head, "Child, it's fine do not worry"

Rosalind looked up at him, her eyes filled with concern and disbelief. Yuto's voice was casual, almost nonchalant, as if the scars and bruises on his body were nothing to worry about. The contrast between his carefree attitude and the seriousness of his injuries was jarring

"Y-you're hurt," she protested, her voice still shaking. "You can't just say 'don't worry.' Those scars...they look awful…"

Yuto gave a soft laugh, wincing a little as the motion aggravated his wounds. "Don't worry about me, Rosalind," he assured her, his voice still light. "These are just superficial wounds. They'll heal soon enough"

["I hope, these scars are no joke they bloody hurt"]

"So what's the next memory?"

Rosalind still looked apprehensive, her eyes lingering on the scrapes and cuts on Yuto's skin. However, she knew arguing with him was futile

"Um, the next memory..." she said, still sounding uncertain. She looked around, scanning the gray landscape for the next door. "It's..."

She paused, her eyes widening slightly as she spotted a door in the distance. "It's over there," she pointed, her voice shaky

Yuto followed her gaze and spotted the door she was pointing at. Even from where they were standing, he could feel a sense of foreboding emanate from it. The memory held within didn't seem like a pleasant one

"Let's get this over with," Yuto said, his tone more serious now. He winced slightly as he began walking towards the door. The wounds on his body ached and stung with each step, but he tried to hide his discomfort, not wanting to worry Rosalind further

Rosalind trailed after him, her steps slow and reluctant. It was clear she knew what kind of memory lay beyond that door, and she dreaded having to confront it again

As they approached the door, it loomed over them, its age and ominous presence making each step feel like a leaden weight

Yuto stopped in front of the door, reaching out to turn the handle. He paused for a moment, glancing at Rosalind, who stood a few steps back, her eyes fixed on the door

"Are you sure you want me to see this?" he asked quietly, his voice gentle but firm. "It seems like this memory is...not as friendly as the others"

Rosalind hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering from the door to Yuto. Her face was pale, her hands clenching and unclenching nervously at her side. She took a deep breath, her body tensing as if preparing for the worst

"I...I'm sure," she whispered, her voice quivering. "I...I need you to see what happened"

Yuto could feel the pain in her voice, the fear and the resignation. She had decided to open up this memory to him, no matter how painful it was for her

With a nod, he turned the handle and pushed the door open, revealing the memory waiting within

As soon as Yuto opened the door, he was immediately transported to a memory. It was a room, plain and unadorned, with gray stone walls and a cold, hard floor. The only furniture was a small bed pushed up against the far wall

A young Rosalind, around nine years old, knelt on the floor before an older woman. From the resemblance, Yuto could immediately tell this was Rosalind's stepmother, Alyssa

Alyssa towered over Rosalind, a menacing figure whose face was twisted in a sneer. Her eyes, hard and cold, were fixed on Rosalind, filled with malice and disdain

Rosalind knelt in front of her, her head bowed low, her body trembling. The fear was visible in her body language, the way she kept her head down and her shoulders hunched, as if trying to make herself as small as possible

Alyssa loomed over her, the air thrumming with tension. She reached out and grabbed Rosalind's chin, forcing her to look up, her fingers digging painfully into her flesh

Rosalind flinched, a small whimper escaping her lips as she was forced to look up. Her eyes met Alyssa's hard gaze, and Yuto could see the terror and helplessness in their depths

["This is why she has a 10,000 mentality stat"]