A Path To Remember

Margaret stared at Klaus, her interest piqued. As she did so, she couldn't help but think he might be the key to solving her problems.

Klaus examined Margaret's face intently before shifting his attention to her outstretched hand. "Klaus Drakonov," he muttered, grasping her hand and shaking it firmly.

The moment his surname left his lips, Klaus realised that he had only just recalled it. He looked back at Margaret, who seemed to understand his predicament.

"You didn't remember your surname earlier, did you?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Klaus shook his head, his eyes filled with confusion. Margaret fell silent, deep in thought, for a few minutes before finally speaking up.

"I know a way to help you regain your memories, Klaus." She said this to Klaus, who was about to reply when a knock interrupted them.

"Aunt!" Keira's voice called out to them from the other side of the room. "Are you done yet? Can I come in now?"

As no response came from the other side, she began turning the door handle in an attempt to enter the room, but her attempt was in vain.

Margaret shook her head at her niece's impatience and turned to Klaus. "Before we can begin helping with your memories, Klaus, I will need to gather some materials. This may take a couple of days, so you have to stay here for a little while." Margaret explained.

"Is that okay with you?" Margaret asked, her voice soft and her expression caring.

Klaus's gaze met Margaret's, and he was taken aback by the swift shift in her demeanor. He knew it was due to the ancient language, but he was willing to overlook that fact, given the opportunity to recover his lost memories.

As he surveyed the room, Klaus's eyes fell upon the shelves of books that lined its walls. He couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the prospect of diving into the texts and discovering more about the world around him.

The books he read already expanded his knowledge a little about the world, and Klaus was eager to learn more. He felt this was a win-win situation, as not only would he regain his memories, but he would also learn about magic and history while he was here.

"Yes, that's fine with me," He replied.

Margaret smiled warmly after he spoke. As another knock came from the door, she stretched her hand out to remove the spell she had cast on the door.

The door opened, and Keira stepped into the room. She looked at Klaus closely before turning her gaze to her aunt, Margaret.

"So, did it work?" She asked.

Margaret shook her head in response, and Keira's expression fell. She looked at Klaus with a mixture of concern and apprehension, wondering where to take it from here.

Margaret was one of the most gifted mages in the kingdom, and if she wasn't able to help Klaus with his memories, Keira knew she had to take it up with that person if she wanted to help Klaus.

Just as Keira was about to speak, Margaret met her gaze. "You don't have to take him to your father for help because I can help him recover his memories." Margaret said with confidence.

Keira's face lit up, and she let out a small gasp of excitement. "Really? You can help him?" She asked.

Margaret nodded her head, but the expression on her face remained serious. "I believe I can." She said. "But I will need some time and materials."

"Whatever you need, aunt, I will get it for you." Keira said firmly.

"I appreciate the offer, but you won't be able to help me with this material, Keira." Margaret replied.

Keira's curiosity was piqued when she heard her aunt's response, and she couldn't help but wonder what sort of materials were needed that even she couldn't provide.

She was about to speak when Margaret casually stretched her hand, and a red, gem-like object appeared on her palm. It was the size of a large bead, but it glowed softly, emitting a warm, comforting light, and intricate patterns of rhinoceros were etched into its surface.

Keira's eyes widened in surprise and recognition as she realised what it was. "A B-Rank Beast Core!" She exclaimed in disbelief. "This is a national treasure!"

"And it is the only thing that can help awaken his memories." Margaret replied. "While he's unable to absorb mana in the surrounding environment, his body craves for it, and for some reasons I'm not so sure of, the more mana he absorbs, the more memory of himself he will recover."

As Keira looked at the beast's core in Margaret's hand, there was great shock in her eyes. A B-Rank beast core was something that was incredibly rare and valuable, not something that could be obtained easily. And the fact that her aunt possessed one shocked her greatly.

She looked at Margaret with a mix of shock and awe, and she found herself struggling to find the right words to say. Keira knew just how powerful a B-rank beast core was, and the fact that Margaret was willing to use it to help Klaus recover his memories surprised her.

"Thank you very much, Aunt," Keira finally managed to say. Then, without a second thought, she wrapped her arms around Margaret in a tight hug.

"You don't have to thank me, Keira," Margaret said firmly, her expression serious. "I also have my selfish reasons for choosing to help him this much."

As Keira pulled away from her aunt, she looked at Margaret with concern and curiosity. "What do you mean, Aunt Margaret?"

Margaret looked at Keira with a straight face and then began to speak. She recounted everything that happened earlier in the room: how the mana in her body had been drained, how her life force was almost depleted, and even the ancient language he was able to understand wasn't left out.

As Margaret spoke, Keira couldn't help but turn her gaze to Klaus occasionally. She was indeed shocked at the news, but he continued to stare at them with an innocent look.

"I don't think he's any ordinary person, Keira," Margaret said in a serious voice. "And based on what you've told me about him, you should have also had your own thoughts. So if we're going to help him recover his memories, we need to play it safe."

Keira nodded her head. She had suspected that Klaus wasn't as plain as he appeared to be and that there was more to him than he realised.

"I don't want you getting involved in this," Margaret continued, her eyes fixed on Keira.

"Aunt!" Keira exclaimed.

"It's for your own good." Margaret replied. "And beside, I will need much more than one B-Rank beast core if I want to recover his memories, so you won't be any help."

Keira bit her lips, but then her shoulder slumped slightly as she took in her aunt's words. She knew Margaret was right, but she had hoped she would be able to help in some way.

"I understand, Aunt Margaret," Keira said quietly, accepting her aunt's decision. "I will leave him in your care now."

A slight nod came from Margaret, and the two women turned their attention to Klaus. Throughout their discussion, his eyes were fixed on them, listening intently but clearly confused.

As they shifted their gaze to him, he spoke up. "What is this beast core you mentioned? And can it really help me recover my memories?" He looked at the core in Margaret's hand with a curious expression.

"Beast cores are the crystallised essence of powerful beasts that roam the world," She explained. "They are highly sought after for their magical properties, and yes, they will help recover your memories."

"But since you drained me of my mana and you were only able to remember your surname, only the B-Rank Beast Core and above will work for you."

"And where can I find these beast cores?" Klaus asked.

Margaret shook her head. "I advise against being hasty. You will only get yourself killed if you search for these beasts on your own. So in the meantime, I will help with the beast core."

"Thank you," Klaus muttered, his eyes fixed on Margaret.

Margaret nodded back at him and then turned her attention to Keira. "It's already late," She said in a serious voice. "Show him the room opposite mine. That's where he will be staying."

Keira turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Margaret spoke again. "Not you, Keira. Thorne, show him where he will stay. As for you, Keira, there's something I need to talk to you about."

Thorne stepped forward and gestured for Klaus to follow him. Klaus nodded and followed Thorne out of the room, leaving Margaret and Keira alone.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Margaret's demeanour changed. She fixed Keira with a cold, hard stare that made Keira worry.

"Keira," Margaret began, her voice low and dangerous. "When will you return to the kingdom?" She asked.

Keira's expression twisted into a frown. "I'm not ready yet, Aunt." She replied firmly.

Margaret narrowed her eyes, and after a moment, she heaved a deep breath and spoke again. "Your father has been asking questions about you," She said, her tone softer now. "But it's fine if you aren't ready to go there."

"This is your home," Margaret continued, her voice taking on a reassuring tone. "And no one can take you from here if you aren't ready to go."

"Thank you, aunt." Keira said it with a smile on her face.

"Is Klaus really able to read ancient languages, Aunt?" Keira asked, her voice tinged with shock, as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard.

Margaret met Keira's gaze and replied with a firm nod. "Yes, he is," Margaret affirmed.

Though Klaus remained oblivious to the true significance of his talent, Keira understood the gravity of the situation. She understood the magnitude of Klaus's unique ability, one that surpassed mere linguistic prowess.

It held the potential to unlock the secrets of a bygone era and unravel the mysterious ancient magic—the very wellspring from which all magical power originated.