Chapter 1: Forgotten Memory & Promise

A man walks around what was once considered a great human civilization—an abandoned ruin. During those times, he kept on exploring deeper and deeper, as if he were searching for something. Eventually, he found what he needed—a grave hidden under a broken structure covered in debris.

The first thing the man did was dig up the grave, and there he found the body of a preserved woman in ice. He looked at the state of the body and was surprised that the body was still in good condition, still retaining her beauty when she was alive, almost as if someone had just recently put her in the ice. When he finished digging, he melted the ice and placed the woman's body on the ground.

He stood above the body and grabbed a knife from his side. Just as he was about to slash his hand, he paused for a couple of seconds with hesitancy, then looked at her cold body. At that moment, he reassured himself.

Man: No, I must do this. *With the knife, he slits his hand.*

A drop of golden blood fell upon her lips and slid down her mouth. Nothing happened. During those days, all he did was sit near her body and take occasional walks around the room where her body was; not once would he leave his eye off of her. Still, nothing happened. Believing that his plan had failed, he fell into despair, but at the same time, part of him was relieved that it didn't work.

However, a few split seconds afterward, from the corner of his eye, he saw the body start twitching. He was ecstatic, but at the same time, he wasn't. Even so, he waited for a few hours for her to rise because now there was no turning back. When she finally rose and looked at the man who brought her back to life, her expression was rather emotionless; it wasn't one of disgust or disappointment; rather, it was a look of familiarity. The first thing the man asked was:

Man: Do you still know who you were or what your name was? 

He said with a bright smile on his face. At first, she had trouble speaking, most likely because she had been dead for a long time. But eventually, she replied, and although not exactly perfect, one can still make sense of it.

Woman: Iiiiiii... Donnn... nooo... whooo I wass or do... I... re...mem..ber my... name. (I don't know who I was, nor do I remember my name.) *She then took a deep breath*.

She had a soft and seductive voice that could make anyone fall in love with her at the very moment she spoke. But right now, the man told himself it was not the time to admire her voice, so he replied with:

Man: Yes, I see... Since you don't have a name, may I call you Brunhilde? *while still maintaining a smile*

It took her some time to speak again, though it made the man wonder what she was thinking about. Perhaps she didn't like the name he gave her?—but ultimately she would respond.

Brunhilde: I'll accept the name Brunhilde. Though, what should I call you, sir?

When Brunhilde spoke again, the man was surprised because it had only been a few minutes since she spoke the first time. He could understand everything perfectly, but then he remembered the question she asked for his name. He just stood silent and tried way too desperately to think of a name he could come up with, but in a few minutes, he replied.

Man: I have forgotten my name since it has been a long time since anyone has used it, but I guess you can call me Siegfreid *With a wide smile on his face*.

Brunhilde: Seigfried...? Well, then, Seigfried, I have too many questions right now.

Seigfried: Actually, before I answer, do you mind if you put some clothes on? *While trying to avert his eyes away from her, though, if you can even call it that,

Brunhilde: Oh

After they were done talking, he would grab some clothes and a sword from his backpack. He then told her.

Seigfried: "Take your time to dress and let me know when you're done." *Still trying to not look at her*

After that, he softly placed the clothes on her lap while the sword was placed next to her, and he left the room. Brunhilde looked at her leg and thought, Huh? I can't move.

When Brunhilde finally finished getting dressed after many failed attempts, she tried to call Seigfried several times without success. Upon going to the other room, all she saw was his backpack, and once she went outside, she discovered Seigfried standing outside and gazing up at the stars. When he saw her approaching him, he gave her a warm smile, which made her a bit nostalgic, and he said,

Seigfried: Sorry for not meeting you sooner, Brunhilde. I was looking at the stars. But, never mind that since you're already here, I'll try to answer as many questions as possible, but remember, I can't give you all the answers you want. But know that you are "special". Without you here, it would have been impossible for me or anyone else to complete this mission.

Upon hearing about the mission, Brunhilde was curious as to why she was "special". Even so, she decided not to ask him yet since she wanted to start with the easier question and then build up. She responded with:

Brunhilde: Who am I? Before I forgot my memory.

Seigfried: Well, that's easy; you used to be a mercenary, but you eventually retired to help provide in the medical field with someone, where you would die from a terminal illness years later. That is all I can provide you right now.

Brunhilde: I see... Then, do we know each other since you seem to know a lot about me?

Seigfried: Yes, but I prefer not to discuss this any further, so next.

When she heard his answer, it raised a red flag, but not enough for her to see him as a threat.

Brunhilde: Then, lastly, what is my mission?

Without hesitation, Seigfried says:

Seigfried: You see, our main mission is to kill the first hero, Gilgamesh, the ma—no, that would be incorrect—the monster who destroyed and ruled over mankind for a century. Who made billions of innocents suffer and killed billions more, all just because of selfish reasoning!

As he talks about Gilgamesh, his friendly atmosphere changes into one of wrath, to the point when he clenches both of his hands so hard that droplets of golden blood fall from his hand to the ground. When Brunhilde saw his sudden change, she couldn't recognize him as the person she first saw. He produced an aura so powerful that the ground around him started to crack and shake. After realizing the damage he was causing, he calmed down. Seigfried would add.

Seigfried: Sorry about that. Although Gilgamesh is the one who ruled the lands, there are far more heroes who are worse than Gilgamesh, but fortunately, they are not as strong as him. Which is why they're waiting for someone to kill him so they can use that opportunity to take over his throne. So my question is, do you think that you're capable of killing Gilgamesh and all of the other heroes?

Killing all the heroes and Gilgamesh? She thought that, upon witnessing his anger, Brunhilde reflected to herself that the power he displayed was already far greater than anything she could accomplish. So she says:

Brunhilde: I don't get it. Why ask someone like me, especially since you already seem far more capable than me? Furthermore, how am I to know you weren't one of those heroes competing for his throne?

She would look at him carefully and was prepared to fight, even when she knew she would not stand a chance, while still maintaining the same blank expression. whereas Seigfried understood why she was wary about this since everything he said was very vague. Deep in his thoughts, a part of him wanted to spill everything to her, but if he were to tell her everything, it might break her, and he was afraid to hurt her again. No, that was a lie—he knew anything he did would eventually hurt her. Regardless of that, he knew that without her, he wouldn't be able to achieve what he desired. So he responded:

Seigfried: I've tried to go against him once, but I stood no chance even with all my strength, and lastly, I have no interest in taking his throne, nor can I even take it because if you kill him, I... never mind. *he said it in a desperate tone*

Nevertheless, that wasn't enough to convince her, and he himself knew very well how silly it was without any proof.

Brunhilde: I'm very thankful for what you did for me, but I can't convince myself to believe what you say.

Seigfried: I understand your worry; again, I can't tell you everything. But if you don't believe my words are enough, I'll prove my determination through action. *At that moment, with no hesitation, he grabs the knife from his side and aims at his own heart.*

Though taken aback by what he did, Brunhilde moved without even thinking, grabbing his hand before he could even stab himself with the knife. Then she'd give him a slap on the face and hug him like her life depended on it. At that moment, she thought to herself, Why did I stop him? After all, he is still a stranger. Was it because he brought me back to life? No, that wasn't it. She herself doesn't have the answer to why, but she feels that if he succeeded in stabbing himself, she would have lost something important. After hugging him, she would pull away, still holding onto his hand. She then yelled at him in the face:

Brunhilde: What motivated you to hurt yourself? You idiot.

When Seigfried saw her face, she gave him the most heartbreaking face he had ever seen from her. She was on the verge of tears and did not let go of his hand, and she was afraid he would try to hurt himself again. It was the first time he'd seen her look at him other than with a blank expression. Seigfried would drop the knife and apologize to her.

Seigfried: I'm sorry...

Seigfried, remorseful, wanted to say more in his apology, but that would just be him trying to make an excuse for himself, so he kept to himself and waited for her to scold him. Brunhilde would say:

Brunhilde: Please don't do that again. *She said it while covering her mouth with one hand while the other was still holding onto him.

After Seigfried saw how she looked and heard what she said, his face turned red. He turned around, curled up, and covered his face with his knees in embarrassment. He would mutter to himself, I'm so stupid. But he was able to regain his composure and stand up. He tried to smile at her, hoping to change the current atmosphere between them, and said,

Seigfried: Why don't we go back inside and talk about the next morning?

She would nod her head, and the two of them would head back inside the run-down structure. They stayed in different rooms from each other, but neither of them slept once. When it was morning, he would go to her room and see her topless, looking at her back while sitting in front of the broken cheval mirror. Just by looking at her, he could tell that she was still thinking about her answer to him while looking at the scars on her body. He attempted to leave the room quietly and as soon as possible, but she would speak.

Brunhilde: I don't care if you see my body; since you've already seen it before, even then, I was going to visit you once I'd made my decision regarding last night.

Seigfried: Eh, is that so? *covering his eyes poorly with his hand.* Well, in that case, I will be outside.

She nodded in agreement, and thus he left the room, but before he left, he took one last peek, and he thought Nice! while striking a familiar pose. When she finished her business, she went outside and immediately saw him, and when he saw her, he waved his hand and said,

Seigfried: By the way, I want you to understand that I'm not giving you a choice as to whether you want to do this mission or not, because killing him is the only answer, so what is your answer to my question: are you capable of killing Gilgamesh and all of the other heroes? 

Without hesitation, after Brunhilde heard his question again, she would look at his face and give a short answer:

Brunhilde: Yes, I understand.

Seigfried would sigh of relief and said 

Seigfried: Thank you and Sorry for giving you such a heavy task...

He said it in an apologetic tone; nevertheless, she would reply with

Brunhilde: It's fine, but if we're working together in this mission, I need you to make a promise to me. *After that, she would extend her hand to him and offer her a pinky.*

He was taken aback and confused when she extended her pinky toward him. A pinky promise? Was it just an instant? Since the majority of her past should have been forgotten, oh well. Just as quickly as he was surprised he would stop himself from thinking any further, he then smiled at her and replied.

Seigfried: Sure. *He would then extend his hand and make a pinky promise.*

Brunhilde: Promise me that you will not hurt yourself. Moreover, since we will be fighting a lot from now on and I know that getting hurt is inevitable, that is why I say, please don't die.

After she told him, he was hesitant to respond, but in the end, he would with a bright smile on his face.

Seigfried: Off course, Brunhilde I promise.