Shadows of Forgotten Memories

"How was the trip?" A lively voice chimed as Sorin approached.

His expression brightened at the sight of Felix, the young man waited for him a few stalls away from the flower shop. He donned his usual knight's uniform, his sword hung on his waist. His curly red hair stood out from the rest of the crowd making him easier to spot.

"I got what I needed." he showed the bouquet of flowers to Felix, the other man's hazel fox-like eyes sparkled playfully at the sight of the flowers

"How pretty!" he exclaimed happily. Felix held multiple sticks of candied fruit in one hand, visibly excited at the various food stalls that lined the streets.

"I also met someone from the orphanage at Willowmere. It's nice that she grew up well." Sorin remarked as fond memories of the children danced through his thoughts, their smiles and laughter were something he had missed.

It was an opportunity that the children from Theorim orphanage never had.

Guilt surrounded him constantly in the past, being the only survivor of that tragedy. But now he had the chance to give those children peace, perhaps he might see their spirits roaming around the orphanage.

"Oh. Did they recognize you?" Felix asked as he devoured the stick of candied fruit, his voice held a sinister edge.

Unlike Lili, Felix was more distrustful of humans and would not hesitate to follow Sorin's orders if it came to harming humans.

Not that Sorin had ordered him before in his past life.

Sorin shook his head with a sigh "They didn't. Let them be." his gaze was soft and filled with sympathy "We have more important things to attend to."

Felix shrugged, expressing his disappointment but didn't say anything more.

"I'll have to visit the orphanage before the sun sets."

Felix stopped in his tracks with a knowing glint in his eyes "Oh, I'll be fine! Let's meet after, okay?" He had a devilish grin playing across his lips. His sharp teeth flashing for a quick moment, Felix bid a quick farewell before skipping to another shop.

Having some time alone was a luxury Sorin rarely gets. He was surrounded by tasks all the time and he sometimes forget what it meant to be a normal person.

It was at moments like these, he felt a sliver of his old self– just a fragment, though, not enough to rekindle any pesky attachments.

The walk to the outskirts of the city was short. Sorin's footsteps crunched on the grass, the trees around the area were untouched.

A broken structure was visible from the array of trees, Sorin could still trace the ashes and embers from when it was burned down.

"Hello, everyone." he greeted softly, tracing his fingers along the last of the building's structure.

As if time was forever frozen. He closed his eyes in solemn thoughts, etching Their memories inside his mind.

"Everyone, I saw a child from another orphanage, she has grown to be a wonderful woman." Sorin said to the children in his memories "She has a way with flowers, I'm sure you would have loved her works." He placed the bouquet on the ground, staring at it with longing eyes.

"I wanted to see what you guys look like when you've grown." He chuckled to himself.

"Ray, perhaps you would have been taller than me."

"Maria, maybe your skills in painting would have improved."

Silence hung heavy in the air. Sorin waited for a response that never came. He found the same bitter feeling in the pits of his stomach as resentment once again filled his veins.

"But fate's cruel like that, isn't it?" he asked with a strained smile "Seeing those people only reminds me of what I have lost."

"There's not a waking moment where I don't wish everyone was here. Most people have forgotten about your lives. I'm the only one who remembers you this way." he said in a low whisper.

Sorin ran a finger through his hair "I must be going insane." He laughed humorlessly. He stayed at the orphanage until he watched the sun slowly setting.

They were only a figure of his memory now, forever following him where ever he goes.

The last rays of sunlight changed into hues of crimson, and Sorin's cold gaze remained empty.

"I'll ruin them all," he vowed, voice filled with malice "I will tear them down, every single one of them is not worthy of their puny lives. The world is just filled with filth without you here."

A twisted smile curled upon his lips, demons are such cruel and unforgiving creatures.

The enemies of humanity, who was he to deny that purpose?

It was the fate that was given to him.

"Lucifer... what have you turned me into?"

He stood up from the ground, dusting himself off "I'll be back." he bid them goodbye before turning away. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous contempt as he stared at the view he was overly familiar with.

With those words, Sorin knew that his plans were set into motion. He would not stop until every wretched soul in the empire would kneel in his presence;

"Ah, the breeze is warm today." Sorin hummed with a smile.