to the Past—

[OKAMI VILLAGE, 456TH CENTURY, WINTER]

The next morning, Damien woke up unexpectedly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Oddly, his eyes had changed from a sinister crimson-red to a warm, rich brown, and his skin looked more lively than before, as if he had turned over a new leaf overnight.

When Yukio entered the room, Damien sprang up with a chirpy, "Good morning, where is everyone?"

Yukio, with a smile playing on his lips, greeted him casually, "They're all outside. By the way, could you lend me a hand with the groceries?"

Damien, brimming with an unusual surge of energy, agreed enthusiastically and bounded out the door.

No sooner had Damien left than Inoue entered the room, approaching Yukio with a serene expression. "It worked, master…"

Yukio gave a knowing nod, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mystery. "It will be some time before he remembers everything. Then, we will piece together what happened to him…"