Ophieus blinked before letting out a groan as he found himself back in the foggy forest he was in before. He glanced to his right to see the fog still swirling around but still not coming into the green grass and colored flowers. Then he looked around but didn't see the Bronze Regret body around as if it was never here.
"Why did its body get absorbed by the Knowledge but not the other Abomination? Is it because it had a soul and the others didn't?" Ophieus muttered as he moved through the thick emerald grass sprawled in all directions.
They gently brushed against his boot with every step he took and then he knelt down in front of the flowers. He gently brushed his finger against the pink and blue flowers and noted they didn't break. In addition they weren't cold like the grass or leaves inside of the fog and he could caress them all over without fear.
"The more I see, the more I feel this fog is just terrible." Ophieus muttered before he flinched as his head throbbed.
Flashes of memories, words being roared, shadowy figures with light-blue spoke and figures with bones passed by. Ophieus rubbed his head as a low groan escaped his throat with his head surging with not exactly pain.
But with an intrusion of foreign of knowledge, emotions, and regret that made him a bit dizzy. He then stood up after recovering a second later and then a smile appeared on his lips as he wondered about the previous world.
Was that world tied to Riley's soul? Or could all Abominations show that but the Best Festival didn't. Could it be because they lacked a soul while the Bronze Regret had one? Where did that place come from? Why could I feel Riley's emotions when I saw his memories?
More and more questions formed into Ophieus head as his grin seemed to grow. He could feel his heart beating faster as a sense of excitement and curiosity rushed through him.
It was then a familiar appeared in his mind with a silver screen appearing in front. The translucent rectangle screen of light shined, hanging in mid-air and words being displayed on it.
[You should check your knowledge.]
Ophieus tilted his head, golden eyes narrowing in surprise and then nodded. The screen flickered before the words faded away and then rearranged itself into a more familiar layout.
[Name: Ophieus
Pathfinder: Awakening
Strength: Green (Very High)
Vitality: Green (High)
Stamina: Green (Very High)
Agility: Green (Very High)
Perception: ???
Magic: Green (Average)
Sanity: 102
Knowledge: 44]
Ophieus's eyes widened in surprise as he stared at the knowledge part and the number next to it. He stared at the number for several seconds and saw the huge jump from how it was before his fight with Bronze Regret.
"…From 14 to 44…?" Ophieus muttered as his fingers softly brushed his chin. "That means the bronze abomination gave me more than thirty points." He wasn't even sure what a jump that large meant considering he barely understood what the Silver Key system was.
But the scale should indicate something, especially since after gaining the knowledge from the Bronze Regret. He saw flashes of memories and its emotion, which made him wonder if it's the more knowledge he gained. The more he will know and the stronger he will become since knowledge and information does lead to growth.
But he was brought out of his thoughts when he saw a faint pulsing light drifting into view.
Ophieus furrowed his brows at first, wondering if it was another Abomination or Knowledge he had missed. But then he blinked as he saw a ball of light illuminating the grass with a golden glow. The ball of light bobbed through the air like a firefly, closing in on Ophieus who tilted his head.
Then a familiar voice echoed out softly from the golden ball.
"Hey…"
Ophieus's brow furrowed slightly. "Riley?"
The golden ball moved in midair before bobbing up and down its movement somehow bashful yet deliberate. "Ophieus!"
Ophieus chuckled under his breath and crossed his arms loosely. "This is… odd," he said, amusement in his voice. "But you're Riley? Really?"
"Yeah, although I'm not sure how I became like this." Riley as his form bobs up and down.
Ophieus sighed with a chuckle before shaking his head. "Well, can't say I saw this coming."
"Me either… But I don't think I can complain since I should be dead." Riley says softly.
Ophieus observed how the light shimmered, the orb flickering with hints of bronze off the side and tiny threads of blue trailing behind. "How much do you remember?"
The light pulsed faintly as Riley said. "Only some stuff and the rest are just pitch-black."
Ophieus hummed as he said. "Not much, huh? I guess we're alike, then." He shrugged his shoulders. "Seems neither of us remembers everything. At least not yet."
Just then the Silver Key's voice returned as the silver screen appeared once more and displayed the words.
[Riley has become one of your Silver Key Servants.]
[Spectral Soul Registered: Silver Knight.]
[New Knight: Silver Knights Riley Mellow.]
Then the words faded away before his overall statistical information was displayed. Below his personal information a new set of words emerged, shimmering into place.
[Silver Knights: Riley Mellow]
Ophieus stared at the line raised brow. "You're… my Knight?" he asked aloud, glancing toward the floating orb.
"What do you mean?"
Ophieus caressed his chin as he says. "I think you're in this form because you became connected to me, something akin to a spectral knight."
Riley twirled in place, seemingly startled and then he faintly said. "Is that possible?"
Ophieus laughed. "I don't know but it doesn't sound too bad."
At the very least, Riley wasn't gone.
"But I do know this, you helped me. I wouldn't be standing here without you." Ophieus gently held the golden ball in his hand as he smiled down at it. "And while I woke up without my memories… You still gave me the chance to live and decide what I want to do with my life. I want to regain my memories, understand who I was, and what this all means. You seem to be in the same boat."
The golden ball was silent.
"So…" Ophieus continued with a chuckle, "why don't we help each other? You join me on this journey to discover our memories together. What do you say?"
The orb trembled slightly before the glow around it seemed to shine even brighter. While the flowers down below swayed and gave off glittering lights as a soft breeze swept through the small area.
Then Riley's voice says. "Yes!… I don't know why but… I feel like there's something I have to do, it was important enough for me to come here. And following you…"
The orb rose slightly in the air, swirling once around Ophieus's head.
"…Might just help me remember what that is."
Ophieus grinned as he watched the golden ball move around him with an amused glint in his golden eyes. "Good," he said. "Then let's get started."