Chapter 9: Fragments of Memory
585words
If Rayne truly loved her, why did such a tragedy occur in their past life?
"You're quiet," Rayne broke the silence, "Are you regretting what happened last night?"
Lyra shook her head: "No, I'm just thinking about some things."
"About us?"
"About the truth." Lyra looked straight into his eyes, "Rayne, if I told you that I know things I shouldn't know, what would you think?"
Rayne's expression turned serious: "I would ask what you want to tell me."
Lyra took a deep breath, about to speak, when a sudden, intense headache struck her. She clutched her temples as unfamiliar yet somehow familiar images flashed before her eyes:
At night in the Training Camp, she was alone at the practice field. Karen approached and told her Rayne planned to get rid of her. Then came scenes of escape, pursuing wolf packs, and finally excruciating pain and endless darkness...
"Lyra!" Rayne's worried voice pulled her back to reality, "What's wrong with you?"
Lyra panted: "Just... a headache."
Rayne supported her: "It's the after-effects of the silver powder. We need to get back to the castle quickly so Mira can examine you."
Mira, this name made Lyra shudder. In her previous life, Mira was her only friend at the Training Camp, but she had left before the tragedy occurred.
When they returned to the castle, a silver-haired woman came to greet them: "Rayne, you've finally returned! I heard there was trouble at the border."
"Mira." Rayne nodded, "Lyra needs your help. She was exposed to silver powder."
Mira immediately stepped forward to check on Lyra's condition, her eyes flashing with an emotion that Lyra couldn't interpret: "Come with me, I have a special medicine."
In Mira's room, after Rayne had left, Mira asked in a low voice: "Are you alright? Not just physically."
Lyra looked at her in surprise: "What do you mean?"
Mira glanced around to ensure no one was eavesdropping: "I know you've changed, since the wedding day. The look in your eyes is different, as if... you've experienced a lot."
Lyra became alert: "What are you implying?"
Mira handed her a cup of medicinal tea: "I just want to say, if you need an ally, I'm always here. Just like... before."
Lyra took the teacup, her heart racing: "Before?"
Mira gave her a meaningful look: "Some memories may be distorted, but the truth always surfaces. Drink this, it will help you see some things clearly."
Lyra hesitantly drank the medicinal tea, a warm current flowing throughout her body. Then, a clear memory suddenly emerged:
That night at the Training Camp, it wasn't Karen, but Irene who told her that Rayne wanted to kill her. And when she fled, it wasn't a wolf pack sent by Rayne that hunted her, but Karen's subordinates...
"Are your memories starting to return?" Mira asked softly.
Lyra looked at her in shock: "What do you know?"
Sadness flashed in Mira's eyes: "I know more than you imagine. But now is not the time to tell you everything. Someone is watching us."
She handed Lyra a small bottle: "Continue drinking this herbal tea. It will help you recover your distorted memories. But be careful, not everyone wants you to remember."
Lyra took the small bottle, with more questions than answers in her heart. Who had twisted her memories? Why? What was the truth?
