Memoirs of the Returnee
chapter-332

Gerkhen was born in a canyon in the desert, a place untouched by the reach of law enforcement. In fact, such concepts didn't even exist there.

The canyon was a village where various tribes mingled. Although disputes among the tribes were frequent, there was also harmony. They shared a common culture in a society with hundreds of years of history.

Gerkhen had parents. He wasn't devoid of such relationships. In fact, he belonged to a lineage considered noble—he was the son of a tribal chief.

In the sandstorm-swept desert, they scraped out a living.

Their life and customs were entirely different from the civilization of the continent, yet there was a unique mystique to their existence.

It could have been a happy life, even if it was stagnant.

Then, uninvited guests flooded into the canyon.

Gerkhen was young at the time. All he could remember was that they were dressed in suits. He still didn't know why they had come to the canyon.

They simply killed his parents and kidnapped the children. Despite all the tribes uniting their strength, it was overwhelmingly insufficient.

Gerkhen's parents hid him beneath the sand. In the pitch-black darkness and residual heat of the sand, Gerkhen felt the death of his parents.

The canyon was thus destroyed, and Gerkhen was buried in the scorching sand.

He slowly began to die. The thick layer of sand was something a child could not uncover.

Had a day passed?

Two days?

Three days?

Just when his soul seemed to shrivel up, a faint light seeped in. The oppressive sand was swept away, and soon, he felt hands lifting him up, as if he was being reborn.

When he opened his eyes, he was in a hospital.

It was a world entirely different from the canyon.

Gerkhen felt more confusion than sorrow.

“You're just like me.”

Suddenly, a clear voice called out to him. Gerkhen turned towards it with a start.

“What's your name?”

At that time, he was too emaciated and couldn't speak the common language of the continent. She couldn't read the language of the desert either.

“Name. I'm talking about your name.”

However, Gerkhen cleverly understood the meaning of the gesture pointing at him.

“Jelkin? That's unusual.”

Jelkin was the desert pronunciation.

In the common language of the continent, it would be Gerkhen.

“My name is Theia.”

Theia.

Gerkhen remembered her name. She might not remember him from that time, but Gerkhen remembered her.

Even now, he remembers.

Gerkhen looked up at the sky and sighed deeply. A full moon, like those seen in the desert, was rising. It filled his eyes completely.

Gerkhen let go of the note from Theia that was caught between his fingers. It fluttered away in the wind.

He had already unraveled the coordinates. Gerkhen had found the 'evidence' Theia had hidden.

It was the relic of Holy Knight Athan, smeared with blood and magic.

The evidence was clear.

Gerkhen knew what Theia wanted with this. He also understood what she expected from him.

However, he needed time to think.

Theia might have forgotten Gerkhen's past, but for him, those days felt as recent as Last night.

Therefore, betraying Theia was not something he could do simply at her whim.

Thus…

“…sigh.”

With his head bowed, Gerkhen let out a sigh that resembled the sand.

At the construction site of the museum, which was in full swing.

“lts troubling.”

Jade chuckled as he watched the site.

“lf its going to be a landmark building, it should have a proper name.”

He had been muttering the word 'landmark' frequently these days. It was because the tone of the articles about Jade's museum declared it a landmark.

“Have you thought of anything?”

He casually asked me.

In truth, I had been waiting for this question.

“Hmm… How about this?”

I suggested a name for the museum to Jade, one that could help reconcile him and her.

“…What does it mean?”

Jade asked about the meaning.

It was time to persuade him with all my might.

…

She, Eceline, showed me a completed canvas. It was a painting she had worked on all week.

“ is it?”

“…lt's beautiful.”

I admired it honestly.

She had a talent I was unaware of. At least, it was a talent that hadn't stood out in the future before my death.

Back then, she was simply known as a painter who had been exploited by Jade.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

But now.

This canvas was truly art. The magic and soul imbued in the painting vividly affected me.

If Jade had seen this painting, he probably would have thought similarly.

“lts ready to be exhibited right now.”

I suddenly became curious.

What had become of her before the regression?

Had she fled from Jade, or had she continued only teaching students?

I didn't know her ultimate fate.

There were too many things in this world that I didn't know.

From now on, such things would be plentiful.

“Will you exhibit it?”

“…”

Eceline remained silent for a long time, seemingly hesitant.

“lt seems you're not ready yet.”

“…Yes.”

“Then let's erase it.”

I handed her a paint can. Eceline flinched and waved her arm.

The sight of her waving just her arm was somewhat pitiful.

“Why, why? Why erase it?”

“Art is, of course, for others as well.”

I extended the paint can to her hand.

“lts also for the soul of the artist,” I explained.

Eceline's expression turned curious. Blinking, she took the paint can from me.

“Try spraying it. With all your might. If this painting is truly one you want to show to others, if it's a painting that reveals your imagination, then it shouldn't be possible—”

“Yah!”

Before I could finish my sentence, Eceline had already sprayed the paint can.

Swoosh!

The entire canvas was smeared with paint.

Perhaps a masterpiece that could have made history was ruined, but Eceline's expression seemed rather relieved.

I asked softly, “Are you okay?”

“Yes. This is the first time I've done something like this… but it feels good.”

Eceline smiled brightly, a genuinely happy face.

“Why?”

“Well…”

She looked at her now chaotic canvas.

“Until now… I think I've been painting for the sake of painting. Just for others, you know.”

“Yes, that might be true. If it really was a painting that expressed 'you； it couldn't have been destroyed like this.”

Honestly, it was all nonsense to me. In simpler terms, it was just a clever response. Eceline was interpreting my words in a way that suited her.

If she hadn't been able to spray the paint, I would have had a different response ready.

“Eceline. Ultimately, you are the subject of your art. Just as you own yourself.”

After all, artists don't need others. Its a profession that reveals oneself, so one's own mindset is the most important thing.

“Yes. I should continue to paint.”

Eceline took a deep breath.

I quietly turned around and unfolded a newspaper I had prepared earlier.

“Um, did you know? There's a museum being built nearby.”

“A museum?”

“Yes. Jade of Libra is constructing it. Its getting quite a bit of attention in the art world.”

Eceline paused for a moment, then stealthily came over to peek at my newspaper.

“The museum's name is