The Moonlight Swordsman



The Next Day,

Kishin entered the restaurant's comfortable atmosphere. He scanned the room with his eyes, looking for Liza.

And there she was, seated exactly where they had first met, as if fate had planned it.

Kishin's walk slowed for a second as he was gripped with anticipation and anxiety. He steeled his will and approached her, drawn like a magnet by her alluring presence.

He sat down in front of her without delay, their eyes locking like those of two stars.

"Hey Liza, so where are we heading today?"

"Hey stranger, do I know you?"

"Huh... We met yesterday, and you gave me a tour of the village. Did you forget already?"

"I-I don't know, but I don't think I have met you before," Liza replied, her face looking a little sad.

Kishin, struggling with doubt, looked around with a flutter of confusion in his eyes.

Was it all a joke, a passing fancy that she would soon forget? His heart ached with uncertainty as he questioned the sincerity of their bond. Instead of hiding from the world in self-doubt, Kishin chose to explore it.

Kishin shook his head firmly to dismiss his introspective thoughts and resume the talk. He reintroduced himself, and the words came out of his mouth as naturally as if fate had slipped him a script.

Their conversation was a tapestry of memories and laughter as if they had just met again.

Liza took on the role of tour guide once more, showing Kishin around the picturesque village and the breathtaking coastline. He followed her lead, his stride matching the cadence of their earlier walk.

At the end of the day, Liza made the same promise to Kishin that had previously pleased and baffled him. Her words remained in the air like a memory, delivering a gentle invitation that he couldn't ignore. They would see each other again the next day at the same restaurant.

With his heart heavy from expectation and perplexity, Kishin went back to the restaurant the next day to try to figure out what had happened during his visits with Liza.

Their meeting, however, played out similarly to their past interactions.

Kishin's confusion peaked as nightfall approached. He was so fed up with the situation of their meetings that he decided to go where the answers might be.

It was then that he noticed the restaurant's owner, a woman, bidding farewell to Liza and escorting her to a separate destination.

He followed the two women closely behind, watching their every move with stealthy precision. After dropping Liza off at her house, the owner turned around and headed back to the familiar surroundings of her restaurant.

"Hey, you." He quickly called her and rushed toward her.

The restaurant owner stopped, and when she saw who was heading towards her, a warm smile appeared on her face.

"I was waiting for you to decide to show up in front of me," she replied.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you want to know why she always forgets you the next day?"

"You know?"

"Of course, she is my friend. I take care of her."

"Please tell me." He bowed a little.

"She has a memory illness. She tends to forget many things and mostly forgets everything that happened the day before.

"All the new things she sees, witnesses, or people she meets, she just forgets about them the next day.

"Only a few things she remembers from her childhood, like who she is, what her name is, and where she lives,

"But slowly and slowly, she is starting to forget that too. Recently, she is starting to forget where she lives, so I help her out daily."

Kishin's eyes widened in shock as he tried to take in the information.

Never had he encountered such a tale, and the weight of its implications bore down upon him.

The accusations that Liza had been playing with his emotions broke under the weight of his newfound knowledge. He looked at himself with a touch of disdain in the face of this truth.

"Don't worry; these past few days, she has been smiling a lot. Even though she forgets you, it still takes a little effort in her heart.

"I don't know whether you will leave her now that you know the truth, but if you don't really like her from the heart, then I suggest you leave her alone."

Kishin said nothing, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts and feelings. He went back to his inn.

However, fate had other ideas. The next day, as the sun's warm rays illuminated the village, the restaurant owner caught sight of Kishin and Liza having a lively chat in her establishment. A wave of happiness swept over her, and a beautiful smile lit up her face.

As the days went by, Kishin found himself immersed in a whirlwind of moments spent with Liza.

They laughed as they wandered the winding alleyways of the village and the neighboring towns together. Amidst their shared adventures, Kishin discovered a newfound purpose, a beacon of hope that guided his every step.

With Liza's condition weighing heavy on his heart, Kishin resolved to seek out a cure—a remedy that could free her from the clutches of illness.

He knew where he could find the cure, but the path also had its own trials.

Goldwyn Mansion,

"It seems you have grown, Kishin. Have you found a purpose?"

"Yes, Master Damius."

Kishin mustered up the confidence to tell him the full story of his recent ordeal. He spoke of his heroic struggles against bandits and his unyielding will to protect the villagers.

Kishin dug deep within his soul and revealed the story of his fateful encounter with Liza.

He described vivid situations with sincere words, from their first meeting and the mysterious bond that developed between them to the heartache that came after he learned of her sickness.

"So, you are saying that you went with this girl every day even though she forgot you the next day?"

"Y-yes master,"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA....this is the first time I have seen a mage fall in love so deeply.

"Now I see your resolve. You want to cure her illness?"

"Yes,"

"Hmm, there is a legendary potion that can help this child heal her illness. But for that, you have to visit the royal family and swear an oath to them.

"And they won't take just any mage into their family. The potion ingredients can't be found in the kingdom itself.

"You understand what I mean, right, Kishin?"

"Yes, master,"

"You must become strong enough that every mage feels fear just by standing near you.

"Your sword must become so sharp that it can cut down anything. Only then will you be able to get that cure for that girl."

Note: This backstory was inspired by a movie. '50 first dates'