I found myself standing amidst the captivating streets of a big metropolitan city.
They call it a city where old stories and new adventures dance together.
The reason for that saying is Wolfshire was one of the very first cities that was established after the Dark Ages when all the continents merged together, giving birth to chaos.
Wolfshire was a symbol of hope back then as it offered law and protection from the never-ending dangers and carnage of the Dark Ages.
In fact, even now it was a city of reverence.
Of course, the reason for most of the city's fame wasn't its rich history but the fact that one of the four ruling houses had its seat of power here.
The overlords of the Western Continent…
The family of heroes…
The pack of wolves…
The Morningstar house.
With a curious gaze, I looked around and saw tall, shiny buildings stretched toward the sky, their mirrored surfaces reflecting sunlight in playful patterns.
Neon signs and bright billboards painted the scene with lively colors, turning the sidewalks into a vibrant canvas.
Beneath my foot, I saw roads paved with cobblestone instead of cement or concrete.
The cobbled paths whispered stories of times long gone, adding a touch of history to the futuristic city before me.
Delicious smells from various cuisines hung in the air, tempting anyone passing by to stop and taste the world.
Cozy cafés lined the streets, inviting people to sit, chat, and watch the world go by.
Looking up, I saw buildings adorned with hanging gardens, nature's touch in the midst of urban life.
Parks nestled between the tall structures, offering green oases for people to relax and find some much-needed peace of mind.
Amid the city's hustle and bustle, people of all races hurried about, from elegant elves to short-statured dwarves and mundane humans.
But what really caught my attention was the way large flags were flowing in the breeze atop each building.
An emblem showing a wolf howling with a rising sun in the backdrop embroidered on the flags.
It was as if the whole city was united by the single fact that they were under the protection of the same overlord.
A sigh escaped my lips as I continued to look around. It felt like I had been here before like I had seen all this before.
However, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember anything related to this city.
Yes, my mind was drawing in blank. I couldn't access Lucas' memories of this city no matter what.
The memories were there, I could feel it. I just couldn't recall it. It was as if they were locked.
I could still remember some streets and places that Lucas used to often when he was young, but nothing else.
Ahh, it was a weird feeling.
However, one thing was certain. I was going to find a clue about my fractured memories here.
I could just feel it.
This city… It was hiding something from me. My instincts were yelling at me, telling me that I would find at least some of my answers here.
"Let's see what you were hiding, Lucas…" I let out a soft breath and clenched my fists.
Right then, an irritated voice reached my ears.
"Lucas! Are you talking to yourself again? I swear to god, it doesn't make you look cool and mysterious! You just look creepy!"
Gritting my teeth, I turned around and shot a glare at the black-haired girl who stood a few steps away, spouting nonsense.
"What's the use of my disguise if you're going to shout my name for the whole city to hear!"
"I'm sorry? Is that lame outfit supposed to be a disguise?!"
"Excuse me?!"
"You're excused."
"...Wha-What?!"
Just to clarify, my outfit wasn't lame at all. I could never wear a lame outfit.
In fact, I could even make wearing nothing but leaves look exquisite! Amelia just had no fashion sense.
For reference, I was wearing an open red shirt with a plain white tee underneath and black jeans to go with it all.
…And a pair of fake mustache glasses.
Okay, maybe that last part was an overkill.
Okay, maybe my outfit really did look stupid with the addition of those glasses.
But hey! I couldn't help it! I had no choice but to go overboard.
Since I gave my mask to Nero, I didn't have any other means of concealing my identity.
Everyone knew me in this city, and as I had mentioned before, my reputation among the masses wasn't exactly good.
Not many beings in this world could actually hurt me unless I let them, but I wouldn't exactly want people to throw rocks at me wherever I go, right?
"Anyhow, now that you're back here, do you remember anything?" Amelia inquired curiously as I walked up to her.
I shook my head. "Nope, not a thing. To be honest, I can't remember much about the city itself."
"I see," Amelia sighed, a tinge of disappointment in her voice. "I suspected it wouldn't be this simple."
After a moment of thought, she posed another question, "So, do you want to head over to sector 13 or to a different area?"
I furrowed my brow slightly. "Why? What's special about sector 13?"
Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Oh, dear. It's worse than I thought. Lucas, the Wolf's Den is situated in the heart of Wolfshire, which is sector 13."
"Ahh," I scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Right, the Wolf's Den is the title given to the Morningstar family mansion. It should be located in the center of Wolfshire.
"Hmm," I scratched my chin, thinking for a few extended moments. Looking up at the sky, I noticed the sun was nearing the horizon.
I checked my watch and noted that it was [5:45 PM] now. There should be around an hour left until sunset.
Yes, that should be plenty of time.
With an approving nod, I replied, "No, I'd like to go elsewhere first. Amelia, are you familiar with a café named Hideout?"
Amelia blinked a couple of times and then shrugged. "I'm not, but, Lucas… There are a number of cafes around here."
I shook my head. "No, any other place just won't do."
A frown appeared on the black-haired archeress' face as she asked, "Why? Do they offer something special?"
"Not usually, they don't," a grin sparked up on my face as I added, "But tonight, we might just meet a vampire there."
