"I… don't understand," I spoke slowly.

  The last time I had chunks of my memory missing, Micah, Leo, and Leona had perished. Naturally, I assumed something equally—or perhaps even more—devastating had occurred this time.

  But according to the System's recollection to me, while the surprise attack on the villa claimed a significant number of lives, none of the casualties were people I cared about personally. I even had the System expand on the identities of those who died, just in case the memory wipe had also erased their significance to me, as it had done previously with Leona. Yet there was nothing.

  Sure, my grandmother had been in critical condition when I left the villa, but in prior Rounds, she would have already succumbed to her illness by then. In contrast, she was alive an extra day. That was a magnificent improvement and a testament that Arnold Bumblefudge's cooking worked.

  "I checked with the System," I said to Leona and Apophis. "No one important to me died during the attack. Do you have any idea why my memory was wiped? Was there something particularly horrifying about the way people died, perhaps?"

  Leona chuckled softly, the sound resonating in my mind like distant chimes. Human, you most certainly witnessed something horrifying.

  ~Hah, indeed. Apophis hissed, his tone dripping with amusement. However, it was not during the attack.

  I blinked.

  "What do you mean?" I inquired, now more puzzled than ever.

  ~See, you walked in on that Arnold fellow in the middle of preparing some food. Apophis explained cryptically.

  I furrowed my brows. "And that was shocking enough to erase nearly two days of my memory?"

  ~Indeed. Apophis nodded sagely, his purple eyes gleaming. Leona, perched beside me, mirrored his gesture with her own solemnity.

  I let out a disbelieving laugh, unsure if the two were playing a prank on me.

  "What? Was he cutting carrots with his teeth and seasoning the broth with the carcasses of dead rats?" I took a wild and preposterous guess.

  Or at least, preposterous is what I presumed it to be.

  But their shared glance—a look both knowing and unnerving—silenced my humor.

  "He… was?" I stammered, my stomach twisting.

  No, no, he wasn't. Leona was quick to clarify, though her voice carried a hint of hesitation. But his methods were certainly… unconventional. Not that I care about such trivialities. In the end, it's the taste and effect of the food on one's body that matters most.

  ~Ah, so you admit that a stew can be as good as, or even superior to, a soup? Apophis hissed slyly, pouncing on the opportunity to revive their earlier debate.

  Perhaps, in some instances, a stew could be superior to a soup. Leona conceded begrudgingly. But when the two are equal in every other regard, a well-crafted soup will always reign supreme.

  "Hold up!" I cut in, exasperated. "Just tell me. What exactly did Arnold do?"

  Apophis let out a long, deliberate hiss. ~Master, I do not recommend delving into it. At least not yet. Until your mind is strengthened, attempting to uncover the truth might result in further memory loss.

  My eyes widened. "Just how horrifying was Arnold's cooking methods?"

  Unlike the notebooks of the others, I was unable to make out the scribbles that Arnold left. They were a chaotic mess of symbols and shorthand that I couldn't make sense of. I had the contents copied over from the System's projection into the notebook without comprehending his methods one bit.

  Sure, I knew that Julius, the idiot mage that served Princess Evelyn, had a serious distaste for his cooking, but I had brushed it off to a difference in taste. But now…

  Apophis sighed, his voice softer this time.

  ~Master, while your attribute 'Ignorance is Bliss' has evident flaws, it certainly has a unique advantage. Until you are ready, perhaps after hardening your mind under the guidance of the monks of the Desolated Expanse Desert, I recommend accepting his methods as unknown to yourself.

  I shook my head, half in disbelief and half in resignation.

  However, he had a point.

  "Whatever his methods," I said, "they extended my grandmother's life. And that's ultimately all that matters."

  Indeed. Leona nodded her head.

  "Hut-hut!" The driver's voice rang out, and the carriage came to a slow halt, the creak of the wheels mingling with the soft crunch of sand beneath them.

  I gazed out the window and saw we were beside a pair of towering rock formations. Their weathered surfaces were colored in a mesmerizing palette of red and orange, streaked with gold where the sunlight struck them. The twin cliffs curved inward, creating a natural archway that resembled the entrance to an ancient and forgotten kingdom. Shadows gathered at the base of the rocks, contrasting with the sun's fiery crown on the peaks above.

  Apophis slithered lazily across the carriage, his black scales catching the golden light that spilled through the window. He coiled around my left shoulder, his violet eyes narrowing as he surveyed the view.

  ~Ah, it has been a long time since I last came here, he mused.

  Before I could respond, the door swung open, and Henry's familiar face appeared. "Young master Luca, we've arrived," he said, extending a hand to help me down.

  Leona fluttered from her perch on the seat beside me, her fiery wings leaving a faint shimmer of light in the air as she landed on my right shoulder. Despite being a creature born out of fire, her warmth was a welcome and softened contrast to the unrelenting sun that immediately bore down on me as I stepped out.

  The ground crunched beneath my shoes as I walked across the soft, shifting sand. Its pale yellow color was speckled with tiny red pebbles. A hot, dry breeze blew through the air, but I couldn't smell anything.

  Looking to my left, I noted the long-legged desert striders that had taken the carriage into the desert. They were currently lapping up water that the driver had provided them. The brilliant purple and blue feathers atop their heads contrasted starkly against the warm tones of the desert, making them easy to see.

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  "Leona," Henry nodded toward her with evident respect. Or perhaps fear, given the tightness in his expression. However, he wasn't surprised to see Leona's phoenix form. Evidently, at some point, he had become acquainted with her.

  [[ Leona, why aren’t you hiding your form? What else happened while I was unconscious? ]]

  Ah, you see, this and that happened, Leona hedged, shifting slightly on my shoulder.

  ~She set half your grandmother's villa aflame. Apophis hissed, his tone mocking. Luckily, she managed to kill only the intruders, and no one from your family was harmed. Well, except yourself.

  It was just minor burns. Leona retorted, her golden eyes narrowing at him. Arnold's cooking erased any and all harm from this human. And ultimately, I saved him, did I not?

  ~Master, this silly phoenix lies, Apophis continued, his voice curling with amusement. She unleashed that firestorm not to protect you but to avenge her macaroons. One of the intruders dared to eat one meant for her that she was waiting to thaw, and she lost her mind. Your burns were far from minor, and were it not for Arnold's… unique cooking, you'd bear the scars to this day.

  I let out a sigh.

  [[ Well, as long as Arnold's cooking works miracles and no one I care about was harmed, I suppose it doesn't matter what caused the flames. ]]

  [[ However, I still don't understand why you are not hiding your form. ]]

  Looking around, I noted that only Henry and my usual driver were around; however, previously, she had been cautious to avoid detection, even around my family and staff.

  ~She didn't just set the villa on fire. She burned the necklace to a crisp that kept her invisible. Apophis stated, his voice taking on a more serious note. I had a feeling he was only speaking in my mind now.

  [[ Is that even posible? It was a high-quality artifact. ]]

  And expensive.

  I relayed the message only into Apophis' eyes.

  ~Phoenixes are silly creatures, but their destructive power is unmatched. Luckily, she is still young, for her manic fury could have resulted in far more significant destruction. There's a reason beyond their life-elongating properties that they were all hunted down.

  I felt a shiver despite the burning sun overhead. I had witnessed Leona's fire once before on the road to my grandmother's, but I was evidently underestimating her power, given that she had managed to get kidnapped on two occasions.

  ~Master, this is why regaining the balance of her mind is so critical.

  I nodded.

  [[ However, whether or not she actually mediates might be a separate hurdle. ]]

  Apophis’ voice snikkered into my mind.

  ~Master, I wouldn't worry about that. Instead, you would benefit from focusing on your own deficiencies.

  "Young master Luca, someone is coming out," Henry said. His gaze was squarely on the opening in the tunnel.

  I squinted, shielding my eyes from the sun's glare, and saw a bald elderly man stepping out from the shadowy passage. His bright, flowing garments seemed to mirror the red and orange hues of the sandstone behind him, blending seamlessly with the rugged landscape. He exuded a serene aura, the kind one might associate with a wise sage.

  ~Ah, this ought to be fun. Apophis hissed, a note of amusement in his voice.

  "Very few visitors we see here," the man called out, his voice loud and clear as he approached. His bare feet moved effortlessly across the scorching sand, his face betraying not even a flicker of discomfort.

  "When was the last time…" His words trailed off abruptly, and his calm demeanor shattered.

  Whatever sage aura I had felt went out the window as the man dashed forward toward us with the sprint of a young man despite clearly being at least seventy years of age.

  His gray eyes locked onto Apophis, and he gasped audibly.

  "Oh, Great One!" he exclaimed, dropping to his knees with such fervor that his forehead touched the sand. His hands rose skyward in a gesture of deep reverence. It was a posture I had only seen practiced in the most devout religious ceremonies. "We knew a day would come when fate would bring you to us again."

  I raised an eyebrow, glancing at Apophis for an explanation.

  ~Arise, my child. How have you all been since I last came? Apophis replied, his tone carrying a regal authority that felt oddly natural for him.

  The monk straightened, brushing sand from his garments before speaking. "The cenobium has fared well, Great One. We now have nearly two hundred monks striving toward enlightenment."

  ~That is wonderful to hear, Apophis said with a slow, deliberate hiss. I have brought you these two lambs that require stabilization of their minds.

  The monk's attention shifted, his gaze finally falling on Leona perched on my right shoulder. "A phoenix," he murmured, his tone neither awestruck nor surprised. His reaction seemed almost muted, especially for someone seeing a creature long thought extinct.

  Perhaps years of meditation had tempered his emotions? Or perhaps Apophis alone warranted such profound reverence.

  He studied Leona with a critical eye before nodding solemnly. "I see why the Great One has brought this young phoenix here."

  Then his gray eyes turned to me, scrutinizing me with a piercing intensity. "This young man, however, is beyond my immediate understanding. His mind appears stable, yet his physique is… lacking."

  "How curious." He walked around me, his gaze dissecting every detail. "A perfectly stable mind paired with such a poor physical condition is uncommon."

  ~Indeed. It is through artificial means that his mind is stable; this is the contradiction.

  The monk halted, a look of realization crossing his face. "I understand. I will admit these two and guide them toward true stability of the mind."

  Henry stepped forward, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Young master Luca, what about me?"

  [[ What about him? ]]

  I asked Apophis, silently acknowledging that I had no memory of why Henry had accompanied me in the first place.

  ~There is no particular benefit or harm in his presence. He will not retain any of this in the next loop. Furthermore, this place is well-hidden and secure. No guard is necessary.

  "Return to Ascot with the driver," I instructed Henry.

  "When should I come back for you?" he asked, his brows furrowed in concern.

  ~It'll likely take the entirety of this loop and the next several as well. Apophis hissed privately into my mind.

  However, I knew that telling Henry 'never' was not an answer I could provide.

  "I'll send word when I'm ready," I said instead. "I'll be well-protected here."

  Henry's eyes flicked toward Leona before he nodded. "Understood," he replied, turning to climb into the carriage.

  I watched as the vehicle rumbled away, the desert striders carrying it off with graceful strides. A plume of sand rose in its wake, with the carriage gradually dissipating into the shimmering haze before even reaching the horizon.

  "Now, if you will follow me," the monk said, gesturing toward the tunnel's entrance.

  I wiped the sweat that had formed on my forehead and entered the cool shade. The air inside was a welcome relief from the oppressive heat outside.

  "Stay close, young man," the monk warned as we entered the labyrinthine passageway. "This place is a maze, though with the Great One beside you, I doubt you'd ever lose your way."

  I glanced ahead, the winding tunnel stretching before us. The faint echo of our footsteps was the only sound.

  [[ Oh Great One? You'll have to tell me how you earned that title. ]]

  I teased Apophis.

  We walked through the long hallway of smooth but uneven earthen walls, their natural curves illuminated by slivers of light from the hidden sky above. I followed the monk, turning at forks and venturing into new hallways.

  ~How else? Apophis hissed, his tone rich with self-satisfaction. I was the God of Chaos in the past; the stability of my mind is on a tier like no other and was something the monks could learn from.

  [[ So you were a teacher to them? ]]

  ~In a matter of speaking, yes.

  We reached the end of the labyrinth as the sun began its descent, casting a new hue on the surrounding walls. The entrance to the hidden desert monk's home was an enormous wooden door marked by a carved black snake with amethyst gemstones for eyes.

  [[ Were you merely a teacher, or did they worship you as a deity? ]] I asked Apophis, eyeing the carving with suspicion.

  A bit of both, Apophis replied, evidently pleased having seen his depiction on the door.

  The door creaked open, revealing a scene I was entirely unprepared for. I had expected a tranquil courtyard where monks sat in quiet meditation, humming chants of wisdom, their faces serene and untouched by worldly concerns.

  Instead, chaos met my gaze.

  The room before me resembled a place of indulgence more fitting for the debaucherous activities of East Genise than a sanctuary of enlightenment. Monks were sprawled about, some gambling with dice, others engaged in heated debates over mounds of food and cups of tea—or perhaps wine—and a few dancing to the rhythmic beat of hand drums while evidently intoxicated.

  I had to blink a few times to confirm that I hadn't had a memory lapse, but the view before me persisted.

  My eyes narrowed as they fell on the black snake coiled on my shoulder.

  [[ I should have known better. Any group that holds you in such high regard is bound to be... unconventional. ]]

  ~Ah, Master, but you must understand, Apophis hissed with amusement. Chaos is not merely disorder. It is freedom. These monks understand the value of balance: discipline and indulgence, order and chaos.

  "Welcome to our humble abode," the monk said with a serene smile, seemingly unbothered by the spectacle around us.

  I sighed. "Humble is not the word I would have chosen."

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