.. PangYa. Weird, it felt very familiar. I don't remember the game, but my body remembers. Might it be the key to retrieve my memories? I don't know, but playing it felt very nostalgic..

It's very windy here. I can see windmills here and there. The wind blows gently, sounding like whispers, slowly stroking the grass. The leaves started to turn brownish orange, falling from its branches, stating that autumn's finally here.

.. Is it just my feeling, or it shouldn't have been autumn yet?

I shrugged.

Since I've got nothing to do, as usual, I played with my short-sword, swirling it on the air then grabbed its handle before it fell. Karen sometimes looked upset, her eyes saying it's dangerous. But I've got nothing to do..

".. Karen, I felt so nostalgic about PangYa," I told Karen, which in response smiled to me, "was I good in playing it before?"

She nodded.

"Then, were you the best caddy ever, before?" I asked her, which made her shook her head, blushing a little.

"I know you were."

She hid her face in her hands, embarrassed. How cute.

"Hey! You there!" a voice called me. I turned to look. A middle-aged man with a dirty beard in a police outfit..?

"Arthur! Don't run off like that!" another voice, behind him. A girl's voice. At first glance, I thought that her pigtails were ears. But they're just pigtails.

"Lolo! I've found someone with a weapon! Is this the one?" he asked the girl, pointing at me.

"Hmm? No, it's not him.." she looked at me, then her expression changed, "Huh.. What's this feeling? I can feel some kind of darkness here.."

Darkness. Again. Pipin and this girl.. What did they mean, really?

"Darkness? From that ghost?" he asked her, pointing at Karen. I hope he'd stop pointing at people like that.. Though maybe for him Karen isn't a person anymore.

"No, she's a pure spirit, I can't feel any darkness in her." she stared at Karen, then to me.

"Then, whose?" he scratched his head. It's obvious if it's mine. He's so air-headed..

".. But it's faint, so it doesn't really matter." the girl continued, "Anyway, my friend Quma wears a headband, and his skin tone is darker.."

The man brushed his beard, "Really..? You're not lying because you don't want to treat me fried chickens?"

"I never said that I'll treat you if you find Quma!"

He pointed at the girl, "A-ha! There! You said it!"

"That doesn't count!" she replied.

"Excuse me.." I sighed, "If you're done here, I'll be leaving."

"What did you say?" Arthur shouted, "Oh no you don't, until I get my fried chickens!"

Lolo only sighed, shaking her head.

"Then I'll have to break through," I said. This person is way too rude and forceful he ticked me off.

"How about a game of PangYa! The one who loses will buy the winner fried chickens!" he clenched his hand, looking determined.

"You just want some fried chicken, Arthur.." Lolo sighed again.

".. Well, if you lose, let me pass," I told him, but it seemed like he didn't hear. At all.

"Gahahaha! I'll make you fear the name Arthur that you'll run when you hear it! Get ready to be squished!"

.. Though I don't fear you, I'd run from you..

At first when the man saw me materializing a club he looked surprised. Not the girl, though. She explained to him that it's magic. He took the honor and shot first.

"Three hundred yards! Sweet!" he shouted.

".. It's two hundred and ninety, Arthur," his caddy added.

".. Doesn't matter!" he said. Though he's a fool, his power is incredible.

About half an hour after that, I won the three-hole match easily. He wasn't weak, he got tremendous power, but, perhaps what's in his head is only fried chicken. He doesn't think when he shoot the ball, he didn't even listen to his caddy.

"Noooooooo!" he shouted, "How could I lose.. I'm sorry, my fried chickens.."

I looked at his caddy who was almost crying because of embarrassment. Poor thing, having to deal with this man all the time..

"Sorry, but.. Actually I don't have any money to buy fried chicken.." he said, with regret, "In exchange I'll tell you about my history of fifteen years being a police officer-"

"Just let me go.." I sighed, exhausted because of him, not the game. Karen only giggled from above.

In the end Lolo dragged Arthur off, after apologizing to me. I wonder why that kind of bad luck haunted her.. Some kind of curse?

Karen and I traveled around there that day. A sign tells that the place is Sepia Wind. Just like at the Lagoon, I didn't feel anything here, different with when I'm at Deep Inferno. Maybe if I went to the right place, I'll recollect some of my memories?

"Karen," I told her, "maybe I should get back to Deep Inferno. I haven't checked much there before.."

Karen's reaction is unusual. She shook her head, with a worried face, mixed with fear.

"Why can't I?" I asked her, but then she fell silent, averting her gaze somewhere else. Even if she can speak, I think she won't tell me the reason why can't I go to Deep Inferno again.

I believe that she had a strong reason for hiding it, though.

".. Okay then, I won't go there," I assured her, and she sighed in relief. She realized that I was staring at her, so she forced a smile.

.. Though I said that, I'm still curious. Why won't she let me go to Deep Inferno? Something had happened there, and she didn't want me to know.

But.. If by going there I can remember more, about her..

.. I'd go, I think.

I decided to travel somewhere else first, since Karen wanted to avoid the place. Maybe sometime later, I thought to myself.