I've read some of the reviews regarding about this chapter and re-read the chapter. That was when I noticed and agreed with you guys that the effects of the potion was kind of fast. So, I've made little changes to that point. Plus, I've created a new chapter! So read on guys! By the way, thanks for the many reviews!

Surreal Fate : Illusions of Love

Trials of Love 1 : Memories Forgotten Fleeting Past

It is not that I do not cherish the times we've spent together. It is just that I cherish them too much that it hurts inside. Every moment does not pass without my thinking of you. These memories are now the only ones left that are chaining me to you. I've once said that to love is to set free, but, I've not followed my own words. I still hold you dear in my heart, the memories are still fresh in my mind. But now, I know that I have no choice but to set you free. (Wolfram von Bielefelt)

He was surprised to hear those words coming from the dark-haired boy and he was sure that his expression showed it all. Moments of surprised silence flew by as he continued to stare at the dark-haired boy. Then, he smiled as his dyed locks slipped forward once again. He pushed himself off the windowsill and walked a few steps away from the boy before stopping without turning. "What is your name?"

"Wolf-Wolfe Gyles," the boy whispered. He turned slightly to face the dark-haired boy, his smile widened a little. Even their names had some similarity.

"Wolf, " he called out. The boy looked up when being called. Something in those deep blue eyes of his caused his heart to stir. "Maybe you are right after all."

He watched as the young king exited the room, his eyes never left the king until the door was firmly closed. With a sigh, he turned and gazed out of the window; his back leaning against the window frame. "Yuuri," he whispered. Immersed in his thoughts, he did not hear the door opened and his elder brother walked in unannounced.

"You are determined not to return to him?" he suddenly heard his brother's deep voice behind him, startling him. Heart racing, he whipped around and found Conrad gazing at him seriously. His deep blue eyes hardened slightly before looking away. "Here," his brother sighed and he heard the sound of water sloshing. He turned and found the brown-haired knight held out a small potion bottle with clear red liquid in it.

"What is that?" he asked, his eyes alternately looked from the bottle to his brother's face.

"This is something that the His Highness had come up with. With this, your memories of His Majesty will fade away. No longer will you feel the burning pain of a heartache. Soon, your life as a knight will disappear and you'll finally be able to live a normal life," Conrad explained, his brown eyes observed how his younger brother looked at the potion bottle with great hesitancy. "This is what you wanted, wasn't it?" the brown-haired knight asked after a few silent minutes passed while his brother contemplated. Wolfram jumped with a slight sudden when his brother asked. His eyes never strayed from the bottle after that and his hands slowly rose to receive it.

Once received the potion, he cradled the bottle in his hands. Conrad watched how his brother's hands slightly trembled while his eyes were downcast. Once his purpose was done, Conrad turned to leave the room. "There is something that you should know. This potion. It will permanently takes away all memories of Yuuri. So I will suggest that you think about it," the brown-haired knight warned as he stood under the doorway. His brown eyes turned sad as he gazed at his younger brother who stood alone in the middle of the room. "But Wolfram, are you sure you would really want to do this? Think about how Greta would feel. How Yuuri would fe-"

"He does not have to know," Wolfram interrupted. "No one has to know. As for Greta," he started, a wistful smile played on his lips. "Please, do not try to stop me from going through with this. It doesn't matter what he said just now. I know in my heart that our destiny was never with each other. We are not meant to be. And this is the only way that I know for sure that everyone's life will return to normal. To when before Yuuri slapped me," he said. Conrad sighed and nodded understandingly. He turned and left the room. And as he closed the door behind him, no one saw how the previously golden-haired knight shivered while his eyes were filled with tears.

Gazing out at the fields, he smiled as he took a really deep breath of the freshly morning air. He watched as the villagers worked hard in the fields while the children lingered around, restless while their parents worked.

"Your Majesty," he heard Gunter called out. He turned and found the lilac-haired advisor standing behind him, his long hair flowing in the soft breeze.

"Gunter, good morning," he greeted with a smile. The advisor smiled in return and made his way to stand beside the king.

"Your Majesty, don't you think that it's time to return back to the castle. It has been four days now but we still have not find him. And yes, I do know the purpose of these inspections," Gunter said when the king glanced up at him. Yuuri returned his gaze back to the fields and watched a certain dark-haired boy hard at work.

"Do you think he's happy wherever he is?" the sudden question startled the advisor and caused him to turn and stare at the young Maou. He was stunned to find the king gazing out with a much serious expression.

"Why do you ask?"

The young Maou smiled, a very sad smile. The words that Wolfe had uttered kept ringing in his head. Gunter sighed and followed the king's direction of gaze. He watched as the dark-haired boy enthusiastically worked and how the village children surrounded him. He continued to watch as the children tugged on the boy's clothing, asking him to play with them. Finally, the boy relented and followed them.

"It is kind of hard to answer that. I am, after all, not Wolfram."

From a distance, Conrad watched the king watching Wolfram. "You know, they really do make a cute couple," he heard a voice behind him. Recognising the voice, the knight turned slightly to find the black-haired Sage greatly amused. "Even though he does not recognise him, Yuuri still feels the attraction to Wolfram," the Sage observed as the knight turned back to look at the king, the advisor and the dark-haired Wolfram, smiling.

"So do you think he will use it?"

But the knight did not answer the black-haired Sage and both continued to watch the scene played out before them.

Alone under the huge tree, he looked up at the darkening sky before turning his gaze down at the small delicate-looking potion bottle that was in his hand. His fingers tightened around the bottle when a sound caught his attention. He looked up and saw the king walking towards him.

"Hey there," he heard the other boy greeted. He gave a hesitant acknowledging nod as his hand tightened even more around the bottle.

"What are you doing here?" he asked when the dyed-haired boy stood beside him, looking up at the sky. Quickly, he lowered his hand so as not to let the other boy see the bottle.

"Just admiring the view," the other boy replied. Tentatively, he looked away from the young Maou and together, they watched the view before them. "Wolfe," he then heard Yuuri called out. Without looking at him, Wolfram made a sound. "About what you've said the night before. Maybe you are right. But maybe you are not. What I mean is I haven't given up on him yet. I'm still going to find him. No matter what it takes," the boy said. That made the black-haired boy glanced at him with a sudden. His eyes were widened with surprise for a while before returning back to normal.

He looked away as he walked ahead of the young Maou who was surprised. When he was a few distance away, he looked over his shoulder; his eyes were shining and sad.

"Wolfe?" Yuuri called out. Wolfram shook his head and lifted the bottle up to his face.

"He's not going to change his mind. Not after what he has heard during that night," the black-haired boy said without looking back at Yuuri.

"What? How did you kno-" he started. Suddenly, the young Maou gave out a sharp breath to which Wolfram smiled wistfully. "Don't tell me -"

He nodded. "That's right. I'm right here."

"Wo-Wolfram. You're here," Yuuri called out. Then, with a smile, he called out to the black-haired boy once again. "You're finally here. Don't you know? I've been looking for you."

Wolfram nodded but his eyes were still sad. "Yes, I do know. But I'm afraid I'll not be going back to the castle with you." Hearing those words, the king's smile faltered slightly.

"Why not?"

"I-I just can't."

"No! You can! Come on, we'll go home together," the king said. He held out hand towards the black-haired boy and walked towards him. Just when he was about a foot away from Wolfram, a stream of fire surrounded the black-haired boy; preventing Yuuri from getting any closer. "Wolfram! What – What are you doing?"

"Something that needs to be done. Take care of yourself, Yuuri."

And with that, he pulled the stopper out. With a swift hand movement, the clear red liquid potion ran down his throat.

Yuuri watched in suspended horror when Wolfe, no, Wolfram drank the unknown potion with a one swift motion. Countlessly, he tried to get nearer but was unable to. Somehow, Wolfram's fire was hotter and more powerful than ever. Unable to do anything, he watched helplessly as Wolfram finished the potion and the potion bottle was released with a soft thud to the floor. Within seconds later, Wolfram was on the ground and the circle of fire was diminished. Without waiting for the fire to be fully diminished, Yuuri ran through and knelt down beside the sleeping black-haired boy. His whole body trembled as his eyes darted from Wolfram's face to his feet; not knowing what to do.

"So he did drink the potion."

He heard his friend's voice behind and he swiftly turned around. Conrad and Gunter looked at him with sympathy in their eyes while Gwendel just looked away. Only his friend looked at him fully. A part of him wanted to ask the black-haired Sage on what the hell was going on, but another part wanted to get Wolfram back to safety as soon as possible. And that part won. Wasting no time, he gathered the motionless black-haired boy in his arms and stood up. Swiftly, he began to walk away from the others and back into the village.

His eyes never strayed from Wolfram's sleeping face while he paced about. He heard the others came into the room but he ignored them. His hands itched with the need to touch Wolfram but he suppressed that desire.

"Shibuya, don't worry so much. He'll wake up in about an hour or two," he heard his friend called out.

And just as he was about to retort that it had been several days now, he suddenly heard Wolfram stirring. Choosing to ignore his friend, he turned and found the boy blinking his eyes while struggling to sit upright. His hands moved on their own and helped the other boy sit.

"Wolf-Wolfram? Are you all right?"

The boy moaned slightly as he shook his head. "I'm all right," the boy replied as he turned to look at the dark Maou. His eyes were narrowed while his face was prettily scrunched up. "Who are you? Who is this Wolfram? More importantly, who am I?"

You may have forgotten about me, forgotten about the times we've had together. But I will be the one to return all your forgotten memories back to you. You may have done this willingly, but I know, that you did it out of love. And now, with that love, I will create our own destiny. I don't care if it will take me years to fulfill that promise. All I care is for you to see that I truly, indeed, love you. And that will be the definite sign for our future. (Yuuri Shibuya)