And, at long last I remember where I was headed with this story. When I lost my USB, I was tempted to say "Screw it" and not write my series anymore. But, after some not so subtle encouragement from loyal readers, I decided that idea sucked majorly. So, here you are. I hope you enjoy.

Amnesia

Isaac scratched the back of his head a couple of times as he looked at himself in the mirror. Something must have happened last night. He wasn't sure what, but he knew something felt different. Something inside of him had felt like it had shifted out of place.

Perhaps, that was a dumb thing to say given that Isaac had a case of amnesia, but even as an amnesiac Isaac was pretty sure he would know what normal felt like.

So, he blinked at his reflection in the mirror. Yesterday, Kagura had given him new clothes to replace the old ones he'd been forced to wear over and over again. His new attire consisted of a white V-neck peeking out from the trench coat he'd originally showed up in. Beneath the coat that hit right above his knees was a pair of dark washed blue jeans. They had come already broken in and even with fade around the front of his thighs. Peeking out from the hemline of his jeans were the boots he'd come in. Last night, Isaac had found his shoes freshly polished and with a pair of black socks.

But, that simple outfit wasn't what he was studying. Yeah, it was a good outfit, highlighted his long waist and narrow hips before fanning out to broad shoulders meant for a woman's touch. What Zac was staring at was his masquerade mask.

He still couldn't get it to move. Every time he tried, a magic seal would flash and force his hands away. That seal hadn't rejected him before, but now when he did…

Isaac watched as his hand jerked away from flames threatening to burn off his fingers. His purple eye narrowed on the mirror where his other eye was kept hidden. There was something under that mask, and Isaac could have sworn it was what would explain this entire situation to him.

He flexed his fingers a few times, tempted to try and pull the mask off again, but when Kagura peeped her dark purple head in through the door, he was distracted by something much more interesting.

Never could a woman look so authoritative and innocent all at the same time. She wore clothes resembling a military uniform, but they did nothing to hide her femininity. If Isaac had a type in his past life, he was sure the woman before him would fit the bill.

"You're beautiful," Isaac explained simply, casting her a kind grin.

She looked flummoxed for a second before clearing her throat. "T-thank you, King Isaac. Have you finished packing? The carriage to Crocus has arrived."

"We won't be taking a train?" He finished adjusting his belt before picking up a backpack. He slung it across one shoulder then followed Kagura into the main heart of the guild.

"No. We're close enough to the capital that a carriage ride is the best way. Have you remembered anything about your past?"

He ran a hand through his hair. No. Of course not. Instead of giving her that reply, he stated, "Not a thing. The only things that I know are from what you've told me. You… wouldn't happen to know anything about my eye. Would you?"

Kagura took the stairs. She kept her shoulders back and her chin up as if she was trying to keep some kind of professional distance between them. "Only that you never take it off. Urian mentioned that you have an uncontrolled power within you, and you have to keep it sealed under that mask. If I can recall, his exact words were, 'Ah, shit. You ain't never seen nothing as freakish as Izzy when his mask comes off. One time he blacked out an entire town. All hell broke loose, Kagura.' Then again, he was drunk, so he may have been exaggerating."

Fingers skimmed across his mask. Blacked out an entire town. Just what kind of magic did Isaac wield exactly? He was an Angel Slayer, guardian of humanity according to Sirenia, but there was an inky, darkness that he felt inside of him. Was that a part of his magic, or was it something the woman had yet to explain to him?

Rubbing a hand across his chest, Isaac decided not to harass Kagura with any questions. They walked in companionable silence down the curving staircase then into the great room. Once they were in the foyer, Isaac saw the other girls. Millianna, Araña, and Risley were packed and ready to go. Though, Araña was panting as if she'd run leagues to get here.

His lips cracked a grin when they all opened the doors up like he really was some kind of grand king. Light poured in, and the darkness inside of him hissed. When he stepped into the light, Isaac just thought, Maybe, my cousins will be able to explain this all better to me.

Kingdom of Lancet

Capital Lance

"You let him do what?" the mortal roared as Umbrianna filed her French tipped manicure.

Casting the human a scowl, she watched as he paced within his jail cell. Umbrianna had yet to steal the keys and let the bastard out, but that was because she just really didn't feel like it. Umbrianna was an angel, a supreme being. The very fact that she had to take orders from lesser beings had put a sour taste in her mouth ages ago, and she just didn't feel like obeying his every command.

"I let him get away. What part of your feeble brain doesn't understand that? Is it the 'get away' part or the 'let him' part?" she wondered, looking right back down at her nails. Hmm. She'd asked for pointed tips not squared. Stupid humans. She let loose a bored sigh then fixed another human error.

That was all she felt like she did here lately. Oh, look the stupid human broke something. Again.

Gatlin snarled and paced the floor like the caged animal he was. He looked like a trapped monkey in that cage. All fuzzy hair and hunched over aggression. She wished she had a banana to feed his malnourished body. Poor thing was starving to death.

It wasn't like her precious son didn't feed the man. Fresh soup was given on a regular basis. He even had bread. When one of the guards realized Gatlin wasn't eating, they had given him different food. Was any of it five star? Well, no. Of course not, this was a dungeon. But, they had been kind enough to change his meals. Making sure he got proper nutrition.

Gatlin was too foolish to accept the offerings. Believed them poison though Umbrianna had followed the mages one day. They never poisoned his food even though two of the Royal Guard were toxinians, masters of poisons and venoms.

His chains scraped across the floor, and Umbrianna grated her teeth at that awful sound. Throwing his hands on either side of him, Gatlin snarled, "Why, Umbrianna? Of all the stupid, ignorant—"

Umbrianna's eyes flashed. Her purple and blue eyes glowed even though she was currently in the form of light trickling through the cell's barred windows. Her hand reached out to snatch Gatlin.

Wrapping her hands around his metal collar, Umbrianna sweetly asked, "Dear, I feel as if I just heard you insult me. Now, you wouldn't do something as stupid or ignorant as insulting a supreme being. Would you?"

"I-I-er…" Gatlin looked for an out. When he found nothing, he just dropped his eyes. Good boy.

Releasing the human, Umbrianna let his underfed body drop to the floor. She got on her knees and stroked his sunken in face with her slim thumbs. The dainty manicure she'd once sported was sharpened, and the tips scratched deep enough to draw blood on the man's face. "Now, Gatlin, I know our contract said that you wanted the kingdom and your revenge, but I want to offer you something more. I can offer you the world if you just permit me to do as I will with the boy."

"Y-You can?" he asked, staring deeply into her heterochromatic eyes.

"Indeed. I can, but you have to let me do as I will." She drew Gatlin's head even closer towards her face. Fangs flashed ivory behind her pretty, pink lips, and at his neck she whispered, "Inside of Isaac is a creature so powerful he can suck the magic out of every creature. The Exceeds, the Hellhounds, and the humans will be helpless under his wrath. All you have to do is be a good boy and let the angel do as she do."

"But—"

"Ah-ah, Gatlin. Imagine this. A world with no magic. A pure world where only clean people untainted by demonic sorcery lives. All the magic of the world will be filtered, held within a catalyst. If you let me do as I see fit, I can make you the king of the world," she urged.

Her hands soothingly stroked through Gatlin's mangy hair, hair he had refused to wash because mages had brought him the water. He truly was a filthy little monkey. Smelt about like one as well. Ah, the things Umbrianna did for world domination.

Still, she hoped that her partner was having at least a little better tolerance with her son. Isaac could be a little… stubborn, and if Umbrianna's plot had worked, Sirenia would surely be trying to take care of the boy.

Umbrianna could take two birds with one stone. Pun intended. Her sister and her son would both be sucked dry of their magic, and Umbrianna could create her own slice of Heaven right here on Earthland. What a time to be alive!

Sapphire and amethyst burned in Umbrianna's head as she continually stroked either side of Gatlin's face. He didn't even realize it when she started to kiss his filthy neck. "I-I supposed I could agree to those terms. World domination and purification is better than that of a single country," he muttered.

"I knew you would be able to see logic, King Gatlin." Smiling against his throat, Umbrianna parted her lips. Right as the bespelled human's head went slack on his shoulder, she sank her fangs down. This was the curse of a Fallen. She needed pure or at least human blood to keep from falling to Hell.

Her son was much the same. As Umbrianna fed, she wondered just how long it would take Isaac before he snapped and fed on one of those Mermaid Heel girls. He was such a quiet and intelligent boy.

Umbrianna had made sure to render him back to a simple child, erasing all the reasons he had to be straight-laced and stern. Without a few horrible memories, Isaac should feed on humans without a care. Just the least bit of blood while he was conscious would strengthen the creature within him. Umbrianna's partner would walk the earth once more.

Kingdom of Fiore

Capital Crocus

Hazel eyes looked leisurely upon the capital as their carriage stopped. Being in Crocus brought back good and bad memories. The good ones like becoming allies with Erza then the bad ones such as the dragons. Kagura hadn't known Isaac back then, and as he stepped from the carriage, Kagura realized that this was amnesiac Isaac's first time here.

If Hisui saw Isaac, Kagura would have to explain his amnesia. She also wondered if the Celestial Spirit mage might be able to help with the amnesia. He was rumored to either be engaged to Hisui or thinking about it. Maybe, meeting with his fiancé would help with some memories.

Decided, Kagura stated, "I want to take Isaac to the castle. Will the rest of you check in the room we reserved?"

"Got it covered," Beth announced. "Isaac, it's called the Emerald Ivy if you and Kagura get separated. Okay?"

"Thank you, Beth." Isaac gave her a polite inclination of his dark head then turned towards Kagura. "You think the king will be able to help me?"

"Not the king exactly, but I think Hisui should be able to."

"Who is Hisui, and why do you think she'll be able to help me out?"

"That's an easy one," Millianna chimed in. "Hisui is the kingdom's princess, and you're supposed to be engaged to her if not now then soon."

"E-engaged. But, I'm only twenty-seven," Isaac stammered, his one visible eye flaring wide as he gaped towards his ring finger.

"Twenty-seven is a fine time for a king to get married at. The Normans of your kingdom hate you already because you're a mage, and since it's Lancet custom for a king to be married, they have even less reason to like you because you aren't obeying their customs," Risley mentioned.

Isaac shook his head hard as if all this sudden information was blowing his mind. Kagura couldn't say as if she blamed him. Just the other day he'd asked her how a toaster worked, tried to make toast with it unplugged. For him to be learning that he might be engaged to a princess had to be news. Wait a second…

"I didn't think that was truth yet. I thought that was Jason overplaying how cool it will be when Isaac and Hisui get married. They aren't engaged. Are they?" Kagura asked, strangely unnerved by the prospect of Isaac being anything but single. Why would she be worried about his relationship status? Kagura didn't know him very well or anything.

Whipping out a Sorcerer Weekly magazine, Araña flipped to an article. There was a four page spread going into an interview King Isaac and Princess Hisui had been in together. The title of the article was Foreign Affairs: Princess Hisui and King Isaac Engaged?. The green haired mage stated, "This article makes it sound like they are."

"But, it doesn't specifically say?" Isaac asked, wanting to know a part of his life that was… potentially life changing.

Millianna flipped through a couple of images. They were normal couple images. Isaac and Hisui dancing at royal balls. Him feeding her cake at a food stand. Her leaning on his shoulder as they rode a gondola down a sunlit river. Though Hisui appeared in love in each image, Isaac looked friendly. His eyes didn't read like those of a lovesick male.

Oddly, that reassured Kagura. Even though, she didn't understand why.

"Hmm. No. It doesn't say that exactly, but just look at them. Aren't they adorable together?" Risley mentioned, peering over Millianna's shoulder. Risley snatched the magazine to show a picture of Isaac and Hisui exchanging a typical Lancet goodbye as he hung out of a train.

It was Lancet custom to greet friends and leave friends with a kiss on the lips. Kagura weirdly had to assure herself that was all that was going on between them as she took in the image. She'd never felt this protective over a man before. What was wrong with her?

Isaac nabbed the magazine then skimmed over some of the images himself. When his purple eye gazed upwards he asked, "What if… I don't like her as well when I meet her this time? What if… I changed?"

"Oh, Isaac," Risley cooed. "If you loved her before, I'm sure you'll love her again. Even though I like this talkative version of you more than the old you, matters of the heart can't change just because of amnesia. I'm sure of it. Love trumps science."

"Exactly!" Millianna cheered. She play punched Isaac in the shoulder. "Go get her, my avian friend."

Almost shyly, Isaac ran a hand through his hair. For such a big, intimidating male to be acting so boyish. Kagura still couldn't place the old Isaac with this new one. It was bewildering. Was this boy always underneath that cold warrior?

She had no time to linger on it.

Taking Isaac by his forearm, Kagura set them on a path towards the intimidatingly large castle. If Isaac did have Familiar Amnesia, the spell that Lancet mages were often given before they evacuated the country, that would mean his memories would awaken if he was in places he'd been to before.

That was the reason for Familiar Amnesia. Those from Lancet would forget names and most memories. It was a precaution, so someone couldn't accidentally reveal a family lineage Normans could trace back to murder the child's parents for attempting to let their child escape. Mages used to never be able to leave or enter Lancet. Those who did were killed on sight by Normans. Many wars had been fought on the ocean, so it was no wonder Isaac had washed ashore.

All Isaac had to do was go to places he'd been to, and the memories would return. Surely, Isaac would get a piece of himself back by being in Crocus, a place he used to frequent, and by being around Hisui, a woman he may or may not be betrothed to. Adamine had called Bickslow's sisters because they were the foreign guild Kindred Spirit's memory retrieval duo. Since it was hard to go everywhere someone had been before, the girls could undo the spell. Also, the mind got an overload when they remembered too much of a place. Kagura had heard the horror stories of the mind splitting pain felt when a memory retrieval team hadn't restored the mind. Adamine and Bickslow had both went through that torture. Most people from Lancet felt it when they returned.

She tossed her eyes to Isaac. He'd been through so much already. The last thing Kagura wanted was for his mind to possibly break because of an onslaught of years of memories.

She was wondering if she should mention that to him when a group of children rushed towards them. She heard them cry, "Look! It's Kagura and King Isaac!" Like younglings to celebrities, the kids charged them.

Instead of being unnerved by the children as the old Isaac would have been, this new one just bent down on one knee when a little girl ran to him. She tripped on the rock pathway, would have landed on the dirt if Isaac hadn't caught her.

The wide eyes she put on him were of sheer hero worship. With a scarlet face she blurted, "Can I see your wings?"

"Can you see my… Oh! Of course." Never setting the small girl down, Isaac amazed Kagura by flaring his purple eye bright. In a matter of seconds, those massive wings shot from his back. They came out by a distending of bones. One bone grew out of another, and as soon as they pulled from themselves, they grew skin and feathers. So, he knew how to work his wings now. That was a good sign.

"Whoa!" the child breathed, gawking at the lengths. As soon as other children realized the king was giving a commoner attention, more of them flooded to see him. "You can f-fly with these, too. Can't you!"

"Of course, would you like to go for a ride?"

"I-me? You would… You would take me flying?"

"I don't see any harm in it. As long as your parents say that it's okay," Isaac explained.

Kagura watched with a smile on her face as Isaac set the girl on her feet for her to go running to her father. She pointed and pleaded, and Kagura was pleasantly surprised when the man allowed her to come back.

"I want to fly, too!" a boy proclaimed.

"Only if your parents give you permission," Isaac replied.

"I'll be right back then!"

Grinning, Kagura looked at Isaac. He appeared to be having fun as these kids danced around him and playing. They touched his wings with reverence and breathed in awe when he smiled down at them. When he caught sight of Kagura beaming at him, he asked, "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"Uh-wh-No! No. Of course not. It's just that you're different."

"Different how?"

She shrugged. "Well, the old Isaac wasn't so… comfortable around people. He was quieter, sterner in appearance."

"Guess I should have loosened up more," Isaac stated. He looked like he wanted to say more, but the two kids he'd spoken to earlier had come back. He picked them gently up from the ground. Flaring his proud wings, Isaac asked, "Ready?"

"Ready!" the girl squeaked. Her eyes were slammed shut, and her face was buried into his trench coat.

"Let's go!" the boy cheered, throwing both hands up into the air.

Kagura watched in awe as Isaac got the children to back up for him to prepare for takeoff. As soon as he launched into the air, Kagura whispered, "Looks like we won't be getting to the castle any time soon."