"Hmm. There are people on the bridge this early."

  Masa Ed before proceeding observed the bridge with two veiled individuals on it—facing opposite directions and leaning on the bridge wooden parapets. They look like they are engrossed with watching the river flowing below the bridge.

  'They must be locals.' He deduced. Then moving on, he resumed his escape from the evil witch's reach; he starts walking with quick heavy steps towards the bridge. He just have to cross the bridge and he will be all alone again with no place to return to.

  'What a funny Irony. All the things I worked for and accumulated all my life are all gone; wealth, status, fame and networks. Why was I even trying, struggling like an ant? Should I be happy I didn't start a family yet despite the pressure from friends and family, well, that's one of the reasons I distanced myself from them in the first place. Maybe if I had not relocated across the seas, living alone like an hermit, none of this would have happened. If I had remain in my hometown and live like a filial son, I might not have experienced all this. Looking at it, if I had chosen to settle down, it would have been with that crazy princess; I can't see my family and the community saying great to someone else. If only she is okay in the head, my life might have been easier. I guess what the chief priestess said about me destined for an up and down life wasn't a joke. I will miss that childish old woman too; but again, her vibe is similar to that strange woman, maybe the the woman isn't an evil witch, her plans for me might have just been harmless pranks or something else—I am just paranoid. Well, I can't go back now, and its better safe than sorry...'

  "?!" Masa Ed suddenly halt his internal musings as his eyes narrowed from suspicion. He is almost at the other side of the bridge, but he has been feeling something unusual, something questionable. Specifically, he felt the alternating gaze of the two veiled individuals that stood back to each other on the bridge—facing the river—strange people he has walked past, possibly women for their calf-length veil is paired with a floral pattern floor-length gown. And what made him quit his thought and raised his guards exactly was a piercing gaze that sent a chill down his spine he sensed came from one of these two people.

  'Who are these two?' Masa Ed felt a need to be far away as soon as possible, so he quickened his steps and in no time, he got off the bridge and continued as fast into the distance with heavy steps, leaving the bridge and the veiled individuals behind. He put a great distance behind him and them, and he continued on a grassy field with tall trees in autumn scattered here and there, and now that he needed a bit of rest, he walked towards a tree with proper shade from the intense morning sun and a creek flowing close behind it, and then he sat on the ground with his back against it.

  "Hmm..." Masa Ed sighed deeply. He has returned to the juncture where he has to think about how to live his new life. At the very least, he have to make a decision now; he can't be moving around like an homeless vagrant, he needs balance.

  However... how to live the life of a human without roots is one thing he has no idea of despite his near infinite repertoire of knowledge and information, but he his Masa Ed of all people; with his ever reliable intelligence, at most in two days, he would have found the best solution to his now rootless life and settle down once again—living life alone and in peace with some occasional excitement.

  But above all, what's more important is keeping his mysterious new origin a secret. No one must find out he had a supernatural physical transformation overnight. Also, if it became known he pop out from somewhere without parents, whatever happens next—good or bad—is not something he wants, definitely he will either end up experimented on for the secrets of his rejuvenation or he will be exposed to the limelight and serve the interest of the greedy rulers of the world.

  'I want neither, I will rather die.' He shook his head; he reaffirmed his will.

  'Maybe I should become the boy toy of a rich woman, no, that will be my last option.'

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  Masa Ed knowing the caliber of his look dismissed the idea of using it as an advantage despite knowing how super effective it will be; the reason only know to himself. Maybe he should do this and that— he continue to mull over his options until he had a flash of inspiration as usual—something that happens a lot when he is deeply engaged with finding a solution to difficult problems.

  'Yes... Why did I forget?' He smiled brightly from realization.

  He chuckled, 'If I have no history, there will be nothing strange to investigate, there are a lot of people with amnesia in the world, one more person wouldn't make a difference.'

  He sighed, 'But the problem is that strange woman that already assumes I am a tourist. I've also told her I know where my parents are. If by any chance she gets involved with my act, things might become complicated, my act might even be over. And those two people that saw me; I just hope they are just weary of strangers and wouldn't remember what I look like. Wait, I can just claim the amnesia happened after I left here, something like I fell from a cliff or I was hit on the head should suffice, maybe I should stage an accident, yes, that's it. Why didn't I think of something that simple.'

  "Hahahaha.... I'm smart."

  Masa Ed laughed out loud; he once again as usual stumbled on a brilliant solution, but this time, it was the best solution that should have taken him longer to arrive at, but thanks to the inspiration he received earlier, the time to get to it was greatly shorten.

  But there is still the root cause of everything he has been ignoring. Is the being or group of persons that kidnapped him still out there somewhere looking for him or worse, watching him? Is the mysterious incident that rewrote his foundation and root in any way related to powerful individuals in society he can't run from since they run the world? Is he really safe from the strange place and the supernatural that dwell in it? Well, maybe he hopes he doesn't find out until he took his last breath from a natural cause, who knows?

  Meanwhile, he did not notice that his shadow that extend from the tree with one end glued to it has moved almost ninety degrees since the time he sat there. Anyways, he returned to reality, and having gained a direction that will earned him the balance he desired, he stood up with a smile on his face; he was fired up for action.

  But before anything, he looked around to confirm if there is anyone around or watching him.

  "This place has been strangely quiet, its like everyone left, maybe its the festival thing." He muttered after having been unable to sense a single human movement in his vicinity and beyond. Everywhere was strangely calm and quiet like the people of the town made an agreement not to come to that part of town and everyone down to even fools and idiot respected it. So fortunately for him, he proceeded with his business with a peaceful and relaxed mind: he rounded the tree, and when he reached its other side where the creek flow gently in front of it, he saw a rock-hewn building amidst the tall bush beyond the creek, and on top of the building, two ravens perched side by side and seemingly watching him gained his attention.

  "Its strange, two ravens." He uttered with his eyes narrowing from suspicion; however, despite the strangeness of the situation that he felt, he proceeded with his plans anyways: he carefully untie the white cloth wrapping his hand, but before he continued with the next step, a thought out of nowhere emerged in his mind.

  'Can't I use it as a base?' His eyes locked to the rock-hewn building. He concluded it wouldn't be a bad idea to settle there for the moment as long as it is not occupied; so moving on, he neared the creek and crossed it to the other side in one stride, and while looking around for human presence he prays he shouldn't find—looking like a thief in action—he headed towards the building almost buried amongst the very tall bushes. Also, as he neared the bush, he will from time to time spy at the two ravens atop the building that seems to have been watching him closely and are still are.

  'Maybe this two are spies and they are here for me.' He chuckled. He joked in his mind before he entered the thick, tall bush. And not long after, after having fought with his body against the pricking and cutting of the bushes sharp edges, he stood in front of the building that strangely has its perimeter free of the thick bushes that surrounded it, looking like something is keeping them off.

  "Strange." Masa Ed muttered. He found it odd. However, moving on, he set to scanning his new but temporary base, committing to memory its lay out and escape routes.

  "The people of this nation deserve the utmost respect, how wonderful." He muttered. Very few people will not feel awed by the grandness and greatness of the building, and he is not one. He even paused to look once again at its facade from distance, admiring the creativity behind it.

  Moments later, Masa Ed moving on approached what is the main entrance of the strangely cleaned building and entered it.

  "Hmm... not bad."