Joshua continued walking.
The mist swallowed every direction until there was no longer a path beneath his feet.
There was no wind.
No birds.
No sound except his own footsteps.
After what felt like hours, even those disappeared.
He stopped.
"...Another illusion."
Nothing answered.
For a long moment, the world remained perfectly still.
Then—
A ripple spread through the white mist.
It wasn't violent.
It was gentle.
Like a memory being disturbed beneath calm water.
Joshua watched quietly.
The fog slowly parted.
Not into a battlefield.
Not into another trial.
But into countless floating fragments of light.
Each fragment was no larger than a firefly.
They drifted lazily through the air, glowing with soft golden light.
Joshua reached toward one.
The moment his fingertip brushed it—
The world changed.
...
Rain.
Someone stood beneath an old plum tree.
Joshua couldn't see the person's face.
Only the sleeve of a black robe fluttering gently in the wind.
Across from that figure stood another person dressed in white.
Their laughter was warm.
Easy.
Comfortable.
The scene lasted only a heartbeat.
Then it shattered.
Joshua found himself standing in the mist again.
He looked at his empty hand.
"..."
Another fragment floated toward him.
He touched it.
...
A wooden table.
Two cups of tea.
One cup was still warm.
A hand slowly pushed the other cup across the table.
No words.
Only quiet companionship.
Then...
The image disappeared.
Joshua frowned slightly.
"...These aren't my memories."
The mountain remained silent.
A third fragment drifted near.
Joshua hesitated before touching it.
...
Laughter.
Bright.
Carefree.
Someone's voice echoed clearly.
"You're smiling."
Another voice answered calmly.
"No."
The laughter became even louder.
"Liar."
Everything dissolved before Joshua could hear anything else.
For the first time since arriving in this world...
Joshua stood completely still.
Something inside his chest tightened.
Not painfully.
Not sharply.
Just...
warm.
He slowly pressed one hand over his heart.
"...Why?"
He had never heard those voices before.
Yet hearing them disappear felt strangely disappointing.
The mist shifted once more.
This time...
No memories appeared.
Instead, a single ancient voice echoed throughout the white world.
"Do these memories belong to you?"
Joshua answered honestly.
"...I don't know."
The mountain asked another question.
"Then why does your heart remember them?"
Joshua lowered his gaze.
There was no answer.
Only silence.
The voice continued.
"Memory can be forgotten."
"Names can disappear."
"Faces can fade."
A long pause followed.
Then—
"But some emotions remain."
Joshua looked into the endless mist.
"...Who were they?"
The mountain did not answer.
Instead, the floating lights slowly gathered together before him.
One...
Two...
Three...
Until they became a single tiny golden star.
It drifted forward.
Without thinking, Joshua reached out.
The little light landed gently in his palm.
Warm.
Familiar.
Comforting.
It melted into his chest.
Immediately—
Ding.
Memory Resonance Increased
Current Resonance: 17%
No images appeared.
No memories returned.
Only the warmth remained.
Joshua quietly closed his hand over his chest.
"...I'll remember."
He didn't know who he was speaking to.
Perhaps...
He didn't need to know.
The mist began to brighten.
Far ahead, a faint light appeared.
The mountain was leading him toward its final trial.