Transmigrated as the Villainess Princess - Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Memory Unlocked

Richard’s boots crunched softly on the earth as he stepped onto the familiar ground beside the lake where the squad had last stayed.

The memories, faint and fractured, assaulted him all at once, flooding his mind with images that didn’t belong to him.

He could almost hear the sound of Riezekiel’s voice, calling to Richmond, the fleeting images of the team preparing to leave, the warmth of the campfire still vivid in his mind despite never having been there.

His chest tightened as he tried to suppress the rush of emotions that surged through him.

The Night Owls Squad’s last mission had been a failure, but until now, he had never questioned the details.

He had been told that they had lost their way, that the mission had ended in disaster and tragedy, Riezekiel’s death and Richmond’s disappearance, two stories with no clear answers.

And yet, standing here, where everything had started to go wrong, a gnawing doubt began to consume him.

Richard’s heart beat in his throat as he looked around the area.

The ruins that surrounded him held the remnants of a once proud team’s efforts, evidence of the brutal struggle they had faced.

There were scattered belongings, broken weapons, and torn remnants of Riezekiel’s mech, the very thing that had once protected them all from the unforgiving threats of the Ravine.

Richard approached it cautiously, his steps slow and deliberate as he knelt beside the remains of the machine.

The mech’s body was scarred, its once sleek metal plating dented and worn.

He carefully examined the wreckage, searching for any sign that would answer the question that had been lingering in his mind since the moment he returned from the Ravine, what had truly happened that night?

His fingers traced over the cold surface, and something caught his attention. A faint panel on the side of the mech was cracked, revealing a hidden compartment.

Richard’s pulse quickened as he pried it open, his heart pounding in anticipation of what he might find inside.

To his surprise, nestled in the compartment was a small, sealed data disk, a piece of technology that looked like it had been placed there deliberately.

He inserted the disk into the console, his hands shaking slightly as he activated it.

A small holographic screen flickered to life, displaying a series of coordinates and symbols Richard didn’t immediately understand.

But then the screen flashed again, and a note appeared, written in Riezekiel’s handwriting, his elder brother’s familiar script filling the screen.

The words on the note sent a chill down Richard’s spine.

“To whoever finds the Nether Fire and the ancient whip, please hide it, do not give it to the academy.”

Richard’s breath caught in his throat as the weight of the words settled in. His mind raced, trying to process the meaning behind this cryptic message.

What had Riezekiel known? Why had he left such an urgent warning, one that seemed to contradict everything the academy had told them?

For a long moment, Richard was frozen in place, staring at the screen. His mind spun, questions swirling like a storm.

Why would Riezekiel, the older brother he had always looked up to, leave such a message?

What had happened during that final night? And, most importantly, what role had Richmond played in all of this?

The doubts that had been festering in Richard’s mind now grew into a gnawing, insistent truth.

Could it be that his second elder brother, Richmond, remembered what had truly happened during that night?

Or had something happened to him as well, something that had altered his memory, causing him to turn against Ahcehera, to blame her for everything?

Richard’s mind flashed back to the moment when he had found himself standing in front of the academy’s officials, listening to their cold, indifferent explanations of what had happened to the team.

The details had been vague, as if they had been carefully constructed to hide the truth.

But now, with this discovery, Richard couldn’t shake the feeling that he had been lied to, by the academy, by everyone.

The truth was hidden behind layers of deception, and the more he tried to uncover it, the more elusive it became.

Could it be that Richmond, in his own confusion and grief, had been manipulated, his memories altered in some way?

Was he so lost in his anger and pain that he couldn’t see the truth?

Or had something more sinister happened to him, something that had driven him to erase all the memories of what really transpired?

As these thoughts ran through Richard’s mind, a sense of deep unease took hold of him.

He had always believed that his family was united, and that they were working toward a common goal.

But now, he wasn’t so sure. The academy, with its secrets and hidden agendas, seemed to have played a part in all of this, perhaps a much bigger part than he had ever realized.

His thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling out to him.

“Richard.”

Richard turned around, startled, to find Ahcehera standing at the edge of the lake, her eyes filled with concern and confusion.

She had come looking for him, no doubt worried about the state of his mind after everything that had happened.

He could see it in her eyes, the same sadness, the same sense of loss that had haunted her since the mission.

She, too, carried the burden of the past. But what was it that she truly remembered? Was she hiding something from him?

Was she a victim of the academy’s manipulation, or had she always known more than she was willing to let on?

“Are you alright?” Ahcehera asked softly, taking a cautious step toward him.

Richard didn’t know how to answer. He had so many questions, so many things left unresolved, and yet all he could do was stare at her.

The woman who had survived when all the others had died. The woman who had lost everything, just as he had.

Could he trust her? Or was she another part of the puzzle, another piece of the mystery that he had yet to unravel?

“I don’t know,” Richard admitted, his voice barely a whisper. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

Ahcehera’s gaze softened, and for a moment, Richard saw the woman she had once been, the confident, strong, and fierce vice leader of the squad who had fought by his brothers’ side.

The woman who had carried the weight of their mission on her shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, stepping closer. “I wish I could help you remember.”

But Richard wasn’t so sure. He wasn’t sure that the answers he sought could be found in

Ahcehera’s memories, or anyone else’s for that matter. What had happened during that final night, and why had everything gone so horribly wrong?

The truth was out there.

But it was hidden behind layers of lies, secrets, and erased memories, and Richard knew that the only way to find it was to keep searching.

Against all odds, he would uncover the truth. And when he did, he would make sure that no one, not the academy, not anyone, could erase it ever again.

“You’re not her…”