Steps Into Oblivion

Morning sunlight spilled through the cracks in the wooden shutters, casting golden lines across the floor. Adam blinked slowly, caught in that strange liminal space between sleep and waking. For a moment, he lingered in the warmth of his dream—a dream that was all too familiar.

It was the same as the night before.

That distant figure of light.

Blinding and boundless. Alone in the void facing darkness and distraction.

Adam exhaled softly and sat up. His muscles ached less today, and as he stretched his limbs, he realized that his body felt much lighter, almost invigorated. The pain had dulled and the fog in his head had lifted. He was healing.

The scent of roasted barley tea wafted in from the main room. Adam rose from the bed and pushed open the creaky wooden door. There, seated at the small wooden table, was Old Bai, sipping his tea in silence.

"You're up early," the old man said without looking. "Come take a seat. The tea's still warm."

Adam gave a grateful nod and joined him. Breakfast was simple, steamed buns, salted vegetables, and a boiled egg. They ate in peaceful silence, not the awkward type, but the kind that didn't need filling.

When the last of his tea was gone, Old Bai set down his mug with a quiet thud and glanced at Adam with kind, inquisitive eyes.

"Did anything return to you in the night?" he asked, gesturing gently to Adam's head.

Adam paused.

Yesterday, he'd told Old Bai that he had amnesia—a lie, technically. It wasn't that he had forgotten anything… it was that there had never been anything there to begin with. No family. No homeland. No past. Just a name ##### that he couldn't say for some reason.

He smiled helplessly. "Nothing yet. Just… strange dreams."

Old Bai nodded thoughtfully. "Likely due to the blow to your head. No way to know when it'll come back. Could be tomorrow, could be ten years. Could be never."

Adam chuckled softly, but helplessly. Only he new the blow to his head had nothing to do with he lost memories, he didn't even know if he had any memories to begin with.

The old man misunderstood the expression on Adam's face and reached across the table with a reassuring pat. "Don't worry. No one's rushing you. You're welcome to stay here as long as you need. We've always made space for lost souls in Bai Village."

Adam felt warmth bloom in his chest. "Thank you. I truly appreciate it. But I can't just stay here and freeload. I'd like to help—earn my keep."

Old Bai raised an eyebrow. "Help how? Do you have any useful skills?"

Adam hesitated… then gave a wry smile. "Not really. But I've got a strong body. I can do manual labor, if nothing else."

The old man laughed heartily. "Well, I can't argue with that. Stubborn and hardworking. Alright, alright. I'll find something for you to do."

Old Bai stood and disappeared into one of the back rooms. A moment later, he returned with a folded bundle of clothes.

"They're a bit old, and they've seen some years, but they should fit."

Adam looked down at his current outfit for the first time since waking—simple linen clothes, dry and clean. He remembered clearly the state of his own garments: torn to shreds, soaked with river water, clawed by teeth and talon.

His face flushed red. "You… changed me?"

Old Bai chuckled. "Relax, what is there to be embarrassed about between men. Your clothes were in tatters, soaked clean through. I had no choice."

Adam cleared his throat, took the bundle, and retreated to his room to change. The clothes were plain: a loose, long-sleeved tunic of faded brown, rough cotton trousers, and a pair of worn leather shoes. The clothes were a bit short but they would do.

When he returned, the two set out.

Bai Village was nestled comfortably at the edge of the forest, where towering pines gave way to gentle hills and wide-open skies. Children ran barefoot along dirt paths, their laughter echoing between wooden houses. Villagers greeted Old Bai respectfully, bowing slightly or raising a hand in salute.

Even the smallest children would stop their games to cry out, "Good morning, Chief Bai!" as they waved their tinny hands.

Adam watched it all with quiet awe. Despite its simplicity, this place was full of life and peace. Old Bai introduced him as a new resident, and though some villagers were cautious at first, most nodded politely and welcomed him warmly to the village.

The air was crisp and carried the scent of tilled earth and blooming grass. They eventually reached the outer fields where Adam noticed many men working there doing diffrent tasks, most of them were middle aged.

Here, crops were being tended—mostly root vegetables, grains, and a few herbal plants.

A middle-aged man with broad shoulders and sun-tanned skin approached. His name was Zhou Wei, the head of field labor.

"Chief Bai," Zhou greeted with a respectful nod.

"This is Adam," Old Bai said. "He's staying with us for now. He's strong and willing to help. See if you can find him something."

Zhou looked Adam up and down, then gave a slight grin. "Strong is good. We'll put him to work."

Old Bai gave a final pat to Adam's back. "Good luck, boy. Don't let him bully you."

And with that, he left.

Zhou Wei spent the next hour showing Adam the basics—where tools were stored, which rows had been fertilized, how to water and tend certain plants, which herbs were delicate, and which ones could bite back if touched wrong. It was surprisingly complex.

For the first few days, Zhou assigned Adam only the simplest tasks: digging, watering, pulling weeds. But it was enough. Adam's body grew stronger, more grounded. His hands grew calloused, and his breath came easier with each passing day, growing more accustomed to working in the fields.

---

Time began to take on a rhythm.

Wake with the sun. Eat breakfast with Old Bai. Work the fields. Rest under the trees. Return to help old Bai with making dinner. Sleep under the stars.

In this repetition, Adam found something he hadn't known he missed, he found stability. The restless tension that had haunted him since his first rebirth began to fade. The fear and isolation, the gnawing hunger for answers… they dulled, softened by the peace of the village.

Even the dreams of the light-bearing figure had stopped.

Until one day, on his way to the fields, a sharp noise shattered the calm on his way to work in the morning.

"Haa!"

"Yi!"

"Huh!"

It was both rhythmic and loud. A chorus of voices shouting in unison. Adam slowed, curiosity piqued.

It wasn't a quarrel as they didn't sound paniced. They were most likely training.

Without thinking, Adam turned off the usual path. For the first time since coming to Bai Village, he broke from his routine. He stepped off the trail, past the fields, and followed the echoing chants toward the source of the sound.

Toward something new.

Toward something that felt like a calling.