Kazuki shook his head, wincing at the resulting pain. "I don't know anything about any cult. I'm a doctor a physician from Japan."
"Japan?" She pronounced the word carefully. "Is that your homeland? Another kingdom?"
"It's..." Kazuki hesitated, uncertain how to explain concepts like nations and modern society to someone in what appeared to be a medieval world. "Yes, my homeland. Very different from here."
Reina uncorked the crystal vial. "I need to test something. This may be uncomfortable." She sprinkled several drops of a clear liquid onto her palm, then murmured words in a language Kazuki didn't recognize. The liquid began to glow with a soft blue light.
Before Kazuki could protest, she pressed her palm to his forehead. A sensation like ice water flowed through his veins, followed by intense pressure behind his eyes. Involuntarily, he gasped.
Images flashed in his mind the Tokyo skyline, a laboratory with equipment he'd used, blank faces of people who should have been familiar. But central details remained missing, like holes burned through a manuscript.
Reina removed her hand, her expression troubled. "Your mind has been tampered with," she said quietly. "There are magical barriers blocking specific memories. This is... concerning."
"Magical barriers?" Kazuki repeated incredulously. "That's"
"The work of a skilled memory mage," she interrupted. "The question is whether these barriers were placed to protect you or to hide information." She studied the glowing liquid in her palm, which had changed from blue to an opalescent purple. "Your aura shows no corruption, which argues against you being a willing servant of the Masked Ones. However..."
She trailed off, closing her hand and extinguishing the light. From outside the cell came the sound of heavier footsteps approaching. Reina quickly returned the vial to her satchel.
The door swung fully open, revealing a tall man in elaborate armor, a midnight blue cape trailing behind him. His beard was precisely trimmed, his posture rigid with authority.
"Lady Reina," he acknowledged with the barest nod. "I trust your examination is proving enlightening."
"Captain Valerius," she replied coolly. "I've only just begun my work."
The captain's gaze shifted to Kazuki, his eyes cold and calculating. "Has the prisoner spoken? Revealed his purpose?"
"He claims to be a physician from a distant land," Reina answered. "His mind bears evidence of memory manipulation."
Valerius raised an eyebrow. "Convenient. The perfect excuse for being unable to explain his connection to the cult." He moved closer, looming over Kazuki. "Where are the Masked Ones headquartered? What disease are they planning to unleash next?
Kazuki met the captain's gaze steadily. "I don't know anything about any cult or disease. I'm a doctor my specialty is neuropharmacology."
"Neuro...what?" Valerius's eyes narrowed dangerously. "More nonsense."
"Medicine related to disorders of the brain," Reina interjected. "If he's truly a physician as he claims, his knowledge could be valuable."
Valerius turned to her sharply. "Do not allow yourself to be manipulated, Lady Reina. Your position at court is already precarious enough without championing suspected cultists."
A flash of something anger? fear? crossed Reina's face before her expression smoothed into professional detachment. "I am simply following the Archduke's orders to assess whether this man poses a medical threat. Unless you wish to explain to His Grace why you interfered with my duties?"
The captain held her gaze for a long moment before stepping back. "You have until sunset. Then he faces formal interrogation." The threat in his tone was unmistakable.
After Valerius departed, Reina remained silent for several moments, listening to the retreating footsteps. When she spoke again, her voice was barely above a whisper.
"The captain is convinced you're connected to the Masked Ones. Their last attack killed seventeen people in a farming village including children. The court is desperate for someone to blame."
"I'm not responsible for any attacks," Kazuki insisted. "I'm a victim here too. I don't even know how I arrived in this world."
Reina studied him, conflict evident in her expression. Finally, she reached into her satchel and withdrew a small, worn book, which she passed to him.
"This contains basic information about our realm geography, customs, political structure. If you truly are from another world, you'll need to understand ours quickly." She stood gracefully. "I'll return before sunset. Use this time to recover your strength and consider your situation carefully."
As she turned to leave, Kazuki called after her. "Why are you helping me?"
Reina paused at the door. "I'm not certain that I am. But I've spent my life studying both medicine and magic, and there's something unusual about your case. The memory blocks in your mind are sophisticated, beyond the capabilities of the Masked Ones based on what we know of them." Her amber eyes met his. "Either you're an innocent victim as you claim, or you're something far more dangerous than Captain Valerius suspects. I intend to discover which."
The door closed behind her with a heavy thud, leaving Kazuki alone with his fractured memories and a growing sense of dread.