Everything seemed to get more and more confusing as time wore on endless questions forming, Lyra laid in her hospital bed staring at the ceiling which was white and cream in color. As raised voices were making noise from the door, she turned her head towards the noise. All that could be heard was screaming and shouting along with tears from that woman who had held her face in hand. The one who had looked at her like she was everything. She held love in her tear-filled eyes.

Lyra wondered if that woman was her mother, it seemed likely since she seemed to care a great deal for her. Looking at the woman she noticed the similarities between herself and the woman, which lead to further questions inside her mind.

All Lyra knew was that her name was Lyra and that her daemon's name was Pantilmion and they both had no clue what had happened before they were in this hospital. Lyra furrowed her eyebrows in worry and at the feeling that one would akin to being lost in a boat on the open sea. For a while no one entered her hospital room, they had her wearing a hospital gown and an identification bracelet.

Lyra glanced at it noticing that it lacked a last name upon it, which made her sigh in disappointment. Looking at Pan who watched interestingly as she checked the bracelet on her wrist, Lyra glanced at him. "I wonder who we are" Lyra elaborated her wants for answers having no one to talk to.

Lyra and Pan glanced around the room before Pan noticed before Lyra the brown leather rucksack near the corner. Lyra then quickly glanced at the door before she slowly and cautiously got up from the hospital bed, she couldn't go far for the fact of being hooked up to tube and wires. However, she was able to make it near the rucksack enough to open it to reveal on top a brown leather journal.

Lyra with soft hands removed the journal from the rucksack before closing it back up and retreating back to the bed, Pan moving out of the way so Lyra could lay back down. As Lyra settled back on the bed her head began to ache some from the effort.

Lyra breathed for a bit trying to calm herself from the effort of getting up, she settled with Pan curling himself near her as possible as Lyra carefully opened the journal. On the page opened contain sketches of various people that seemed to be somewhat familiar however were a distant fuzzy memory, one that stuck out was of what seemed to be herself and a young boy standing next to her on what appears rooftops.

It looks like there were other smiling children added on the same page, there were clippings of some newspapers with the headlines of rooftop thieves placed in between the pages. Lyra flipped the next few pages before she suddenly stopped on a page of a powerful looking man who had a snow leopard for a daemon. Something inside Lyra was telling her that this man meant something, he was important. Next to the sketch of the man was a sketch of what Lyra could make out was of the woman that was in the room before, she could tell for the sight of the golden monkey right at her side.

Glancing at the full picture Lyra noticed another sketch of herself in between the man and the woman caused her to close her eyes in reaction and moan in discomfort causing Pan to cry out loudly a bit as Lyra had a sharp pain run through her head.

The conversations from outside the door silenced quickly as the door was pushed open quickly as the woman stormed in with tears in her eyes, she had heard Pan cry out like she had never heard before. Marisa Coulter stopped everything running to her child's side.

Outside the hospital room, Marisa Coulter was beside herself, as she was told by the doctor the status of Lyra. The doctor had no control over what had happened, he briefed her on how Lyra had seemed to be a bit underweight otherwise healthy besides the bruising and scrapes on her as well the most important injury the blow to her head. There were no operations to be needed, the only fact that remains is her apparent memory loss which had Marisa fuming.

She ordered them and was assured Lyra would not be hurt, however yet here she was in the hospital with a head injury and memory loss. Lyra had no idea who Marisa was let alone anything about herself, she hadn't the foggiest idea on how to handle this situation alone.

Marisa held her fingers to her mouth in thought and to suppress her emotions from escaping her mouth clutching a wet tissue within her fingers with slightly shaking hands. Listening to the doctor half-listening as he explained Amnesia and it's symptoms to her, as her vision blurred to the hallway behind him listening to each detail in disbelief. It was cold and way early in the morning as the sun started to come up very gradually, still dark save for the fluorescent lights within the sterile hospital corridor.

"She will need some time to come back to focus, we will hold her for a week's time for observation to make sure she is alright before she can go home" the doctor assured her as he glanced at her sullenly with melancholy as he delayed the information.

"Is there anything that would help?" she asked softly worried wanting to help her daughter in any way possible.

The doctor looked at her for a second before sighing "Anything that may help jog her memory, photograms, her favorite toy, perhaps a comfort item of sorts. Taking her home would help, showing her where she was raised. Talk about memories and moments from her past are essential" he stressed the importance as he listed all the possible ways to help Lyra regain her memory.

Marisa nodded her head with tears in her eyes determined, before realizing that she had no idea on how to help her daughter since she hadn't raised her.

She thought pitiful and spiteful to herself 'I have been a terrible mother'. The child who she had not seen take her first smile, her first steps, her first word, her first laugh, Pantilmion's first change, her first everything she had missed it all. All gone, all those years gone. Missed every single one.

In her shock as her mouth opened a bit in the horror of her past failure as a mother hit her like a ton of bricks. In her internal hatred a scream from Pan tore out into the hospital from the Lyra's room, Marisa turned clear away from the doctor following as she slammed open the door entering the room.

Both adults rushed to Lyra's side noticing she clutched a brown leather journal with very detailed sketched drawn, Marisa had no care for the journal only Lyra. She moved the journal out of the way to the side table to get off Lyra, as she quickly brushed her fingers to Lyra trying to soothe her as she clutched her head and Pan whined before yelping once more crying out in pain.

Lyra had tear's running down her cheeks as her head was in immense pain, she tried to form the sentence along the lines of 'it hurts' only for it to come out in slurred speech. The doctor noticed what was occurring quickly told the nurse who had rushed in after them to turn off the lights in the room.

Marisa glanced at the doctor in worry as he made the motion with his arms to calm down as he went over to Lyra's tubes and I.V. administering some pain medication to help Lyra. The nurse then drew the blinds closed as Marisa took Lyra in her arms not caring as she crawled onto the hospital bed and held Lyra to her in her arms.

Lyra hiccuped and cried through the pain as she attempted to calm down, Marisa held Lyra shushing her and holding her to calm her down. The nurse left as Marisa Coulter placed a soft kiss on Lyra's head careful of her stitches and her head injury as Lyra became limp in her arms passing out in her arms.

The doctor then spoke as Lyra passed out after a couple of minutes "Going forward one has to be careful with Lyra, take things slow. She is in a delicate state and any overwhelming stress shall not do well for her head at the moment" Marisa had her hand on Lyra's back rubbing circles in comfort holding Lyra to her, nodding to the doctor's caution fearing for her child. Resting her chin on top of Lyra's head softly as she dreaded the outcome of these tragic turn of events.

Before leaving, the doctor then turned back to Marisa preparing to share some news breathing in some air and exhaling. "Mrs. Coulter I do have to warn you, there may be a chance that Lyra may never remember who she is and more importantly who she was. Matter of fact would be a great tragedy indeed" he smiled sullenly as he closed the door to leave bowing his head holding a clipboard in one hand carefully shutting the door silently behind him as he departed.

As she was left alone to her sorrow-filled thoughts and worries, Marisa Coulter cried as tears dripped down her face landing on Lyra as she held her daughter in her arms.

How could she help Lyra, when Lyra had no way to remember her. Especially who Lyra was herself. The girl she had met at Jordan college that had grown up without her was non-existent as if wiped clean or in a fog. Then a thought appeared in her mind, perhaps they could start anew. She could pretend she had been with her the entire time, she quickly dashed the idea from her mind knowing the girl with or without her memories was clever. She needed Asriel.

Marisa felt at a loss with herself, all those years of fighting and maintaining control over her life all gone in an instant as her daughter lies in her arms in a hospital lack of memory having no clear thought as to who she is and who Marisa was to her. She supposed this was her suffering for her sins.

Everything was taken away once more, yet she still got what she had sought after. As she breathed in letting out a sob as she shook holding Lyra to her as she let her emotions out for the first time in years. As she cried for everything she had missed, lost and failed to obtain. She sobbed, crying out as she thought.

At what cost?

A little bit aways on the side table laid Lyra's journal full of sketches, the page opened containing the sketch of Lyra, Asriel, and Marisa along with their daemons smiling as a family. Lyra had written mother and father next to her parents, they looked happy. An image of a dream young Lyra held in her heart and her mind.


Asriel Balacqua laid on the cold wet cobblestone floor of Svalbard's jail cell in the den of the panserbjorne polar bears, there was blood smeared along the floors and walls throughout the palace in the cell. He stared at the blank blackened stone ceiling thinking of a great many things.

He had hoped by now Lyra was either safe and had gotten away, he had high hopes for her accomplishing such since she was a clever and resourceful girl. He had whispered that they were still looking for her after he was questioned on where Lyra may possibly be hiding not giving up any information.

The main goal Asriel had been working towards was to convince Iofur Raknison the current king of the panserbjorne to let him free and continue his research, he planned to give the king the rest of his money in order to do so. Lyra would eventually end up back with her Marisa or the Gyptians both of which would see her being safe.

As of right now Asriel was swinging a rock from broken cobblestone into the air above him and catching it to pass the time waiting to have a meeting with the king. Stelemaria laid beside him curled up both of them trying to keep warm in the damp cold dungeons.

His mind kept drifting away from his research and his mission to what he found was thoughts of Marisa and their child. He thought of Marisa and Lyra, his family.

Water droplets dripped down in the silence making a drip every two seconds the only sounds besides the shuffling of metal and bangs in the distance from the bears.

He tried to shake his thoughts back to his work and research it was important, the fate of the world going forward depended upon it. He could find out what Dust is if it really is original sin or if it something else entirely. He was an explorer and his work was all he had….or was it?

The thought of Marisa's eyes when he glances at him invaded his mind, holding her close.

Asriel then cringed as he couldn't bring his mind back to the experiment, Stelemaria chuckled at his antics as he gave her an incredulous look.

Suddenly there was stomping coming towards his cell, causing him to shift his gaze away from Stelemaria and towards the noise quickly getting up from the wet cobblestone floor.

"Belacqua!" he heard the pounding of a gruff bear approach the jail cell, however, what had taken Asriel by surprise was the sight of Father Macphail and some Magisterial forces behind him. Asriel had become high alert when he noticed the Macphail was accompanied by the special forces commanding officer that had sucker-punched him.

After he had been taken away from Lyra loaded into a transportation vehicle and taken away to Svalbard courtesy of Marisa Coulter.

Asriel took hold of the grate of the jail cell as the men and bears escorting them approached his jail cell, he sucked in a breath with slight fear they were there for his execution. He would never see Marisa and Lyra once again, his daughter's last memory of him would be of him being taken away he closed his eyes in mourning, displeasure and great disappointment. He had never been a father to that girl, one of his greatest mistakes.

Father Macphail was accompanied by the commander of the magisterial task force, dressed in his clear cut black and white uniform sporting gloves and hat showing his rank. They stopped their steps outside of the jail cell holding Asriel Belacqua.

Father Macphail with gritted teeth began to speak "Asriel Belacqua, you have been accused of crimes of heresy against the Magisterium and especially before the authority" he seemed to have a face of constipation as if he wished to be elsewhere. The commander-general carried a stone face lacking expression, his daemon sat next to him posed and neutral.

Asriel bowed his head in acceptance of his grim fate, as he gripped the bars in his hands.

"Despite these allegations, certain circumstances have come to light in your favor. For some reason, the authority seems to be forgiving towards you. The child you and Mrs. Coulter lack responsibility for has been brought back to her mother, however, it seems she is suffering from Amnesia. Therefore, Mrs. Coulter on your behalf has spoken to the Cardinal in talks of a compromise that would highly benefit the Magisterium and above all the authority including you" Macphail spoke with gritted teeth and some displeasure of relaying this information, however, held back since he is bound to serve and protect the Magisterium and the authority it upholds.

Asriel lifted his head in surprise as his mouth laid agape at the news he was being presented, the magisterium was offering him a deal. Marisa must have been exceedingly desperate in order for her to weave her fingers around the magisterium especially the cardinal in order for them to be having this conversation. Something has happened to Lyra that must have spooked her rightfully so in order for her to accomplish this feat; amnesia which made Asriel shake as well with slight worry. As he stood in disbelief and shock looking at Father Macphail who is president of the Consistorial Court of Discipline within the magisterium this was legitimate.

"Mrs. Coulter had proposed a compromise of sorts, with a varying degree of conditions all of which have been discussed in a great deal with the Cardinal. Do not mistake the mercy of the authority and of the Cardinal lightly. You are to adhere to the term set out by the Magisterium or you shall be brought right back to Svalbard. Where you shall be shown as an example of what happens to those who defy the authority and the will of the magisterium" Macphail warned Asriel with harshness as he laid down the line.

Asriel listened intently with a bitter taste inside his mouth, he would have to agree or he would risk being killed as an example where he would never see the fruition of his work. He also would never see Lyra again, the church would also punish her in order to punish him if he failed to agree as well; that he knew for certain. Additionally, Marisa had stuck her neck out of him, a surprising turn of events. Marisa of all things wouldn't have done anything to help Asriel, not after everything they had gone through in the past, unless for Lyra. She needed him for the girl, he had raised her after all along with the Master. Asriel deduced she must have done all of this for Lyra, not for him; never for him not anymore.

"What do these conditions entail?" Asriel asked softly needing to know what he must endure, what was at stake.

Macphail sighed as he narrowed his eyes at Asriel through the dark bars illuminated through candlelight, as he retrieved a Magisterium order of conditions handwritten by the Cardinal himself marked with the Magisterial seal.

Opening up the order he began to read out "The conditions of which include.."

"Atonement for all past and current sins. Exaltation in reference to your Lordship, properties and inheritance pending on pledging your faith and belief; fully towards the Authority and the Magisterium" Asriel held back a scoff, as he figured they would include him pledging to the magisterium.

However a part of him leaped at the chance of retrieving everything that had been lost to him when his affair with Marisa took place, he lay in shock at the thought of it. His jaw clenched as he knew he had to agree to everything he did not believe in, all in order to get what he wished. Lyra safe and to continue his work.

"Your work, including notes and findings are to be handed over to the Magisterium. This follows you're a complete and upmost corporation in joining the Oblation Board alongside Mrs. Coulter. Where you will be contributing your work in an effort to preserve the future from sin"

Asriel had thought's forming inside his mind as he saw ways that he could outwit and manipulate the Magisterium from the inside, a power he had not had before which he could use to his advantage. He thought slyly. He could obtain everything he wanted.

"Speaking of Marisa Coulter and the matter of the child you sinfully share" Father Macphail clasped his hand together to stand rigid in front of Asriel closing the order, as he broached the last condition.

Asriel's eyes softened as he feared for Lyra, knowing the magisterium had wanted the girl for some reason ever since she was born. He worried they would hold his failings and rebellion towards the Magisterium against her. His eyes hardened as Macphail mentioned Lyra, his grip of the metal bars strengthened.

"You and Marisa Coulter shall be wed in witness of the authority, atoning for both of your past sins making your child legitimate in the eyes of authority"

Asriel grinned through the bars like a wolf on a mission insight of his prey, he would fool them all.

"I accept"

The magisterium wouldn't know what hit them.