Kaim woke up. Sitting up in bed, he looked around to his surroundings. The room was bright, thanks to Uhra's magic, but outside the world was dark. He must have fallen asleep during the afternoon.

My name is Kaim Argonar, I'm a mercenary for hire, I'm in Uhra…but why? he thought to himself. He held his head, feeling a small lump and a little pain radiating out. What happened to him, and why was he having a hard time remembering what he had been doing?

He blinked a few times. When was the last time I was in Uhra? Kaim slowly turned in his seat, letting his legs hang over the bed and feet touch the cold floor below him. He thought maybe that would help anchor him, help him remember, but he couldn't pull anything out of his memories. In fact, he couldn't really think of anything at all.

Why was he here? What day was it? Was there something going on that he should know about? He rubbed his eyes, then kept them screwed shut. Kaim tried to think of the last thing he could remember.

He drew up blank. He couldn't even tell himself how old he was. How long had he been living on this earth? He almost laughed at how ridiculous this all seemed. He opened his eyes with a sigh. When he did, he caught sight of a small crumpled piece of paper. Standing up and picking it off the floor, he uncrumpled the ball. An address.

Maybe whoever lived there could tell him what was going on.

. . .

How long had he been at this man's side? Kaim eyed the tall sorcerer beside him, unsure of how many months they had been traveling together. Five, six months? he thought to himself.

They were in the village of Sentick, just on the outskirts of the Ipsilon Mountains. They had traveled here from the cold wilderness of Gohtza; though oddly enough, they didn't go into the grand kingdom itself, just its neighbor Khent. It took a long time to travel through the Toscan mountains and then through the Ipsilon ones before reaching this little place.

Kaim didn't see the appeal of this small village. It barely housed two hundred people, and surely didn't have much to offer in trade. Why did Gongora make them stop here? He had been ignoring his companions small talk with one villager for long enough and tuned it just to hear him ask: "And how much for two of your best horses?"

"Sir, I really don't think we can afford to sell you our horses." The man Gongora talked to eyed them warily. Kaim didn't blame him. They were odd traveling companions. Kaim the silent long-haired man with a sword and Gongora who towered over not only the already small man, but everyone in the village who passed them so far. Why should he sell anything to these strangers who just arrived through the Ipsilon Mountains?

Kaim guessed the village probably only owned two horses, and they probably used those horses in order to maintain any type of living they required to survive. As if to confirm Kaim's thoughts, the man added, "I'm not sure anyone could afford to sell you any horses if they had them."

"Really? Too bad." Gongora motioned towards Kaim. It was his cue to pull out a money bag. Kaim knew the signal but frowned at the tone Gongora used and was unaware that they would be manipulating the poor villager. The man's eyes grew wide. "I would compensate you greatly, but if you're not willing…" Kaim stored the bag with a silent grimace.

"Now hold on! I might just be willing."

Gongora smiled, teeth straight and gleaming. Kaim pulled the bag back out and handed it to him. The man gasped at the weight of it, and Kaim hoped the magician filled the bag up with real money this time. The man, probably not wanting to seem rude at Gongora's offer, didn't open it up to count or check on its validity, which made Kaim's stomach churn.

Gongora was a man of money, he had already paid the mercenary too much on this journey across the nations, but Kaim noticed that when they would stop for a night or trade for supplies, his companion never paid his due. Not fully anyway. The people of this village truly couldn't afford selling their horses, and Kaim was almost positive they were going to leave them worse off. He was paid to protect Gongora, but that didn't mean he had to like him. Or trust him.

Kaim stared at the purse willing the villager to read his thoughts. Check the coin, check the coin, check the coin…

"Why so much?"

Kaim opened his mouth to respond, but Gongora cut him off. "Don't mind my…guard. We have urgent business to attend to in Uhra and need to get there in record time."

The man shrugged, pocketed the heavy purse, and led them to his stables. Sure enough, there were two horses in there. This little village might be low on funds and trade but the two beasts in front of Kaim were very well taken care of. Kaim moved away from Gongora and the man as they conversed and gathered what he needed to get the horses ready. His mind kept wandering back to the poor fool and hoping that he wasn't swindled out of too much money.

All saddled and outside, Gongora thanked the townsman and climbed on his horse. They made their way from the village. Despite Gongora's words, they moved at a slower pace than Kaim was led to believe. "Why the show?"

Gongora shrugged. "We need to get to Uhra and I'm tired of walking."

"Fast?"

Gongora shrugged again. "We will get there when we get there."

Kaim kept to his silence then. He was hired to guard the man not question everything he did, and he didn't want Gongora to become suspicious of him. Instead he kept alert for anything that might hinder them on their journey west. Monsters and other creatures had been making their presence known more and more lately, and Kaim wondered if it was because of the magical shift in energy.

The world was using magic more and more each day. Even places far away from any of the earth's four biggest nations were seeing an uptick of magic users. Thanks to people like Gongora, it was becoming easier for humans to access simple spells, or to manage ways to use magic to aid in normal life. Everything was becoming streamlined in an almost alarming pace. Kaim heard stories of villages all over putting out fires with a flick of their wrists. He also heard of families finally being able to heat up their baths without having to boil buckets and buckets of water.

Kaim thought back to something so long ago—or maybe not—of warming up a bathtub with a ball of heat. Kaim zoned out a moment, remembering small details. The way the ball felt like fire in his hands. The way it dissolved in the water. A small girl splashing him and their shared laughter.

Kaim was shaken out of the memory by his horse neighing in fright. How long had Kaim been dazed out? In front of them a beast appeared already mid strike. Why didn't Gongora warn him? He had plenty of time, unlike Kaim who barely managed to dodge the first swipe of sharp points, falling sideways off his horse. He readied his weapon, but the monster was already clawing away at him. He felt every claw hit and pound him into the ground. His chest took the brunt of the hits, and he was bleeding out fast. He cursed that he was caught off guard and managed to bring his sword up and around. He finally struck through its eye, but not before it took him down with it.

Kaim woke to Gongora standing above him. Everything hurt but he was able to roll the dead beast away from him. "You really only take just a few minutes to come back to life," the magician observed.

"I wonder why that is?" Kaim said a little sarcastically, moving to sit up. His chest burned, but it was getting easier to breathe. "Guess as many times as I have died while with you, I'm just used to it."

Gongora laughed, Kaim turned to him. "You've no idea, Argonar."

What's that supposed to mean? Kaim thought, pulling himself off the ground. It was always like this. Kaim used his body as a shield sometimes during a surprise fight, and he would wake up soon after with Gongora looking over him without so much of a healing spell to help with the transition back to living. It irritated Kaim, but he wasn't paid to ask for help. He was only the mercenary for hire.

He dragged himself onto his feet and looked to where his horse ran off to. After finding him and catching the reins, he hushed his horse, calming him with a few smoothing pets to his long nose, and carefully climbed back into the saddle. They sidestepped the deceased monster and continued west.

Kaim made sure to keep better vigilance.

. . .

Two weeks into their journey they stopped into a little port town. Wimbourne was on the northern outskirts of Uhra and it looked like they were going to stay for a few days. Gongora ordered Kaim to rest meaning he wasn't to leave the inn for anything.

Kaim didn't mind either way. He pulled off his boots and swung his legs onto the mattress. It was late morning, but they had been slowly traveling for a long time with only a few hours of unfit rest in between. To just be on a mattress and not in a saddle was heavenly, and Kaim wouldn't mind spending the last of his days here.

How long are the rest of my days? Kaim pondered to himself. According to Gongora, he had put a spell on Kaim to keep him alive for as long as he needed him in this journey. No, not really keep me alive, Kaim corrected, remembering his most recent demise. I guess just to make sure I'll always come back.

Kaim counted on his hands just how many times he had come back while in service to the great Gongora. At least eight times in only just the past three months he had perished and had been reborn. He questioned just how many more were in store for him. He wasn't happy to come back each time and hoped that as soon as they reached Uhra he could get out of this spell. There was something dreadful in dying and then coming back in very quick successions. It left his body haggard and his mind questioning. What was the afterlife like? How would he know what to expect when it really was time to finally let go? Would it be any different than the last eight times?

Kaim stretched and turned so his back was against the wall. He closed his eyes and knew he just needed to rest.

.

He saw a woman who looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place where from. Her brown hair reached her shoulders and she stood on the cliff with a stack of books in her arms. He was behind her trying to reach out, but it was too late. She stumbled and tipped over the edge. He watched as she fell, hitting many different rocks that jut out of the mountainside, and finally landing in a heap on the grass below.

He couldn't help but to feel a tear reach his eye. He knew her from somewhere, but he didn't know how well he really knew her. Why did he have such a strong urge to grieve? Kaim jumped down, somehow landing softly next to her. He touched her face, and the world dissolved.

When the earth finally settled, this time his hand was on a doorknob. The house was small, but it was homely on the outside. When he opened the door, he hit a few books and a stack of papers fell over. He looked up when he heard a gasp. Oh, Kaim!

When she stood up another stack of papers fell, and both leaned over to pick it up. When their hands touched, Kaim was swallowed into the ground.

Kaim opened his eyes and this time he was on a boat in the middle of the storm. He was tying a rope to the main mast, and when he turned, there she stood behind him. Her glasses were covered in water from the rain that came down from the blackened skies and he wondered if she could even see. Looking down he saw that he was holding the opposite end of the rope. I spent a little while out at sea, yes, he answered to nothing.

Was he responding to a question? Did she even ask him anything in the first place? How did he know to answer with that? He tied the rope around her waist and when he let go the rain stopped and he was suddenly on the floor of the ship looking up to the clear blue sky.

She cried over him. He reached a hand to her face, noticing the blood that covered them both, and then closed his eyes.

When he opened them it was darker outside in Wimborne. He sat up, breathing heavy and looking around. "You've been asleep all afternoon."

Kaim turned to Gongora who sat eating from a bowl. He nudged his head towards the desk and Kaim pulled himself up to his meal. He eyed the water first and took a large gulp of it. He then carried the bowl back to the bed and stared at it. "I must have been tired."

He lifted the spoon and took a few bites of the stew. "Were you dreaming of something? You seemed restless."

"Nothing of importance," Kaim answered in between a bite. He didn't pause or make eye contact with the other man in the room, hoping he wouldn't catch the untruth in his words.

Gongora just made a noise in his throat and the silence bore on amongst them.

. . .

Kaim packed up their small bags. Gongora had made his way down to the owner to pay for their room and board leaving Kaim to make sure they were not leaving anything behind. As he packed away some of Gongora's belongings, he spied a letter. Knowing that if he got caught, Gongora would likely be none too happy, Kaim decided to take a risk and nudged the book off the envelope. He glanced at the address and looked up at the door. Without thinking, he quietly closed and locked it.

The letter was from an associate of Gongora's, but it was very odd that it was coming from Khent, one of the last places they had visited. Kaim wondered why he would receive a letter coming from the nation of dog-like people when they didn't leave on good terms. The sorcerer got into it with the leader of the military there, and though Kaim wasn't allowed in on the meeting, he had to almost fight his way out of the place with how aggressive the people were after Gongora's heated visit.

Of course, Gongora was mum about the whole ordeal, so he let it be. This, Kaim wasn't going to ignore. Curiosity got the better of him. He carefully pulled the envelope open.

Inside the letter were just a few sentences. Kaim was sure it was in some sort of code as they did not eat any of the cuisine while there in Khent. It did end a little ominously, though. "It is done," Kaim murmured to himself.

Before he could really think more about it, the doorknob rattled. Kaim set the letter back into the envelope and shoved it back between the books he had found it. "Sorry, just changing," Kaim called out once the knocking started. He quickly put the books in Gongora's bag and made sure nothing was out of place.

He opened the door and let Gongora in. He seemed to be looking Kaim up and down, but the mercenary had already fixed his face to be as passive as usual. Gongora looked over at his things, sniffed, then pulled the bag over his shoulder. "Let's go. Uhra is just another five days walk from here."

"We're walking?"

"Sold the horses. No point in rushing." Gongora walked out ahead of him. Kaim followed obediently behind.

. . .

Kaim couldn't stop thinking about the letter he read, or what Gongora was scheming. He made sure to keep his guard up, but at night he wondered about it. Why did they go to Khent? Did Gongora get himself into trouble? Kaim let that idea go. The magician he traveled with knew exactly what he was doing, which made him dangerous. How dangerous was what was stumping Kaim.

He only stopped thinking about it once he started having dreams again. The woman was there in all of them, but sometimes he would see a little girl in them too. She was so young but looked so much like the woman that he had to conclude that it was her daughter. How do I know you? he asked the older woman once.

Silly, Kaim, was all she would respond with.

The girl was full of laughter. Always asking questions, always curious about what they were doing or where they were going. She would try to hold his hands sometimes, but when she touched him, he would wake up. When he would wake up, there would be tears in his eyes, and, a lot of the time, they would already be running down his cheeks.

Who were this people and why did it upset him this much? Kaim grew even more quieter in their last leg of the journey, but there was too much tension in the air for Gongora to notice. Something had happened while they were traveling back to the magical city, and Kaim could feel that it wasn't any good.

On the last day of their travels they heard the news. Khent declared war on Uhra.

"What do those dogs up north got against us anyway?"

"Well, we beat them a few years ago. Guess they just want some more."

"Buncha sore losers."

Kaim heard that kind of talk everywhere as they entered the magical city of Uhra. He kept his head down and listened. Of all times for Khent to want to war with them, why now? Uhra was at its prime in magical energy, ready to take down any enemy that came at it. Khent's soldiers believed in brute strength alone, but with the sorcerers on Uhra's side, Kaim wouldn't be surprised if they wiped out the Khent army in one go.

When they reached the inside of the city, Gongora paid Kaim. Kaim didn't have any qualms about counting the money in front of him, which amused the magic user. The mercenary tied the bag up tight.

"Stay close in case I need you again," he told Kaim. Kaim wasn't going to make any promises but headed towards his favorite Inn anyway. He paused when he stepped inside, and pulled his money bag out. He already could live off what Gongora gave him for a decade if he needed. It was all real gold, so Kaim decided he would make peace with the guilt that had been with him since he left that poor man in that poor village. He had the Inn Keeper send what he didn't need to live for a few months to Sentick, then store the rest of it for him there. He made his way to his room feeling better about taking that job to Khent.

The news only grew worse as Kaim spent the next few days hanging around the area.

It would seem that Khent and Uhra wanted to end this battle as quickly as possible. Both countries were going to send all their men to one place, the Highlands of Wohl, and they would be converging within the next month. Kaim frowned as he took another sip of his drink, the whiskey burning a trail of fire down his throat. More wars and more deaths. He wondered if Gongora's spell had worn off now that they were not near each other, then chuckled darkly as he thought about the only way to test it out without asking the man himself.

Another week, and he got a summons. Kaim opened the door to his room in the Inn to reveal a young messenger boy holding a small piece of paper with an address on it. "Lord Gongora would like for you to come by his mansion."

Kaim frowned. He had every right to refuse and leave away from this magical city before the fight got here. Something told him he had better visit him, though. He couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to know what Gongora wanted. He took the address from the messenger and closed the door to his room. He read the paper a few times, thought about it, sighed, then crumpled it up and threw it somewhere behind him. He needed a drink before making his way over to meet the infuriating man.

Feeling a little better about seeing Gongora after a glass, he recited the address in his head, and made his way out.

Gongora's mansion was tucked into the upper eastern side of the city. It was away from most other houses, and not a single soul passed him as he walked the long path to the gates. Once in, he paused, looking at the mansions dark tinted windows. Two guards stood near the entrance watching Kaim as he stared. "Just what kind of work do you do, Gongora?" he asked himself. He found his feet again and began to move.

As he got closer to the door, it opened. Out stepped a woman with short blue hair. She was holding a hand up to shield her eyes from the sun and walked right into him. "Hmph!"

"Sorry."

"Watch it."

She glared at him for a moment before the annoyance slowly dawned into confusion. "Do I know you?"

Kaim looked her up and down. She was wearing a short skirt, and a revealing top. Her short hair was pushed back by a hair band, no doubt to keep it from her eyes. She looked like a sailor—no, more a pirate—by the weapon she had looped into her belt. He looked back up at her face, and shrugged. "Don't look familiar."

"Keep out of my way, then."

He watched as she walked on by. A pirate was an odd thing to see coming out of Gongora's place, but Kaim didn't have time to think on it. He needed to get in and out and finally say goodbye to this journey across the world. Maybe he could maneuver a way to visit Numara. The nice ocean breeze and peaceful calm he had heard about that nation was enticing, though he knew it was near impossible to get into.

Gongora was in his office writing furiously in a notebook. Kaim waited until the book was snapped shut and he turned around in his chair. "Kaim."

Said person just crossed his arms, not voicing a word. Gongora smiled at him. "Straight to the point?"

"What do you want, Gongora?"

The magician leaned back into his seat. "I need you to join this war."

"Out of the question." Kaim turned to leave. He didn't have the patience for this.

"I'll pay you."

"I don't need any more of your money." Kaim pressed the elevator button, letting the magicked doors open before him.

Kaim heard Gongora stand, so he turned back around. The doors behind him clicked closed. He looked at the taller man expectantly and Gongora started to pace. "I need you to join this battle," he reiterated.

"Why?" Kaim watched as Gongora continued his pacing. He was left in silence for a minute before Gongora turned to him. "Why?" he asked again.

"It is imperative that Uhra wins this war. And you'll guarantee it."

Kaim didn't know if it was the irritation at his secrecy around the subject of Uhra winning or the alcohol had loosened his tongue enough to ask him, "what was in that letter you sent to Khent?"

Gongora's eyebrows shot up, but he did not immediately answer. Kaim watched as the powerful enchanter slipped his arms into his robes and stared down at him. If Kaim hadn't traveled every which way with this man for the past six months he'd probably be a little more intimidated. "What do you mean, Kaim Argonar?"

"I mean, why did your associate send you a letter from Khent saying 'it is done'? What was done? What does it all mean?"

"You peaked into my things." It wasn't accusatory at all. Gongora seemed almost pleased, like he was just waiting for Kaim to let it slip. It annoyed the mercenary. "You were looking into my things that day in Wimborne."

Kaim shrugged. Gongora laughed. "If you must know, he was telling me ahead of time that this outcome was coming. That the war was going to happen."

"Why did we travel to Khent?"

"Why, to stir things up!"

Kaim was stunned he would admit to this so easily. He couldn't think of anything to say, and Gongora continued. "I need Khent to be wiped away. I need them to send every last disgusting dog to their doom. So, I went in and lied. And lied, and lied," he said so nonchalantly, like this wasn't going to ruin countless lives.

"Why?" Kaim was almost afraid to ask. His heart raced in his chest. Gongora must be mad.

"It's all in the grand plan, Kaim." Gongora started to pace again, but not before throwing him a very devilish grin. Kaim watched with wary eyes. There was something in that grin that told him that he wasn't understanding the whole truth. "How else will Gohtza be a little more vulnerable? Who could predict that Khent would lose most, if not all, of Gohtza's military power?"

"But…why? Why go through all the trouble? What do you get out of this?"

"Oh, I can't tell you my whole plan, Kaim. It ruins the fun." Gongora stopped and turned toward him. Kaim took a small step back as Gongora got closer. "My turn." He snapped his fingers and suddenly the elevator behind him moved down to the floor below. Kaim knew no matter how many times he would try and push the button, he was trapped in this office. "Are you having dreams?"

Kaim just looked at him. He didn't know how to answer that question in a way that Gongora would deem not mistrustful. After a beat he came up with, "everyone does."

"Don't play me a fool, Argonar." Here Gongora lost his composure, spittle flying from his lips. The tension rose between them, and Kaim cursed at himself for not having a weapon handy. "I know you've been dreaming of your past."

"My past?" Kaim couldn't remember anything about his life. All he knew was that he woke up in the ocean one day at a very odd place called Grand Staff. He was helped from the salty water by the workers there and kept him occupied until Gongora showed up. A thought crossed his mind. When did that happen? A few years ago? He now had a sinking feeling it was much longer, though he had no idea how he couldn't just remember. "What past?"

"Do you know who Sarah is?" Gongora suddenly asked. He was staring into Kaim's eyes, waiting for any sign of recognition at the name. He gave the wizard none but still shook his head. "Lirum?" he asked after.

"Lirum?" Kaim felt a familiarity on his tongue at the name but saw no face to match. He had a sense that he had said that name before. Many times before. "Who is Lirum?"

He regretted asking when Gongora shrieked out a laugh that made Kaim's blood run cold. "Who is Lirum? Oh, Kaim!" He laughed again, and Kaim really wished his sword was still at his hip. He wasn't prepared for what Gongora said next: "Just your daughter you and your wife couldn't save on that Toscan cliffside."

It was as if a spell was broken. Kaim was hit with wave after wave of images of the small giggling girl in the bathtub and the two of them holding hands. Her small fingers wrapped in his suddenly as real as if it happened just moments ago. His stomach twisted.

Kaim fell to his knees, tears flowing as he remembered just what happened that moment two decades ago. He remembered his wife, that woman who cried with him on the mountain. "Sarah!" he gasped, hands hitting the floor. He wretched, stomach emptying from the shock of it all. He shook from the memory, from the drop to the cold ocean below, from the glowing violet light.

Gongora. It was his hand that cast that violet spell on him—to make him forget.

He looked up at the towering man. "Gongora, you—!" His hand was wrapped around Kaim's throat then, lifting him up towards the ceiling as if he weighed like nothing. "Bastard," he choked out.

"Oh, call me all you wish, Kaim Argonar." His other hand came close to his head. It started to glow purple and Kaim doubled his efforts to get away as he remembered how this ended last time. It only earned him a laugh to his face. "Be angry, Kaim. It's just what I need to get this to work."

Kaim's fingernails bit into his skin, but nothing could get Gongora to let him go. He let out a choked sob as Gongora's magic hit the side of his head. He blacked out.

.

When Kaim awoke dazed and confused without any memory of how he ended up in Uhra, he could only find an address written on a piece of crumpled paper.