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At this point, I'm switching the point of view to that of Mark. Many thanks to my reviewers: Himaco, Feldinaut, and Terra Chronicle. I hope you guys stick with me, and that more come to read. Also, all of the chapters up to eight have already been written, but to increase the length a bit, I may stick some of them together, and afterwards, I'll work on making them longer. Enjoy!

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Chapter 3

The Meeting

About two years ago an incident occurred on a snow covered island near the northernmost point of the world. That place was called Forbidden Island, and every person who had ever gone there disappeared. On that day, two years ago, all of those people suddenly came back, no older than they were when they left. Everyone went home to their families. Everyone, that is, except me.

When I woke up on that frozen island, none of the people there recognized me. We built a boat out of the remains of the airships that had crashed into the island, and made for the nearby island of Calinca. Nobody knew me there either. I stowed away on boats and airships to travel the world, looking for any clue as to who I was. All I had to work with was the tattoo on my left arm. It was on me when I woke up on that day two years ago. Most wouldn't recognize it, but she did.

We met in Fuja City, on an island of the same name. She was the first person to ever catch me. I ran through the streets, over houses, and even through part of a ruin. I can still remember how angry I was when I found out why she was chasing me.

She had asked me while trying to catch her breath, "Why is that on your arm?"

"This isn't about the food I stole?"

I had expected that after she found out that I know nothing, she would make me give back the food and leave, but she did something completely unexpected. She asked if she could eat with me.

She sat with me, in the woods where we had stopped, and shared a meal for the first time. We talked for hours about everything we could think of. She explained to me what the markings on my arm mean. She told me that my arm bore the symbol of the Master System, which had been disabled just days before. She told me all about the disaster that almost occurred when Elysium, the "heart" of the Master System, was suddenly reactivated.

The entire time she was explaining this, I was trying to recognize the mark on her forehead.

I asked her, "What does yours mean?" She seemed a little panicked.

"I…it doesn't really mean anything." She told me. "It's just decoration…."

Of course I knew she was lying. She was, however, the only person who had ever talked with me like this, and I wasn't going to scare her off.

Eventually, the sun began to set, and I became tired. I asked her, "Would you like me to walk you home? It's getting late."

She wrapped her arms around her knees and looked down. "I don't really have a home…." She said softly.

I looked at her, confused at this statement. She didn't look homeless. She was at least cleaner than I was. But somehow I knew she was telling the truth.

"How about you come with me, then?" I offered. She blushed and began stammering incoherently. "My name is Mark Sythe." I stood up and offered her my hand. "I don't have any money, or a place to stay, but you're welcome to come with me."

She took my hand and stood up. "Claire. My name is Claire Tao. But, where are we going to go?"

I smiled and said, "Wherever we can find a way to live."

That night we decided to start going on digs to earn money. We deciede that I would be the digger, and she would spot for me. Thanks to Claire, I no longer worried about my past. All that seemed to matter was making a future.

This one's longer, I think.-