Chapter 4:

"…Memories to last…"

It had been hours it seemed, maybe even the full sun and moons passing, he didn't know. When he woke up, his head was pounding worse that anything unholy could possibly conceive. A headache from the depths of hell itself it seem. So bad that not even the lightest of thoughts could seek through the pain and cloud.

At least not his

But what were these words?

They were not his words. They were not the words of that sullen and morose Elvaan who now sat, feeling the cold cobble stone through his armor as he still held that mystical blue pearl in his hand, looking down at it again. He heard names, voices, comments, and arguments. But none of them were his own, they were not his voice, nor views, they were the views and thoughts of others.

"Who's there?" he questioned softly, moaning as that familiar pain in his head throbbed even harder in syllable with his voice. But there was no answer, not even a whisper to comfort him. "Who's there!" again came an unanswered question that punched him in the face even harder than the last.

Unanswered questions

Typical

But he deserved an answer

He ignored the stares that were given to him. He ignored the mumbles from the other passing Elvaan, thinking one of their own was crazy. The passing Humes and Galka who mumbled only how they were right, how they were right all along. The child-like voices of the Tarutaru filled with a fearful sympathy. As well as the beautiful Mithra, who only managed to look in question the Elvaan's sanity.

But none of the looks of words pulled him away from what confused him so fiercely. The pearl that rested idly in his hand was his problem, and it would remain that until he learned why these spirits now took control of his mind. Breaking down his walls, and seeing right through him.

'Who's there?' he questioned again, but only to himself, within the mind that was no longer his alone. The question received a million greetings and answers at once, almost forcing him to cover his ears from the excited voices. 'Why can I hear all of you?' he questioned again, looking around once more, making sure none were playing mind games.

'You're holding a blue pearl, aren't you?' piped another young voice, but this one filled with so much knowledge and care.

'Y-yes I am…' he continued to think, conversing with these ghostly voices.

'It's called a linkpearl, we use them to communicate with each other over long distances,' came a small giggle, then the continuous knowledge as a million conversations carried on, now in a low echo in the back of his mind.

'So, this is a linkpearl, eh?" now more comfortable with his duty, Eprisom calmed, sitting, holding the pearl, now noticing the fashion trend of many passers-by wearing them.

How could one not notice?

But when you don't know…things are easy to miss they say.

'Where are you, I want to greet you properly?' the voice continued.

'I-I'm in San d'Oria…by the Tanners Guild…' Eprisom continued as he heard nothing for some time, but soon saw in the distance another Mithra, her hair almost matching his in color, give him a gentle wave. About her neck was a blue pearl, matching his.

'I can barely see you in that alley…what's your name anyway?' the voice questioned once more through his mind as she peered harder, trying to see the face of the shadowed being within the alleyway.

It was where he belonged

Why should he step from his home?

'Eprisom…' he answered finally, bringing forth that odd sort of courage he had when he introduced himself to everyone, keeping his eyes low, but receiving no response, he only saw the Mithra come to a halt before breaking to full sprint at him.

"Epri," the young Mithra yelled loudly as she ran at him, tackling him and wrapping her arms almost lovingly around him, holding his head close to her, his face in the crook of her neck. "Oh my goodness, Epri!" she yelled again in a voice that should have belonged to a giddy child.

They had not met

Was she mistaken?

Or was he?

As the young Mithra slowly un-wrapped her arms, looking down into the face of the one she seemed to care for so deeply, her faced took that look of confusion only a feline could have. Even as she straddles him now, her arms now hanging at her side as she first seemed disappointed.

"You're not Epri…" she said sullenly, but the temper slowly flaring, and then bursting to cause an inferno that could burn the three nations so easily. "How could you lie to me like that, I haven't done anything to you?"

"But…" the young warrior's lips spread for a moment, but he had no time to let anything leave his mouth.

Only some yards away now, sitting on the same cold cobble stone, but on the other side of the Tanners Guild door, they sat silently. The young warrior rubbed the bump on his head that stung more than any Orc's axe, the Mithra standing behind him, blushing softly.

"I'm so sorry…" she apologized, for what seemed like the thousandth time now, letting her hands rest on the Elvaan's shoulders, ignoring how annoyed she knew he really was.

"You didn't have to hit me…" was Eprisom's only response, still not fully understanding.

"I used to know someone named Eprisom…I'm really sorry…" The blush on her cheeks only grew more as she looked down to the Elvaan, smiling in apology a million fold.

"Don't worry about it…" the act dropping, as well as his composure, as the Elvaan reached up to rub his shoulder, only to touch the young Mithra's hand, pausing for a moment.

And so to birth with a triangle

Why did they always start like this?

Why?

Despite the act, the Elvaan could not hold anything of his own in that short time; he could not hold his own for any amount of Gil in the world. His hand quickly came away, as though any feelings between them truly existed. But he could not bare it, he knew he could not as he rubbed his hand for a moment, flexing and crushing it in his other hands.

"Teehee…Looks like our new friend is a shy one…" the Mithra said again as she smiled down to the Elvaan, walking around to his front. Bending down to his face level, she smiled once more, "I'm Emerald Rae…" smiling as she looked into the young Elvaan's face, finally realizing how handsome she though he was, bringing her blush back as she quickly stood.

"N-Nice to meet you…" Eprisom forced from his mouth, looked as Emerald Rae slowly turned, taking a few steps, before saying over her shoulder.

"I've got some things to get done…good luck Epri…" she smiled more, letting the nick-name roll off her tongue like they had known each other for years. With that small smile, she took to a gentle run, leaving behind nothing except thoughts and memories to last.

A meeting so short it seemed

But that's all it took from him

That's all it would ever take

But what was it about her, anyway?