Chapter 2
Pain. That's the first thing I feel. Everything is still black, but I can hear laughter and activity not far from where I am. I want to go back into the black nothing, there's no pain there, no noise that stabs into my skull with every sound. But I can't go back, so I ready myself and open my eyes.
I groan in pain as I try to sit up, white light stabbing into me when I crack my eyes open. My head is pounding and I'm vaguely aware of the soft warmth of a blanket on top of me. I feel a gentle hand lightly press into my shoulder as I sit up.
"Careful dear, just take it slow." My senses instantly snap back to me, and I quickly pull away from the old woman next to me. I'm in a strangely normal house, complete with hand embroidered 'Welcome' and 'Bless This Home' pillows and family paintings hung on the walls. The old woman looks at me with a kind but worried expression and behind her stands two boys with one of them holding a gentlemanly metal sphere, all three of them looking on with curiosity. I turn my head a little too quickly and wince as the world spins, I shut my eyes tightly and press a hand to my head. I'm shocked to find fresh bandages wrapped around my forehead and covering my right hand and forearm. I start to remember what happened and calm down when I realize where I am, so I clear my throat and look at the woman.
"Thank you for helping me, I hope I didn't cause you any inconvenience." My voice is a little dry and shaky, but I don't think anyone noticed. The woman smiles warmly, and looks back at Jack.
"Well now, can you teach my Jack to be so polite?" Jack Blushes deeply at the comment, and he stares at the ground.
"Come on Ma." He mutters, but his mother pinches his cheek, scolding him, which only makes Ginta and the ball he's holding laugh harder. The blonde then turns to me and smiles.
"We're just glad you're awake, I'm Ginta by the way and this is Babbo." He holds the ball up to me, so I'm looking down the long silver nose above a wide cheerful grin.
"Greetings young lady, I am glad to see you awake and well." He looks back at Ginta and bounces excitedly. "How was that Ginta? Was it gentlemanly?" Freeing himself from his mother's grip, the other boy walks over.
"My name's Jack. Thanks for your help with the wolves." I nod. "What's your name?" I look around a little, put off by the personal question.
"No problem, call me Light." I say and he smiles while nodding, pleased with my response. I swing my legs off the couch, ignoring the throbbing pain in my head, and make to stand. "Thank you again for your hospitality, but where exactly on Pazurika is your farm?" I ask Jack's Mother, but she purses her lips into a thin line.
"Are you leaving already? You were unconscious for a day, so you must be hungry. Plus you have quite the fever." I place a hand on my forehead, feeling nothing out of the ordinary.
"Don't worry about that, I usually run a little warm anyway." I start to make another excuse when she stands suddenly and puts her hands on her hips.
"How about this, stay long enough to eat your fill and when you're done, I think I have a map around here somewhere you can take with you." I sigh when she walks off without waiting for my response.
I ended up spending the night on the little farm, Jack's mother wouldn't have it any other way. As promised I ate my fill, and was given enough to fill my bag. All of us are now standing outside getting ready to leave, I've checked the map and I think I know where to head next. Jack, Ginta and Babbo are also leaving the farm, and I can't help but worry about them a little, I watch as Jack's mother hugs her son and tells Ginta to take care of him. To my surprise she walks over to me next, and places a hand on my shoulder.
"Thank you for stepping in and helping my boy with those wolves." I nod and she reaches into her pocket, pulling out a silver chain which I immediately recognize. "I'm sorry I forgot to give this back to you, but I'm sure your glad to see it again."
"I thought it was gone," I say sliding my Ärm back onto my wrist. "I can't thank you enough for your hospitality, so if there's anything else I can do for you, just ask." She looks at me a little sheepishly.
"There is one thing," I raise an eyebrow, confused at her sudden hesitation. "Have you decided on your next destination?" I shift a little, her shyness rubbing off on me a little.
"Well, uh… I was thinking of heading towards town." She smiles a little at my answer.
"Then, would you travel with Jack and Ginta?" The boys mentioned turn toward her and start questioning her request. I try and think of a reason not to, as I prefer to travel alone, but I did say I'd repay her… "You seem to be familiar with the roads and you travel a lot, so these two would probably be safer with someone like you." The mother explains, and I nod in agreement.
"Alright I'll travel at least as far as the town, but I promise to keep them safe." It seems like a heavy weight has been lifted off her shoulders, and she pushes me toward the boys.
"Well that settles it. I may worry, but now I'm sure you'll be fine." She says to her son, I start walking down the road, Ginta and Babbo following right behind me. Jack hesitates slightly but soon catches up, and I'm left wondering what I've gotten myself into.
It's getting dark now, and I can tell the boys are getting tired. We've walked all day with no breaks, but it seems to have caught up with them.
"Why don't we set up camp here?" I say over my shoulder, and get two nods in response. Jack reaches into his pocket and grabs a handful of seeds, I give him a look.
"What?" He asks while planting them with experienced hands.
"You know we're only spending the night here, right?" he nods.
"We'll have potatoes by morning, you'll see." I'm still skeptical, but I let it go and address Ginta and Babbo.
"Can you two go find some dry wood for a fire? I'll finish setting up here." They seem to like this idea, and Ginta excitedly runs off to explore, almost forgetting his mustached Ärm. I shake my head and chuckle at his enthusiasm. "You'd think he'd never been outside before." I mutter and Jack looks at me.
"Didn't you hear? Ginta came here from another world!" I suddenly feel dizzy, and the world around me fades.
The boy is beside me again, but this time there are no tears or blood staining his face. In fact, he seems happy, determined, but happy.
"Come on let her join! She's only a year younger than me!" He yells at man with spiky hair, I can't see his features, but somehow, I know he's smiling.
"Do you love this world?" he asks, I immediately respond.
"Of course! I want to protect this world!" The man's grin grows wider and he places a hand on my shoulder.
"Then you're just like me! I want to protect and explore this place. I came here from another world so I want to save this one before I go back to my world!"
I'm thrust back into the campsite, Jack looking at me with concern.
"Hey, you ok?" I nod and tell him I just got lost in thought, this seems to convince him and he goes back to work. Well that was new, a new memory, and one without death, carnage and those other horrible things. The only thing that seems constant in these flashbacks is that kid with blue hair, I wish I knew who he was, because maybe he knows who I am.
By the time Ginta and Babbo return, Jack and I've finished setting up, the only thing missing is a campfire. I set up the wood in a small tee-pee and fish out a silver chain from my bag. Ginta sees the Ärm and takes immediate interest, eager to see it activated. I hold the pointed end of the chain to the wood, and channel a little of my magic.
"Nature Ärm: Flame Dragon." I say and the wood instantly catches, giving us a nice warm fire.
The four of us situate ourselves around the fire, Jack, Ginta and Babbo start chatting amongst themselves. After a while Ginta turns his questions to me.
"So Light," he starts, mouth full of roasted vegetables, "where are you from? I want to know as much about this world as possible, so tell me what your town is like." Jack and Babbo also seem interested in my past, but they shift uncomfortably when I don't answer.
"It doesn't matter," I gaze into the fire, watching it lick the air, "I'm here now, and that's all that matters." I hug my knees into my chest, and the blonde gives me a disappointed look. Jack and Babbo meanwhile look sympathetic. Ginta look as though he is about to say something, but his Ärm stops him.
"Somethings are better left in the past, and some questions are better left unasked." Ginta starts to apologize, but this time I interrupt him.
"Don't worry about it. I just can't remember my home." I frown at the flames in front of me. The two boys look confused, but Babbo has understanding etched in his metallic features.
"I lost my memory as well, that's why I have these two," he nods back at Ginta and Jack, "if I continue to travel with them, maybe I'll find my memory." His gaze meets mine, but I look away. Instead I look up at the moon, it's directly above us now.
"It's late, I suggest you all get some rest we still have quite a way to go tomorrow." They nod and say goodnight while I get up, find a mostly flat patch of grass, and lay down hoping the nightmares will stay away for one night.