Author's note: It's been some years since I last did some writing. I've been quite busy that I had stopped writing (or even creative thinking, at the least). I would really apologize if my next chapters would seem "full of holes". It has really been that long since I've done any writing, so I'm still getting my brains on the road, so to speak. This chapter has been finished a long time ago, but I only got to post it now because (unfortunately) I got lazy. Anyway, on with the story…

Cyrina took another step on the long flight of stairs that almost took her to the sky. She kept on climbing up, yet she doesn't feel any fatigue. She even felt somewhat… blissful. As she reached the last of the stairs, she was dumbfounded at the site in front of her: trees wearing pink flowers were scattered everywhere, giving the whole place such beauty. The wind enjoys the time dancing with these trees. In response, the trees let loose of some of the flowers' petals and let it fly with the wind, and to the sky. It was a beautiful scene.

"…I saw this before… this… this is…"

"Huh…?" Cyrina was startled at the cold towel resting on her forehead. As she slowly felt at ease, she stared at the ceiling, looking at the cracks and chips that decorated it. She sat up and removed the towel from her forehead. She then scanned the room she was in.

"Back at the inn. Lucky me…" she whispered, a tone of sarcasm within these thoughts. Noticing the small basin of water beside her bed, she tossed the towel on the basin, and started getting up. She went to her dresser and searched for something to wear. Inside, she found a simple white cotton shirt and a vest which color has faded from its original navy-blue. She also found her tan colored cardi pants that were fairly new. She then inspected her look on the wall mirror, checking the details of her appearance. She looked at her straw-golden hair which was a half inch short to her shoulder, and pouted as she examined it carefully: it was… terrible and unruly. "Oh, the heck," she muttered as she hand-combed her hair and quickly exited.

She yawned carelessly as she went down to the main lobby of the inn. There, she found Alba, busy as always on his job. She walked silently towards the exit, trying not to interrupt on his work.

"I knew you'd be awake sooner!"

Cyrina paused as she heard the voice. As she looked back, she saw Alba standing behind her smiling. Cyrina let out an uneasy grin.

Cyrina was only quiet as she sat on an empty table at the inn. Alba was in the kitchen getting something for her to eat. As she waited for her meal, she quietly looked around the dining area. Not much people were eating as usual, and this gave her some peace of mind. Soon enough, Alba came with a meal tray; the aroma of the food already reached her nostrils even before the plate was seen.

"You should've just called out if you want anything from me," Alba said as he placed a plate of roasted meat with potatoes and carrots on the table. Cyrina stared at the wonderful meal in front of her. She was quite hungry now, she thought. And after a while of restraint, she helped herself with the small feast. Alba only sighed, "Well, at least you're alright now. I was kind of worried when you were brought here the other day. You were all bruised up and wounded…"

"About that…" Cyrina paused.

"Huh? About what?"

Cyrina looked seriously at Alba, "Who brought me back here? Was it…"

Alba shook his head, "Not her. It was actually an old guy from the Comodo beach. He said someone found you unconscious near the lighthouse. That person brought you to the old man, and the old man took you here, thinking we might know you. You were lucky; if he hadn't found you on time, you might've died."

"I see. Thanks." Cyrina said as she looked at her meal. After what he said, she doesn't feel like finishing it anymore.

Alba looked at Cyrina, observing her reactions carefully. After a moment of silence, he let out a sigh and stood up, "I'll go back to work now. And finish eating that meal, ok?" He said, leaving behind a slight beam on his face.

Cyrina felt like sulking. She just sighed and started once again on her food.

"Crap… I was pounded really badly by master's favorite technique," Cyrina moped, her head leaning beside a wooden box. She was now sitting idly at the back of the inn, doing nothing but watch the sky. The sky was clear and blue now. Compared two days ago, it was dark and gloomy, and the rain was sobbing itself to dry. And that day, Artemis disappeared. She left without any word; not even a scolding. But there is something else that disturbs her very much. Those words that she heard before she passed out:

"You still have a long way… find your home…"

The voice was so gentle, yet it seemed so far; too distant to reach. She even thought it was from Artemis, but it wasn't. It actually sounded more like… she knew that voice from a long time ago. She sighed as another cloud covered the sun. It was only for a moment, yet it seemed like forever till the sun shone again. "This daydreaming will bring me nothing," Cyrina sighed. She then decided to head to the pub to take a drink.

She stood up and dusted the dirt from her pants when she noticed Alba coming out from the kitchen with a bag of rubbish. She tried ignoring him, yet, "Hey, Cy! Are you going somewhere?"

Cyrina slightly nodded, "Y-Yeah, kind of."

Alba beamed, "Oh, ok then. By the way, could you drop by the pub and get that wine from Pops? We really need it later for some folks here."

"Sure… I'll get it," Cyrina smiled, yet deep inside, she was a little upset. She had never felt this sluggish in her life. She thumped her head a few times, thinking it could take out the funny thoughts running inside her head. And after a while, she headed to the pub.

The only thing I remembered that day was a thick fog and a rainy day… an inferno raging from afar… and a hand reaching out. And when I woke up, I have forgotten my past…who I was… all was blank…
Cyrina snapped back from her daydream. She hated this mood of hers – when she starts thinking about her little past. But every time she tried digging her head for answers, it always led to a dead end. She took another drink of her mild ale, and sighed ever deeply. She then noticed the bartender standing over the cupboard, whistling while busy storing some of the clean wineglasses.

"Hey pops… can I ask you something?"

"Huh? Sure," the bartender said as he moved to the counter, wiping another wineglass. "Anything wrong, missy?"

Cyrina couldn't get her guts to ask; she then sighed and looked at the old man, "I-Is there… did master left anything behind; I mean, any note or word before she left? She kinda…" she looked down, trying to hide her annoyance over her master.

Old Pops looked up, as if he was thinking of something. "Nope, sorry. She didn't left anything. She just passed by here and drank her favorite wine. That's it…"

"I see. Thanks anyway," she replied. She then thought once more, "Hey, what's her favorite wine?"

He was quite surprised, "What? You don't know her favorite wine?"

"Well… it's not like she talked to me about her likes…" Cyrina thought, looking away from the bartender to hide her light pink cheeks.

He went back to the cupboard and got a bottle of wine from it. The bartender showed the bottle to Cyrina, which the latter looked. She was surprised; etched on the bottom of the bottle was a name 'Warping Wizard'.

"'Warping Wizard?' Hey, what's this?" she said as she pointed on the name.

"Oh that? It's a name of a restaurant. The wine maker who made this kind of wine etches the name of the restaurant where it was supposed to be delivered. If I'm not mistaken… that restaurant is in Geffen," he replied as he wiped the counter and took back the bottle to the shelf.

"Geffen, huh?" her elbow was now leaning on the newly cleaned counter, pondering for a while. "That woman…"

She then stood up and started leaving. She then remembered something else, "Hey, Pops! Alba said he needs the wine now."

"Wine? Oh!" he hurried to the storage room and got two bottles of red wine, top class from the way it was sealed. After giving her thanks and a few zenies, Cyrina left the pub.

"Thanks a lot for coming, and have a safe trip!" Alba said as he bowed politely to the guests leaving. He then noticed Cyrina, all dressed up with her traveling cloak and bag on her hand. "Leaving already? I don't think you can leave with that kind of condition."

"Heh, you don't know me well enough. I can survive," she grinned. She then handed three pieces of gold zenies to Alba and started leaving. "Thanks for the lodging."

"When are you coming back?"

Cyrina stopped. There was silence. And then she chuckled softly, "Just keep my room tidy. I'll be back soon."

Alba smiled, "Be careful on your trip."

She smiled back and then stepped out of the inn, into the streets of Morroc.

"… Now I know where she is…"