Lazily, I open my eyes to a strange bluish liquid surrounding me. I glance around, spotting a peculiar mask with pipes jutting out, covering my mouth and nose. When I try to move my arms, it feels like pushing through honey. As I shift, a red light begins to flash.
The liquid drains slowly, and my body floats downward until I'm left lying on the ground. I look up—trapped inside some sort of glass tube. Suddenly, a hissing noise cuts through the air—***Pshhhhh!!!***—followed by a bone-chilling wind as a small door creaks open.
Cautious, I crawl toward it and peer out. The room is bathed in an eerie glow from strange blue and green crystals. My bare feet meet the freezing iron floor, and another icy gust hits me. Shivering, I spot an old brown rag draped over the edge of a table. I stumble toward it and wrap it around my shoulders, teeth chattering. *Where am I?*
The room flickers with bizarre screens, flashing colors I've never seen. Behind me, the glass chamber I came from looms—an egg-shaped monstrosity with tubes snaking into the ceiling. My mind is blank, no memories to grasp. The only exit is a hallway bathed in pulsing red light.
I stagger forward, the corridor echoing with mechanical beeps—***Beep! Beep! Beep!***—until, after what feels like hours, I hit a cold metal wall. Exhausted, I slump down, then notice a glass panel with a handprint etched into it. Hope flickers. I press my palm against it.
***Beeeeep!*** A deafening alarm blares as the wall groans—***Crrrreeeak—GRIND!***—parting just enough to squeeze through. I scramble on hands and knees, terrified it'll snap shut.
Then—cold wind. Night sky. A city sprawled below, glittering with unnatural lights.
***Click-clack, click-clack!*** Horse hooves! I drag myself toward the sound, bursting from the alley onto a street. People. Carriages. My legs give out. I collapse, the world fading as my body begs for *sleeeeeep…*
**CRACKLE… CRACKLE…**
A warm, smoky wind washes over me like a blanket as I slowly open my eyes.
*"Hey, guys—the kid's up!"*
My vision sharpens. A large campfire flickers in front of me, surrounded by strangers clad in leather and light iron-plated armor.
*"W-Who are you people?"* I ask, my voice shaky.
*"The kid's *really* up! Hello, I'm Aiden!!"* A loud, grinning man leans way too close.
*"H-Hello…"* I stutter, shrinking back.
*"Look, Aiden, your loudmouth scared him. *Move*—I'll talk to him."* A middle-aged woman in a leather jacket shoves Aiden aside and sits down. *"Sorry about him. He's always like this. But, kiddo… where are your parents?"*
The question hits like a punch to the gut. I wrack my brain, but nothing comes—no name, no age, no memories of family.
*"I… I-I don't *know*,"* I stammer. My breath quickens. A hot, prickling feeling swells behind my nose, then my eyes. Tears spill over.
*"Well *shit*, Julianne. Really calmed him down, didn't you?"* Aiden snorts.
*"Oh, *shut it*, Aiden,"* Julianne snaps before turning back to me. *"Hey, kiddo. You don't gotta worry. We're strong knights, okay? We'll help you."*
*"I-It's not that…"* I choke out between sobs. *"I c-can't… remember *anything*."*
Ohh, umm… well, maybe you just need more time to remember. You *did* just wake up,"* Julianne says gently.
Her words soothe me a little. *Maybe it's just temporary…* I think, clutching at the hope.
Seeking more comfort, I ask shakily, *"D-Do you know anyone who lost their memories… and remembered?"*
Julianne smirks and jerks her thumb toward Aiden. *"Yeah. That bear over there got hit so hard once, he forgot his name for a week."*
*"Hey, Julianne! It was more like a *day*,"* Aiden grumbles.
*"Whatever lets you sleep at night,"* she jokes, rolling her eyes.
I chuckle weakly, feeling a little better. I try again to think back—*how did I get here?*—but my mind stays blank. *Maybe asking questions will help…*
*"Hey, Julianne,"* I look up at her. *"Where are we right now?"*
*"Oh, we're on the outskirts of Aurelion."*
*"Where's that?"* I blink, confused.
*"Ahhh, it's the capital city."*
*"Oh…"* I murmur, but no memories surface, no matter how hard I think.
Julianne leans toward Aiden and hisses under her breath—***"Psst. Aiden."***—but he's too busy chewing on dried meat to notice. She kicks his boot.
*"Ow! What?!"*
*"How old do you think this kid is?"* she whispers sharply.
*"I dunno. Eleven, I guess?"* Aiden says, too loud.
*"I was thinking ten,"* Julianne mutters. *"But why would he be outside at night in the middle of the capital?"*
*"You think he was kidnapped or something?"* Aiden asks, suddenly serious.
*"Maybe?"*
*"Then his kidnappers might be looking for him now. Should we tell the merchants?"*
*"Yeah. Just in case."*
*"Aiden, *you* go tell them. I'll stick with the kid."*
Aiden sighs but trudges off. Julianne turns back to me.
*"Hey, kiddo."*
*"Y-Yeah?"*
*"Can you *really* not remember anything at all?"*
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to force *something*—*anything*—but nothing comes. *"No… I don't remember anything."*
*"Okay. That's fine for now."*
**DING! DING! DING!**
A loud bell rings out. *"Everyone, we're heading out!"* a voice shouts.
In the background, groans erupt:
*"What? Now? Why?"*
*"I barely got any sleep! Come on!"*
*"Everyone, *awake*!"*
Julianne frowns as Aiden jogs back. *"Hey, Aiden. What did you tell them?"*
*"I just… said I think human traffickers might come for us."*
*"You *idiot*! You made it sound like they're *already* coming!"*
*"No, I just—… oh."*
*"Whatever. It's for the better anyway."* She turns to me. *"Hey, kiddo, get into that carriage to our right. We're heading out."*
*"Wait—*why*? And where are we going?"* I ask, panic creeping into my voice.
*"Sorry, forgot to mention. We're hired as escorts for these merchants. Where *they* go, *we* follow. And we can't go back to the capital now—it's too far."*
*"S-So where are we going?"* I ask, my voice small.
*"That'd be Galespire. About ten days away. That should be more than enough time for you to remember *something*, right?"* She gives me a reassuring smile.
*"…Okay."*
I climb into the carriage and slump down, exhaustion hitting me like a wave. Slowly, I drift… to… sleep…