Mana had gone back to normal. Or at the very least, as normal as she could be. She continued to stare at the little girl’s statue, now with a reserved expectation.
”…”
How come I never noticed this before? Mana, the little girl. They both—
”Eonnnnnnnn!” My mom’s call resounded some distance away from me. It seemed as though they had finished their chats with the elder.
Mana turned her head towards them, then to me. We both made our way back to them. The elder’s expressions were more calm than before, yet they were also a little forlorn.
”Young man..” He began. “Your case is truly unique. I originally believed your memory loss to be a problem in the brain, a disorder if you will. But with your recent thoughts and actions, I believe that to not be the case.”
I looked on. Silently. Waiting for him to complete.
”Young man, can you repeat the visions once more? The ones which gave you the sense of fear.”
”A cathedral.” He found it unsettling. I could see that much from his expression. “A school.” His expression lessened its intensity. “A grassland.”
"..."
“Young man?” He commented on my sudden pause.
”A dining table. With a glass of milk, and a loaf of bread. The bread was on a small plate.” The image felt a little clearer than before. Still gave me that sense of fear though.
”The table…” The clarity increased once more. I had probably entered a trance right now. “The table was in a garden of sorts. There was a man in front of me. Seated, and eating as well. I can’t remember his features correctly, but I assume him to be of my age or lower.”
The explanation was cut short. My head started hunting. It was difficult to keep my focus.
”Young man.” The elder’s voice was more firm this time. “Do you remember any instances of having wasted your food that day? The milk perhaps? Or the bread?” He asked me. I tried to remember, and answer him. Unfortunately...
”MANA!!” My Mom shouted from behind me, running to reach the little girl by my side. As for the little one in question;
Mana lay on the ground. Unmoving. And probably unconscious. How did I not hear her falling?
”Mana? Hey, you there? Mana?” Mom put mana's head on her lap. Panic and worry shaped her current expression. She was surprised, and definitely not taking this well. My dad stood still for a bit, then silently made his way to them. His expression was hidden by the hat he wore. It went well with the semi formal outfit.
”Mmm..” Mana voiced out, her face contorting in pain. Was she having a nightmare? Or did she get hurt?
”Mana? Mana? Wake up, girl. Please…” My mom was panicking even more. A restrained type of panicking. To be precise. My Dad continued staring at them. Then he crouched down.
”Mana?” His voice echoed softly. I did not need to see his expression. I may not have been a part of this family for more than... What am I thinking?
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The pain grew stronger. Dizzy, and nearly unable to hold a proper footing. I found it difficult to form a coherent thought. Right. Mana.
”…!”
Her eyes snapped wide open. Her breaths were shallow, fear and terror evident on her face. Suddenly fainting, and now a bad dream? Or was it pain? She did not scream. So we could rule the pain out. Maybe.
”Mana. Mana, we’re here. Calm down. Ok?” Mom tried to pacify her. Dad held her little hands, letting her know that he was there. By her side.
The little girl’s eyes darted around. Trying to understand her surroundings. Soon, they met mine.
She… she continued to stare for a bit. Wide eyed, and sweat forming on her forehead. Her mouth was slightly open, and a tinge of fear bore on her face.
Apparently, she was scared of me.
----------------------------------------
"..."
"..."
The stalemate continued for a bit. It was the second time now.
The pain in my head had lessened by a small amount. Yet, I could not keep my eyes off her. They were drawing me in. Something had happened before. I did not know what, but it had an impact.
”Ahem!” We jolted. Right. The elder was still here.
“Child, are you fine now?” He asked her. She looked at me once more. Then back at him. Slowly, she nodded. My parents… frankly. They were confused. Sometimes alternating between the two of us, and sometimes looking at each other. Why was Mana acting like that? Did something happen to her, and was it related to me? I could read all those questions from their expressions and gestures. So many unanswered questions remained, and more still continue to be added.
Haah... A sigh escaped the elder's mouth.
”Right.” He raised his hand. Soon, a glass of... golden aluminum? Never mind, I suck at metals and metallurgy. A gold cup manifested above his hands. It was filled with water. He handed it to the little girl.
”Here, drink some water and calm down. We can talk later ok?” He gestured to Mom and Dad to take her out to a more comfortable place. So they went. Mana had to finish drinking all that water though. Apparently, it will vanish if it goes out the gates.
”So young man, shall we continue our conversation?” Right. Where were we? Me trying to remember any instances of wasting food.
Uhhh… I don’t think I remember any? It may have just been my memory issue. The reason everything began. Me forgetting stuff.
”Sorry elder, but I don’t remember wasting or throwing my food anywhere.” I told him.
”Well, what about leaving food on your plate? Not finishing it?” He asked gently. I pondered.
Shit.
My headache had returned once more. It was stronger this time. And it spread through the entire skull, almost as if someone were hammering my head with a spiky ball. Inside out.
The elder raised his hands immediately, and soon a chair formed behind me. A table between us, and a glass of water on that table. I sat down and slowly drank. Needed to calm myself down. The elder remained silent throughout the entire process. He paced back and forth, albeit with a speed slow enough to not splash the water around.
I slowly breathed in and out. This place, at the very least its ambiance was serene and calming. I stared at the giant gears that were rotating, for a bit. Wonder what use they have here. Some specific contraption? Symbolism? My head was occupied with such thoughts. I slowly fell into a trance. Some memories once again passed by. It wasn’t visual imagery this time. What it was, however, was a set of physical experiences.
I sat on a chair. Eating something. Was it already finished? I did not know. Soon, a figure came running towards me. They were of a small stature and had long hair. I would assume them to be a little girl. She tackled me down. Crying, smiling? I could not make out her expression. It did not register in my mind.
”…”
The fear. It had come back again. That was normal I suppose. Or at the very least, it stood by the previous experiences. What was not normal, however, was the excitement that came along with it.
Right. Excitement.
My body remembered it. My mind remembered it. Only “I” did not remember it.
”I” had forgotten. Once again, “I” had forgotten. “I” had forgotten this energy that filled my body, this… This. This madness. “I” had forgotten this madness. I…
It felt like “I” now somewhat understood where this fear came from.
It came from me. The me in these memories, the me that was tackled down. I had forgotten “me”. This fear that came, this fear that I bore towards the “me” from my dreams; I had forgotten it.
My breathing had grown heavier without me noticing. A tear or two dropped from my right eye.
I felt relieved.
Relieved towards the fact that “I” had forgotten “me” from this period of my memories.
Relieved by the fact that I had forgotten Eon Aika from this period of my memories.