Strangely enough, I awoke. An odd feeling. My mind drifted slowly back into reality, foggy misunderstandings still influencing my vision here and there. What I had witnessed in the dream was fleeting, only vague impressions, confusion, and flashes of intense images still remained. I twisted and turned, pulling myself from the grips of sleep that tried so hard to pull me back down. Yet once I decided to get up, the fleeting sensations and confusion fled and were gone completely. There was no drowsiness that held me after my awakening, and my mind was as sharp as it should be.

I awoke in an odd circumstance. In a relatively small room, only big enough to fit a bed, small four-person table, and a wardrobe. Glimmering rays of light peaked through a curtain covering a small window over the bed. A comfortable space, with a soft bed, though the luxury was wasted on me as I couldn't even feel the fabric or understand the softness of the mattress.

I got out of bed, a tangle of sheets and blankets held me captive as I tried to escape. As I left the embrace of luxury, I noticed my robe was missing. I panicked and looked down at myself; only to realize that I had a body under the wrappings of robes. I had assumed my face would be disguised by the magic I had enchanted on myself before, but my entire body was a pleasant surprise; a fit form with pale skin, slight freckles dotting here and there across my shoulders. As I focused on the magic holding power over me, I sensed a short connection between me and my book. The sensation was like a current of water gently pushing me towards where it wanted me to go. I instinctively knew that my book was stored within the wardrobe next to the bedside. Despite how close it seemed, probably only an arm’s reach from the bedside, I felt the magic struggle and tighten as if moments from snapping entirely.

Quickly opening the wardrobe and digging through neatly stacked robes, clothes of all kinds, and various grooming items, I found my charmed robes and book stored within a drawer. The moment my hands touched the book it felt as if a weight was lifted off my non-existent heart that had tugged at it and constricted my chest. I felt the book’s connection to me more intimately now that I had almost been separated from it. The strange sense of knowing and tidbits of old knowledge flowing clearly into me once more. I could feel an odd pulling, even after having reunited with the ancient text; the pulling felt deeper than a current’s flow that led me to its hiding place, this was more like an almost unnoticeable wound that bled so lightly and painlessly it would normally go unnoticed. This spiritual wound, it seemed, was draining me of essence and power at a very sluggish rate. The knowledge of ancient words flowing once again into me, I knew this was a price for the magical charm hiding my skeletal features.

As I continued to stare into the book’s mostly empty pages, focusing on the strange energies and sensations emanating from it and I, the door to the room suddenly opened. Walking in as if they expected no one inside was the lady-captain, Elsie as A’seri called her. She looked at me for a moment before a reddening filled her cheeks and she promptly turned her head to look at the wall. “Put some clothes on if you’re going to stand in the open, damned fool!”

I was perplexed, looking down I only now realized my complete lack of any clothing. My body was more complete than I had originally thought, or intended. I grabbed my enchanted robes and covered myself. I briefly wondered what I looked like underneath the robes when the confusion charm took effect over my body. “Are you dense?” Elsie asked, “You don't expect to walk around nude with just a pile of old sheets to cover you do you? We arranged clothes that should fit you, put them on. I will return in a few minutes, I expect you to be ready.” she said, cold and strict.

I did as I was told. Though the clothes seemed simple, they were surprisingly difficult to put on. My head was put through an arm hole and tangled in drawstrings more than once. I even mistakenly put two legs through one pant leg, nearly falling over. While the enchantment from my book made me look whole and normal, my body was still that of a skeleton’s. Getting used to where my body seemed to be versus where it actually was would take time, and I didn’t have much hope for any talent for putting on clothes quickly.

The Guard Captain eventually returned, giving me a few minutes to fumble like she promised. She walked in, this time knocking first, only to find me struggling with a drawstring from my new tunic stuck and strangling my throat. She tutted in disapproval and quickly righted my clothes to be proper. I was nervous her touching me might reveal my enchantment, but even as I knew she touched smooth skull and clicked her gauntleted hand against spinal vertebrae accidentally, she didn't seem to care or realize anything was wrong.

When I was fixed and ready to leave, I donned my enchanted robes once more and we departed. Elsie didn't say anything more after her initial telling me to clothe myself. She simply scowled and jerked her head when she wanted me to follow her. We arrived at the entrance to the reception hall I had previously fallen unconscious in. Elsie glared at me once more, her suspicion of me still as strong as ever, but she opened the door. “Announcing… An adventurer, at request of her majesty, Queen’s Regent Velronica .” Elsie said, stepping inside.

I walked in after her, unsure why she felt the need to announce my entrance and who the person was that had requested me here. That was until I saw the spectacle filling the hall. An assortment of well-dressed and imposing figures were scattered about the place. Drinks in hand and quiet music playing behind them. The people wore elegant dress coats or just as beautiful dresses. The assortment of noble-people’s eyes were drawn to me immediately, judging stares and disappointed scowls met me as I confusedly walked into the event. As I scanned the room, Elsie grabbed my left arm. “Come with me. You are commanded to appear before the Queen’s Regent.”

As I was dragged away, not permitted any questions, I was pulled through an ocean of silks and perfume. There might’ve been more than forty various guests, but the way they were packed in so closely and the pooffiness of their clothes made the space feel even smaller than it should have been. I was quickly pulled through the crowd and placed in front of a short set of steps. Leading up the steps was an assortment of chairs, each with their own figure to sit upon them but one.

There were two tall chairs, akin to thrones woven out of wooden roots, which were placed in the middle of the small stage. One chair was empty, which was right of the center, while the other sat a woman, who was left of the center. The woman slouched in the chair, leaning against the wooden sides as if she had fallen asleep but her eyes were open. She was dressed in the most elegant and extravagantly designed gown out of any present, yet in her crumpled state it looked like it was thrown on her rather than she actually wearing it.

Beside the two tall chairs, on the side of the empty seat, was an extravagant throne-like show-piece of woven dark root, etched stone at the base, and flowers in full bloom decorating all across. Sitting atop was a woman. Imperious in her air, hawkish in looks, and full of confidant arrogance. She wore a dress similarly extravagant to the slumped woman, but wore it with pride and a trained grace. She stared down at me with a look of amusement, as if I were a sight entirely hilarious but only she knew why.

Finally, sitting in a meager and normal white-wood chair with a few decorated engravings of flowers, was A’seri. Wearing the same elegant white dress as last I saw her, she sat next to the slumped woman, and I could now see her reaching a hand out to hold the slumped woman’s limp and drooping hand. She stared at the woman beside her with an intense care and obvious pity, yet beneath there was sadness too. A’seri looked at me, almost seeming ashamed to see me here, or perhaps ashamed of what was going on.

As I watched the strange setup I noticed the Guard Captain fall to one knee and bow her head. Around me a few others who were close by did the same, while the rest stood at the sides of the hall and watched in a sudden, deafening, silence. The music halted and all attention was now squarely on me. I looked at A’seri again, unsure what was happening, and she gestured quietly by pushing her free hand down and mouthing the word ‘kneel’. Before I could respond my body instinctively followed the directions. Before I even noticed what she was saying, my body seemed to understand her intent and I followed through to kneel before the assembled. “Ah… So your little savior has some class after all, Princess?” said the imperious woman.

“Queen’s Regent, Velronica, I don't see why this is necessary…” A’seri mumbled.

“Speak up if you have something to say. Your mother will never hear you if you don't learn to speak clearly!” the Regent snapped.

A’seri flinched at the mere retort of this ‘Queen’s Regent’. Some part of me began to smolder and it was fed by a growing distaste for the woman. Velronica’s eyes leisurely returned to look at me, lingering in A’seri’s direction with barely hidden distaste. Their glare towards me was one filled with arrogance and mischievousness. “I address you now, ‘Adventurer’... State your name.” The Regent Velronica demanded. I hesitated, looking towards A’seri like she could tell me what to do. The Regent noticed my glance and when she realized I was staring at A’seri her grin widened. “Is your dog incapable of speaking, Princess?” Velronica asked.

“Please, Adventurer, introduce yourself to the best of your ability.” A’seri asked, her voice quiet compared to the confidence of Velronica.

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“Yes, ‘to the best of your ability’ if you’d be so kind…”

Unsure exactly what to say, I decided to leak some truth into the story the Regent apparently wanted, “I apologize… I cannot give you my name.” I said.

“What?” Velronica questioned, annoyance and hints of rage in my rejection.

“I cannot give you my name, because I cannot remember it. I woke up not long ago without any memories.”

A new mirth filled Velronica’s eyes, “Oh? So an amnesiac is the apparent ‘savior’ of our dear princess. How amusing.” she said, trailing her words as she turned to watch A’seri’s face.

“I apologize for my inability. If there was anything else you needed, please ask me.” I said, trying to mimic my imaginary picture of nobility.

“Oh? Anything you say…” Velronica continued to watch A’seri’s expressions, “Then, please stay here in our palace. I can think of several needs I have for someone like you, and we can't very well turn away a soul in need can we? A poor amnesiac who so selflessly saved so many.”

I felt my error in phrasing the moment the Regent began to speak, “I… I couldnt intrude upon your graces like that. I could simply leave-”

“Silence.” Velronica cut me off, “I said you will stay here. My word is final.”

I was unsure what to say or do. Looking towards A’seri, I saw her mouthing the words 'don't talk’. The Regent watched the both of us, she finding some amusement in my hesitation and A’seri’s attention towards me. The Regent stood up, drawing all gazes towards her once again as everyone in the room dropped to a knee, if they weren't already. “I think our guest is rather tired. They fought off so many foul beasts and had to fend for themselves in the Deep Wood after our cruel captain’s guardsmen refused his entry. Please, retire for the day. I will call for you later to be sure you're… settling in.” Velronica said.

“Queen’s Regent, my mother is tired from all the excitement. May I be excused to take her back to her room?” A’seri asked.

Velronica gave an annoyed glance towards A’seri again, “Fine. But be quick to return. A princess’s duty is to attend to her people after all.”

At the same time, the Guard Captain grabbed my arm and pulled me up and A’seri and a few attendants got up to help move A’seri’s apparent mother, the dazed and quiet woman. My legs buckled in a kneel, despite the captain’s initial yank. The Regent seemed intrigued by my staying, but as I looked towards A’seri she once more mouthed ‘go’. As she did I felt my legs loosen and I followed the Guard Captain out of the reception hall. Just as I exited through the main doors I heard the Regent say loudly, “Now then! Let us return to our merriment!”

I followed the Guard Captain out and into the hallway. Being led back the way we had come to the other side of the keephouse where the room I awoke in was. The captain deposited me back into my room unceremoniously, “Stay here. The Princess will surely be here soon.” she commanded.

“Who was that?” I asked, curious about the whole experience.

“Are you dull?” she asked genuinely, when I didnt respond that seemed to answer her question, “She was the Queen’s Regent, Lady Velronica. She is the administrative power of the city, in place of the king and queen she manages all affairs and as such is the most powerful person for leagues in any direction.”

“The king and queen… Where are they, why is she in charge and not them?”

“Do you… do you really have amnesia? I would have assumed the gossip of our city had reached as far as the coast at this point.”

“Coast…?” I asked, confused.

The Guard Captain looked genuinely surprised, and even a little bit of pity leaked into her expression but it was quickly hidden by her returning sternness. The captain turned, not wanting to entertain my ‘amnesia’ any longer. Choosing to step outside and close the door as she shook her head.

After a few minutes of sitting in the small room alone, eventually there was a gentle knock against the door. When it opened, A’seri stepped in and closed it quickly behind her. She looked sad, tired, and even paler than what I thought was normal. Yet as she entered she smiled despite whatever stress plagued her. Seeing her like that, dejected and obviously not well, stirred up the embers that had only just calmed after talking to the Regent. My enchantment must've made some kind of interesting expression, because A’seri tilted her head in curiosity as she looked at me. “You are so much more different with a real face… I never thought I would see what you actually looked like, how did this happen?” A’seri asked.

“A lot went on while I was in the forest, apparently.” I responded, not sure how much I should actually share.

“You mean the Deepwood? There are stories of the Deepwood being cursed. Monsters and fiends of all kinds lurk there and sometimes venture out into the plains. The creatures we fought before, they were a Deepwood monster; Lacre they're called, strange lizard-like monsters that come out of the Deepwood after the winter thaw, or when a Devil-king calls them to raid our lands.”

“The Deepwood, do only evil things live there? Are there any normal creatures?”

“I can't say for certain, as the farthest most people venture in is still close enough that the edge of the forest is still barely within sight. But there has never once been anything good or normal that has come out of those trees. Only ever monsters, or worse.” A’seri’s voice trailed off as she looked into the middle distance for a moment, as if seeing something that wasn't there.

As she trailed off, I felt something peculiar. I felt sad. Almost like a distant memory that was tainted with only sad thoughts and cruel pain. I remembered a feeling that wasn't mine. I thought it might have been some whisper from the magical book I carried, but as I felt it and let my mind’s eye gaze upon it, the feeling felt like it was coming from somewhere else. As faint as the sensation was, I could almost sense that this feeling of an old memory was coming from… A’seri.

A’seri shook her head. Refocusing her attention back on me. As she did the sensation fled. It was only there for a few short moments, a couple seconds at best. Yet I knew I could feel some quiet echoing pain coming from A’seri, and it made my chest tighten and an anger boil. These new feelings twisting and churning within me were strange, new, and entirely confusing. I yet again must've made a strange face, as a small smile crept across A’seri’s face as she came closer to inspect me. “You are so expressive now. Do you even know what you look like?” A’seri asked.

“No, I haven't had a real chance to see.” I replied, trying to wrestle down the strange feelings swirling inside me.

“We ought to fix that, I think.”

A’seri began to search through the wardrobe. Looking for something inside. She eventually seemed to find what she was looking for. A small circular disk, with a simple wooden frame. The disk reflected light and images, like an impossibly clear and still pool of water. The small disk was no larger than a few centimeters wide, looking small in A’seri’s hands. She pointed it towards me, and from inside the disk a man stared back.

Firm, straight features, with rugged and worn looks. Long, pushed back, dirty bronze-gold hair that hung to the shoulders messily. A stern face, looking hard at whatever the person was seeing within the disk. Their face twisted in curiosity and confusion, and behind the expressions gleamed bright green eyes. Almost like emeralds, reminiscent of the gemstone I saw in the Deepwood, their eyes scrutinized something beyond my own sight. The face of a man, worn by time but still their youth fought hard to surface, a face grizzled by small scars yet blemished with an assortment of freckles stretching across their cheeks and nose. As I looked into the disk, analyzing the person on the other side, I came to realize. “Is this… Me?” I asked.

“Yes!” A’seri said, happy at my realization, “This is what you look like to me and everyone else. Quite striking in these parts. Most of our people have silver, white, or clear blonde hair paired with a shade of blue-colored eyes. Though rarely our eyes sometimes appear violet or black. You are quite the looker compared to the sameness of everyone else in the city.”

“Strange… I look so… real. Yet I can still sense that my body is bone.”

A’seri slowly moved a hand to touch my face, “Yes… My own senses seem to try to trick me into thinking you are real. But if I focus, if I inspect your skin closely by touch, I can feel the hardness of bone beneath. Yet despite this, whatever enchantment that was placed on you is a powerful one. I doubt anyone could tell you are anything but normal unless they knew to look for something.”

I reached up to touch my own face, still looking into the disk that my borrowed memories now explained to me was a mirror. As I poked my face with a finger, the flesh of the illusion bent and pushed as if it were actually there. Yet I knew that my boney finger was dragging and scraping across bare skull, even I was almost fooled by the illusion while I watched it. What could such a seemingly powerful spell cost, and how did it drain so little from me? I wondered. I looked down at my robes, staring towards the spot where my book sat within the robes. The power it took from me was almost unnoticeably small.

Suddenly the door opened. The Guard Captain stepped in, seeing A’seri’s hand against my face as we stood so close. She looked away briefly, almost as if embarrassed, but spoke quickly, “I apologize for interrupting. My lady, the Regent requests your immediate return.”

A’seri suddenly noticed the closeness between us and stepped back quickly, “Yes. I will leave in just a moment, thank you Elsie.” she replied.

The Guard Captain closed the door, backing out back into the hallway. A’seri’s mood had almost lifted slightly, but the moment the Captain’s words were spoken any hope at a levity was gone. A’seri’s face fell and she straightened her posture and gathered herself. “Thank you.” A’seri said, sadly.

“For what? I have yet to be of help to anyone.” I said, bluntly.

“For coming back… So many people leave of late, this place…” she looked around herself, “It becomes lonely with so few good people in it.”

I felt a longing to fix her sadness, to fight something that would make whatever hurt her go away, but I didn’t know why or from where the emotion came from, “I have no plans to leave anytime soon. I think… I think I need you.” I said, still unsure of how much truth to give.

A’seri’s face reddened, “Oh… Ummm.” she stammered, “Well. I must return to the Regent now. I will try to seek you out the moment I am able to.”

“I will wait for you. If there is anything you need that I might help with, I will aid you. I am in your debt after all.”

A’seri seemed confused, “But wasn’t it you who saved me?”

“That is not how I remember it.” I said, grimly recalling my foolishness.

The Guard Captain opened the door again, “My lady, we really must go before the Regent becomes upset.”

A’seri nodded, making her way out of the room, “We will talk later, okay?”

I only nodded back in return. Then she left. I felt the tightness in my chest intensify, only to then disappear entirely moments later. As she left, I could almost see her walking down the hallway at a brisk pace. Like I was just behind her and able to watch as she went. Yet I stayed within the room. Soon the strange delusion faded, and I was left alone. Once again, I was alone. Yet now, at least, I wasn’t far from a friend… Friend? Do I see her as a friend? I questioned myself. It didn’t take more than a moment for my mind to make its conclusion; yes, I did think of her as a friend. As an important ally. My savior, and to whom I owe a great debt. Whatever happened, I would protect at least her, I vowed once again. This time, I would not fail in this duty.