The sun had exhausted itself and tagged in the watchful moon to light the night in its stead. As the group walked down collections of buildings, Vin yawned and peeked at the starry sky, asking where they were going next. Maeve nonchalantly informed him that the same twenty Ravenours he'd trained the night before would be meeting again for another skating lesson. This also explained why Tristen held onto the skateboard they fixed at the shop.

She was getting carried away. Vin worried about what he'd do to her and that town if she didn't help him escape to the human settlement after everything he'd done. He continued behind her, though she stopped and glanced at him, reiterating. "Teach them how to skateboard."

Vin didn't slow but continued past her, indifferently replying, "I know."

Maeve's arm swung out, and she shoved him against the wooden foundation of a building. She grasped his jaw and peered into his eyes just like when they met at the river. Vin had felt her gaze several times already, but this was more. Her amber eyes dug deep inside him, and then her fierce voice emitted. "You are ____."

Tristen flicked forward, questioning the situation, but Gideon yanked him back, reminding him of his place.

Vin grimaced at Maeve. That was a welcomed reality check. He'd inadvertently slowly come to believe that despite their differences, he and those few Ravenours could get along. Yeah, right. No matter how much Ravenours laughed, cried, and worked like humans, a barbarian was a barbarian. Vin listlessly looked down at her, saying, "I don't understand."

Maeve summoned Tristen over, snatched the board from his possession, and then slammed it against Vin's chest. She gave him space, then fiercely pointed at the floor, indicating she wanted him to perform. Vin quietly got off the wall. He sluggishly placed the skateboard onto the ground, then, without much thought, hopped on it as he had before. The moment he touched down, her face intensified, and she hollered the same unfamiliar word.

It had to be "Liar." Or something along the lines of him being deceitful. She somehow figured out that he'd been duping them. He hadn't feared her or what she could do to him; however, suddenly, her eyes became a little frightening. He only had his inner self—the one thing no one could ever break. It was his, and his alone.

So he always believed.

In front of Maeve's gaze, he felt naked, his motives laid bare. He'd accepted the concept of magic after meeting the healer and learning the Center Gravity spell. Nonetheless, it never occurred to him that others may have had abilities that could not be perceived. His ability was that his memory recalled all five senses; he could smell dinner from the night before, clearly recall voices, and see and feel the warmth of his old bed. He'd rejoiced in his power. However, compared to a living lie detector, it felt inadequate.

The two guards quietly watched, unaware of Vin's misdeeds. But soon, they saw for themselves why the young royal had blown up.

It was ridiculous to pounce on an object with wheels, yet no matter how absurd, none of the trainees questioned their human teacher. He stood in front of the skateboard, placed his right foot on the front truck, and stepped up and pushed with his other foot quickly and fluidly, rolling a few paces away.

A heavy breath escaped Tristen's mouth. He didn't appear angry or disappointed; however, there was an expression Vin couldn't put his finger on. Maeve pushed Vin back, then angrily plopped her right foot on the board's surface, the deck. She'd seen him do it; however, the slight wiggle of the wheels the moment she touched it showed it wouldn't be as easy as he made it look. The young woman hesitated but attempted to climb the skateboard. She could plant both feet for quite a while but ended there. Upon sensing her loss of control, she stepped down.

Maeve spoke slowly and used simple words to make herself clear. She commanded Vin to tutor her people correctly, but he refused. In a world where all species were at odds, that may have been the only thing humans had an advantage on. Maeve heated, gripping his shirt. "That's an order! Don't you want my help!?"

Vin peeled her grip away, "Right now, it's you who needs my help. I'd rather take my chances alone than be your-"

He created enough space to open his Journal, find his notes, and finish his sentence, "Than be your servant."

Her composure melted, her eyes flared, and she roared, "Then go!"

She snatched her hands away from him and continued, "I don't need you; soon, I'll succeed my father's rule and command an army! I will be Queen, and everyone will submit to ME!"

Vin frowned. He didn't expect a strong reaction from her; she was usually so level-headed, but she began acting out of character. Why? Because he threatened to leave? It's not like she showed any special care for him before. He had followed her for a whole day. She was stern, but he didn't take her for someone who'd dreamed of making others submit. Before he could think, his mouth uttered, "Is that really what you want?"

She yelled; her spirit was slightly uneasy, not as steadfast as usual."Do not talk back to me, human!"

Vin shifted to his right foot and latched his eyes onto hers. He stated clearly, "I don't mean to doubt you. Being a princess in a town at war with itself can't be easy."

The tension made it easier to understand her; her expressive soul compensated for what bits of the language he couldn't understand. "You have NO idea."

Vin looked at her odd features and began again, keeping his translation notes close, "I don't, but I assume growing up as a half-elf made it... difficult."

Infuriated, Maeve bit her lower lip, then gripped her sword hilt while boiling and tolerating the human who spoke out of turn. "I haven't been awake in this world long, so there's a lot I don't understand. Still, I know it must have taken a lot of work to earn their trust. Even now, you're always working, so the people here... accept you."

'Maybe that's why I feel connected with her more than anyone else... As a half-elf, she's also misplaced here. Before I arrived, she was the biggest freak in town. I wondered if she felt relieved being with another reject.'

Maeve settled, and her grip loosened. Vin separated himself from her, "I'm not a tool you can use to meet your... hm."

"Agenda," she finished, filling in the gap in his knowledge.

"Right..."

The Ravenour woman turned her back and waved Vin away. She was done with him, but he wasn't done with her. He'd done almost everything she'd asked thus far; he wanted what he was owed, passage home.

With the assistance of translations from her guards, Maeve stated that Vin was still a valuable asset to them in their conflict with the order of the Scarlet Flame. She could choose to use him to rally the warriors of the Violet Flame into battle, but she wasn't as keen on blood baths as her kin. Instead, she wanted to deal with just their opposition leader, a man named Kaelix; she said they'd already been acquainted. Vin immediately pictured the militant General with a muscular, opposing build, shaved head, scarlet scales, and rear curved horns.

Maeve explained that Kaelix's strength was only second to the King, who, like Maeve, was of the opposing faction called the Violet order. Since the General was the strongest of those who still praised the red Phoenix he naturally became the leader of the Scarlet Flame in their town.

Two different sects existed, but that town still operated under one code: survival by any means and destroy all those who oppose. Apparently, it'd been that way for years until one day, Kaelix changed, became more vicious, and even challenged the King for the throne. The difference in power between them was too significant, and Kaelix was brutalized and left barely alive. The man realized he couldn't ascend to power with his strength, so he'd spent years weakening the Violent Order's power by having their members assassinated. This was likely to reduce their numbers enough to beat them in an all-out war. The King was mighty; however, he'd inevitably lose to numbers in the current course.

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"If things are that bad, why doesn't the King just kill him," Vin asked.

"My father is a Ravenour man. A veteran of war. He is a great battle chief who'd claimed more heads than anyone else. His mind is, and always will, only live on the battlefield. He doesn't have a formal education and doesn't understand the harm Kaelix is causing our town because he's only thinking about our military might with the General at the helm."

'That's why she's so involved with the town's affairs. Because her father only cares about war.'

"My father won't slay Kaelix unless our family is directly endangered. Unfortunately, everyone else is fair game. It'll be when our order is on the verge of annihilation that he'll act. Even then, if Elven armies marched on our lands he'd set his differences aside for the greater good."

Vin rubbed the back of his neck, sighing, "Kaelix isn't smart, either. He's creating a divide even though you're already at war with the Elves, and I promise you humans won't forgive your people for what they did."

"Our town is facing a bigger threat right now from its own people." Humankind's potential retaliation wasn't on her radar. All things considered, why would it be? The fact that humanity would have faced extinction if it hadn't been for the soul of Auroraan's intervention was an indication that their strength was laughable. Vin observed her lax on the matter and then warned her. "We might be weaker than you, but our history proves humans are capable of vile acts against their enemies."

Maeve's face remained doubtful while Gideon scoffed behind them. The Ravenour woman resumed, "Even more reason to hurry and take care of this eternal conflict."

"Kaelix and part of his troops embarked last night to join the war on humans-"

"You mean the slaughter," Vin interrupted with a growl.

"Call it what you will. Kaelix is away now, so I can move freely and prepare to rid our town of him. I'll need your cooperation when the time comes."

The royal walked by, faced her guards, then instructed, "The training group has already been assembled. Tristen, you're learning this—skateboarding—faster than others, so you'll help me start things off. Gideon, escort the human to their chamber, then join us."

Tristen looked at Vin dejectedly. Whether because he was given the responsibility to train the other Ravenour recruits or because he was disappointed Vin wouldn't be there to personally guide their improvement in the sport. In any case, Tristen nodded in agreement, and the party separated. Maeve and Tristen met the group of Ravenours she'd previously arranged to gather for skateboard lessons, informing them of Vin’s willful refusal. Meanwhile, Gideon dropped Vin off at the castle, where he could be alone in his chamber with his worries about the outside world and a rumbling stomach.

His demand earlier wasn't exactly answered either. Did that young royal mean she would help him once the General was dead? Was it okay to simply believe them.

<>

He wouldn't last much longer in the realm of consciousness, but before bed, he carried his heavy body to the desk and pulled a standing candle closer for light. Vin wearily sat and yawned, unfurling the scroll that contained the spell "Marking." At first glance, it was just a rolled piece of parchment with an intricate magic circle drawn, but he'd already known its nature. The only difference between then and before was that Tristen kept the scroll his parents made hidden, saving a copy of the spell "Center Gravity" to his Journal.

Vin's fingers swayed delicately across the parchment. He was eager yet slightly uneasy about diving into another deceased person's life. Well, there was no telling if the scroll's creator was dead, and even if they were, so what? He just couldn't shake the feeling that everything about it was somehow wrong. Like, for the seconds he recounted that person's life, he became them, and for a moment, he would lose his sense of self; he would cease to exist.

His eyes drew toward the eccentric flame of the candle, and he stared at it while thinking back to his first experience with spell scrolls. Embodying the person in the memory, Tristen's father, wasn't bad; it was actually quite cheery, so maybe his paranoia was unwarranted.

A prolonged yawn ensued as he contemplated. Ultimately, he squinted at the scroll and sleepily mumbled, "I suppose there's no harm in reliving a little more of someone else's life... as long as it doesn't swallow mine."

Vin touched the magic circle, lifting him into a maelstrom of someone else's senses and reality. His current understanding was ripped to shreds and replaced with that of another. In an instant, the pale light of a full moon illuminated a portrait of ugliness.

He was hurled amid a fierce battle inside a familiar forest he'd trekked many times before. Well, to be exact, it was the host of that memory who had lived there for many years. But he was no simple passenger, he became that soul, it was he who watched and listened as his dear companions were slaughtered by Ravenours, merciless individuals who had no business in Elven territory.

Echos of dread filled his pointed ears, and he felt a small figure squeeze his hand tightly. It was his Elven daughter, her eyes wide with fright, the flower basket they'd weaved together on the ground and ruined. How could a simple trip to the forest to gather plants lead to such a nightmare.

A desperate scream was directed at him. It was a bloodied Elven man a short distance away; he was yelling, "Run! Run and protect our child!"

The Elven woman, whose memory Vin relived, demanded she stay and fight, but her primal instinct to protect her child overruled her wish. It was then she cried out for her husband to follow her trail, and with a darkened heart, she fled deeper into the night of an ancient forest. Trees rose like the walls of a maze, making it impossible to look back at the battle. The air was thick as she ran, the scent of death not far enough behind to warrant respite. She only stopped every hundred paces to touch the bark of a tree and cast the spell she created to avoid getting lost while working in the forest.

Vin, embodying this woman, could feel even the most minute details of her casting. Each time she used the skill, she managed its message, which he could understand as a guide for her loved one. Go left, right, straight, they were simple directions but written in their language to ensure only Elven kind could follow. Vin knew the spell even allowed her to adjust luminance so it could be seen in the dark, ranging from a slight glow to the brightness of a light bulb. He understood its inner workings well because, at the moment, he was that woman. It was his own heart that pounded as he led a child, his child, through the dark forest; he felt her trepidation as she frequently looked back for enemies, felt her shiver, heard the sobs of the youth that whined how their legs hurt. He wanted to pick them up and carry them as they did around the house; however, he needed his hands free to cast the spell.

They ran until they could go no further. He'd navigated and marked the forest many times while gathering with his party, and luckily, they were nearing a cave. He'd done all he could to guide survivors there and waited nearly an hour when his ears picked up on footsteps. He and his daughter hastily stood to receive those who were able to escape and reunite that young girl with her father.

...

Tears streamed down the elven woman's face. She, no, he, Vin, collapsed next to his daughter and held them tightly, whispering, "It's going to be ok."

A blood-covered Ravenour entered the cave, dragging his sharp talons against the stone foundation and emitting a sharp echo that upset his ears. He wept so loud, yet all his Gods were silent. Excruciatingly absent.

The memory ended.

Back alone in the castle room, Vin shouted and clenched nothingness in his arms, calling out the name of a child he'd never met. Conscious of his own existence again, he fought back grief and angrily pounded the desk, then knocked all its contents onto the ground. He'd broken in a cold sweat, trying his damnest to forget, reassuring himself that everything was just a memory, that it wasn't real.

Given time and reason, he knew that while the memory ended where it did, the host could not have died there. She would have had to have lived to create a magic scroll and scribe her experience onto it. Unlike Tristen's father, who simply and happily balanced a leaf on the ground, this Elven woman intentionally chose a frightful memory. It was a memento of her detestation of Ravenours. Now, every single person in Auroraan who chose to learn the spell of Marking would also know her tale.

Vin clenched his sweaty face, mumbling, "This planet isn't right. Everything about this is wrong." Recording events of the past was one thing. However, for the residents of that world to relive memories like that, hell, having an entire dimension dedicated to Archiving history was detrimental. "No one will ever forgive each other when there's constant reminders of the pain they put each other through..."

"Even me..." He said, tightening his fist. He wanted to hate the Ravenours with all his being, to wish them all painful deaths for what they put him- put that woman through. But he had to remind himself those feelings were not his own.

All that suffering wasn't for nothing. Vin stood, approached a plain wall in the room, touched it, and recalled every sensation he experienced from the Elven woman in the memory. His fingertips bled a purple light, one he could manipulate. With that control, Vin wrote his name on the wall repeatedly until his nerves were calmed. He was drained from that day and trudged to the bed, counting his breaths while hoping he could finally sleep without disruption. He needed the rest because he expected the next day to be lousy, just like the previous ones.