"You want to know about the Magic continent?" I nod to him. "What made you seek me out?" Jae is pacing around a table that rests in between us and the man. "Actually, we saw a flyer and happened to ask Jae if she knew anything about the Magic continent and she mentioned you emigrated here."

"I did. I'm surprised she's remembered at all."

"Sir," Rayne begins, "Are you able to share anything about the continent to us?" Jae stops. Relieving. "I don't, no. I don't wish to share a thing about that damned place. Burn the flyer you found and any like it."

"Father!" Jae raises her voice, "You're not even going to attempt to help them?"

"These two aren't children. I'm sure they can find their own solution. Do I assume correct with you two?" Rayne and share a moment together. "We only wish for some info on the continent." Rayne seems confident in his wording. "I cannot help you. If you cannot accept my wishes then you are not allowed within my home, Jae, please let them out."

Jae is silent on the opposite side of the island. "What made you leave?" The man doesn't answer. Instead, the man stands up and walks to the room Jae had entered earlier. "I'm sorry you two. He can be a real sore sometimes."

"It's okay." Rayne responds. "There's always a roadblock to deal with." I walk towards the room the man entered. Before I reach the room Jae calls for me and grabs ahold of my hand. "If he wishes to be left alone, I think It's better to leave him be." I refuse for this lead to end here. "Jae, this is not the first man I have met in my life that has been avoidant of his past. " Her grip lessens and her hand falls. I reached for the door handle. "What's his name?" Rayne asks. Jae turns to Rayne, "Only name I know him by is 'Peck.' Peck! I kicked down the door. "Listen here you damn liar," I begin yelling. Jae screams "What are you doing?" I walk towards the bed the man is lying on. "Peck. What a joke. You dare take the name of a fallen man?"

"Get the hell out of my room young man, I am in no mood to yell and argue with a child." The man continues to lie on the bed. "I'm a child now? Not when I needed help from a two-faced rat!" The man sits up. "I am no liar. I have not an ounce of an idea of how you know the name Peck, but I sure do know that you will not disrespect me in my own home, young man!" 'Peck' stands. "Get the hell out of my house." The man stands to my face. "Tell us what you know about the continent then we leave."

"Do you not know what 'no' means, boy? Must I teach you what it means to decline an invitation?"

"What good is a fraud if they can't hold the story of the one, they're attempting to mimic" Rayne and Jae stand back. They're watching me, I feel it. They think I'm a mad man losing his mind. Damnit. "Listen, if you don't share what you know, I'm gonna have to put you in the place you belong." The man raises his hand and before I can even see it, he strikes me. The man struck me in less time than it takes to blink. "You have lost your mind, boy. You are invited to my home, and this is how you treat me? Who do you believe you are to make demands from me?" The man continues but I can't hear a word he says. My cheek stung where he hit. A burning sensation. I hit him. I didn't notice until I heard contact. It felt like I hit a wall. I'm burning everywhere. My adrenaline has kicked in already. I'm ready for a fight. For once, Rayne, let me start this battle. I hear a faint noise in the back that sounds like my name. It feels so far away. Everything looks so far away. I jab at the man's face again before he can get a chance to counter. Another, and another, and another. I don't stop. I keep swinging at the man. It feels like only a moment passed before I blacked out. I didn't see it coming, once again.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Part 2

That was pathetic. "That was pathetic, Lemur." He responded as if he were reading my head. "Sorry, Rayne," I barely spit out. We're back where we were staying before we were kidnapped. "What were you thinking? You just threw away our lead like that over a name." My side feels as if I'm in a constant cycle of being beaten. "Don't bother trying to get up. He screwed you up, man. You deserved that." I can't speak. My throat feels sticky. Who the hell is this 'Peck' to you?" My mouth opens but nothing comes out. "Speak!" I can't. How don't you understand? I just lie there. "Whatever. I'll be back. Be prepared to explain yourself when I return. If you're wondering where Rae is, she helped me bring you back then left." Ugh, why couldn't I control myself. How am I even to explain who Peck is?

"When you're finally allowed to leave this place, keep what I taught you in mind. If you ever forget something, try to recall it. All of it. Someday it will save your life."

"Aren't you coming with me when I can finally leave?"

"Sorry Lemon, I won't be going with you this time. But, if you call for me, maybe, just maybe I'll be there for you."

Peck. Where the hell are you? I drift asleep recalling the days before my release.

Peck balls his hands up and raises them to his face. "Lemon, ready yourself" I put my hands up ready for any movement from Peck. The sound of Peck punching as I block them sounds like hammering meat. "You're doing great keeping up!" I have no time to think beyond my next move. He keeps swinging. I keep blocking. After enough hits I counter and swing at him. smack. I hit him! He reacts by backing up. "Defensive retaliation. You're learning." I take a moment to catch my breath. "Peck, what am I doing all this for?" Peck walks towards me. "You're gonna do great things, lemur, and I need you to be prepared for these issues."

"Issues? Who do you think I'll end up becoming?"

"You're gonna be a fighter, a designed fighter. I know it. Now, wake up"

"What?" I respond

"Wake up, Lemur. I'm back. Can you speak yet?" I attempt to speak again, but I can't. My voice is still dry. I feel my lips cracking as I open my mouth. "Right. Whatever happened with that man cannot happen again. It cannot happen with either of us.

Part 3

I can finally walk but my voice has completely given out. Rayne hasn't found anyone new that has a connection to the Magic continent. All we have is this flyer that explains nothing other than the tournament and where it is held. How are we supposed to find anything about it? No contact on the flyer either, just an address in the Magic continent. I leave the apartment and go on a walk.

The only lead we had, I screwed up. Why did he take that name? I need to know. Just like that, I've found myself in front of the small shack again. Its wood boards are busted, on the verge of breaking down. The room seemed to collapse on itself. It smells of mildew. I knock. No response. I knock again. I'll knock as many times as I need, Peck, Jae. I need to know about this place. Jae finally opens the door. "What are you doing here?" I attempt to speak but nothing comes out. I still can't speak. "You made burned a bridge that didn't need to burn." She's right. I symbolize to her that I need a piece of paper and a writing tool. She walks back inside and returns with a pencil. I write on a sheet of paper. "No. He's not willing to speak again." I write another word on the paper, 'please.' "If I let you in, he'll be on me about it." I write a new message. She reads it but doesn't respond. "My key is always left in the hanging flowerpot. It'd be a shame if someone found it somehow!" I smile and write something new. "Get it done quickly, please." she responds. Rae walks off leaving me in front of the house. I unlock the door and open the door. I stamp my foot on the ground to alert the man. "I thought you were leaving Jae..." The man stands still at the entrance of his room. "What are you doing back, young man. I told you to leave and not come back." I lift the sheet of paper and pencil. "So, it worked. You can't speak anymore." I turn my head away to hide my expression. "If you wish for me to undo it, you're gonna have to do something for me. I need you to explain why you believe I took the name of a different man." I write on the piece of paper, 'Because I knew the man you took the name of.'

"You believe there was only one man named Peck? You're in for an awakening." I didn't write a response. "The name comes from an organization. An organization you were a part of, I assume. The only people who have personal connections with members are members themselves."