VOLUME

- I -

Irithelle | The Silver Alps: I

In the early brisking of Dawn, the woods are teaming with the sounds of wildlife. Noaki wakes in a makeshift encampment feeling at odds with his surroundings. He possesses no recollections from the day prior, and all aspects that make up his identity has been swiped cleanly from his mind.

He checks his person for anything that might induce a memory. The pockets underneath his bearskin overcoat reveals three hefty sacks of gold and silver coins. A ball of animal fat, dried meat, nuts, and berries all tightly compacted together and wrapped in parchment. The last of these items, a leather pouch, contains a dazzling opal radiating gentle pulses of luminous energy. He studies the stone a few more seconds before returning it to its pouch.

Though rather interesting items, nothing on his person induces a memory.

On the ground beside him lays an obsidian longbow with an intricate woven design. He slings the bow over his shoulders, and though no memories come to mind, the additional weight feels familiar to him.

Slivers of morning sunlight begin to slip the thick treetops. In the west he makes out the outlines of towering silver mountains, their peaks capped in snow. The golden curtain of dawn steadily climbs down their sloping forms.

Propelled by a sudden spark of energy, Noaki decides to retrace the imprints his footsteps left behind from a time he cannot recall.

His footprints lead him to a roaring creek fresh from the spring melt of the eastern mountains. Here his footprints end at the borders of budding verdure. After mulling over alternative routes he proceeds to follow the downward current of the creek.

This leads him further south, on a path that propels him to clamber awkwardly over thick vegetation and slippery moss covered boulders. Where he finds himself stepping in pools of icy water, thick mukluks protect his legs.

The creek empties into a large river with the width that spans a few kilometers flowing southward. By now the sun reaches its apex and Noaki wonders how far he'd trekked. Gratefully where the creek ends he comes across a winding road that trails alongside the river.

He rests atop a wide stone bridge conjoining the road over the creek. While he considers his predicament he nibbles a good portion from the ball of compacted foodstuff wrapped in parchment. The foodstuff tastes familiar. Not a single memory exists before waking up, if they did, they were unrelenting to be known.

The serene sounds of the water and forest are soothing to his ears and stave off the growing anxiety in his chest. He considers the time and if eventually he can't find civilization, he'd once again find himself rising from the forest floor. He attempts to put this thought in the back of his mind.

Sufficiently sated and rested, he continues his journey southward, testing his fortune downstream. Without the burdening difficulty of navigating through natural land formations, he makes decent progress within a few hours. Far off from the treetops he makes out plumes of smoke from a nearby residence.

Noaki rouses himself to close the distance quickly when not a few minutes later he comes upon a few acres of land enclosed by short stone walls. The land appears to have been recently cleared for agriculture, and a few paces off, he sees his first familiar face plowing the fields with the assistance of a bull. He doesn't hesitate, as soon as the face brings some form of recognition into his mind, he hops over the wall to greet the youth with sandy brown hair.

It doesn't take long for the farmer to take notice of Noaki's approaching. A similar look of recognition flashes across his face, then confusion, and finally a wide crooked grin. "Noaki!"

"Moritz!"

The two quickly close the gap, instinctively lock their forearms and embrace. "Am I glad to see you." Noaki pulls from the embrace. "I haven't been able to remember anything since waking up this morning."

Moritz's expression turns grim. "You too?"

These were not the comforting words Noaki expected to hear."So this is also happening to you…"

A long silence passes between them until the bull snorts in protest at being left idle. This brings Moritz to his senses who then introduces the bull to Noaki.

"This is Steel, he's pretty tame."

Noaki scratches the beast behind the ear and receives a giant lick to the face as response. Moritz and Noaki break in light laughter.

"I told you, he's pretty tame." Moritz strokes Steel's sheen coat. "I woke up yesterday morning to Old Dallan cursing me in a fit of rage for sleeping in." Moritz returns to the plow's handles, its blade stained from soil. "It took me awhile to figure out how to harness this thing, I couldn't have done it without hearing another earful from the old man."

Stroking the magnificent beast, Noaki nods in silent response. Moritz made significant progress with the field, it seemed only an hour or so remained before he finishes.

That's when it hits him, a small detail he almost missed. "So yesterday you lost your memories?"

Moritz nods, when it dawns on him too. "And you lost yours today."

This new information didn't give them anything to lead off of, but it did give them a false sense of progress. Noaki casts his gaze upward, only a few hours of daylight remaining. "When are you free to talk?"

Moritz inspects the remaining lot. "In about an hour or two."

"Is there anywhere we can meet?" He considers where he might be sleeping for the night.

"There's a town a few kilometers south. I overheard the old man mention it in conversation while he helped me." Moritz muses for a moment. "There's an Inn, the Silver Fox, we can meet there."

With the small fortune in his pockets, he utters a silent prayer to himself, he wouldn't be sleeping in the woodlands tonight. "I'll wait for you there."

"I'll catch up to you as soon as I finish up here."

The two agree to their rendezvous and part ways.

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Approximately half an hour passes when Noaki enters the large town of Irithelle. The sudden emergence of civilization takes some time adjusting. Irithelle encompasseééés the east and western banks of the river, conjoined by an impressive bridge with multiple arches and lanterns. The cobblestone streets bustle with pedestrians, and the clamor of human activity replace the soothing serenities of the forest.

He presses onward with caution. Apartment complexes covered in thick vegetation tower above cozy foundations of shops, cafés, restaurants, and various businesses ignorant to Noaki. He browses the food stalls wafting delicious aromas, and after considerable selections, he chooses a vendor specializing in manju.

The attendant smiles politely. "The special?"

Noaki nods and while he waits patiently for the vendor, he asks for directions leading to the Silver Fox.

After processing the transaction, he thanks the attendant with a slight nod and proceeds to walk down the streets when a pedestrian in a similar bearskin overcoat confronts him with a huge grin."No'aki!? Many lunar cycles it has been, when did you come?" He speaks in a different but familiar language.

Fortunately Noaki could process the language, though he couldn't recognize the young man. "Sorry, I lost myself."

The young man frowns. "You hit your head?"

Noaki considers this for a moment. "I don't know."

The young man nods sympathetically. "Not good to tell these people, come, where are you going? I will walk beside you and tell you what you should know."

As they walk the young man introduces himself as Kaien but claims to be familiar to Noaki as Kai. Kaien recounts their shared past, revealing to Noaki his two brothers and younger sister, his father and mother. He describes the woods where they hunted, the names of rivers and lakes where they fished and swam. He tells him they belong to one of the many tribes in that region referred to as the Wildlands. "Though our people are commonly known as the Okarı."

Noaki could remember none of it.

"Losing yourself in this way," Kai mumbles deeply. "Not good."

"By that, what do you mean?"

"Someone or something with great power has tried to erase you."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Something in the way Kai accentuates 'erase' chills Noaki. "Why would anyone do this?"

Kai shakes his head. "Without something from your past, we will not know."

They halt outside the gates of a large building protruding with multiple chimneys billowing smoke and many windows. A large sign depicting the bust of a silver fox gilded in silver, hangs between two street lamps linked together in an arch.

Kai holds Noaki's shoulders. "How long before you leave?"

"I don't know." Noaki returns the gesture.

"Tomorrow, before dusk, we should speak again."

Noaki nods in agreement. With a final nod farewell, Noaki approaches the Silver Fox Inn.

The moment Noaki enters the Inn he is met with a boisterous crowd of merchants, travelers, and hunters all drinking amicably together. He has difficulty reaching the port innkeeper, navigating himself through a circus of traipsing waiters, dancers, and entertainers. The innkeeper nods to Noaki with recognition. "Your belongings are still safely locked."

Noaki is about to ask what belongings he spoke of, only to recall Kai's warning not to mention his amnesia. He thanks the innkeeper and requests his room key. The innkeeper hands him a large brass key with the odd symbols imprinted into the handle. After thanking the innkeeper he escapes into the hallway before a passing line of dancers can block his path.

The wide halls are nicely decorated with floral arrangements and large potted shrubbery positioned beneath large open windows.

He locates the appropriate room at the end of the hall, the symbols matching those on the key are illuminated clearly beneath an overhanging lantern.

His room contains a large four poster bed positioned between two windows with potted shrubs and a dresser at the foot of the bed. Either side of the fireplace are two smaller entrances leading into the lavatory and washroom. Three sofas and an oval coffee table are symmetrically arranged around the mantelpiece with an overhanging landscape painting. He takes a moment to familiarize himself with the room, hoping to jog his memory with futile results.

Before returning to the commons area he drops his hunting gear onto the dresser and locks the door on his way out. The commons area has grown in size, making it difficult to locate a free table, and after some consistent straining he settles himself in the corner hidden behind more potted shrubbery. He nibbles on a manju while he waits for Moritz. He doesn't finish the manju when a disheveled Moritz enters, his clothes rumpled and stained with dirt.

Noaki calls out to Moritz and waves him over.

Moritz sits opposite Noaki with a sheepish grin. "I snuck off early, no one seemed to notice." He waves a passing waitress over and orders two mugs of ale. "Learn anything while I was gone?"

Noaki nods and recounts his encounter with the hunter Kaien. Moritz listens intently as he guzzles the contents of his mug.

Scrunching up his nose in disgust, Noaki sets his aside. When he finishes Moritz doesn't say anything.

His friend just stares at the frothing of his mug with a far off gaze. "This whole thing, it's really messed me up." He murmurs when the music stops. "Nothing about this feels right, and I'm not just talking about losing our memories. I mean being here, in this place, it feels… wrong."

Noaki empathizes with him; from the moment he woke on the forest floor, he felt displaced. "Almost like you entered someone else's body."

Moritz shudders visibly. "Yeah, exactly."

Noaki considers this. "Then again, if that were the case, how would I have known you?"

"I don't know." Moritz downs the rest of his drink when his eyes go wide with horror. "Dude."

Noaki follows his gaze and dread weighs on his shoulders.

A masculine redhead with a trim beard enters the inn, followed by another masculine figure concealed beneath a dark hooded cloak.

"Garrett" they groan in unison.

Instinctively Noaki knew a confrontation with the redhead and his dark hooded friend would put them in a dangerous position. "We can hide in my room. Stay low, but not too much to draw suspicion." Noaki motions for Moritz to follow and the two scuttle into the corridor. Fortunately the other two were preoccupied in a conversation with another familiar face.

Once inside his room, Moritz immediately plops down on Noaki's bed. "Man this is way more comfortable than mine." His voice is muffled from the sheets.

Noaki smiles and nestles himself in the lounge . Upon inspecting the room he recounts his interaction with the innkeeper to Moritz who rolls onto his back, arms and legs stretched as far as his limbs would allow. He gazes at the patterning ceiling.

Moritz leans onto his elbows and studies the landscape painting intently. "So the you with memories was already here?"

Noaki nods. He shifts his attention to the painting. It resembles the forest he found himself in earlier. The river, the forested valley, the silver mountains, all depicted in the full bloom of spring. A thought occurs to him. He reaches into his coat and retrieves the leather pouch containing the opal. He tosses the pouch to Moritz who deftly catches it midair without peeling his eyes from the painting.

Moritz stares at the pouch, then at the painting, then at Noaki with a questioning look.

"When I woke up that was one of the items I had on me." Noaki explains.

Moritz turns the pouch upside down and lets the opal fall into his palm. He inspects the stone with intent curiosity.

"Not sure-" Noaki freezes mid sentence. The light blue of Moritz eyes glow a frosty mixture of blue and white. Little speckles of ice crystals start manifesting and disappearing around his head.

"This is awesome!" Moriz tosses the stone in the air. When he notices the expression on Noaki's shocked face he frowns, the stone landing in his palm. "What?"

"Your eyes, they're beautiful-" Noaki stops himself. "They're glowing" he quickly adds, thoroughly embarrassed.

Moritz chuckles. "Stop, you're making me blush."

"No, they're actually glowing." Noaki searches the room for a mirror. He leaves a bewildered Moritz to check the lavatory and washroom without success. When he returns to the main room Moritz is perched crossed legged on the sofa with an ordinary looking chest set before him on the coffee table. "Where'd you find that?"

Moritz points to the dresser. "Sorry, I was having a look at your gear when I noticed one of your drawers wasn't closed right."

"It's alright, I would've probably missed it. Find anything else in there?" He asks, checking the contents of the drawers himself anyway. The drawers contain a few change of garb, hiking pack, and an assortment of grooming items. He itches his chin unconsciously, still no mirror.

"Whoa!" Moritz exclaims in astonishment, the stone in his hand, and the chest wide open.

The chest contains thousands of gold and silver coins each veined in what Noaki presumed to be crystal. Though this didn't appear to be what Moritz had responded to. A mirror had been attached to the bottom side of the lid and Moritz had seen his reflection.

For a long moment, which might have been only a few seconds, Moritz gazes at his reflection. He swats at one of the speckled crystals and it vanishes, then reappears. Finally he exchanges a puzzled expression with Noaki. "Here, you try," he holds out the stone.

Noaki takes the stone.

"Whoa, you're glowing too," Moritz grins. "Here, have a look." He shifts the chest and pats the sofa.

Noaki seats himself next to him and sees his reflection for the first time. His eyes are glowing a violet hue. An almost invisible force rotates around his head in the shape of a sphere. He interacts with this invisible spectrum and feels the faint impression of his finger. He pulls away and the impression vanishes. "Whoa."

"Whoa indeed." Moritz inspects one of the gold coins. "I didn't take you to be wealthy."

"I didn't either." Noaki places the stone atop the coins. Immediately the veins in the coins erupt in white light. The coins in close contact with the opal shimmer a little more brilliantly.

Moritz touches the opal with the gold coin between his fingers and the coin ignites. When he pulls it away the coin dims to a cooler glow. "That's cool."

When nothing more can be said, Moritz returns the coin to the chest, retrieves the opal, and shuts the lid. A mechanism locks itself automatically. "You open it with this." He waves the stone and hands it back to Noaki along with the leather pouch.

"Thanks" Noaki returns the stone to the pouch and stuffs it in his pocket.

Neither speak for a time, their minds wondering if what they witnessed really did happen. The chest sits on the coffee table looking ordinary. Noaki paces the room a few times while Moritz remaines seated in his crossed legged posture, contemplating. When the last remnants of sunset settle over the horizon, Moritz finally breaks the silence.

"So what do we do about Garrett and the others?"

Upon hearing this, Noaki finally settles down and nibbles on another Manju, he tosses one to Moritz. "I'd forgotten about them. Did you notice who they were talking to?"

Moritz shakes his head, his mouth occupied in chewing.

"It was James."

Moritz shudders. "I don't know what he looks like, I haven't seen him, but I remember that name, and it gives me a bad feeling." He pauses before taking another bite, as if considering what he was eating. "I hate not knowing anything," he admits and finishes the last of the manju.

"Are you going back?" Noaki asks after noting Moritz's persistent glancing outside.

Moritz shrugs helplessly. "I don't know if I should."

For a long moment then, it hadn't really occurred to Noaki how distressed Moritz appeared. Here sat someone who he knew by intuitive impression but didn't know the history behind that insight. How could he be sure they were even good friends? He didn't have that kind of information, his memory came up blank whenever he attempted to recall any lost time with this light freckled youth.

Moritz catches Noaki staring and his face flushes. "What? Stop staring, it makes me feel weird."

Noaki erupts in a fit of laughter.

"Are you alright?" Moritz chuckles awkwardly, like he'd been let in on a joke he didn't understand, but laughed out of politeness.

Noaki beams brightly. Since that morning there had always been a hint of memory imprinted somewhere inside him, he didn't consider picking up on this because the part that noticed these subtleties was also a part of the same imprint.

That's how he functioned naturally with and without his memories. By intuition. "We're friends and we've been friends before. I don't know how to explain it, but I just know."

Moritz blinks. "That doesn't explain anything."

"I never said it would." Noaki smiles at himself, then at the room and finally, at his friend. "Nevermind."

"Okay..." Moritz nods in reassurance. "What do you think I should do?"

Noaki muses for a while, locking his gaze on the painting. His eyes study a bird in flight, a hawk or an eagle maybe, and then he comes to himself. "We should go somewhere else, explore the world, I have this wealth." He gestures to the chest. "We can go pretty far with that if we use it right."

"Where would we go?" Moritz asks, bewildered by the suggestion.

"Who cares?!" Noaki jumps from his seat. "Let's go to the city."

Moritz considers this. "Alright. It's settled."

With that initial looming depression out of the way the two turn out for the night. Moritz occupies the sofa for his slumber and Noaki the bed. Though neither get much sleep, they were comfortable and no longer feeling at odds in each other's company.