Borintas | The Silver Alps: I

'Noaki'

Thirteen familiar faces. Where had Noaki seen these people?

'Noaki'

From a distant perspective, Noaki sees the entire scene play out.

In the backdrop of an arid canyon blooming with pine and juniper, are thirteen people in varying stages of their adolescence. They're surrounding an old forgotten shrine. Its pedestal shines brilliantly, emanating gentle pulses of luminous energy.

Noaki's eyes are a familiar luminous violet.

Everyone surrounding his body appears in a stupor, why were they all gathered here? Maria, Moritz, Jason, James, Marko, Justin, Logan, Olivia, Garrett, Yivonne, Loraunt, Nikolai, David.

Before the identities of these people reveal themselves to him, his sight is blinded by a flash of violet. This burns his retinas. Blood runs from its sockets, yet he feels no pain.

'Noaki. Wake up.'

'Remember.' He murmurs to himself. Who are they? Who am I? The light fades and leaves tendrils of violet bordering his vision like the swirls of sea shells humming and vibrating.

"Noaki?"

Noaki jumps from his sleep, his eyes feeling sore from such a vividly intense dream. He grabs Moritz by the shoulders, eyes wide and looking crazed.

"I remembered something," he hisses fervently.

Moritz nods knowingly. "Not here, later."

Noaki examines his surroundings, quite a few passengers widen their distance from the pair.

Noaki murmurs an apology to no one in particular. "Weird dre-" He stops, mouth agape.

In the night sky three celestial lunar bodies dominate the heavens. There should be one moon, he thinks to himself.

"I know. One right?" Moritz points toward the south.

In the foothills of a towering mountain is a luminous cluster of lights glistening on the surface of the river. Like fireflies, a swarm of river vessels dot the river.

The atmosphere of night is breathtakingly vast.

Noaki sits silently, soaking in the massiveness of it all.

He gawks at everything, incapable of peeling his eyes from this sight.

The sounds of night are alive with the clamor of nocturnal life.

As far east and west as his eyes would allow him, he can make out the luminous clusters of farming villages and towns.

Before, the full scope of this valley had been concealed in thick forested vegetation.

Further southward near the shadows of the eastern mountains, an enormous monolith penetrates the sky etched with symbols luminous with the same intensity of the lunar bodies.

Noaki's eyes water, but he did not dare to blink for fear it might all disappear. "What is this place?" He murmurs to himself.

For the remainder of their journey, the pair remain in awed silence.The passengers who'd distanced themselves before, are taken in by their reactions and gather around them like bees to flowers. The light chatter of different languages fill into the backdrop and Noaki gently returns to his senses. His eyes illuminate a very faint violet and Moritz a faint frosty blue.

Neither speak until deboarding the ferry. One wide and luminous main street leads them to a map of the surrounding district. With the interpretive assistance of random passersby, they locate the Prowler atop a hill a few kilometres inland.

The further they hike, the more of the town is revealed. Large foothills of botanical structures and pine groves conceal the majority of Borintas.

The streets are carved into the foothills of the mountain, shaped into terraces and platforms that support a network of buildings.

Further inland nearer the base of the looming mountain are waterfalls cascading into a lake, illumined by the surrounding town verging in size of a city.

The Prowler sits atop a steep hill sporting an excellent view. Noaki is thoroughly exhausted by this point despite his earlier slumber. They enter the smokey inn packed with the boisterous clamour of its guests.

A meek young man in formal uniform and round spectacles greets them. "Good evening! My name is Mr. Akron, will you be wanting a room?"

"Yes, sir." Noaki bows in greeting. "Mr. Walters has asked me to send his regards Mr. Akron."

Mr. Akron's face brightens. "Mr. Walters! I'll pass on the message to my father."

Mr. Akron motions for them to follow, "come in! Let's get you settled."

He leads them to the counter. "I Apologise for the crowd, we're quite busy this time of year, migrant workers you see." He produces a thick leather book embossed with strange symbols. "Ah… I thought as much," he scribbles something down then returns the book behind the counter and retrieves another with similar symbols. "No, that won't do either," he mumbles to himself then replaces it with another book seeming to forget Noaki and Moritz.

"Erm..." Noaki stammers.

Mr. Akron looks up and smiles apologetically. "Just a moment."

They wait three minutes until Noaki processes the transaction and is handed the key to their room. Mr. Akron signals to one of the liveried footmen on standby. "Room negative fifteen-A." He bows slightly to Noaki and Moritz. "Thomas here will guide you to your room, I hope you will enjoy your stay."

After Noaki thanks Mr. Akron, Thomas leads them through a series of subterranean corridors and stairwells before arriving into an oval chamber with a vaulted ceiling dangling a single lantern. The chamber contains two heavy wooden doors embossed with strange symbols. Thomas opens the door to their right and lets them in.

"If you've any enquiries, please refer to this handbook," the footman hands Noaki a pocket sized booklet. "Or a passing footman." Thomas bows. "Thank you for your patronage, we hope you enjoy your stay here at Prowler."

With that, the footman exits the room, shutting the door with a heavy thud.

Their room contains a decorum of vegetation and thick pillars to support a complex architectural marvel. Within the common room, a large oval fireplace is luminous with burning black stones.

River stone and wood comprise the mantelpiece with an accentuating landscape painting of Borintas' lakeview.

An oval oriental rug carpets this area and weighed down by a glass coffee table supporting a centerpiece floral arrangement wafting pleasant odors. A sofa and three lounge settees are symmetrically arranged and illumined by an overhanging lantern.

Two arching entryways beside either end of the mantelpiece leads into their rooms that are then conjoined by a corridor further leading to the lavatory and washroom.

The furnishings and architecture of their rooms mirror each other. Black stones blaze in the fireplace with an accentuating landscape art piece. The sheets and pillows covering their low-profile beds exude pleasant forestry odors.

They take their time exploring the place before meeting in the common room .

From a carafe set out for them, Noaki pours himself a glass of wine. An additional entryway of the common room leads onto a terrace with a botanical pool vibrant in aquatic flora.

A long time passes before either speaks.

Moritz jumps onto the sofa, erupting in laughter.

Noaki smiles at his friend's delight, refills his glass, pours another and offers it to Moritz.

Moritz accepts with a nod of appreciation and drinks. He stands beside Noaki, taking in the view of the lake. The vessels drifting languidly are draped in spools of festive lanterns.

Moritz rests a hand on Noaki's shoulder. "I don't know how to take all of this in."

Noaki laughs, sharing in his friend's sentiments. Where they were, and how they'd gotten here. In this situation, time and place, not knowing why they were here. They had no reason to be here but they were, and they could only be here in spite of meandering thoughts.

Noaki finishes his glass and pours out another. The spices within the wine counter its nullifying effects, keeping his mind mildly alert. It wafts a faint aroma of flower petals.

When they were both sufficiently intoxicated, they settle onto the sofa.

"So the dream?"

Noaki sets aside his glass and exhales a heavy sigh. As it always is recalling a dream, the details are obscure. He shuts his eyes and tries to recall the last moments before waking.

He describes in as much detail as he can remember; the familiar arid landscape, towering pines, canyon setting, and the shrine followed by a blinding flash. All of this, Moritz listens to in silence.

"There are others too. You were there. Er… Maria."

Recognition flashes on Moritz' face..

"These twins, Jason & Justin," Noaki recreates that moment in his mind. "James, Garrett, Yvonne," he pauses. "David and Olivia."

"They're siblings." Moritz murmurs to himself. "Sorry, keep going."

"Now that you've mentioned it, it does sound right. Er… there were three others. Loraunt, Marko, and Logan." He first confirms with himself that he hadn't missed anyone before continuing. "I'm pretty sure that's all of them, before the dream could continue I woke up, or I woke up because the dream ended. It was confusing."

"I know those names, some a little more than others." Moritz drinks with a soured expression, he reconsiders his glass and sets it aside. "James and his cronies on the familiar end. Though that might just be because we saw them."

In that moment, a heavy wave of exhaustion settles over Noaki. "I think I'll call it a night, if you'd like, we can talk about this tomorrow."

Moritz nods absently, his mind seemingly occupied elsewhere. Not long after Noaki closes the door to his room, Moritz empties his glass and drags himself to bed having had too much to drink.

----------------------------------------

With no hope for a restful sleep, Noaki wakes once more before the breaking of Dawn.

He spends a good deal of the morning stretching his limbs and warming up his muscles with basic calisthenics. This clears his foggy-headed symptoms and elevates his mood.

After washing, drying, and changing into a pair of clean clothes, he checks on Moritz who snores softly. His body splayed at the foot of his bed, limbs tangled in sheets and pillows haphazardly scattered about.

Noaki leaves his last pair of clean clothes on Moritz's dresser and exits their room.

On his way to the commons area, he encounters a myriad of pacing liveried footmen and servants busily going about their duties. The commons area is just as lively as the night before. Noaki settles himself with a view of Borintas. Not feeling particularly hungry, he orders spiced tea. While waiting, he catches himself gawking at people. Most notable among them is a very tall and lean man who's complexion resembles that of red ochre. His face is etched in geometric tattoos. He catches Noaki staring and sends him a pearly smile, his eyes flashing a pinkish hue.

Gratefully, a waitress intervenes this awkward situation with a large steaming cup of tea.

"Thank you," Noaki murmurs.

The waitress nods absentmindedly.

Noaki allows the liquid to cool before stirring in a few spoonfuls of honey.

"Might I join you for breakfast?"

Noaki looks up from his cup to the pearly smile. "Please," he gestures to the empty seat opposite to him. "Erm..." he begins. "I'm sorry for staring earlier, I've never seen anyone like you."

He scrutinizes Noaki with genuine interest. "You've not encountered a Dalkarian before?"

Noaki shrugs. "I might have, I'm not sure. I've lost my memories." Noaki immediately realizes his carelessness. "I might have hit my head," he adds quickly.

The dalkarian scans his face with a look of genuine concern. "Have you seen a physician?"

Noaki chuckles and grins sheepishly. "It never occurred to me, I suppose I will later today.."

"You're an Okari?"

Noaki nods.

"I know of an Okari physician practicing in the Guild of the Vitae. You might be more comfortable with her."

The dalkarian introduces himself as Orion, an experienced traveler.

When Moritz enters the commons area groggy eyed, the sun had risen well over the horizon and Noaki had finished a few cups worth of tea. Noaki waves him over and introduces him to Orion.

Moritz nods absentminded, shakes Orion's hand, mumbles his name and places an order from a passing waiter.

Orion smiles. "It has been nice to have met you two, I better check on the rest of my party. Farrahn Noaki, Moritz." Orion lowers his head in a bow and leaves the two.

Moritz watches him off curiously. "Interesting, I've seen someone like him the other day."

"He calls himself a Dalkarian," Noaki finishes his cup. "He's been to a lot of places."

The waiter serves Moritz' his coffee. "Thank you," Moritz takes an enormous gulp and smiles. "Much better. So," he looks at Noaki. "What are our plans for today?"

Noaki nibbles on a bite sized pastry. "I'm thinking we need to find a place to replenish your wardrobe. Orion also suggested seeing a physician for the amnesia, I'm still considering it."

Moritz laughs, "I can't believe I missed that." He downs the rest of his mug. "Alright," he burps. "I'm not gonna eat, if I do it'll just come back up, should we go?"

Noaki agrees and the two return to their room to fill their pockets with gold and silver. In the handbook the footman provided, Noaki discovers a folded map of Borintas. He pockets the map in the coat draped around his shoulders.

After few minutes meandering the streets, they find themselves navigating beside the lakeside.

They enter a plaza so Noaki can compare his map to the large billboard of the district, though neither Noaki or Moritz could read the symbols.

With the assistance and crude guidance from amiable street vendors and passersby, they find themselves outside a reputable boutique they immediatel recall as 'Ethel.'

Noaki and Moritz share a glance and enter the boutique. The two hardly have time to browse the well fashioned mannequins or fabrics on display, when they're approached by a smartly dressed tailor.

"A-Ha!" The tailor begins examining Noaki's outfit, tisking every now and again at his apparent sorry state.

Noaki inspects his clothes wondering what could be wrong with them.

"Ah! So you'll be wanting this restored." The tailor indicates Noaki's coat.

"Well..." Noaki meant to say something but stops himself upon noticing the tailor's serious expression.

Moritz grins at Noaki from behind the tailor.

After a few more murmured ramblings and tisking, the tailor seems to stare straight into Noaki's soul reproachfully. "Have you no decent sense to care for art?"

Before Noaki finds something intelligent to rebuke, the tailor twirls on his heels and faces Moritz, whose smile fades under his inspection. "You two. I would have you switched for the careless way you're handling excellent garments." He steps to the side to speak with them both. "Alright, no problem, we can have you all fixed up. What can I help with you two today?"

"These are his clothes," Moritz starts.

Noaki receives another reproachful look from the tailor. "You'll be needing a new wardrobe I presume?" He asks Moritz.

Moritz nods.

The tailor shifts to Noaki. "As for yourself?"

"I'm looking to replace a few things." Noaki mumbles.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Good, very good, and we'll have to do something about this," the tailor gestures to his coat. "A fine work of art, you must take better care of it."

Noaki nods, not exactly sure what could be wrong with his coat, it functions fine. Though he refrains from reflecting this aloud.

"Well, have a look around. Let me know what piques your interest. The mannequins on display are speacialised for these regions. If no designs are to your taste, you can have a look through our catalogues." He gestures to the large books on display throughout the store. "As is usual, all orders will be processed within a week, larger orders will take longer."

"Thank you," Moritz smiles.

The tailor bows slightly and leaves the two to browse on their own.

Moritz and Noaki split.

Noaki inspects the fabrics on display. He bumps into a mannequin and chuckles at himself for apologizing out of habit. When nothing from the mannequins intrigue him, he proceeds to flip through one of the catalogues. The models interest him more than the outfits or the unreadable text.

Illiterate as he was, the catalogues were easy to navigate. The designs organized by climate, region, and specialising activities.

"Find anything interesting?" Moritz hovers over his shoulder.

"There's a lot, not sure what works." Noaki stops on a page with a masculine dalkarian sporting an outfit for intense activity.

Moritz grins. "Maybe you'd best ask for advice."

As if eavesdropping, the tailor appears ready to proffer his professional advice. "You need advising?

"Ah.… yes." Noaki hesitates. "Honestly, I don't exactly know what we'd need, though we will be traveling."

The tailor silences him with a wave and begins flipping through the catalogue, bookmarking pages with the ballpoint pins he produces from his sleeves. "I apologize for our lack of okarian fashion." He opens his first bookmarked page and lets Noaki inspect the design. "The closest styles we have are designed by the Yya'khaa."

Noaki examines the navy kaftan with camel legwear the tailor defines for him as 'sharovary.'

The tailor continues with subtler details, such as where it would be most appropriate to be worn. Many of the designs shown were inclined for the summer.

Noaki was preferential with inconspicuous casual designs.

Throughout the exchange Moritz eagerly adds suggestions agreeable with the tailor. Before long Noaki stands to the side while the two are in animate discussion.. Suggestions were thrown about followed by the tailor bookmarking new pages, or removing a few pins, and towards the end he begins scribbling down information known only to him.

A good deal of time passed before the tailor starts taking their measurements. Noaki came to a standing height of two-hundred-four centimeters and Moritz two-hundred-eight.

The tailor scribbles all this down while leading them to the counter with a display of formalwear wafting misty auras.

"What are those?" Moritz enquiries.

"Hm?" The tailor turns around. "Ah! Kyutashin, you've never seen one before?" The tailor scrutinizes them curiously.

"Nothing like these." Noaki interjects.

The tailor takes this as a compliment. "You've fine taste, there might be hope for you yet," he nods at the suits admiringly. "Though the celestials would hardly give these a second glance."

Noaki nudges Moritz with his elbow to restrain him from asking another naïve question. When the transaction is processed, an anguished Noaki hands over sixteen gold crystaires and Moritz Eighteen. He departs with his coat for mending, settinf him back silver crystaire.

Delighted at receiving the full payment upfront, the tailor obliges markings on their map with directions to the nearest recommended eatery and to the Guild of the Vitae.

After stopping by the suggested eatery for a light meal, the pair follow the marked route to the vitae. The elevation of the foothills dropping and rising at irregular intervals. They meander through alleyways, narrow streets, along civilian housing, civil buildings, and lesser known shops.

With no worries of getting lost, Moritz and Noaki stroll at a leisurely pace.

They arrive at the furthest district inland, right next to cascading waterfalls and thick pine groves. As everywhere else, this district persists in large botanical terraces with a healthy mix of groves and masonry buildings.

To set this district apart from the others, it begins at the base of a steep rising cliff face and beyond which are distant oppressive looming mountains, their peaks concealed behind a gathering storm.

The streets narrows and introduces their feet to many stone steps, ramps, and lengthy walkways carved into the cliff face.

The pedestrians here were fewer in number, however, the people they did encounter were finely dressed in light garments.

Through the subtle interactions with passersby, Noaki notes the diversifying locals. He meets a few Dalkari, and dark and light contrasting races of equally tall gaits. All greet them with amiable smiles and graceful bows. Noaki is feeling increasingly out of place here.

Concealed behind a curtain of cascading water is a large semi-circular plaza illuminated under moonlit lanterns. Here, the two decide to rest a bit while Noaki consults their map with the plaza's large billboard of the district. Moritz leaves him for a peddling street vendor and returns with two sorbets in paper cups.

"All done?" Moritz steps beside him.

Noaki shakes his head. "This district rises in levels, I think we'll have to ask someone for directions."

Moritz hands Noaki a sorbet. "Who are we looking for again?"

Noaki accepts the paper cup. "I didn't ask, he did say she was an Okari, I don't think there are a lot of them around. We haven't encountered one yet. Or at least one that I'm aware of."

"There's one right here." Moritz points toward Noaki.

Noaki chuckles and spoons a mouthful from his cup. "Aside from me."

The two take a seat in one of the stone benches in the translucent shade of the waterfall. "I think we'll need an atlas if we're ever going to figure out where we'll go next."

"If this is a town, I can't even imagine what the cities will be like." Moritz comments. He finishes his sorbet and folds the paper cup.

Noaki scarcely finishes his iced dessert when they're approached by Orion draped in a bundle of loose silken garments embroidered with gold and silver floral design.

"I thought I might find you around here." He beams his pearly smile.

Noaki returns the smile. "Orion! We're lost."

Orion smiles apologetically. "It passed my mind that I should've given proper directions to where master Eiko takes up her practice. I can escort you two if you'd like"

Noaki readily agrees to Orion's offer. "If it's not too much of a bother, it would save us a lot of trouble." He empties the rest of his sorbet into his mouth.

Noaki notes the patterns on Orion's face glowing the same moonlit aura of the plaza's lanterns.

"It's no problem at all." Orion gestures with his hand for them to follow. "Come."

Noaki and Moritz make an effort to keep up with Orion's long strides and light footsteps. He stood a good deal taller than the two and lowers his head to answer Moritz' many questions.

In reaction to one of Moritz's enquiries regarding the other races, Orion laughs. "You must truly have lost your memories if you've never met the alvarri."

His laughter fills Noaki with warmth. "Will Master Eiko be able to help us?"

"I do not know." Orion ponders in a moment of silence. "Master Eiko's perception is one of the best among the Vitae."

"Vitae?" Asks Moritz..

"A universal guild dedicated to the healing practices. The most influential of the guilds." Orion leads them down a rising street.

They climb three sectors of the district before they see the faint illumination of daylight. "We're almost there."

Noaki's eyes adjust to the daylight as they emerge from the subterranean district.

They emerge onto a large plateau spanning a few kilometres and flooded in a translucent lake replenished by enormous waterfalls from the mountains.

Noaki's legs wobble from the surrounding mirrored reflection of the sky in the water.

The street widens and provides alternating geometrical pathes through the languid churning waters.

Beautiful buildings of thick stone slabs and wooden beams align the borders of the plateau. They proceed down a path leading towards the mountain's base, where buildings of similar architecture cluster.

With his eyes, Noaki traces one of the alternating routes leading further into the woodlands and a few leading to large towers encroached with thick verdure. "What are those?"

"The conservatories housing physicians and their apprentices. This plateau belongs to the Vitae." They continue for some time before taking an alternative path leading into a grove near the mountain.

"This place is enormous." Moritz groans. "How do people get around?"

"You humes are amusing." Orion chimes. "We won't be long now."

Half of an hour passes before they enter the grove. The sunlight here shines through the foliage in vibrant gold. Noaki catches sight of a strange elk-like animal observing them from a distance, its wide antlers protrude from its head gleaming with gemstones.

"The erukai. Do you recognize them?" Orion asks Noaki, the patterns of his face are now golden hue.

Noaki shakes head.

"They are sacred among the Okari, only with them have they established a cordial partnership." He explains. "The medicinal properties of their antlers are highly valued."

They enter a large circular plaza surrounded by stucco buildings conjoined with arched walkways and terraced platforms. The plaza bustles with the Dalkari, Alvarri, humes, and most commonly, the Okari.

The Okari take an interest in Noaki, bowing and smiling as they pass. Though these Okari lack Noaki's wildling garments, their fanged smile gives them away. Many don simple garments of natural hues.

Orion leads them to the main building with an impressive arching entrance. Inside they are greeted by a young woman.

"Orion, you're back so soon?" She inspects Moritz then Noaki. "These are the two you were asking about before?"

Orion bows his head gracefully. "Yes, with my recommendation I suggested the two be examined by Master Eiko."

"Master Eiko has gone to engage the Erukai, she should return soon. Follow me." She leads them down a corridor and into a private terrace lounge with a fire pit alight with black burning stones..

"Thank you Ayumi," Orion bows to the young woman.

Ayumi returns the bow and leaves the three alone.

"This place is like another world." Moritz inspects the room with intense interest.

Noaki shivers a little, it certainly does feel like another world. He hoped the problem of their amnesia would be resolved once and for all.

On a narrow table, between two floral arrangements, Noaki discovers a pitcher of water beside a stack of crystal glasses. He pours out a glass for himself and his companions.

"Thanks," Moritz accepts the glass eagerly.

Noaki settles himself opposite Orion and hands him the second glass.

The drink refreshes his body and clears his head. He sniffs the water, wondering if anything might have been added.

An hour passes when Moritz makes himself comfortable in a reclined lounge, he falls into a light sleep.

Orion watches Moritz curiously. "Have you been traveling much?"

"We only just came down from Irithelle, though we haven't had proper sleep for two days." Noaki pours himself another glass.

"All paths in the Silver Alps converge in Irithelle, including the streams and creeks that join the great river Saras. Though in the common tongue it is the Gamuush."

"You're quite well traveled and seem to know a lot. How long have you been travelling?." Noaki returns to his seat.

"I haven't really considered keeping track," Orion muses for a moment. "Many years."

"That dalkarian is as unchanged as when our pathes first crossed.” An okari woman with silver braided hair and a kind face appears in the doorway. “That was when I was a little girl."

Noaki jumps at her sudden appearance.

"You exaggerate Master Eiko, I was quite youthful then." In a graceful movement Orion stoops over the Okari woman and kisses her forehead. "Look at you, still as vibrant as then as you are now."

"Now you exaggerate Orion. I'm beginning to feel age wear down my joints and limbs." She shifts her attention to Noaki. "So this is the northerner?"

She inspects Noaki through luminous lilac eyes. "This adolescent appears quite well Orion. I've been told you lost your memories young one?"

Noaki nods, feeling exposed under her scrutiny. "Yes, two days ago I woke and couldn't remember a thing."

The lines of Eiko's forehead crease. She proceeds to inspect Moritz who is still fast asleep. Before Noaki can wake him, Eiko is kneeling over Moritz's head. "This one is quite exhausted, his mind is disturbed."

Very gently she shifts his head, her fingertips irradiating streams of violet energy. She places her fingers along his cranium and shuts her eyes.

Noaki watches this silently.

Eiko opens her eyes and briefly bathes the space in a brilliant flash of violet. She reveals a look of concern. "This is not good, with all my experience I can do very little but ease his mind for a time." She shuts her eyes once more and a silhouette of frosty light engulfs Moritz and fades into the epicenter of his cranium. Moritz stirs little and seems to pass into a deeper sleep with a pleasant smile.

"What did you do?" Noaki murmurs

Eiko motions for them to follow her out of the room and down the corridor.

"As I said before, I can do very little but ease his mind for a time." She glances at Noaki. "You're an Okari?"

Noaki nods. "So I've been told, though I don't know what that entirely means myself."

Eiko smiles. "You need not worry too much, our people give little regard for identities. Their use is limiting. In more ways than one we are taught from early childhood to abandon these silly ideas."

"A wise practice even to the dalkari," Orion comments.

Noaki remains silent, unsure how to respond. They climb three flights of stairs and halt briefly in a hall for Master Eiko to leave passing instructions to an attendant.

She leads them down a naturally lit corridor with many potted plants attended by apprentices looking busy in Master Eiko's presence.

She ends their journey into a brightly lit operation room with a long oval stone slab raised five feet from the floor. Orion stands beside Noaki. Both watch Eiko work curiously.

Eiko instructs Noaki onto the slab, straightens his limbs into a corpse pose, and places two orbs in the palms of his hands. "Let them sit and try not to move too much," she says firmly.

"Alright."

She sets something above the crown of his head and between his feet. "You'll want to stand back a bit," she warns Orion who takes three graceful steps back.

Master Eiko raises her arms over her head and her fingertips ignite in violet flames. It takes Noaki sheer force of will not to scurry from those flames.

She places her right thumb where his collarbones meet and fans the rest of her fingers downward. She then lays her left thumb where his eyebrows meet and fans her fingers across his crown. Then she shuts her eyes.

A sudden surge of energy erupts from Noaki's cranium and surges to the base of his spine, dispersing down his legs and entering whatever had been placed between his feet.

She holds this pose for a minute before pulling away. Noaki glances at Orion whose eyes are luminous pink, the patterns of his skin glow a mixture of pink and milky white.

"I'm going to activate your perception, do not be startled by what you see." Eiko looms over Noaki's head. She wraps her fingers around his cranium like she did Moritz. "No'aki, your sight will return once again." She closes her eyes.

Noaki has little time to react when cerith tendrils of intense vibrating light borders his vision, they hum and reverberate in his head with such intensity the very world hums along with him.

These cerith tendrils engulf his vision entirely and he falls into an infinite abyss of infinite churning swirls of all violet shades and hues.

Above, the borders of his vision flash a brilliant burst of blinding white light. Then darkness.

"Open your eyes."

Noaki lifts his heavy lids slowly.

A large capsule of translucent energy encompasses his body. "What is this?" He whispers.

"A shield that channels excess energy," Orion explains.

Eiko removes her hands and fiddles with the orbs in Noaki's palms. A stream of red and blue energy climbed the translucent capsule mixing together and finally settling down with a live imprint of Noaki's body. "Using this method I can thoroughly diagnose your health." She uses her fingertips to interact with the screen.

Noaki watches her work in awed fascination. "This is amazing."

Orion chuckles.

Eiko remains deep in concentration, her luminous eyes darting around the shield. "Your health is fine, though your body is accustomed to more physical activity. You seem to be under less mental stress than your friend… fortunately. I might be able to see all the physical aspects of one's physicality but psychological matters are a different area of well-being, though they are at times deeply entwined."

Noaki and Orion watch the screen shift and morph with Eiko's interactions.

Master Eiko fiddles with the orbs and the capsule returns to its base translucent state. She removes the orbs and the objects above his head and below his feet. The capsule vanishes. "You can rise now."

Noaki sits up, feet dangling over the stone slab.

"Nothing is wrong with you physically; you're in better health than most, though that should be taken lightly. One shouldn't compare themselves to those who seek out physicians." Eiko meets Noaki's eyes in meditative rumination. "Your amnesia is no symptom of intentional physical harm or accident. It is something beyond what is presently understood."

Orion and Noaki listen intently to Eiko's diagnosis, though it seems to make more sense to the dalkarian than Noaki, who was uncertain how to process this information.

Eiko sighs deeply. "There are many kinds of memories, the body remembers everything, this is always so. However, if I were to attempt to activate those memories, it would severely damage your psyche." Eiko peers into space. "Because your conscious mind at present delineates along a parallel to the consciousness of the person you were before, it would conflict with an already fragile balance of physical and conscious memory holding itself together on a thread yet to snap. It is a miracle your hume friend has not broken under this."

Noaki did not comprehend any of this. He admits it aloud to the others.

Orion shakes his head.

"This is not unsurprising. A force with an intelligence that exceeds the collective knowledge of many civilizations at present, has interfered with your consciousness." Eiko gazes toward Noaki, though Noaki feels her perception linger somewhere beyond his own. "At present there are very few, less than a handful of people who I can suspect with such a capability. Though what use they would have with a hume and Okari, I do not know."

Orion appears genuinely disturbed by Eiko's words. "You're not suggesting.?" He trails off.

Eiko nods. "Though that is speculation. Interference from such beings would be difficult to assess"

Orion's expression darkens.

Noaki breaks their rumination. "I still don't understand any of this. So there is nothing that can be done to regain my memories?"

At this Eiko reacts with an alienated look that makes Noaki shiver.

"Which memories?" She says darkly. "The memories of your physical form as you are now? Or the memories of those outside this body?"

Noaki's face prickles.

"The problem from what I can perceive, is that this body you inhabit as a conscious being, is not your own. It is something you have slipped into and taken over, not unlike a parasite. What became of the original is unknown." Eiko grimaces. "You no doubt know nothing of your former consciousness outside this body because those memories in itself is merely a reel of physical memory, without which you lose yourself. However, because this body's memory was not yours to begin with, it too is unknown to you. Its instinctual function is there to assist in some ways, however, even this is limited." Eiko sighs deeply then levels her gaze with Noaki's. "Such a surgical procedure of this nature is unheard of, to meddle with consciousness so precisely as not to break the psyche deeply entwined with the physical, is medicinal knowledge that exceeds our collective comprehension by centuries. The kind of energy required is so immense and meticulous that no deifacted shard I'm aware of exists to assist with such a procedure, and a deifacted shard is required for this kind of operation."

Noaki loses himself in her inquisitive eyes. Eyes that look upon him like some anomaly.

"So what is he to do in his present state?" Orion adds.

"That is entirely up to you No'aki. The Okari way of life has already been imprinted through cultural cultivation, As such, your burden is less than the hume who sleeps downstairs." Eiko clasps his shoulders, "I think that is enough for now. Rest." She kisses his forehead and Noaki drifts into a dreamless slumber.