Holding an umbrella to shield them from the rain, Camille stood beside the leader of the Furies. From the balcony of the throne room, they surveyed a black wagon leaving the gates of their kingdom.

“Pretty pictures, dancing to our imagination,” Veni said, staring into the clouds. Nearby, lightning struck a tree, setting it ablaze. “I wonder, will you be the fire burning amidst the storm, or, the storm itself?” His eyes gleamed with anticipation.

Suddenly, the grand doors swung open, revealing a man gasping for breath.

“Your majesty...” they said.

Outside, the tree on fire sprang to life, shedding its bark and freeing itself from the flames.

“Or perhaps, something else entirely...” Veni, walking back inside, sipped the glass of wine, before setting it down. “Let’s not keep him waiting any longer then.”

***

In the ruined wastelands, once known as Crystal Heralds, a black wagon screeched to a halt.

Three cloaked figures awaited its arrival.

Two people opened the back of the carriage, revealing a skinny and worn individual with a bag over his head.

“It’s time,” the men assisted the prisoner, mindful of his bound hands.

Concerned, one of the guards, Diddie, voiced his doubts. “You think this is a good idea?” he questioned.

“They’ll stab us in the back the second we swap prisoners, that’s what I think,” the other guard responded.

“Veni sees more than any of us. We’ll be fine,” the driver reassured Diddy.

The hesitant guards nodded, conceding to their trust in Veni.

During the exchange, the three cloaked figures revealed Seph to be their prisoner under the bag.

He impatiently spoke up, “Are we almost done with this already? I’ve been holding in this piss for hours!”

“Be grateful the emperor gave you a third chance at life,” Han’s voice sounded from one of the cloaked figures, shoving Seph forward.

The bag was removed from the Furies prisoner, and it turned out to be Rai. He walked forward, passing Seph halfway, but as they crossed paths, Seph whispered something into Rai's ear. Pausing, Rai looked back, before continuing to walk.

“Welcome back sir!”

“Shut up and take these damn things off,” Seph said, approaching his ride back.

Rai walked unsteadily, almost on the brink of collapse, only to be saved by one of the hooded figures.

Removing the hood, the savior revealed himself as Tanabe! His eyes filled with tears. “Welcome back!” Tanabe said, embracing his friend. Excitedly, he announced, “Everyone’s waiting for you back home.”

Rai remained unresponsive in Tanabe’s embrace as if trapped in a distant world. “Who are you?” he said.

Back in the empire, Rai underwent a thorough examination by numerous doctors to ensure he posed no threat. Even though he was cleared by the medical team, in the end, the emperor ordered him to take a leave of absence until his ‘condition’ improved. If it didn’t, unfortunately, he would be removed from the apprenticeship.

Rai and Tanabe were just about to exit the empire’s outer walls when someone shouted, “Rai!” Hanabi, quickly approaching from the distance lunged at Rai, giving him a big hug. It was the first time she had seen him since he got back. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” Hanabi cried, shoveling her face into his chest. “Where’re you going, didn’t you just get released?”

“Sorry Hanabi,” Tanabe said. “We were asked to leave immediately so I offered to be his escort.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Hanabi?” Rai responded.

“You remember me?” Hanabi replied surprised, letting go of Rai; she was aware of his condition.

“Not exactly,” Rai said. Despite Tanabe’s efforts to fill him in, his memories were still fuzzy and unclear.

“What about Taka? You haven’t forgotten her, have you?” Hanabi asked.

Rai tried to remember, but his head started to throb in pain.

Tanabe pulled Hanabi aside, saying, “Whatever happened to him in the Furies captivity can’t be explained. He's lost his memories of the time he spent with other's, and can only remember the in between, and even that's pretty fuzzy. Doctors are saying he may never get his memories back...”

“But everything we’ve been through together?” Hanabi said, a hint of worry in her voice.

“He’s still Rai at the core,” Tanabe reassured her with a smile. “We can always make new memories.”

“Without Milu?” Hanabi said, expression saddening.

Tanabe paused. He forgot she’s gone through just as much as any of them. He recalled the many nights she spent visiting his bedside while he recovered from his injuries. “I’m sorry,” he said, placing a comforting hand on Hanabi’s shoulder. It was inconsiderate of him to not see how this was affecting her. “There’s still a chance he could get his memory back,” Tanabe reassured her, removing his hand. Hearing this, Hanabi spirit seemed to lift more than before. “I’m taking him somewhere now to recuperate, but I’m betting he’ll be back in no time, he’s too stubborn not to be.”

Rai, gripping his head, began screaming in pain, causing many around to stare.

Panicked, Hanabi rushed to his side, but he fell unconscious the moment she arrived. Kneeling she placed his head on her lap, brushing the hair out of his eyes. “Ri Ri...”

***

Journal Entry

It’s been about 3 months since I was freed. Today, I learned I turned 15 about a week ago… The practices and memory exercises they put through haven’t been much help, though I can remember prior goals and moments, the people are all fuzzy, or gone. I can’t shake the fear that my memories may never fully return, but I better get my act together; I have a little sister depending on me.

One I can’t even remember at that rate…

A slow knocking sound caused Rai to put his finitypad away, unable to concentrate. Lying in bed, he stared at his reflection in the mirror where pictures of people he was supposed to know hung. With each knock, he tried to recount memories with them, but still nothing. Sitting on his desk was a stuffed animal. It reminded him of the sheep in the children’s books Ellen kept in the attic, minus the brown fur along Plu’s neck and legs.

“Rai!” an elderly voice hollered from downstairs.

“I got it!” Rai abruptly responded, jumping out of bed.

After taking the trash out, Ellen, a relative of Grace’s, said, “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” Rai shrugged, hands in pocket.

“That’s a nice coat. Who got it for you?” Ellen asked.

“We’ve been through this a hundred times.”

“I didn’t know, I was just asking.”

“I know,” Rai sighed, flipping the lights off. If he didn’t, she would always forget. “From what I’m told it was a gift.”

“From who?”

“I don’t know,” Rai said.

“Okay. Well, are you hungry? They’re cookies on the table,” Ellen said.

“Sure,” Rai said, he did have a sweet spot for cookies. Biting down on one, the sweetness he expected, gave way to an unexpected harsh bitterness, while his teeth clanked heavily against a burnt exterior.

“There’s milk in the fridge-”

“You almost shattered my teeth you old hag!” Rai yelled, throwing the burnt cookie into the trash.

“Who’re you calling a hag,” Ellen said.

“Whoever made these cookies,” Rai argued, spitting out the remainder.

“Not me,” Ellen said.

“...” Rai noticing the oven was still on, wondered if it had been on all day. Turning it off, he started to walk upstairs before stopping to ask, “Mind if I ask you a question?”

“What is it dear?”

“Does it ever bother you, having dementia, knowing that you won’t remember these moments with people?”

“Mm, I’m not sure I can’t remember,” she chuckled.

Her response wasn't what he’d expected, but it made him smile. “Goodnight Ellen.”

“Goodnight,” she said. “Oh, and Rai?”

“Yeah?”

“There’s some cookies on the table if you’re hungry.”

“Well, I know why you don’t have any real teeth,” Rai muttered, under his breath.

The following morning, Rai was packing goods to trade with a neighboring village. He was instructed that it was extremely important he make it back before dark - rumors of bandits in the area added a layer of uncertainty.

“Hey Rai! Rai! Where are you going?” a boy said running up.

“Hop on Dot, you get a free ride to the chicken coop,” Rai said, urging the animals to pull the wagon forward.

Dot jumped on. “Is this your stuffed animal?” he asked, holding up Plu.

Rai looked down, surprised to see Plu in Dot’s hands. He could have sworn he left it in his room. “Yeah, apparently it’s important to someone I know,” Rai admitted.

“Like a girlfriend?” Dot teased.

“No way! Not like a girlfriend,” Rai responded a slight blush coloring his cheeks. “More like family.”

“Oh, like GG.”

Rai smiled, “Exactly like GG,” he affirmed, thinking of the old lady. Pulling up to the wooden picket fence surrounding the village, Dot hopped off. “You’re going to have to keep an eye on the old lady while I’m gone okay?”

“Okay,” Dot replied, joyfully, waving as Rai departed the village. “And don’t touch my hoopah collection while I’m gone, or I’ll hang you off a tree for a week!”

“What?” Dot said, holding his hand to his ear.

“I mean it squirt!” Rai paused, a sudden image flashing in his mind - a little girl standing on a battlefield; holding a bloodied version of Plu… She was facing away from him. When Rai came back to reality, he was already a fair distance from the village, seeing as Dot, as just that. Shaking off the thoughts from earlier, he said, “Looks like I got some time to kill.” Leaning back, gazing at the clouds, his imagination ran wild, envisioning all sorts of things, but one image in particular stood out to him. It was of a sword, stuck in a rock.