We had all left the snow village with many thanks, and even a few gifts. It was a sort of quiet goodbye, as many of us weren’t really in high spirits from our discovery of the ‘Ice Castle’. But I was grateful of all the gifts they gave, it wasn’t much but they insisted on giving us something for reuniting them with their family members so we couldn’t turn them down.

We had made our way to the closes town, which was over three days away, to both refill on supplies, which we had given a lot to the village, and so we could find some place warmer.

We had found a town which was quite lighter than the more recent ones we had found. Its people seemed really light hearted. Most of the builds were made from bricks, with tiled roofs. The road was clean and some parts had stones imbedded into the ground to give it a nice picnic feel. Luscious green grass grew on the yards of many houses.

It was a town that I could certainly appreciate.

“Ok, let’s head into town and buy as much as we can. We will probably need to stay for a bit so we could rest.”

I looked at Sarya.

“I’m pretty sure these people don’t look like they need help, but you can ask if you’d like.”

She nodded and we moved to the closes store available. Many of the town’s folk were giving us funny looks and even whispering among themselves. I couldn’t help but get a sense of déjà vu from a similar fishing village.

I tried my best to ignore all the stares we received but even the others were muttering among themselves as well.

“Well… even though this town is nice, the people don’t seem friendly. Their quite the suspicious sort, wouldn’t you say.” Zephy was staring at the others while giving her comment.

“If I remember right, this town is ruled by a rather strict Lady who is compulsive about keeping her town free of ‘undesirables’. She is some aristocrat that comes from long linage of mercenaries, mercenaries that have honor if you’d believe the rumors.”

We all looked at Cinda who gave out this information.

“You seem to know quite a lot about things around here.” I commented.

“Yes, well she is quite well known for being incredibly fierce. Even other mercenaries and bandits don’t tangle with them because of her reputation, a reputation that even reaches to Boncre. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, her husband hails from Boncre.”

“She sounds…dangerous… should we be worried?” Sarya voiced her concern.

I couldn’t help but feel a little concerned about this woman myself.

Cinda shook her head.

“As long as well follow the rules and don’t cause trouble, we should be fine. However…”

She looked at Zephy.

“I suggest you stay with the wagon. Your…. fashion choice will likely be viewed as undesirable.”

Zephy put on a mask of absolute distraught at Cinda’s remark.

“WHAT!? Why would it!? I’m not ashamed of my body so I have no fear of displaying it. Perhaps this Aristocrat should follow the same example.”

Even though I didn’t like the sound of this person, I needed to agree with Cinda on this.

“I’m sorry Zephy but we really don’t need any more trouble. We need someone to watch the wagon anyways so could you head back?”

Zephy screwed up her face.

“Ugh! Fine! I’ll just stay here, maybe I’ll come into town with one of the horses with nothing more than my strap for my ax, that’ll teach them.”

I rolled my eyes at her ‘idea’ and turned to Cinda.

“So, what’s this woman’s name?”

“It’s Lady Felikana Wanrite. (Pronounced Fell-eek-an-a Wane-Right)

I sighed.

“Why do this people have to have such absurd names? That’s a mouth full…”

“I’ll show her what full is when I stick this ax up her-“”Zephy! Not in front of Elora, please and thank you!”

“Perhaps it would be best if we avoided her when we can.” Sarya suggested.

“Good idea.” I really didn’t want to ‘mingle’ with such a person.

Me, Elora, Sarya and Cinda headed towards the town, with Zephy heading back to the wagon with Elora.

When we couldn’t find a general store, we started to ask around that they pointed us to the center of the town, where apparently the town’s older buildings were. It was the start of the town before it expanded over. With the new directions, we head there.

The people continued to look at us, or at Sarya mostly, as we made our way to the center of the town. We could immediately tell that we made it because of how the buildings had a bit more of a dirty look to them, compared to the buildings outside and it was also surrounded by a wall made of wooden spikes. There were also a few smaller buildings outside. After a bit more walking, we finally found the general store.

We entered and the suddenly smell of age hit me, it was difficult to explain but it smelt like older leather mixed with many different spices that I couldn’t even put my finger on. It seemed the others took notice as well, Sarya plugged her nose while Cinda grimaced.

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“Damn…” I muttered. “It smells terrible in here….”

“Ugh… couldn’t they at least use better spices?” Sarya screwed up her face more. “I… think I’ll wait outside…”

She turned and left me and Cinda to approach the counter.

After waiting a little, the store owner came out, or at least I guessed he was because he came out from the back of the store.

The person was a teenager with messy hair and dirt smudged on his cheeks. The moment he seen me his eyes lit up and he looked to be enthralled.

‘Great… even the teenaged boys…’

“Uh… he…. Hi! How can I help you?” He tripped over his words, clearly trying to sound big and proud.

I glanced at Cinda, who didn’t seem to take notice of his attempts.

Clearing my throat, I walked to the counter and pulled out a list.

 “Yes, I need the items on this list.”

I placed it on the counter and he turned it around, his eyes scanning it.

“Ok, I’ll check the stock to see how much of this stuff we have and give you a price.”

I nodded and he walked to the back.

We stood quietly as he finally came back.

“Well… It’ll cost you about a hundred coins to purchase all this. But uh…. Well…. We can… I-I mean I can… do it for seventy…”

‘Now he’s trying to sway me by being generous…’

I sighed as I lend on the counter.

“Look kid, we don’t need your charity. You should do that to any woman who enters your shop or you’ll run out of business and then you’ll allow yourself to be pushed around. I’m also guessing that this is your parents shop, or another family members shop. You can’t do that to them.”

He fumbled his words, looking like he was trying his best to say something to challenge what I said but he came up with nothing and looked pitiful as a result.

I sighed. “I appreciate to offer but its better this way for your family.”

I placed a bag on the table and started to count the money; after I gave it to him he went to the back.

I waited for a bit longer and then the boy came back with an older man. The man looked to be in his late sixties. He took one glance at me and his eyes widen in disbelief.

“Ah… T…Teela? Is that you?”

I froze at the old man’s words and he spoke in a shaky voice. He lifted the barrier on the counter and walked around to stand in front of me looking over my face.

“Teela… that really is you! It has to have been a year since we last saw you! Well, Nil here wasn’t around when you were but still! Where have you been?”

I was still frozen as he smiled.

‘He…. Knows me…? How? Possibly… from my previous life?’

“Uh… I’m sorry but who are you?” I asked.

The man was taken aback, as if I had insulted him.

“Teela! It’s Gundr! Come on, don’t you remember?”

“Uh… I’m sorry but I’ve lost my memory a few months ago.”

 He blinked and his mouth opened, as if to say something but no sound came out.

So instead, I took the opportunity to ask him some more questions.

“Uh… so you know me? Did I… live here? Or did I pass through here?”

He scratched his head.

“Well… yes. You were a store owner… Teela, how could you not remember?”

I couldn’t help but feel a stab of guilt as I knew I was lying to him. However, telling him I’m not the same person was perhaps not the best idea. Still… I felt like I owed it to the original Teela. After everything I’ve done in my new life, I just couldn’t erase the original Teela and continue on forever. I knew this day would come one day, I just didn’t think it would be so soon.

“I just don’t. You say I had a store here? Where, exactly?”

“Well… just across from this store of course.”

Without another word, I turned to the door and opened it to see… what was left of a building. Sarya glanced at me from her seat outside and frowned.

“Teela? What’s wrong?”

I didn’t answer her, I just stood still as I looked at the hollow building. It was quite small, about the size of a café. It possibly had shutter windows at one point as some hinges were left at the side. The door was boarded up and the windows had a few boards as well, most of them were falling off however. Most of the paint, which I guessed was a light blue, was peeling off.

I could feel Gundr walking up behind me and sighed.

“The year hasn’t been kind to her… it’s a shame too, it was quite nice. The Lady sold off all your things in there but I did keep a few things. As far as I know, you left a note saying you were leaving but Rendal took it.”

I didn’t look at him when I ask him who Rendal was.

“Well… he’s the Lady’s husband, although he wasn’t when you were still here. You too got along famously, or so I’ve heard.”

Sarya looked back at me then the shop and back at me again.

“Um… I’m sorry but what are you two talking about?”

Cinda was the one to answer.

“She was a resident here apparently.”

Sarya eyes widen as she looked back at the shop.

“Then… that was your shop…?”

Gundr cleared his throat.

“Wait here, I still got some of your things.”

He walked off and I slowly started to walk to the store, both Cinda and Sarya followed.

“So… this was your place? It seems… like it was quite charming at one point.”

I didn’t respond to her, I just continued to stare at the building. It had a faded sigh over the top which read: TEE_A’S _ICK KNAC_S.

‘Teela’s Nick knacks?’

Compared to the rest of the place, this building felt a little out of place. Not because it was abandon but because of how light the fading colors were, compared to the wooden fortress that I stood in now.

Sarya moved to the window and peeked inside.

“How… long has it been?”

“A year apparently.”

She looked back at me with a sad smile.

“Well… at least you know what you did before. You still don’t remember any of this, do you?”

I only shook my in response; I didn’t want to lie to her with words. Whether or not that made it easier on me I couldn’t say.

I heard the old man come up behind me and I turned to see him hold a small wrap. He offered it to me and I took it and untied it, unraveled it to see three objects.

A small glass figurine.

A medallion.

…and finally, a hair piece.

“This was all that I could get, Lady Felikana had the rest sold. I was surprised to see you left that medallion as you always said it meant a lot to you. You always had that hair piece as well. The glass figurine was one of the things you sold.”

The glass figurine was that of a bear, the hair piece had a golden line that twirled around it and the medallion had a snake surrounding the outer rim and some sort of flower, it’s petals had a spiky look and were entwined with some sort of roots.

Both Sarya and Cinda looked over my shoulder at the items.

“Oh! A hair piece? And that figurine looks quite nice. Did you make these things yourself?” Sarya asked.

“That’s what she said back then, she made everything.” The old man answered.

“That medallion…” Cinda muttered.

“Yes… I know. It looks like the medallion of the desert city Monik. (Pronounced Moan-eek)

Me and Sarya turned to both Cinda and the old man.

“Monik?” I asked.

“Yes, it’s a desert city to the far west of this plain. They usually keep to themselves and only ever trade in spices. It’s past a rocky mountain line called The Passing. It’s called that because of how dangerous it is to cross, with many creatures inhabiting the mountains. In fact, many wanted criminals cross it so they can be free because most of the kingdoms refuse to send soldiers in there.”

“That… sounds like a city full of them… criminals I mean.”

Cinda shock her head.

“Not necessarily, they actually do help with capturing the criminals and bringing them back, but since it’s a huge desert, it’s hard to find them all.”

I looked down at the items once again.

‘So… these were yours huh? This was a part that I never thought would come to me so soon… and yet, I feel like I’m being called into action to find out who this girl was…’

Sarya picked up on my distress and placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Well… what will you do now?” She asked.

I sighed deeply. “I’m… not sure. I wasn’t too sure-“

“Teela! Is that really you!? You came back!”

I froze and slowly turned to see a young man staring back at me.

He looked to be about my age with golden hair that was cut at ear length, his handsome face was spotless which gave him an even younger look. He wore a set of expensive looking clothes, line with gold trimmings.

He closed the distance and without a word, he embraced me.

‘…eh…?’