“I can see the head!”

“It is coming out.”

“Push”

It was time. It was time to act. And so he did. He tried earning his second soul skill, by influencing the cry of the soul. And he did it the only time he could. At birth itself.

He has regretted it ever since. He didn’t see what happened, he passed away in the grass. Knocked out, while time moved on without him. Noone even found him, he awoke by himself in darkness. He didn’t feel quite himself.

But, that's normal, he passed out after all. If he felt fine that would have been more strange. Still, the grogly stood up. And looked around him the night had already fallen and passed, the dawn was approaching. He has been out for quite some time. How come none found him?

Strange.

Holding the one with one hand and his back with the other Mansueto made his way out from a hidden place where he was hiding. Close enough to hear and hidden enough to escape notice it would seem.

Even if someone found him there is a chance they would just think he is a crazy beggar and think nothing of it.

To say the crowd was thick would be to understate the present situation. There were only a few people about, not whole groups of people doing work. Everything was subdued, from walking to looking around. The fear was in the air, those few who were out drew into themselves and moved quickly. Not wasting a second.

There was also a different group of people. Priests of Dawn and acolats of Doom. Something has had to happen for them to arrive in such force here. In this no-name place.

Ugh, someone probably did something stupid

Not thinking much of it, he waved them back in greeting as he passed them and continued on my way. There was no reason to stick around if something dangerous was afoot. Mansueto let his feet take through familiar close and tight streets of his home.

A fortress turned town over countless years. Then turned to a bigger fortress when the Sun died and Ash came. It was still small, relatively speaking, but it was bigger than before. He even heard a rumor that it was now marked on the map.

Could you believe that, a place as small and insignificant as this, marked on the map and known to the whole world. Our place, my place. For some reason pride filled him up at that thought,

Of course they would be great. And they would be even greater still, when he …

When he what?

He must have gotten drunk more than he thought he did, or should have. Did he really get drunk? He usually gets drunk quickly and then takes it easy as alcohol does its work. But, why was he there, in that place? The nurse home is nearby, he … something, something.

He is missing something.

Passing by the sea, a cold sea wind cleared his head instantly. He can think about this when he gets home. Now, he better rush there. He started to speed up his steps to get away from this cruel wind as fast as he could.

His sure, fast and purposeful step soon turned into confused stumbles as he slowly looked around and realized that he doesn't know where he is. How is this possible, he lived here his whole life, he didn’t even leave the walls more than 5 times. How could he not know where he is?

oh no, how long have I been asleep? Years? Decades? What about my family? Oh, oh no. Are my parents dead? Did my wife manage to get by? Our kids, our sweet little baby .. - Did my wife remarry?

In panic, in confusion he turned around and around. Seeing more and more things that were off, that were wrong in some way. The street lights, the walkway, the dories, the skifs and dignys. They were all weird.

But, most of it all was the sky. The Ash. Why Ash? There was no Sun, no moon. There were only clouds of Ash. Thery weren’t clean blue, or beautiful pink or orange. They weren’t even gray or dark clouds of the storms. They were .. ashy clouds. Somehow, it was dark in an unnatural way that made people uncomfortable.

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It certainly made me uncomfortable.

His confusion might have alerted the priests and acolacts because soon they were approaching. Was he in trouble?

“Good mor, good sir? Everything alright there?” One of two, the priests asked, the acolyte just looked around, not really paying attention.

The hood covered the acolytes face and body, Mansueto couldn’t really see them. But, he knew there was something there, something that he was missing. He stared at them, not responding, seemingly lost. The wind was cold and harsh.

“Sir? Sir? Are you quite alright? Is something the matter?” The priest tried again and the acolyte also focused on him now. Maybe they could tell that something is wrong.

“Is he drunk?” The ancolaty was as blunt as his voice was harsh.

The confused man's head snapped to the face hidden by the hood and retreated a step or two in fear.

“He doesn’t seem drunk. Scared, I think. Calm down, good sir. Noone is going to hurt you.” The priest slowly approached with small steps.

“Scared and confused. Is he suffering from [Confusion]? Why hasn’t this fool been found earlier?”

“Shh! It is going to be alright. Calm down. It doesn’t matter, all we can do now is take him in?”

“Take me where?” Confused man finally got his tongue back and asked

The priest of Dawn and the acolarryte of Doom both jumped. Not expecting a [Confused] person to speak. Maybe he wasn’t under the ailment after all.

“Good sir, we thought you [Confused] and wanted to take you to the [Carer] until it passes you.” The priest said relaxing slightly.

Mansueto frowned. Something, something is weird about that. About what they were saying, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was. Stil, he really was confused.

“Thank you, I really am confused. And I'm a bit lost, to be completely honest with you. I lived here my entire life and now I don’t know where I even am. It is a bit embarrassing, I am not that old, am I now?” Mansuero started talking and his mouth worked on his own, his brain was still blank, still groggy from passing out. “What about you, what brings the Orders here?”

The two members of the most prestigious orders of this world looked at each other. Confused and lost, was this ‘Confusion’ spreading from him to them?

“Haven’t you heard the [Declaration], it should have been heard across the whole fortress. Even if you were deep down or in a specialized room, it should have still reached you. Good sir, can you tell us what happened to you?”

“I … “ Mansueto passed, not knowing what to say. “I don’t remember” He looked around. “Everything seems strange, foreign. I -”

The strong gust of the wind had them all drawing into themselves and turning their backs to the wind to protect their face.

“Easy. There is no need to tell the whole story here. The wind is getting harsher. We need to take you to the carer anyway, we can continue there.”

Mansueto nodded. Mostly because of the wind, part in agreement and not having any other option.

They entered the closest alleyway to hide from the wind, while the priest requested a pick up. Mansueto lowered himself onto the cold stone, not knowing what to do and wanting to rest. He was exhausted and lost. He didn’t know what to do.

“ Cough, cough, Good sir.” The priest guy coughed while rubbing his hands together to ward off the chill. “ As you probably heard just now, my name is Luca. Priest Luca. This is my partner Acolyte Justus. Do you remember our Orders? The Priests of Dawn and Acolacty of Doom?

“Yes, I do. I remember them. I remember the Sun, and the Ash.”

“You said you grew up in this city? Do you know its name?” The acolyte asked, the thing behind the hood staring right at me now.

“Yes, I was born here, and didn’t leave it apart from a few times. Of course I know it’s name, did you know that it was put on the map? Soon everyone will know where … , where … .”

Mansueto frowned, looking to the side, he couldn’t remember. He couldn’t remember the name.

“What? You don’t know?” The priest was silently looking at him, while the acolyte pressed him further. The situation was turning even more weird from their side.

“I … don’t. I don’t remember it.” He said while shaking his head. “ I don’t remember it at all, not the name, or the look. Nor streets or squares. I don’t even remember where I live. I don’t remember it at all. “

“It’s Curon.”

‘Soon everyone will know where Curon is?’

Mansueto just shaked his head. It didn’t ring a bell. They waited in silence that was broken by coming off their ride. It didn’t lift the silence between them. He just followed behind the priest, he was lost so far he didn’t even pay attention to anything.

“We are here, come.” The priest said and he finally broke and came to himself somewhat to follow him again.

The acolyte, Gus? maybe, was already in front of them talking to someone.

“... yes, yes. I don’t know. Here is he.”

The person he was talking to then took charge of him and led him to a room. He was shown and put to bed, fed a sleeping concussion and fell asleep. The dreams welcomed him and he welcomed them back. Hopefully he will be better after a bit of rest.