”We are sitting across each other. Lucky this happened appropriately. So you were saying this is your final year in economics. Your reason is to help your village. Should you use your skills elsewhere where profit is higher? You should know about it since this is your last year.” (Ari)

”Of course I have thought about it but I want to help my people. They are staying behind time. This can´t keep going like that. It is most likely too late now. No matter next generation can´t survive if done nothing.” (Tyr)

”You are for sure better child than I´m. I left home to study potions. My parents died ever since I was small child so I left only my sister and half brother behind. My brother is 2-years older than me from my mother´s previous marriage and my sister is 3-years younger than me. I´m 17-years old. We did get help from our village to survive but my half brother took responsibility for us. He is working as hunter and my sister is working on our housekeeping. I was the one how didn´t do anything. I escaped.” (Ari)

It isn´t strange that I was only one how grow old. I escaped my shame but I survived thanks to it. My sister died in stampede and my brother in hunting how knows where. They both choosed their lives and I too. I just hope they found happiness in their lives.

”That was kind of heavy but thanks.” (Tyr)

”Oh. Did I say all of it again?” (Ari)

”Yes you did. At least people know you are honest one. You probably can´t lie even if you wanted.” (Tyr)

”Can you cut it out? It can´t be that bad.” (Ari)

Honestly I´m not sure. Even when I was mute people close to me could figure out something always. Well people close to me weren´t normal so it could be coincidence.

We talked about our studies, homes, family members andhow world it. Thanks to him I could remember quite a lot. It also helped me to remember how my home was. There is 9 households in my village. It is actually quite a lot. North Pole has about one person per 100 km2 and my village has 9 households (50 people) in 100 km2 area. This was thanks to ice witch´s business interest to this area.

At the first station we went outside to wait stowage ending. This place´s main product is oil. So everything has to be done safely. It is about a hour wait. It isn´t save to stay inside while they are working. So we both went outside. This wasn´t the first time for me here. I intented to work here in the past. I knew this place quite well so I showed around. It wasn´t the greatest idea. I had forgotten more things than I had thought. At least I remembered the place where we went eat.

Between the first and second station we went along the bridge over big lake. After it rails started to rise to the mountain range. I remembered the explosion happened somewhere here. Rails went both up and down and sometimes we went to the tunnels. If I have to leave train somewhere here I think I could manage. At least this area isn´t anywhere close as dangerous as my home. Our ears locked as we went up. Tyr was suprised about it so I explained it was because of air pressure. I also warned him about oxygen amount. He should get used to it soon.

Second station was mine. Some of the oil was brought here for equipment uses. It was town with thousands of workers. Last week here was tunnel collapse. I had forgotten about it but familiar faces brought back memories. Previous trip to city had many passengers going away to find new hope in life after serious injury or family member´s death. This group was going to the seas. Fourth station is the last one which was in the coast. Next station was going to be my home.

It was dark when we arrived to my home. Sun was blocked by a mountain. Even when it is mid summer no cultivation is useful. All food eaten here is brought from city with this train or when it comes back from the coast. At least that is the case if hunting isn´t counted.

”Okei. I´m leave the train here. Let´s see again in going back trip. Eh? What is wrong?” (Ari)

”My destination is here.” (Tyr)

I was speechless. There isn´t anyone how even looks like friend he described here. This was a ruse. Althought it wasn´t winter, this place was dangerous without house. Plus we use different currency here. This isn´t place to stay as a stranger.

Stolen novel; please report.

”Do you want to come with me?” (Ari)

”Are you thinking aloud again?” (Tyr)

”No. This is me talking.” (Ari)

He is trying to sound brave but he was hurt. He must have known this was going to happen but he still hold small amount of hope.

”Are you coming or not?” (Ari)

Tyr knows that I don´t want to bother my family. He is hesitating. I haven´t heard of red hair named Tyr before. He must have died in same attack which I was part of or he was injured badly so he couldn´t get back up. If he comes with me then I can´t just threw him away anymore. Future will surely change if he comes with me. I don´t know which path I should follow. So, I choosed to let him choose. If he disagree then I follow same path and find how demons got here. If he agree then I start to change the world as I see fit. I know I should choose myself but this affect to everyone. As individual I want to save those I can save but as part of society I want to keep everything certain. Also there is no telling how long I can keep my memories. I could loss them any moment but same time it isn´t save to write them down. The most dangerous person I could meet now is mind witch. He will find me someday even if I start hiding now. I have to prepare.

”Can I choose until we got there? I will think if I should find help elsewhere.” (Tyr)

”I have to know now if you are coming. Direction where I go depends on your answer.” (Ari)

I know. I´m pushing on answer but I need to know for more than one reason.

”It would be better to stay with someone how knows you. If you don´t like my place then just change places later.” (Ari)

”I´m going with you.” (Tyr)

”In that case I will follow this path.” (Ari)

We got different meanings from my words.

”We need to go look at my family´s hunting traps since there is going to be one extra mouth. Can you help me carry them around?” (Ari)

I saw he nodding so we went to the forest. These traps are used to keep monsters from coming here. Their meat isn´t particularly good but they will fill our stomachs for now. One trap had sabre-tooth fox. These monsters are low class one´s but can deal harm to weak people. There isn´t anyone like that here. The worst one here is way upper than average in the city.

”Do you know how to skin it?” (Ari)

”No. I don´t.” (Tyr)

”In that case watch me. This might become useful to you in the future. Take everything which I throw away. You are going to carry them.” (Ari)

No matter how long it has been, I won´t forget how to skin leather. These leathers, teeth and claws are thing which I bring to the ice witch. These aren´t worth much but they sell nevertheless.

At the evening sun was up behind the mountain. I didn´t take anymore monsters since cooking takes time and I supposed to be there already. My home is only 2km away from station. I´m happy it isn´t long path. It was strange see forest younger than it used to. Even after becoming witch apprentice, I came here many times.

The house was partly new and old. All fixing has done for the winter. This is easiest time on the year here. Most monsters are hiding and waiting for the winter. Human is strongest creature at the time. If not taking account monsters in deep in the forest. I didn´t even need to knock.

”Hey. Brother Ari is back. Welcome home…”

My sister came to welcome me but she stopped after she saw my friend. She didn´t know how to react to the new visitor. Me too was suprised. I didn´t accept fully that I came back in time. I saw my death sister alive again. I have gotten over this loss long time ago. I didn´t know how I should react. Maybe it was good that I brought him here.

My sister look much like me. Curly polka brown hair, blue eyes and long legs and arms. She is very tall about 172cm I think and I´m only 176cm. She is lightly smaller than me but she would have out grow me in time at least to 180cm.

”Brother brought redbear here. Please come help your brother carry it in.” (Sister)

”What?” (Ari)

It seem like she thinks that Tyr is monster. I know I haven´t brought anyone here before but isn´t this rude still. Can´t you even consider that he is human?

”Hahahaha!” (Tyr)

”What are you laughing for? Shouldn´t you be crying?” (Ari)

”Sorry. This is first for me. No one has looked me that way. People have called me monster but this time she was so happy to call me to that.” (Tyr)

”I think you are first human being how was happy to be caller monster. Are you sane?” (Ari)

My words cause him to cry while laughing.

”Please calm down and come inside. I introduce you to all.”

Both my brother and sister were waiting for us. My sister has noticed her mistake already but she doesn´t know when to apologize.

”Sorry for the wait. This is my friend Tyr. He is staying with us tonight. This here is my brother Ville and she is my sister Maria.” (Ari)

”Thank you for your hospitality. I hope it isn´t too much of the bother for you.” (Tyr)

Basic welcomings were down so we started to work on the leathers and meat. My brother is about 185cm tall. There isn´t no helping it. I´m going to be smallest in this family. Other difference would be his straight small blond hair.

We didn´t talk much until it was time to sleep. I gave my bed to Tyr and I started to sleep on the floor. My sister apologized Tyr about her mistake at some point. We choosed to talk tomorrow before we are going back. Train is coming in middle of night so we have time to talk whole day. My brother doesn´t need to work tomorrow either.

Whole evening I had feeling that I forgot about something important. My family knew about it but didn´t say anything. They had clearly told about it to Tyr. It has to be something important but why keep it secret from me. Maybe it is something I have to remember for sure.

During these thought I managed to finally fall asleep. Unknown to me another change was happening while I was sleeping.