Still unconscious, Krysis's mind, unbeknownst to him, is transported back to Rollito roughly 35 years ago. He appears outside a shack in the middle of nowhere. He approaches the shack and looks through a dirty window. He sees a group of five small Merfolk children eating a single freshly caught fish. He hears a noise that catches his attention, it's the sounds of a hungry stomach rumbling. He looks over and sees a relatively young Merfolk woman watching them eat, smiling. He realizes it's his mother, before he pans back over to the table and sees a young him sharing a single fish with his four siblings.
He looks around and relives the slums he grew up in, before seeing a young Merfolk girl walking towards his shack. He attempts to hide, but quickly realizes she can't see him. He notices it's Samantha, then he notices a gift in her hand, then he realizes what day it is. It's the day of his 10th birthday, the day he found his father's body, overdosed on lilac, a local drug that poisons Merfolk's mind. Krysis remembered where his father's body was behind the general store, so he ran over there to try and catch one last glimpse of him before his death. Upon arriving at the general store, he heard a conversation going on behind it.
"Markov, you did a very stupid thing." An unknown Merfolk with a thick accent said.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Krysis father, also known as Markov said, before spitting some blood on the ground. As Krysis rounded the corner, he saw there were two large Merfolk thugs blocking his father against the wall, and Markov was on his knees. They took turns punching Markov in the face till he was barely conscious.
"All this for a stupid fish." Markov said, spitting up a lot more blood.
"All this for stealing from Ross Aberdean." One of the thugs whispered in Markov's ear, before pulling out a syringe and flicking the air out of the tip of it.
"No, please, I'm clean." Markov pleaded.
"You're just a junky, who fell off the wagon on his son's birthday." The other thug said smugly, before restraining Markov and holding his arm out.
Krysis fell to his knees, he always hated his father for relapsing. Then he felt a wave of confusion, if this is his subconscious, and he is reliving his life on his death bed, how is he seeing things he never saw? Is this just what his mind wants to be true, or has his mind actually traveled back to his 10th birthday. Either way he felt a wave of emotion stronger than he had felt in a long time as he watched the thugs inject his father with lilac, and all he could do was scream and cry. He lay there in a pool of his own tears for hours as he waited for a younger him to stumble upon his father's body, when suddenly he's no longer outside that general store.
Next thing Krysis realizes he's outside the academy he attended as a teenager. He looks around as he tries to regain his vision from crying so much, and sees a young him, about 17. He starts to think back, but can't remember any significance to this moment, why is he reliving this? Just then he sees a teenage Samantha round the corner, and bump into teenage him. Then it hits him…
"Oh excuse me Samantha." Young Krysis stammers out.
"No, please, I bumped into you Krysis." Samantha replied.
"You're looking swell today." Krysis said, smiling. "I, was wondering, if, you, and I, and you, um with me, could maybe go to the dance together, if possible?" Young Krysis continued, fumbling over his words.
"Krysis Krystalis, are you asking me out?" Samantha inquired.
"Um, nope." Young Krysis said, as he started to dart away.
"I'd love to Krysis, come get me just before dark on the day of the dance." Samantha said, shouting at Young Krysis shuffling away in the distance.
…This was the beginning of the end. Krysis follows the teenage version of himself. He follows him all the way to a back alley, where he knows the younger version of himself is here to borrow money from Ross Aberdean. He remembers how all he wanted to do was give Samantha a night she would never forget, and it ruined his life.
Young Krysis walks through a side door in the alley after being let in, he goes down a stairwell to meet with Ross. Current Krysis manages to follow him down, although he remembers all too well how the conversation went down there. Down in the basement Young Krysis is introduced to Ross, they make small talk, and Young Krysis asks Ross for a small loan, just enough to show a special person something he would never be able to show her on his own. Ross is moved by his intentions and tells Young Krysis he will give him what he requested plus a little bonus at no extra charge, but Ross lied. Krysis starts yelling at him to not accept it, but Young Krysis can't hear him.
Young Krysis took the money, bought a nice suit, rented a beautiful carriage, and went to get Samantha on the night of the dance. They had a wonderful time, although Samantha couldn't figure out how Krysis afforded this evening, and kept bringing it up. Young Krysis assured her not to worry, he had been saving up. They enjoy the rest of their evening before Young Krysis returns Samantha home. Krysis was happy to relive this night one more time. Floating on euphoria, Young Krysis returns the carriage, returns the suit, and the next week returns to Ross to pay him back the money he requested to borrow.
He told Ross about how wonderful his evening was, and thanked Ross for helping make it happen. Young Krysis pays Ross back with interest with his week's paycheck and help from the extra money Ross gave him. "This is good kid, I like a man who pays his debts in a timely manner." Ross said, slapping the bag of money in his hand. Krysis again, begs and pleads with the Young Krysis who can't hear him to give Ross all the money back.
Feeling on top of the world, Young Krysis realizes how much bonus money Ross actually gave him, and thinks what a swell guy he was. Young Krysis, never having been so flush with money before, goes on a bit of a shopping spree, buying expensive clothes and trinkets, then parades around bigger cities showing off down the sidewalks. The attention felt good, that was until he ran into Samantha, who was less than pleased with his appearance and demeanor.
Confused, Young Krysis took offense to Samantha's attitude, and scoffed as he walked away from her thinking she must be jealous. Krysis yelled at Young Krysis slamming his fist against a wall, to go back and apologize to her, but again his cries fell on deaf ears.
About another week or two passed and Young Krysis ran into the two guys who were with Ross in the basement. "Oh, hey fellas, fancy meeting y'all around here." Young Krysis said, greeting the two gentlemen.
"This ain't a social visit." One of the thugs said, pinning Young Krysis against the wall. "You still owe Ross a lot of money, and we're here to collect." The thug continued.
"Owe him money?" Young Krysis said, confused. "But I paid him back." Young Krysis continued.
"You paid him back part of your debt, it was a good start, but you're not done." The first thug continued.
"More?" Young Krysis said, still confused. "Wait, there must be some mistake, I was told that money was a gift." Young Krtysis continued.
"You were misinformed." The second thug said, before punching Krysis in the stomach. "This is your final warning, the next visit won't be so friendly." The second thug continued, before both thugs let Young Krysis off the wall and walked away.
Krysis watched as his worst nightmare unfolded before him once again, he then watched Young Krysis run towards Samantha's home to speak to her and apologize. Samantha wanted nothing to do with him, but she eventually with much reluctance agreed to come outside and speak with him. Young Krysis came clean with everything and leveled with her, and explained the situation he's currently in. Samantha told him he got what he deserved for trying to be somebody he isn't.
"I fell in love with the poor boy who cared for others, you didn't need to try and impress me stupid." Samantha said, exasperated.
"You loved me?" Young Krysis questioned.
"Since we were kids, you dense fool." Samantha replied.
"Well, let's run away together, there's a boat leaving for Octarvia in the morning." Young Krysis pleaded
"I think you should leave." Samantha said, sorrowfully, before walking back inside her home.
Krysis relived the heartbreak of losing something he didn't know he had. The next morning Krysis followed Young Krysis to the pier, where he boarded the cargo ship headed to Octarvia. Just then, Young Krysis heard the horn blare, as he saw the dock workers untying the ship for departure. Young Krysis realized this was a couple hours before he remembered the departure time being, but was relieved he could get out of there sooner.
Krysis waited on the pier as he watched Young Krysis depart into the harbor. Just then out of the corner of his eye, Krysis saw Samantha running for the pier, stopped by workers, the boat had already shipped out. Krysis saw Samantha had a bag in her hand, she was gonna join him. Krysis fell to his knees, why did he have to see that? Why did he have to relive all this pain? Why can't Mortarum just take him already?
All of the sudden a young woman is standing before Krysis. "Are you Mortarum?" Krysis asked through his tears.
"Not quite, she's more of a cousin. I am Anamarum" Anamarum said softly. "It's not quite your time with Mortarum yet, but I wanted to give you a refresher and a second chance, you have a beautiful soul Krysis, don't waste it." Anamarum continued.
"Now it makes sense." Krysis said, wiping away his tears before sniffling. "Can I go back now, I'm done reliving this please." Krysis continued
"Of course my child." Anamarum said, before sending Krysis consciousness back to reality, waking him up the morning after his attack.