Lazily, I open my eyes to a strange bluish liquid surrounding me. I glance around, spotting a peculiar mask with pipes jutting out, covering my mouth and nose. When I try to move my arms, it feels like pushing through honey. As I shift, a red light begins to flash.
The liquid drains slowly, and my body floats downward until I'm left lying on the ground. I look up—trapped inside some sort of glass tube. Suddenly, a hissing noise cuts through the air—***Pshhhhh!!!***—followed by a bone-chilling wind as a small door creaks open.
Cautious, I crawl toward it and peer out. The room is bathed in an eerie glow from strange blue and green crystals. My bare feet meet the freezing iron floor, and another icy gust hits me. Shivering, I spot an old brown rag draped over the edge of a table. I stumble toward it and wrap it around my shoulders, teeth chattering. *Where am I?*
The room flickers with bizarre screens, flashing colors I've never seen. Behind me, the glass chamber I came from looms—an egg-shaped monstrosity with tubes snaking into the ceiling. My mind is blank, no memories to grasp. The only exit is a hallway bathed in pulsing red light.
I stagger forward towards the corridor as echoing mechanical beeps blair.
My feet stick to the cold hard middle ground as I groggly walk forwards deeper into the corridor until I see hit a wall exhausted, I slump down.
Just what is this place?, I mutter to myself.
I glance around looking for anything that good signal what is this place.
On the wall there is a glass panel with a handprint etched into it fully I stand up and wobble towards the panel before gently placing my hand on it
***Beeeeep!***
A deafening alarm blares as the once solid wall groans before parting in half as a freezing yet fresh wind blows passed and a slight glow illuminates the newly formed exit.
I stumbled back a little but having nowhere to go I steal myself before I exiting.
One out I am met with him beautiful Night sky glistening with the Stars and A city sprawled below it all illuminated with candle light.
Just then a familiar noise hits ears
***Click-clack, click-clack!***
Horse hooves! I slowly move myself toward the sound coming from the alley between two buildings from the alley I use the last bit of strength I have to fall onto the streets before my consciousness fades.
**CRACKLE… CRACKLE…**
A warm, smoky wind washes over me like a wave as I slowly open my eyes.
*"Hey, Julie—the kid's up!"*
My vision slowly sharpens as large campfire flickers in front of me with it surrounded by strangers clad in leather and light iron-plated armor.
*"W-Who are you people?"* I ask, my voice shaky.
*"The kid's really is up! Hello, I'm Aiden!!"* Suddenly a loud, large grinning man leans straight in front of my face.
*"H-Hello…"* I stutter while shrinking back.
*"Sigh...Look, Aiden, your loud ass scared him. *Move*—I'll talk to him."* A middle-aged woman in a leather jacket shoves the man aside and slowly sits down. *"Sorry about him. He's always like that——But, kiddo… where are your parents?"*
The question for some reason hits like a punch to the gut. I begin to wrack my brain, but nothing comes—no name, no age, no memories of family.
*"I… I-I don't *know*,"* I stammer. My breath quickens. A hot, prickling feeling swells behind my nose and tears begin to form.
*"Well *shit*, Julie. You really calmed him down, didn't you?"* The man snorts.
*"Oh, *shut it*, Aiden,"* she snaps before turning back to me. *"Hey, kiddo. You don't gotta worry. We're strong knights, okay? We won't hurt you or anything."*
*"I-It's not that…"* I choke out. *"I just c-can't… remember *anything*."*
Ohh, umm… well, maybe you just need more time to remember. You did just wake up,"* Julianne says gently.
Her words soothe me a little. *Maybe it's just temporary…* I think, clutching at the hope.
*"A-Are you sure, I ask shakily
The woman smirks a little and jerks her thumb toward the the guy called Aiden. *"Yeah I'm sure, that bear over there got hit so hard once, he forgot his name for a week ."*
*"Hey, Julie! It was more like a *day*,"* he grumbles.
*"Whatever lets you sleep at night,"* she jokes, rolling her eyes.
I chuckle weakly, feeling a little better. I try again searching my mind for any answer but just a dark empty void stares back.
*"Hey... Julie was it? Where are we right now?"*
*"Oh sorry that's just a nickname I'm Julianne she says smiling gently. And we are just on the outskirts of Aurelion."*
*"Where's that?"* I blink, confused.
*"Ahhh, it's the capital city."*
*"Oh…"* I murmur, but no memories surface.
I'm sure I'll come back to you she says before slowly standing on bed walking off towards the man named Aiden.
Julianne kicks his boot.
*"Ow! What?!"*
*"How old do you think this kid is?"* she whispers sharply.
*"I dunno. 12, I guess?"* Aiden says questioningly.
*"Yeah maybe"* Julianne mutters. *"But why would he be outside at night in the middle of the capital? *"You think he was traffic or something?"*
*"Maybe but why dose that matter right now? Aiden says confused"*
*"Well you idiot if he was the traffickers might be looking for him now, so we should probably tell the merchants okay"*
*"Oh you're right okay Julie stay with the kid then, I will go warn them."*
*"Hey, kiddo."*
*"Y-Yeah?"*
*"Can you *really* not remember anything at all like the name of your hometown or something?"*
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to force *something*—*anything*—but nothing comes.
*"No… I can't remember anything I say defeated."*
*"Okay. That's fine for now."*
**DING! DING! DING!**
Suddenly a loud bell rings out. *"Everyone, we're heading out!"* a stern and slightly panic voice shouts out.
Around the camp, groans erupt:
*"What? Now? Why?"*
*"I barely got any sleep! Come on!"*
*"Everyone awake! The same voice shouts.
Julianne frowns as Aiden jogs back. *"Hey, Aiden. What the hell did you tell them?"*
*"I just explain the situation and… kind of said a large group of traffickers might be coming for us."*
*"You *idiot*! Julianne sighs.
You made it sound like they're already coming!"*
*"No, I just—…."*
*"Whatever. It's for the better anyway."* She turns to me. *"Hey kiddo sorry but you should get into that carriage to our right since we're heading out now."*
*"Wait—*why and are we going?"* I ask, confused.
*"Sorry, forgot to mention but we're hired as escorts for these merchants. Where *they* go, *we* follow. And we can't go back to the capital now."*
*"S-So where are we going?"* I ask, my voice small.
*"That'd be Galespire. About ten days away. That should be more than enough time for you to remember *something*, right?"* She gives a reassuring smile.
*"…Okay."*
I climb into the carriage and slump down and suddenly the carriage begins to move away.
Laying down in the carriage I move my body into a comfortable position before a wave of exhaustion hits me and slowly, I drift… to… sleep…