The Other Side: A Second Chance

Chapter 140: A Distant Memory

I pulled my brother by the hand quickly through the crowd. My prior fears and anxieties were stifled under the tension of knowing an unknown individual was now watching us. Inside, every alarm bell was ringing, and a distant yet encroaching sense of dread was becoming ever more prominent. My mind raced a million thoughts a second, and inside, I knew that this day would come again. The day that Putinov, or really, the Prophet, would return.

For years now, my family and I have known we weren’t safe, and possibly never would be. Hence, the reason we lived so far from any towns was that we were in the countryside. After witnessing and being on the receiving end of the damage the Prophet could cause, my father moved us out to the small ranch outside of Downaway. In the early years, our father was so protective of us that he rarely let us leave the house alone.

Yet, as time moved on, he began to relax. We started to feel as if we were safe again, fools we were. Except another part of me began to speak, no scream from within. That woman, the white-haired elf, something about her screamed familiarity to me. At first, I thought of Charity, but those thoughts were quickly dashed. Instead, something else shouted at me that I had seen that woman somewhere before.

But where?

We rounded the corner at the station and stumbled upon the terminal on the side of the building, where trains were loading and unloading vehicles and other large cargo. There, we found Father standing beside some station workers, discussing as Ruby and our wagon were being guided off the ramp and onto the platform.

Pulling Varis along, we briskly walked toward him, and I called out to him in an effort to get his attention. At first, he didn’t seem to notice, but as I shouted again, he jerked and spun around to look at us.

“Luna, Varis, what are you two doing here?” He asked, “I thought I said I’d meet you out front?”

We both stopped in front of him, and I took a deep breath. “There’s been a change in plans,” I said, and looked at my brother, who said nothing but nodded.

“What do you mean?” Father said, gesturing for me to explain.

I glanced over my shoulder just in case to see if the woman in white was around, but I saw nothing matching her appearance, and looked at my father. “I saw someone watching over me and Varis,” I said just quiet enough so that only my father could hear.

Immediately, my father’s expression darkened, and before he could say anything, one of the platform workers called out to him. It seemed that they were finished unloading Ruby and our wagon. Responding to the worker with a simple wave, he looked to Varis and me and said, “We’ll talk on the road.”

“You’re sure this woman was spying on you two?” Father asked. He flicked Ruby’s reins and the strider chirped happily and began to pull the wagon out onto the main road as the traffic cop waved us out of the station’s lot.

I nodded. “Yes, I am. I-I don’t know how, but I like, felt it. The hairs on the back of my neck tingled, and when I turned and looked, I saw them,” I explained.

Father briefly glanced over his shoulder at me, then looked to my brother. “What about you, boy, did you see this person?” He asked.

Varis shook his head. “No, but I trust her, Father.”

I watched as Father bit his inner lip at that, and he said, “I trust you too, Luna.” He turned his attention back to the road as Ruby merged us into the traffic. “I just want to be sure is all, these cities are full of people, it’s possible that–”

“Father,” I said flatly, “If you trust me then you wouldn’t be questioning me, I know what I saw.”

I noticed his hands tighten around the reins. “Dark Lord,” he swore, “I had hoped we were done with this.” I knew he wasn’t referring to me directly, but the situation as a whole. For five years, outside of my mother being comatose, we’ve lived a mostly peaceful life. Things had seemed as if they were returning to normal for us, but now, now that this peace was once again coming into question.

After a brief moment of silence, Father sighed. “I’m sorry, Luna, you’re right. For now on, while we’re here, stay close to each other. No adventuring. You hear me?”

Varis took a deep breath, pulled out his book, and nodded. “Yes, sir.” We both said, and I sat back in the wagon and pulled my legs up to my chest.

Paranoia gripped most of my attention during our trek through the city of Belpre. My eyes constantly shifted to those around us as our wagon traversed the various winding roads and intersections. I watched those closely in the neighboring wagons, automobiles, and sidewalks. The entire time, I rifled through my memories, trying to figure out how and why this person felt so familiar to me. Deep in my core, I knew at some point in my life, I had seen this person. But where?

Yet, no memory surfaced. I was at a loss, and that only fueled my anxiety further. Perhaps I was going about this the wrong way. I may not know who that woman is, but maybe Truth or Rational knew her. Maybe, in a time when I wasn’t conscious, either of those two may have interacted with them?

Such a possibility isn’t unheard of. Next time I have a moment, I will need to question the two of them. For now, I’ll just need to remain vigilant and keep calm. Telling myself that, however, was easier than actually doing it. The anxiety eating away at my core was agonizing. I felt that any moment now, whoever they were, they were going to appear and–

Varis kicked my leg lightly, and I nearly screamed and leaped up from my seat. Straightening up, I glared at my brother, who smiled at me mischievously from behind his book. “I noticed your ears were flapping whenever you’re stressed,” He said, flexing and wiggling his own ears to mimic mine, which I hadn’t noticed.

Immediately, I paused their motion, and my cheeks flushed. “I-I, uh,” I fumbled my words and gulped. “I’m still thinking about what I saw,” I said, and Varis nodded, his eyes flicking back to his pages.

“I had a hunch,” he said flatly and turned the page. “I’d be spooked too if I knew someone is spying on us.”

“Someon is spying on us.” I puffed my cheeks.

Varis once again nodded and continued reading. I never understood how he could hold a conversation while reading. Even I couldn’t do that.

“I know,” he said simply, “but I guess there’s a difference in having seen the person for yourself than hearing it from you.”

I could sort of see the logic in that; to him, it probably doesn’t feel as real. “So, you’re not bothered by it?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I don’t know what to think, sister.” He looked up at me. “Whoever they are, I’m hopeful that it’s nothing major, but at the same time, I understand the caution.”

“So you’re being optimistic?”

“I’m withholding my judgement,” He said and closed his book and set it aside so he could focus on me. “However, I’m not going to say you should do the same. As father said before, it’s good to remain on guard.”

“That’s my boy,” Father chimed in with a chuckle, and Varis rolled his eyes.

“I get it,” I said. “I wish it were that easy for me, I can’t stop thinking about them.”

“I can’t blame you,” he said, “As I said, I’d probably be scared too if I had seen them. Except, I don’t think that’s all of it.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?” I asked him.

Varis chuckled. “Luna, I can tell when something else is bothering you, again, flappy ears.” He wiggled his ears at me, and my blush darkened. “What else is on your mind?”

A nearby traffic cop’s whistle shrieked, and the wagon slowed to a stop at an intersection. I bit my lip slightly. Of course, my own brother can read me like a book. Honestly, I miss the days when I was the one giving him the pep talks and such. Now he was old enough and mature enough to fully take on the role of the older brother.

I hugged my legs tighter against myself and rested my chin on my knees. “I feel like I’ve seen that woman before,” I said. “I can’t remember where, nor when, but I’m positive I’ve seen them.”

Varis pursed his lips, and I noticed my father turning slightly to listen in on us. After a moment of thinking, Varis asked, “As in like… your awakened memories?”

I hadn’t considered that, but upon quick consideration, I discarded it and shook my head. “No, I don’t believe so. I’m positive I’ve seen her in this life.”

Father cleared his throat and said, “Back home, in Oren, we were one of the only elven families outside of six others. From what you described this stranger, I don’t remember anyone matching the description you gave us.”

Varis thought for a second, then held a finger up. “Perhaps someone from Johanneson, maybe?”

I gritted my teeth and tried to think harder about it. Except what came to mind was hazy and distant, like a far-off ship in the fog. The picture was unclear, and rather than saying nothing, I brought it up. “No, not Johanneson,” I said, shaking my head, “When I think back on it, I recall there being music, colors, and overall a lot of noise. Maybe, people cheering, and–”

“Oooh!’ My father made an excited noise as the wagon jerked forward, and I jolted. “Oh, it’s coming back to me!” he glanced over his shoulder. “Frostland March, 1937, the last one we went to! You were about two years old then, Luna.” He smiled widely as if he had just won some kind of game, and it was at that moment that it was like a door had been opened.

My eyes widened as the memory seemingly cleared up. “You’re right,” I said, looking at my brother who glanced between us, confused.

Father went on, “Leading that march beside General Hossler was Elder Lady Crystal El’Thania, she matches your description pretty well!”

I blinked and nodded slowly to my father’s words. The once vague memory was gradually clearing in my mind. It was so long ago, but I remember it now. The army marching through the streets of Oren, the grand music, the cheering crowds, and leading the pack was her. The elven woman in white, beside her, the highly decorated general. I could remember how she had cast a spell into the sky that exploded with bright colors, like a firework, and how it made the crowd erupt with cheerful cries.

It was her. She was the woman I saw just a little while ago, but why?

“I think you’re right,” I said to him. “I remember it clearly now.”

Varis cocked his head. “You can remember that far back?” He asked.

“Barely,” I admitted. “My memories are getting a bit hazy but I think father is onto something.” I turned back to my father. “Papa, what do you know of her?” I asked.

His jaw tensed as our wagon turned onto another, less-busy road. “Not too much, I’m afraid,” he said disappointedly. “That’s more of a question for your mother, or Isa. All I know is that she’s a well known mage and traveler, some parts of the world she’s even seen as some kinda legend.”

Varis pursed his lips. “You said she’s an elder, right? Like Elder Reynolds?” He was referring to Oscar.

Father nodded. “Yes, but even compared to Elder Reynolds she’s far older, that I do know.”

I wondered if she was probably as old as Alexander or any of the other so-called “ancients” that walk Enora. I’ve had the names thrown at me a couple of times during Isa’s classes, but I admit I can’t recall any of them now. But knowing now I had a name to tie to the woman I’ve seen, I felt a bit more relaxed. Perhaps I had been overreacting earlier, thinking this woman was a prophet like Putinov, but… what’s stopping them from still being that?

And of course, now my anxiety was returning. If Putinov had somehow possessed a woman like that, similar to how they took control of my Aunt Saria, how could I stop them this time?

“Stop that right now,” I sensed Rational prod me. “You’re just going to spiral again, focus on what you do know.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. They were right: focus on the now and the present facts. Worrying about what could be won’t get me anywhere. For now, progress was made; I have a name for who they could be. If I see them again, I can confront them. Or, perhaps this was all just a coincidence, and I’m just being too paranoid.

All that mattered now was that we were getting closer to the hospital my mother was being kept at, and soon, for the first time in what felt like ages. I’d be seeing her again.

“They are fools, I say. These men and women dare to call themselves “scholars”? If I were to have it my way, I would deem these heathens as what they are. Heretics. They spit at the feet of the Amriate and claim that what was built by our gods as none other than nonsense! Have they not read the scriptures of Ameleah? Or the Passages of the Divine Right? The proof of the Divine is all around us… As well as their growing absence.”

– Amirate Saldron Al’Detori, interview taken by Mr. Elric Alfen at the Grand Covenant Cathedral of Eurion.