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Alcyone and Bart had just gotten back to their room. While Alcyone hadn't grabbed any alcohol from the pub, it was obvious that her compatriot did. He wasn't super drunk, but every once in a while she would help him with his balance.
She knew he was playing it up at the table, trying to get an upper-hand against the other people, she couldn't remember their names at the moment. Not that they were important. She'd need to tell the rest of the group to maybe let him have less money, just in case he gambled it away on accident.
Getting him upstairs and to was the hardest part, since he wanted to hang out with the nice barkeeper and keep gambling downstairs.
"Come on Grandpa… let's get you to bed" she joked
"I'm fine. I just want… to talk to them some more"
"You're at least a little impaired Bart. How about you get to the room, and we can get you some water, ok? I don't want you getting a headache tomorrow"
"Fine…"
He sighed, while she opened the door and set him on the bed.
"Are you done with your drink? I can fill it with some sink water."
He nodded, handing Alcyone the bottle.
She was a little used to this from back home. Birthday's usually involved alcohol, not that she joined, but her parent's normally did, at least a little. Her dad had a habit of drinking more than he needed. Mainly because he would refuse to listen to them, closing his eyes if he saw them start talking to him. She liked caring for him, so this should be a breeze.
She refilled the glass with some water before handing it back to Bart. "Here, you have to drink at least one bottle of water, ok?"
Bart took the bottle of water, taking a few small sips. He wasn't the biggest talker, she figured. But he was nice to talk to, and seemed like a good listener.
"What do you think is going on in the town?"
"Who knows. But either we figure it out or we don't."
"What if we end up like them? And we forget? What do we do then? I know I checked for poisons but the drinks were fine." Her tail flicked behind her, a nervous tic she'd had ever since she was young.
"We ran the precautions, we should be fine. And if we aren't, that's just what happens"
He was probably correct. He's wiser and older, and a real adventurer. Not like her. She just went on this mission as a way to make her parents proud. They would always be proud of her, she knew that, but she wanted to do something more for them. More than just interpreting for her dad or fishing to make money and feed her family.
"What's up?" Bart asked, nudging Alcyone
"Oh, nothing. Thinking about home. The mission. All of that stuff."
"Homesick again?"
"I guess so. I'm also just really tired. We should head to bed soon"
Bart nodded, finishing his drink and setting it down on the sink.
"Good night Alcyone."
"Good night Bart."
Alcyone, despite being tired, took a while to fall asleep. It didn't help that Bart was snoring, But eventually, she fell asleep.
She was in the town square of whatever town they were in, there was some rain coming from the west, she could hear the thunder in the distance. She hated it. The crew seemed to be doing something in the town, probably something important to their mission. Maybe they figured out the people were hiding out here? Besides her, as always, was Bart.
"What's going on here?"
"Figuring out why there's memory issues. I'm just glad none of us have been affected yet. but we can't stay here long"
"Do we have an idea to what it is?"
"We have a couple. We thought about splitting up to search, but we want to make sure we all stay safe, and our minds intact."
"oh… that makes sense"
She looked around for a while, following them on their excursions to each new lead. She was getting tired, which was weird. It had felt like hours had passed, but the rest of the world seemed to show just minutes. There was a storm looming in the west, getting closer.
"What's happening?" She asked Bart, who was beside her.
"We… Alcyone, are you ok?" He looked at her, concerned.
"I'm fine, I think, I just have a small headache. Sorry"
Bart looked at her for a moment, before shaking his head.
"I thought maybe it got you. The memory problem, I mean."
"Bart, come on, I think I'm tougher than anything this town can throw at me."
Memory problem? Was that what they were doing? She vaguely remembered something about the tour guide in town, Ana-something? They were forgetting something, but she wasn't sure what.
"I mean, if you're sure. Just, stay near me, ok?"
There was something in the tone Bart took that made her stop for a second. He sounded hurt, or upset. He didn't sound like his normal self. What did he normally sound like again? Not like this, she was sure. Maybe less pleading?
"Sure Bart, whatever you say."
He seemed to feel better after she promised him that. She felt bad for worrying Bart. As much as she would like to say she was joking. She wasn't. But she stayed next to Bart. She needed to do that. for some reason. Alcyone though back to them arriving in the town yesterday. Was it yesterday? It felt longer.
"What about the tavern, were the drinks okay there?"
"Alcyone. You checked the drinks. They were fine. And you didn't even drink alcohol."
"oh… right…"
She was in the forest, a fire in the background. Something was wrong. She was just somewhere else. A town? Maybe? Was that where they were going. She looked around. the rest of her party was here. She remembered she was upset at something. She was sitting next to Bart.
"Bart. Somethings wrong."
Bart chuckled to himself. "Yeah, that's what happens your first kill. I mean, I know you were a fisher, but this stuff is a little bit more taxing than that."
Killing? Alcyone didn't kill anything but fish, and even then, she needed to eat. She had cried her first few catches.
"First kill? What are you talking about Bart. I don't kill anything other than fish. I think I would lose it if I did."
"You did lose it. At least a little. I think you cried for a couple minutes. I get it. At least you felt bad for them."
Them? Who was Them? They were just wandering the forest. There was a house on fire, it seemed like a waste of resources, the house could have kept them dry through the storm. Something had to have happened.
"Bart. This isn't funny. I'm not laughing."
Tears started filling her eyes. She was missing Something. How do you remember what you lost if you've lost it. Did she actually kill someone? It had to be necessary. Was it related to the house? People lived there. Why would she kill someone in their own house. Her parents are going to hate them.
Bart stood up, clearly concerned about them. Was she going crazy? He walked closer to her, resting a hand on their shoulder.
"Alcyone, I'm not joking. Are you ok? I mean, as ok as you can be after this fight"
"I didn't kill anyone. I would remember that, wouldn't I?"
"I mean, you should. I would."
She looked at Bart, back to the house. The house. Why did they decide to burn it? It could have housed them for the storm. Thunder boomed in the distance.
"I don't, I don't know what's going on Bart. I'm… I'm scared."
"Take a few deep breaths. You'll be ok."
She took a few deep breaths. What were they doing here. Was it too rainy to continue walking towards the kingdom. There was a town. Somewhere there was a town they went to. That was yesterday? Tomorrow?
Would the house stay up enough for shelter. They should have only been out for a few days. There was a fire. There was a battle. There was… something.
She missed her parents. They would know what was happening.
It was the day she volunteered. She raised her hand at the volunteer section.
"I volunteer to go. I'm good with my bow. I know I may not be the most experienced, But I am willing."
She heard herself say it. That wasn't right. She already did this. She was just somewhere else. She remembered doing this. Her parents looked at her, starting a silent argument between them.
"You volunteered? Why?"
"I want to give back to our town. Provide like you did."
This already happened.
"I hope you don't get picked. It's dangerous."
This isn't real.
"I'm going. That's final."
Where was Bart?
"We'll see."
She walked away from her parents, searching the crowd for her friend. The storm had rolled in, sending some lightning and thunder their way. She didn't care. She had something else to worry about.
Who was it again? His name started with a B. His. It was a guy. Older and slightly more built. She walked around, asking people if they knew a man who's name started with a B until she found him. What did she need from him again?
"Bart."
The man turned around, looking at her.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm… I don't know. I'm lost. I know you."
Bart looked at her for a second.
"Please Bart. Please remember. We've been friends for a few days."
Bart kept staring. Eventually, it seemed he remembered. Remembered what?
"Alcyone? What's going on."
This was a dream. She was forgetting everything. But she wanted to tell him what was going on. It wasn't the real him. It hasn't been for a while. Since the town. The town…
"The town. It has a memory problem. I don't remember. I can't remember. I know I'm forgetting but I don't know what. There's a town."
There wasn't a ceremony anymore. They were on her boat. Her parents weren't around. They always were.
"Bob-"
"It's Bart."
"Bart. I'm sorry. I don't- I'm scared. I can't think of what to say to help you understand?"
"It's ok. What do you remember?"
What did she remember. It had to be important. There was a town. A town and a forest and a ceremony. And she wouldn't remember this in the morning, if she was right about this. Bart wouldn't remember either, this wasn't actually him. But she had to tell him, if only to make herself feel better.
"A town and a forest, Sv'reem is dead. We're all upset. We… there was something about volunteering."
She stared at the man in front of her. It was storming now, a fury of rain around them, soaking both of them. She was sobbing. What was she upset about. It couldn't have just been the storm. She was upset about something important. What was it?
"I'm sorry, can I help you? What are you doing on my boat."
The man looked at her. He was upset about something.
Bart was upset about something.
She raised her hand toward Bart, moving her hand, keeping it as quick as she could, before she would forget.
I will miss you.
She woke up to the sounds of someone in the room rummaging around. There was an older man in the room.
"I'm sorry, did the ceremony and choosing happen yet?"
The man sat down next to her, like he did it often. He seemed upset.
"Alcyone? Are you ok?"