Onward, To Memoria!

✧₊⁺

“What are you doing here in our neck of the woods?”

Yuna approached me carrying what looked to be a small travel suitcase fit for an overnight trip. She had a sunhat on, and her braided brunette hair was tied loosely behind her.

“I was just responding to a job posting that someone put in, it said they were out this way…”

“Shizu, what are you doing all the way back there, don’t be rude!” Yuna lightly reprimanded her young daughter, Shizuka.

Her saucer-like eyes scanned me with distrust as she poked her head out from behind an apple tree.

“It’s just Jiro-bo. He visited the other day, silly girl.”

‘Just Jiro-bo’ makes me sound like a bit of an afterthought, but I appreciate the intent.

The kid traded hiding spots, stubbornly electing to stand behind her mother’s leg for safety instead. I noticed she had a randoseru bag to carry her belongings, much like a grade-schooler in the real world might have. She was only missing the yellow cap.

Shizuka spotted Archie and her eyes immediately lit up, and she ran past me to try and jump for him as he played along.

“I don’t blame her for being wary. I’m still a stranger.” I chuckled, shrugging. “Where are you two going all packed up, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“I put in a work order for a hired hand to protect us on the way to Memoria,” Yuna explained. “My good friend finally saved up enough credits and got herself a nice place in the city for her and her husband. We’ll be staying with them for a day or two, I wager.”

A look of realization flashed across her face.

“Wait, didn’t you say you were coming out here to meet a client, Jiro-bo?”

“Sure did, and after hearing the details, it would appear that I’ve found them,” I said.

“Well, what a welcome coincidence!” Yuna beamed. “And here I was worried that I’d have to make small talk on the road for hours and hours with a total random. Not that I couldn’t manage, mind you. But you know how it is… You’re a friend, and Shizuka adores your robot pal.”

A friend, huh?

Shizuka had somehow managed to latch on to Archie, and he slowly taxied her around, much to her amusement.

“But if you’re going straight to Memoria, why not just take the train there? It’s pretty inexpensive and quick.” I suggested. “Not to talk myself out of a job, but I reckon it’s a lot safer than being out on the road right now too.”

“If only we could… But train lines from Castella are out of service today. Something about a wandering monster causing delays in one of the tunnels on the route into the city.” Yuna looked perplexed. “The other options were to take a stagecoach, or—in our case—our own wagon.”

“You have a wagon? And livestock to pull it, I assume?”

“Sometimes it pays to be a farming hobbyist, Jiro-bo.” Yuna proudly declared, placing her hands on her hips. “The horses are already hitched. Oh! And I’ve packed some bentos for the road. I hope you don’t mind tamagoyaki and meatballs.”

“I’d be much obliged, actually. Thanks.”

Once again, any break from the mess hall’s “cuisine” was a welcome one.

“Now that everything’s settled, shall we set off?”

“Yup.” I nodded, glancing back towards Archie. “Assuming my hard-working Supporter doesn’t have any concerns before we head out.”

“None whatsoever, Jiro,” Archie replied instantly. “I am only concerned with you leeching off the kindness of these two young ladies, so please make sure to give them their money’s worth in protection to make up for it.”

“You ain’t gotta tell me, partner.” I protested. “I’ll do my very best.”

“Young? Oh stop it, you flirt.” Yuna giggled and waved her hand.

With that, she led me down the road toward a shared stable. There was a covered wagon parked out front with two horses hitched securely, and an elderly man stood nearby leaning against a light post.

“Ah, there’s old Genji,” Yuna said, giving a polite wave. “Thanks for helping get the wagon set up. Jiro-bo, this here’s a family friend of ours. He’s the father of my gal pal back in Memoria. What do I owe ya?”

“It’s no trouble, Yuna-chan.” The elderly man replied with a smile. “Just tell Airi to come visit once in a while. She’ll worry her mother to death otherwise. If we could die, anyhow.”

Wait a minute… Why does this guy seem so familiar?

“I’ve got it!” I blurted out, snapping my finger uncharacteristically.

“Uhh, what have you got, Jiro-bo?” Yuna looked puzzled.

“Ah, my bad. It’s just that I recognized Mister Genji.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “You’re from the Hunter training video, aren’t you mister? You interviewed with the Director.”

“As a matter of fact, I am.” He looked impressed. “I still see that damned interview in ad breaks from time to time. I wasn’t much for the attention, but that Director fellow insisted on hearing a real customer’s testimonial. He even subsidized a year for me and my wife out of his own pockets.”

I find it hard to believe that it was out of the goodness of the Director’s heart, but I digress.

“I bet nothing can prepare you for the feeling of losing consciousness and seeing your own face pop up.” Yuna chuckled. “In any case, we’ve better get going. You and the wife take care of yourselves now!”

Shizuka hopped in the back of the covered wagon with a bit of help from her mother, and Archie floated in after her. I hopped up in the passenger seat with Yuna to keep an eye on the road, and she took the reins. Soon we were off in the direction of the big city, kicking up plenty of trail dust in our wake.

One thing I could never get tired of in the Digiscape was the vibrant colors all around us. From the wavy green grass stretching in all directions, bending with each gust of wind, to the lavender skies I had grown so accustomed to. Compared to the crimson haze and lack of natural light we were stuck without in the real world, this was one of the true benefits of the job.

“Whatcha thinking about, Jiro-bo? You’ve been staring off into space for, going on one hour now.” Yuna leaned forward into my field of vision. “I pegged you as the stoic type when we first met, but a lady likes to chat too, ya know?”

Her tone was playful so I knew she wasn’t reprimanding me or anything for my quiet demeanor, but I probably wasn’t the most exciting travel partner either. My mind raced with topics to initiate small talk with. Yuna had started to turn her attention back to the trail just as I thought of something to say.

“Are you… married, perchance?”

Yuna turned to look at me, clearly surprised by my choice of conversation topic.

“…..Pffft, you certainly don’t waste time, Jiro-bo!” She burst into laughter. “I always thought you younger ones liked to fool around before jumping into marriage. Am I behind the times?”

I glanced back at the two in the back of the wagon. Archie’s digital interface had an incredulous expression, and Shizuka gave me a dirty look.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite mean it that way.” I sighed, exasperated.

She continued to chuckle heartily while my face reddened.

Surely it ain’t that funny…

“Sorry, sorry. I’m just playing around with you, Jiro-bo. I know what you meant.” Yuna smiled. “Most everyone here has someone on the outside paying their way, that’s a fact. But it isn’t a man in my case. Shizu’s father left when she was just a little girl.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Ah, don’t be.” Yuna shrugged. “The man would have blown all of our savings on pachinko sooner or later if he didn’t step out, and that’s what we’re living on now. So it was a blessing in disguise.”

“We don’t need papa!” Shizuka's little voice proclaimed from inside the carriage. “Our family is perfect just how it is.”

“That’s an admirable take on it, I’d say. For the both of you.” I noted. “I’ve always envied folks who can see the brighter side of things. My ex-wife was the same way, always showing me the beautiful side of an ugly world. She was too good for my crotchety self.”

“So, your wife, is she… here now?” Yuna asked cautiously.

“She passed away, I’m afraid.”

“My fault for prying, and my condolences.”

“It’s quite alright. I’d like to think it’s possible she could be here, considering how much this place meant to her.” I exhaled sharply through my nostrils. “But I hardly think she’d want to see me as I am now.”

“Well, don’t go and sell yourself short now.” Yuna punched me on the shoulder. “I’d heard what happened in Placita, and how you fought tooth and nail with another Hunter to save the town. And you were there at the ByteCoin mine too, weren’t ya? You’re a good man, Jiro-bo.”

“I don’t know about that, Miss.” I looked up at the sky, watching a pink cloud roll by. “I’ve done things that I can never take back. And it’s because of me that lives… were ruined. If Aki saw me like this, I reckon she could hardly bear to look at me, not to mention the folks I hurt.”

Knowing all that, could she say the same?

I glanced back once again to see that Shizuka had fallen asleep, a coloring book in front of her while she napped beside Archie. The wagon continued to roll along, rocking us from side to side.

“You know, my granddad always told me something that stuck with me all this time.” Yuna finally spoke after a long silence. “You know what he said?”

“What was that?”

“He said: “Sweet pea, I’ve lived a full life, done and said a lot of dumb stuff. But it was the things I left unsaid that still haunt me to this day. Don’t you live with regrets.” I think that…” She paused. “Well, I think that if you happen to see your wife again, you should tell her exactly what’s in your heart. Tell her you’re sorry for how you acted. That goes for those other folks too. A little apology goes a long way, take it from me. I ain’t a perfect lady.”

“You think an apology can patch up everything? I don’t know…”

“Well, you’ll never know until you try, will ya?” Yuna smiled confidently.

Something about her sureness of self put my mind at ease. Maybe I had spent a little too much time feeling sorry for myself, wallowing in my own victimhood. It has been like that ever since my divorce. I was just ashamed that it took this long to realize it, however.

“You know, Jiro-bo. I never did mention how the two of us, my daughter and I, ended up in…”

“—Wait just a moment, Miss. Sorry.” I cut in, leaning forward. I spotted a black cloud of some sort hovering low to the ground in the middle of the trail some distance away. “Archie, what’s that further down the road?”

“Allow me to take a look.” Archie emerged from the carriage, floating just between Yuna and me. “Oh my… I would suggest turning the wagon around immediately.”

“Why, is something the matter?” Yuna glanced quizzically at Archie and me. “You guys are acting a little strange, it’s just some butterflies.”

“You’re seeing what I’m seeing, aren’t you, Archie?” I said. “It’s a…”

A woman stepped from a vortex of black butterflies, clad in black robes and a hood that covered her face, she kept walking in our direction.

“A lady?” Yuna pointed out. “It’s okay, we can just go around her. She’s probably hitchhiking.”

“Jiro, the threat level…”

We were somewhat close to the woman on the road by this point. I couldn't see her eyes behind the hood, but I saw a twisted smile form at the corners of her lips as she put her palm out towards us.

“Archie, get the kid out of there now!”

I grabbed Yuna and rolled out of the wagon into the grass on the shoulder of the road. Archie succeeded in using his tractor beam, something I didn’t know he had, to pick up Shizuka before it was too late.

No sooner than the moment we escaped did a blast of purple lightning pierce the wagon, shattering the carriage into a million pieces. We watched in horror as the horses, too, were reduced to a cloud of red mist. My stress meter slowly went back down after absorbing the brunt of the barrel roll in Yuna’s place.

The dust finally settled, and the overworld music twisted into something more sinister.

“Aww, it would appear that I’ve missed. How unfortunate.”

The woman clad in black approached us, taking her time with each step. Black butterflies surrounded her, much like the ones that emerged from the iron colossus in the ByteCoin mine. It didn’t take an expert to realize that we were in some deep trouble.

“Who are you!?” I shouted, pulling myself to my feet.

“Me? I thought my look and voice would have been more familiar to you. It’s only a color change, sweetheart.” The woman replied, putting a hand up. “Look harder, Jiro.”

Wait, she’s right. She looks exactly like…

“The Songbird of Memoria??” Yuna appeared dumbstruck as I helped her up. “But how could you…”

“Wrong! I may share my good looks with that wench, but I am undoubtedly me. Of this, I am certain.”

“That’s great, but you didn’t answer me, lady,” I said. “Who are you really, and how do you know my name?”

The woman smirked and threw her arms out wide.

“Harken to me, children, for my name is Blackheart, The Crow. And as the savior of this rotten, filthy world, it is my most heartfelt and dearest wish… for you all to die.”