Forged Memories

Rattling metal shook all around them as Tomita and Izhari were lifted into the air. The rusted vessel was moving skyward, and the bear was in the front, rummaging through a large container.

“How did you even find us?” Tomita asked.

Their captor didn’t even look up from his work.

“Pure luck. You came to us. We occasionally hide out there to kidnap and extort mourners. It just so happened to be you this time. Bad luck on your part,” said the bear.

“Some of us are born with bad luck,” said Tomita, recalling his conversation with Izhari.

There was a lurch, then a burst of energy. All of the vessel shook, and Tomita fell back onto the floor, but the bear was unbothered. It felt as though they were moving significantly faster now.

“Where are we going?” Tomita asked.

“Oh, you know the answer to that.”

“You can’t take us to Mathael! We have to stop him!” Tomita shouted in desperation.

“He’s planning something! Something terrible! He’s already m-moved all of the memory orbs from the Shores of Time!”

His words seemed to stir something in the bear, who stopped and faced Tomita for the first time in minutes. Some sort of small machina contraption was in its paws as it sighed a tired sigh towards its prey.

“...And?” it asked in annoyance.

Pure indifference was all that Tomita felt. No matter what was happening, it seemed no one in this realm could be moved to care. They were all suppressed and content to obey what they were told, as long as the wars were gone.

“But…” Tomita tried to retort, but nothing came to mind.

Thus, he resigned himself to sit in silence as the bear continued piecing together its contraption.

Minutes passed, and eventually it was done. Tomita could see the last piece being set in place. A small, familiar colored stone was latched into the center of the machina. A Lexicon stone.

“What are you doing?” Tomita nervously asked.

Two other devices were removed from the container. They were similar to the memory crowns, but more simplistic and brutalist. The elegance of the Currtasi smiths was nowhere to be found. This device seemed to be made in pure malice. Cold, blank metal was hammered into functional shape, and a singular matte black stone was in the center of the mounts.

As Tomita observed the object, the bear connected each crown device to the Lexicon stone’s contraption. Gears whirred and energy hummed with sinister intent.

“Beyond hunting, I have another way of gaining extra lexicon credits. The shadow smiths made this for me. It’s a forging device. I’m going to take all of your memories and implant them in my own mind, so that the Lexicon now assigns your knowledge to me. Alllll your credits. Allll your wisdom. It is mine,” snarled the bear as it walked towards the cage.

Heavy, intentional steps shook the walls, and Tomita crawled back in fear.

“No. No, you can’t do that! Mathael wants us!” said Tomita.

“He wants to kill you. He didn’t say he needed you in full health,” snarled the bear as it placed the crown onto its head.

Keys were positioned, and the door was opened. Ethereal hums buzzed from the device as the bear stepped into the cage. Then, there was a crackling, breaking sound, and the bear froze with a horrified grunt.

“Muhhhhh, umphhh…” it groaned.

Tomita saw something rush over its face, and terror welled in its eyes as it twitched and reached up for the crown. Beside them, the Lexicon stone was glitching and spinning in its holster. It built in chaotic speed and shook with furious force. All the while, the bear was tensing and trying to raise its hands to remove the crown, but it was paralyzed.

A disjointed, horrified roar built in its throat as it thrashed to the side, but its hands could not rise. The Lexicon stone began to float, lifting the contraption in the air as it spun into a blur of uncontrolled force. Then it exploded.

As it shattered, the bear let out a cry of absolute agony, and its skull cracked open in a beam of blackened light. It fell dead at Tomita’s feet.

“What the hell, what the hell, what the hell?” Tomita flinched as blood ran from the bear’s head towards his feet.

There was no time to be concerned. Tomita was up immediately, grabbing the keys and rushing to Izhari’s crate. Key after key was inserted until the proper one was found, and she was pulled from her containment. Then the same process was repeated until the helmet was yanked from her head, freeing her body and mind.

Gasps of confused air burst out as Izhari grabbed her throat.

“Tomita?!” she cried out.

“It’s me! It’s me! I’m here! We’re alone!” Tomita explained as he took Izhari’s paws.

“What happened to them? I could hear everything!” Izhari asked.

“I don’t know! He had this crown thing that was connected to the Lexicon. The Lexicon stone exploded, and he screamed and then died!” Tomita explained.

Whatever he said unnerved Izhari.

“The Lexicon exploded?...” she asked in concern.

“Yes. Is that bad?” Tomita asked.

“...It’s supposed to be impossible… The Lexicon was part of the very foundations of this world. It would be like destroying the air we breathe…” she explained.

“...Mathael?...” Tomita asked.

Before either of them could say another word, the vessel stalled and slowed. Speed reduced to a steady pull, and Tomita felt his stomach rise in his body, telling him that they were descending fast. Without even needing a window to confirm his fear, he knew what was happening.

“We’re here. We’re almost to Mathael’s lair,” he said.