Bygone Memories

Within the blink of an eye, I was transported to when I was seven. At this point, I lived in an orphanage alongside Eleanor in Greenmond, our birthplace. Eleanor was three months younger than me. Her birthday was tonight, but as always back then, there was hardly anything to celebrate.

From the void, I watched our younger selves as if I were a spirit.

“Eleanor, you don’t have to go downstairs. I can get the cake for you,” past me offered. We shut ourselves in our shared bedroom after an argument with the caretakers. To outsiders, they were the sweetest pair of adults ever, but we children knew better.

“Are you sure?” Eleanor replied, tugging on young Verity’s arm.

“It should be ok now. I don’t hear any more yelling.”

“But, they might—”

“I’ll be ok. I’m as tough as Mr. Bear!” I said while pointing at the back corner. Mr. Bear was our most prized possession at the time. During one of the few opportunities we were allowed to go outside, we visited a toy store and stole him. Since then, he sustained countless tears, screaming, and physical venting, leaving him battered and nearly unrecognizable.

“O—Ok… I trust you, Veri.”

As I crept my way downstairs, I spotted the cake resting on the dining table.

“Excuse me, but can I have some cake? I’m sorry for earlier, so—”

“Didn’t we tell you damn things to address us properly!?”

“Sorry! Mr. Oswald!” I stuttered. He was in the kitchen preparing a meal for himself and his wife.

“Come here.”

I obeyed his command and joined him in the kitchen, only for him to slap me across the face. I staggered backward and bumped my head against the cabinets.

“You can have a slice now. Just one. Any more and you know what happens.”

My lips were shut as I cut a slice for Eleanor before returning upstairs.

“Veri, you’re back!” Eleanor cheered, her smile so pure. Even as a mere spectator, it still warmed me just as it did back then. Then I remembered what happened next…

Eleanor’s smile faded in an instant upon noticing my black eye. She began crying profusely, her tears soaking the wooden planks underneath us. I went in and hugged her before offering the cake.

“Don’t cry, it’s your birthday!”

“But your face…” she sobbed.

“This?” I said, rubbing my eyes. “This is nothing! Let’s eat up now!”

We stuck our spoons in, eating as if it were our last meal. First impressions were positive. The sponge was moist with a hint of vanilla and the fruits mixed throughout were fresh and juicy. But as we continued eating, a bizarre aftertaste lingered on our tongues.

I was the first to go, vomiting uncontrollably over our bedsheets. Having witnessed me, Eleanor did hers through our barred window before crying once more.

That was the last straw for past Verity.

It would be her final day in the orphanage.

* * *

Just as my memories were going to resume playing, a flash of light brought me back to the present.

“Eleanor?” I whispered, frantically looking around.

“Oh, you’re awake?” Alear replied, his head sticking out from a new green tent. “Eleanor is, uh, she’s—”

“Why are you afraid of us?” I asked.

“Because—wait, I’m not afraid! I’m just…” Cutting himself off, Alear disappeared back into the tent, swapping places with Eleanor.

“Veri! It worked!” Eleanor said, rushing over to me. We embraced before going over what happened. Apparently the dream I had was a side effect of the medicine, specifically the flowers used as the elixir’s base ingredient. There was the possibility of prolonged occurrences, but given that it saved my life, I couldn’t complain. At the same time, the memories I experienced were concerning.

It had been over five years since the last one. I did everything in a vain attempt to suppress them, be it experimental forms of treatment or even forbidden magic. Everything failed until Eleanor introduced me to Fossilium. The game worked like a charm, distracting me from the horrors of our past.

As I grew in skill as a magician and player, it came to light that I had the opportunity of a lifetime to repay what I had promised fifteen years ago. Soon enough, it became my sole motivation, my sole reason to live.

And yet, the people I swore to; they were all dead now…

Everyone in the shelter was killed per Imryll’s report. How were we supposed to break the news to Rebecca and the others?

Why did the gods allow this to happen?

Why?

Why?

Why!?

Did they take pleasure in this? Was this all part of their divine plan? Good, innocent people trying to find their way in life had their lives cut short, stolen by some cruel twist of fate.

Even worse, Mirefield wasn’t the only village targeted. All across Ragos, people were raided by similar attackers, all cloaked shadow figures, all controlling monsters. The only seemingly effective method to defeat them was by using Fossilium cards and creatures. But since capable Fossilium players were few and far between, the assaults went nearly untouched.

Per the kingdom’s orders, efforts were redirected to evacuating survivors to the capital with the hopes of safeguarding them. Meanwhile, Eleanor and I were tasked with meeting the king again.

“Allow us to escort you back to the capital,” Imryll requested alongside Alear.

Digging her heels into the dirt, Eleanor declined. “We can’t! The king knew in advance about everything. The crystal he demonstrated back then is suspicious enough as is. Furthermore, we need to continue with the relief effort here. There’s still the possibility of additional attacks!”

“You’re right about that, but we have no other leads. I assure you, if he pulls anything again, I’ll hold nothing back in stopping him. We’re also in the process of requesting another magician to safeguard the area,” Imryll rebutted.

Eleanor turned to me for my opinion. I glanced away, hesitant to cut the tie. After a moment of silence, she accepted the proposal, but not without voicing her discontent by refusing to look at us during the carriage ride.