Anima, Ch.49: Unwelcomed

--01-- [Scene: Filia] <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
All this time, there had been a way to get my memory back, here in Iria...
This is all I have left to strive for now...
To remember where I came from...and maybe to go back there.


--02-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
Am I finally on the path I'd hoped for?
I went through the mana tunnel network and appeared on the outskirts of Filia,
while my less-than-willing companion muttered something under his breath.


--03-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
(Merlin)
You know, I know a guy who's good at finding things, but...
No. No! He's a jerk! I don't want him to get involved.
Finding a little mirror isn't exactly going to turn into an epic adventure...right?


--04-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
It had been several years since I'd even been near Filia. There were differences I immediately noticed,
like the fancy wall that now surrounded the city. How long had that been there?



--05-- <BGM: Love and Cruel Fate>
(Merlin)
Oh, here, take this wax wing. Just in case.
...Any idea who to ask first? I figure you'd know better than I do.
I mean, you were an elf once, right?


--06-- <BGM: Lovely Parties>
"I think I do... If anyone, Atrata might know...
Let's take the long way around. I don't want to draw any more attention than necessary,
and I'm definitely going to draw attention. The bad kind."


--07-- <BGM: Lovely Parties>
We walked around the bluffs surrounding Filia, entering town from the southeast.
The sheep and cows all fled as I approached.
Merlin seemed he wanted to remark on this, but kept it to himself.


--08--  <BGM: Lovely Parties>
Wait, something's missing...
The Memory Tower? It had been toppled, lying in pieces in the pond it once stood in.
Atrata was in front her home, making potions.
She looked up at me...and screamed.

--09-- <BGM: Tranquil but Smiling Cure>
(Atrata)
W-W-what are you?! Please don't hurt me!!




--10-- <BGM: Tranquil but Smiling Cure>
"Calm down, I'm not going to do anything!
I guess you don't remember me again... Even if you did, you probably wouldn't recognize me now.
I'm sorry your artifact went to waste..."


--11-- <BGM: Tranquil but Smiling Cure>
(Atrata)
Artifact...? I...I *do* remember that... The one the water spirit wanted...?
That girl...that was you...?!
What's happened to you...?
You're...red?

--12-- <BGM: Tranquil but Smiling Cure>
"I stopped living a lie...
Look, the reason I'm here is to ask about some other relic...what do you know about a mirror that restores memories...?"



--13-- <BGM: Tranquil but Smiling Cure>
(Atrata)
The Mirror of Memory? I...I had it for quite some time.
It restored my own memories...
With it, I was finally able to understand my own feelings...
It's why I was able to remember you at all.

--14-- <BGM: Tranquil but Smiling Cure>
"Where is it now?"

A strange feeling of...anticipation washed over me, mixed with anxiety.
The end of my long search is drawing near...but what price will I have to pay in the end?

--15-- <BGM: Tranquil but Smiling Cure>
(Atrata)
A Milletian came and asked for it a couple of years ago, to help a boy named Kelpie in Zardine who
had his memory erased by Castanea...
Find him, and you also may find the Mirror itself.


--16-- <BGM: Tranquil but Smiling Cure>
"I see... Thanks..."
Kelpie? I've heard that name before, but...
Oh, right. His sister wanted me to find him. I never got the chance, because of my...changes...

A chill suddenly went up my spine.
--17-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
(Castanea)
Didn't I tell you not to come back?




--18-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
(Maike)
Ignorance will not spare you this time, abomination!
You live up to it more now than ever...



--19-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
(Merlin)
Um, who are they?




--20-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
"Trouble."

The leader of the elves stood nearby, arms crossed, having approached unnoticed,
her surly white-clad lapdog bodyguard at her side.
"Castanea. Tortured any more Milletians lately?"
--21-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
(Castanea)
There was one more, a few weeks after you returned again. We...dealt with them.
Then, soon afterwards, something changed.
Milletians began to arrive among us as a flood, with more coming every day...


--22-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
(Castanea)
Rather than make an abattoir of Filia, we had no choice but to forebear them all until they left
to seek their fortunes elsewhere, after some...gentle encouragement.
Many other things have changed...


--23-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
(Castanea)
But you...
Look at yourself!
Do you remember, long years ago, when you arrived in this world?
Did I not warn you of this very thing, that you might not like what you discovered about yourself?

--24-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
(Castanea)
Though I certainly never imagined then, that you were...a creature such as this.
I hope you have no regrets; I cannot obliviate them now. The Tower is shattered.
What is done is done...


--25-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
"I do remember. I also told you that if there were reason to do so, I'd make amends for any misdeeds
I'd done and forgotten. I...found that I have more to amend than you can imagine."



--26-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
"Eternity might not be long enough to do it.
But I have to begin somewhere, with something, and with that mirror I can finally get started.
Now, I was just leaving. I don't want any trouble."


--27-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
(Maike)
You should have listened, then.
Archers, open fire!



--28-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina> {SFX: thunder}
The elven guards around town that had been watching the situation nocked their bows in unison.
Merlin raised his arm into the air, and a green dome of energy flickered to life around us.



--29-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina> {SFX: explosion}
(Merlin)
You really *are* nothing but trouble, huh?
Use that wing I gave you! I have to focus to keep this shield up!



--30-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina> {SFX: failure}
I snapped the waxen wing, but a moment too late.
Arrows came flying. The shield only slowed them down a bit.
A stabbing pain shot through my left wing.

We were transported out into the desert.
--31-- [Scene: Rupes Desert] <BGM: A Magical Place>
"Good thing you planned a quick exit..."
An arrow was lodged in my left wing, the wound oozing a trickle of black blood.
I hardly felt the pain, but...maybe I should deal with that...


--32-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
(Merlin)
Seems like you wore out your welcome before you even showed up.
...Damn, you're hit!
Hold still. I'll get that out. Sorry if it hurts...
Do you get this kind of welcome everywhere you go?

--33-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
"Pretty much."
I winced as Merlin broke off the arrowhead and pulled out the shaft.
Black blood flowed freely out of the wound once the arrow was out.

My changes hadn't just been skin-deep...
--34-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
(Merlin)
Is it...safe to use Healing on you?
You're not going to catch on fire and explode, or get hurt worse from it, or anything weird, right?
Just thought I'd ask, since you're...a...well...


--35-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
"It'll be fine. I'm not that different."
Merlin went ahead and Healed the wound. The bleeding and pain stopped,
leaving a slightly discolored spot on my wing.
"Better. Thanks."

--36-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
(Merlin)
We're lucky you can still be healed.
Guess you Milletians aren't so invincible after all...



--37-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
"Just because we can't die doesn't mean we can't be hurt.
In fact, we can be hurt a lot worse...and suffer much more.
What would kill anyone else, we have to endure, and if it can't be healed..."


--38-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
(Merlin)
Oh...I never thought of it that way...

Well, that was a barely mitigated disaster, but at least we know where to look next.
You good to go now, or do you want to rest a bit?

--39-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
"I'm okay. Not the first time I've been shot for being me. Probably won't be the last."
I started looking for a mana tunnel.
"I wouldn't mind the wings so much if I could actually fly with them..."


--40-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
"But they just get in the way. And they make nice big targets."

I'd resigned myself to being alone years ago...
It's nice to have a bit of company for once, but I'm not going to get used to it...

[end of chapter]