The Memories I Hold

I was ready for this... Or at least I hoped to be ready for the transformation into a man. I was a little afraid of possible side effects that a potion or spell of that kind could have, but if it was my only option to save the princess dreams, then may they come, but I will not give up, neither fear those things.

I was about to leave my home and go meet with this wizard, however, when I could feel that I was forgetting something that I should take with me in case of emergency. I couldn't really say what, specifically, was the thing I was forgetting. I could just leave and come back if I realized I had forgotten something... But it surely would be better if I didn't have to come back.

As a precaution, then, I walked away from the exit of my house and started to search for this unknown object I was forgetting... As I walk around my house, I see a sack of money over my old trustworthy sword that I gained from his majesty after I entered his army. Was the sack of money what I was forgetting? I stopped to think about that, and it was highly likable that money will always be something I should carry with myself. I was carrying a few coins already, but since I will become a man and after that, I won't be returning here, I decided to bring all the money I had, putting the few coins inside the sack and then putting it into my pocket.

While for the sword... I lingered in there, looking at the blade of it... It was such a long time ago I used to swing this sword against the enemies of the Coventry kingdom, but now it only strikes against animals that will become my meal. I remember the day I gained this sword... It was almost as though it was yesterday...

His majesty, the king, was doubting my efficiency in combat and my valor, just like every man of his army was doubting... I bet they all thought I was weak and fragile to enter the army, at least until I knocked down and defeated, after intense combat, his best knight, prooving to him who I was... Some people were still against me, but I didn't need their approval, only of his majesty who was hesitant and it seemed like he was ready to deny me the position of knightess in his army. What his mouth declared, however, was that I was going to enter the army. As a gift from him himself, he gave me this sword... And I have used it ever since then. Did I really need to bring this with me? It was just a weapon...

That's when I realized that if I appeared in front of him, it's likely that he will test me again since he doesn't know that I am the woman of a long time ago. My sword would for sure be very convenient for such a moment, I needed to bring it with me. But then I realized that if I was going to bring my sword for combat, I might as well bring with me the old armor set I used to wear as a knightess. I couldn't remember where did I let it, but it shouldn't be hard to find, after all, it's a whole set of armor.

I wouldn't forgive myself if I lost this armor set, it's the only thing I have that remembers me of my older brother, David. He is a great blacksmith, he himself made this armor set for me, just for me. He was also the only one in my family who supported me through the path to becoming a knightess...

My parents didn't support me and it would only get worse after the news of a rape attempt spread. After I escaped the palace, they were the first people I thought I could search for. But they denied me to enter and take refuge in there... They also did not let me see my brother and it's very likely that they did not tell him I ever was there.

I wonder, what exactly I was doing? I was supposed to find what I could be possibly be forgetting and I ended up venturing into my memories of a distant past. I had a desire... No, I had an objective, the objective to save the dreams of the princess... There was no time to lose, the earlier I accomplished this, the early the princess would be freed from her rumors.

Without giving it much thought, I just slapped myself to gain the focus I needed for my objective. I shook my head a little and was finally back into the present, searching for my armor suit. I took a few minutes to find it, but I eventually did, it was hidden under some rocks and was a little damaged... I would need to repair it later, but for now, I was lucky that I could still wear it just as I used to and it fit perfectly.

With the armor set protecting me, the sword ready to give a blow to any enemies, and the money in case of emergency, I finally left my house, knowing that I was not forgetting anything this time.

I looked around the forest surrounding my house for a few seconds and then to the now blocked camouflaged entrance of my house. I bowed to it, as though saying thanks to it, for all the company and the care it gave me during those last two years, and farewell... I hope it will be useful to someone else in the future. For obvious reasons, the house did not answer me back and I started to search for the house of the wizard.

If I could still remember, people used to say that the wizard could easily be found if you followed the abandoned path that starts in the city and it will supposedly lead to his hideout. However, I could not enter the city when wearing my armor... There was only one knightess in this world, or at least in this continent, and it was me... Dagger Everblade... People would surely grow suspicious of me once they landed their eyes on me. So it would be better if I found the way myself in the forest, or either the hideout itself. I had lots of experience hunting, mainly in this forest, so it shouldn't really be hard to find it.

After a good few minutes if not a whole hour, I realized how wrong I was to assume this was going to be easy. I had just found his hideout and was so well camouflaged that I had to check this place for the fifth time to finally realize that it was there... He was a wizard, I should have guessed that he must have used a camouflage spell to hide his house.

Relieved that I, at least, found it, I knocked on the door of his house. I was greeted by an old man, with a long beard that shared the same gray color as his hair. If anything, I can honestly say that he did not look like a wizard.

"Yes, may I help?", he asked but before I could answer, he started to look at the sky, full of stars and with a beautiful moon. Was I searching for such a long time? I remember to have decided to go start searching when the sun had only started to move away from its midday position. "Actually, please, enter... It's very late...", he suggested. Well, he was right about that, but it seemed a little strange to just invite inside someone who just appeared at the door of your hideout... Was he planning something? He might not even be the wizard I am searching for.

"Okay... But I don't want to be a bother", I answered him.

"You're not a bother, I am always open to help anyone. Now, come in, come in", he said and walked inside, with me just after him as he guided us...

Those walls... The ceiling... The floor... The pattern of the rocks... The more we walked here, the more I had a feeling of déjà vu, everything seemed so familiar...

"Alright, have a seat Everblade", he started to say after we were in a room with a table and a few chairs. "I will prepare something for us...", he said and started to walk away from the table... Then, I suddenly noticed.

"Wait, how do you know my name?"

"Oh, it hurts me Everblade. Don't you remember me?", he asked, turning around to face me. I stopped to think a little about it and the memories came back little by little as I realized who he was... It was him...