A Familiar Stranger

In the dimly lit corners of the lounge, shadows danced across the walls as Asdras slumped in frustration, his gaze flitting restlessly between the polished wood of his lute and the tranquil figure of Lisandra.

Fifteen days had passed since his awakening. During this time, he grappled with his newfound abilities and memories. There was much he needed to contemplate, but just as much he yearned to forget.

His first thoughts were of his surname — Morie. Its meaning remained a stubborn enigma, with even the academy's vast libraries yielding no clues. This ignorance bit at him, making him wonder if it was his mother's or father's lineage and whether his family was known wherever they were now.

He remembered Second mentioning a possible royal lineage within the empire, the weight of that revelation pressing down on him like an invisible burden. This prompted him to seek more information, but he found that the academy's understanding of the Ars World was limited to a region as vast as, if not larger than, the entire northern continent.

When he inquired further, the librarian mentioned that he could share his knowledge with the academy for a reward, depending on the detail and quantity of information provided.

But Asdras didn't respond. He was conflicted about sharing for two reasons: he knew little about the place, and he was averse to revealing its location.

He couldn't explain why such thoughts plagued his mind. Perhaps it was fear of the unknown, or maybe he wanted to explore by himself. He considered himself selfish, but deep down, he yearned to understand his origins.

His inability to articulate his thoughts led him to the second topic he felt conflicted about: his lute.

After regaining his senses and thoroughly examining his room for the academy's books and tools, he found his bag and, unexpectedly, his lute in perfect condition.

By design and coping mechanism, he tried to let it slide to the back of his mind, but he failed. For him, it became a foreign place, one he rarely visited, only for showering and sleeping.

Drawn to the solace of the group lounge, he found comfort in its silence, the emptiness echoing his own sense of isolation and uncertainty. His teammates were busy preparing and learning about their powers, each taking their time.

Finn spent his time in the library. Stig, being more practical, preferred the training room. Asdras found Merida hard to grasp; she split her time across various topics and fields, as if fearing she might forget one thing if she focused on another.

Joah was elusive, spending most of his time alone and interacting with the group only when asked. Lastly, there was Lisandra. Like Asdras, she spent time in the lounge, though at different times, so they rarely found themselves alone together.

For both of them, training to fight was easier, allowing them to spend less time on it and more time learning about the world. In their remaining time, they sought solace and comfort in silence, coping with their own nightmares.

Today was different. The academy's schedule had shifted. The topic Asdras was most curious about, the Eruption, was brought forward, and they would learn about it today.

It made Asdras arrive earlier in the lounge, and confident he was alone, he didn't register Lisandra in the corner. To his credit, she was meditating, making her presence blend with the place.

As he settled into the worn leather couch and plucked the first notes, a melancholic melody filled the air, making him close his eyes and lose himself in the music. However, the sound of someone breathing and the vague feeling of being watched forced his eyes open.

"Hi, Lisandra, I didn't see you there," Asdras said, scratching his head awkwardly. The soft flicker of the firelight played across his flushed face. "Sorry."

Lisandra looked at him as if she were reading a book, not missing a detail of his face. She settled into the armchair opposite him, the firelight casting a warm glow on her serene face. "It's not a problem, Asdras. I didn't expect you to come here this early. I know you like to be alone."

Asdras gazed at her, his confusion deepening into a tangle of curiosity and unease. "You know? How?"

Lisandra giggled. "Once, I came here and saw you on the couch with your eyes closed, as if sleeping. I just assumed you liked to spend your time alone, so I left."

"Ah!" Asdras stammered, his cheeks flushing a deep crimson. "I didn't mean to intrude. If you want, I can come back later."

"No need," Lisandra replied, shaking her head gently, her eyes never leaving his. "Today the class was set earlier, and we have little time to idle. But I'm curious about something..."

"What?"

"You," Lisandra said, pointing at him, her gaze intense and unwavering, as if trying to see into his very soul.

"Me?"

"Yes. Since the day I first saw you after awakening, I felt a sense of familiarity about you. It is strange and, honestly, difficult to say if I want to feel happy about it or spooked by it."

"You see," she continued, "the symbol on your palm quite resembles the emblem of my family. I wonder if we are somehow connected."

Asdras looked at his palm, feeling the subtle, rhythmic pulse of the crow symbol as it throbbed gently, like a heartbeat in slumber, ready to awaken.

He shifted his gaze to her, memories flooding back of their first encounter in the alchemy shop, a moment tinged with an inexplicable sense of destiny and recognition.

That strange, unknown feeling of something calling to him. It was as if they were guided by the strings of fate, meeting and forming a group.

It had only been a few days, and they rarely interacted as they busied themselves with their own problems. However, there were two occasions that brought back that strange feeling.

The first time was during a group training session. The academy's standard schedule for groups involved attending lectures, training to improve control and physical fitness, seeking knowledge, and enhancing group synergy.

To Asdras, each of his teammates was unique and skilled in their own ways. Finn was physically weaker but more intelligent than anyone Asdras knew.

Stig relied on raw strength and repetition. Joah was nimble and skilled at evading. Merida knew precisely when to attack, always aiming for the joints. And then there were Lisandra and Asdras.

For the first time, Asdras felt he had met someone on par with him in fighting skills. Not just in intuition, which he often relied on, but in the deeper understanding and meaning behind each movement.

He understood the concepts and believed Lisandra was closer to the second level, the nature concept, where every move had meaning and flowed naturally.

In their dance of fists and kicks, the crow symbol on his palm burned intensely. It felt as though it was trying to convey a message he couldn't quite understand. It burned with a mix of excitement and adrenaline, but also a deep longing and simmering anger.

This sensation affected his perception of Lisandra, weaving a web of questions and torrents of emotions in his mind. It caused him to spend more time in contemplative silence than he wished. When he glanced back at her, still watching him, he coughed in embarrassment and said, "Sorry."

"I feel it too," Asdras continued, "but I don't understand why. I want to know more about myself, my memories, my family, and this crow. Do you know anything about it?"

"About what?" Lisandra asked.

"The crow," Asdras said, shifting his finger from his palm to the emblem on her pendant. "We both have it; maybe they share a similar meaning."

"I don't know if they have the same meaning," Lisandra sighed. "The crow is the emblem of my family, and it holds the meaning of our tradition. I was told that when the patriarch came to the North, he had a crow as a companion and survived the harsh winter because of it."

"The crow helped him find food and hide from creatures. They grew close, and when spring arrived, he found a village where he started the family and the city of Baurous."

"I didn't know your family owned Baurous," Asdras said, sounding surprised.

"We don't," Lisandra shook her head, "not entirely. When the Human Council learned they were constructing a city, they sent help and resources but also claimed rights to it as a condition for their assistance."

"And when was that?"

"One millennium ago."

"Oh! I didn't expect the Human Council to be that old, nor your family to have such deep roots. But for a family as old as yours, I was expecting you to be more well-known. Maybe it's because I lost my memories, but I rarely heard about them even in the village I came from."

Lisandra stood up. She moved to the fridge, the cool metallic surface reflecting the warm hues of the room, and retrieved a bottle of wine. Pouring the deep red liquid into two crystal glasses, she offered one to Asdras.

"That's the reality we live in. Some of my family established roots in the capital while others remained in Baurous, clinging to our origins. But over time, conflicts and failures shadowed our path, and we lost much of our influence and wealth. My mother told me it was an Eruption our family was set to challenge but didn't, which caused our riches and resources to sink."

Asdras took the cup, feeling the cool, smooth surface of the crystal against his fingertips as he swirled the wine thoughtfully. "An Eruption? That's what today's lecture is about, isn't it?"

"Yes," Lisandra nodded, sipping her wine. "I don't know much about it either, and even in the library, we are forbidden to search for it. My mother and father always warned me about it, but at that time they didn't talk the reason why. Must be because I wasn't awakened then. I heard rumors that such events could destroy or forever change a territory if failed."

Asdras gazed at his cup, the flickering light casting shadows that played hide and seek on the surface of the dark, reddish liquid. The rich aroma of the wine, a blend of dark berries and oak, filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of pine from the nearby forest and the lingering musk of old books. It was as if the wine was alive, whispering secrets and inviting him to an ode of joy and sorrow.

"Remember when we were helping each other with our ars control?" Asdras asked, turning his eyes to her.

Lisandra's eyes softened, a warm glow replacing the usual stoic expression. She nodded slightly, her gaze lingering on him with genuine interest, her body leaning forward as if drawn closer by an invisible thread. "I do, why?"

Asdras hesitated for a moment before speaking. "That time, when I touched your shoulder with my palm, I heard a voice in my head, like a whisper. It said for me to help you."

Lisandra's eyes widened slightly, and she tilted her head, her expression shifting to one of curiosity and concern. She took a slow, deliberate sip of her wine, then gave him an encouraging nod, urging him to continue.

"I don't know," Asdras sighed. "Later, things seemed more confusing than before, and the more I learn, the more questions I have."

Lisandra leaned back, her eyes thoughtful. "A voice, you say? Did it feel... familiar?"

Asdras shook his head. "No, it was more like an instinct or a feeling than something recognizable. But it was strong, and it hasn't left me since."

Lisandra placed her cup on the table, her fingers tapping rhythmically on its rim. "The crow symbol, the voice, the Eruption... It all seems connected somehow."

Asdras nodded slowly, feeling the weight of her words. "Perhaps. It feels like we're on the cusp of something important, something that could change everything. And I hope that it helps with my memories"

"Indeed," Lisandra agreed, her voice soft but firm. "We need to explore this further. Maybe the answers lie in understanding the Eruption or delving deeper into our pasts."

Asdras looked at her, a newfound determination in his eyes. "You're right. We can't let these questions go unanswered. We'll figure it out together."

Lisandra smiled, a flicker of hope lighting her features. "Together, then."

They heard the clock chime, clinks, and whirs sounding like tiny gears and pistons dancing in a mechanical tune.

"I still need to learn about the clock," Asdras smirked.

"It is rare for it to exist in a village," Lisandra smiled. "But from what I see, the lecture is about to start."