Chapter Seven: Moving On

"Ow." I nervously laughed, trying to redirect the pain to something else.

"Sorry... they are really stuck in..." One of the mothers of the village was trying to clean the bottom of my feet, making sure the glass from the day before was out.

We were on the other side of the marsh, able to see the burned and destroyed remnants of Meteli. The guards had gone back after daybreak to make sure everyone had gotten out. A few hadn't that they counted, most hoping they had escaped into the surrounding forests. I couldn't sleep the remainder of the night, the burns I had blistered and were painful to any touch other than the cold soaked blanket I had over my shoulders.

The man and Laurance stuck around, making sure everyone else was taken care of. They had mats and blankets set down so people could sit or lay down comfortably instead of on the moss and dust of the marshland. A dozen or so had received horrible burns, mostly on hands and feet running out and grabbing objects to escape. From as far as I could tell, I was the only one trapped in. It felt purposeful instead of situational. Seeing the inside corners with no escape being available while any sight of exit was swallowed up by the fire's glance.

I couldn't close my eyes without seeing the glow again, the itching would scrape against my body and the pain would swell over me.

The young woman gently stood up, kissing my forehead in a motherly way as she saw the pain and hurt that was flushed over my face. I looked out at the water, wishing it would help but I knew it would make everything worse.

"Alaina...?" I looked up, seeing the man kneel beside me. "How are you feeling?" He asked, sitting down on the other half of the mat.

"I feel like I'm still on fire..." I said, looking at him before looking down. "I can't believe I didn't wake up when the heat started getting to me..."

"It's weird like that, I guess?" He said, his voice clearing up when he grunted into his hand. "Most times outside forces will affect dreams but it makes it hard to wake up since you already feel awake."

He was sympathizing with me.

I sighed softly before slowly crossing my legs, the more severe burns were on my shins and ankles. They didn't blister because there wasn't much skin to allow the bubbles to form. It was raw and had to be covered, but the wraps made them itch even more. Every damned movement was pain. I winced, finishing my adjustment.

"I just wanted to keep talking to him..." I said softly, looking down.

The man gently tilted his head, "You... were speaking to someone?" He asked.

"It's... weird. I have these flashes of this person from my past. I guess it's me making him talk because all that he knows is what I know so it isn't much help. But... he's the safest person I know at the mome-"

"Is that why you shouted out a name last night? Right before I came in?" He asked.

I looked at him before slowly nodding, "Y-Yes... why?"

He looked at me before shaking his head, "No reason... I just thought it odd since I haven't met anyone here with that name." He said. "Garroth...?"

I nodded again before looking down. "He was the person I wrote about in the journal... and the writer of a let- wait." I stopped before reaching for my bag.

The bag was still around my waist, me grabbing the strap to pull it forward onto my lap.

"I was looking at an entry in the dream and saw a letter... where did I open to-" I started flipping pages before a loose piece of parchment flipped down into my lap.

The paper had the same burn marks as the one I had seen. It was shocking since I had never seen the thing until now. Maybe the dream was a vision too? That's even weirder... almost creepy.

The man looked at the paper softly. He bit his lip as I unfolded it.

"See? It was signed by a Garroth Ro'-something." I said before looking at him, "This is the person that I keep seeing. I can't remember his face very much... or his voice as well. I keep putting whatever I can to piece him together but I don't think I'll ever know who it is..."

The man had gone quiet, him looking over at me.

"What does it say...?" He asked, a small spark of curiosity perked up the solemn look on his face.

I looked at him before I started to read it to him quietly. He shifted to sit on his knees in front of me, listening to the words that I lifted off the paper.

My heart started to slow down as I read it to him. He lightly chuckled when it changed subjects. I was a little surprised, my voice hiccupping with a giggle as I tried to continue. A small smile appeared on his lips before I finished, him looking down at me as I looked up at him.

"Why is he talking about the stars?" He asked, "Seems like an extreme change from the beginning."

I shrugged, lightly smiling, "I saw in one of the journal entries full of stargazing comments. Maybe that was something we both did together? Or that I liked and he wanted to let me know about it? I don't know yet." I gently folded the letter and set it back down next to the entry I found it by.

"I like his handwriting. It's very pristine, almost as if he were fancy at it." I said, setting the book down.

The man gently chuckled as he sat beside me. "Most people from O'Khasis have nice handwriting. Since it's one of the more 'pristine' city-states it's a little clearer in writing so all can read it instead of chicken scratch."

I giggled softly, "They probably know how to read horrible handwriting too." I said. I softly ran a hand over the page, the ink of the pen used left a little bump with the scratching of the tip.

"Did you find any answers in the entries...?" He asked softly.

"Kind of... I have a little better of an idea of who I am..." I took in a breath, "I was in Scaleswind before the accident... apparently up to the summer of last year." I flipped to one of the later entries, "I was leaving this time, September of 14XX..."

"That was about eight months ago from today." He said.

I softly nodded. "I just wish I could remember what happened... I want to know what's going on. I feel like I'm missing so much of who I am but I can barely get a picture of what I can comprehend."

He looked at me softly before gently touching my arm. He tilted his head to smile at me.

"You seem like a very smart individual... you'll figure it out eventually." He said softly.

"But how?" I asked as he stood up, him fixing his vest as he looked back at me.

"Well... what does your heart tell you?" He asked, his attention on me.

It took me by surprise before I smiled softly, standing up. His eyes widened as I looked up at him, the pain starting to go away. "Look for more than just the physical aspect."

He gently smiled at me before looking at Laurance coming towards us.

Laurance looked at me with a surprised smile, "You're up." He commented, "Your feet not hurting as much...?" He asked, a little confused.

"Not as much..." I looked down before back upwards, "There's no glass anymore."

He chuckled softly, "I'm glad there's no more glass..." his face relaxed before he softly sighed, "I'm sorry everything happened last night... I don't know how we missed those people enter town."

The man looked at him, "If they were Shadow Knights like you said... they didn't need to walk in. They were able to just appear."

Laurance looked at him, "True... but it's going to be difficult trying to get everything to calm down. I've told people that other villages saw the fire and are willing to help host until we can get everything under control and fixed up."

The man nodded softly, listening. "Did anyone from Phoenix Drop come in? We're only a couple hours on horse from here." He said.

Laurance shook his head, "As far as I know, no. It's been Falconclaw, Raven's Point, and IronClad that have shown any presence."

He nodded quietly, "Alright..." He looked at me before at a few of the villagers. He looked back at Laurance.

"We could bring some people towards Phoenix Drop. It's an outcrop next to the sea so there would be only one or two land access points that would protect from another attack, in theory." He said.

"We could... but I'm not sure how much I agree. I know Phoenix Drop just lost their lord so there isn't much of an order there." Laurance lightly crossed his arms.

"The last lord did go missing for an unknown reason, that is correct... There is a young woman who has stepped in and been trying to get the place back on its feet. We have a group of guards and have the minimum set up to get the village back onto the map and trade routes." He explained. "And... if Alaina is looking for answers... that wreck I mentioned the other day is right outside the village's wall. We could inspect it and stay near the area between there and here to find any answers that are needed."

Laurance nodded, "You make a very convincing point." He bit his lip, "I'd want to go with you but I'm the second head of guard here in Meteli, I need to make sure people are helped here."

The man softly chuckled, "In the few days I've known you I wouldn't leave without helping you either. I know what it is being in that position and it is not a fun task to do alone. We can be the last team to leave, especially if we're the closest group to our destination."

The stress in Laurance's face started to fade. He gently smiled, "That... would be very helpful." He said softly before looking at me, "What do you think, Alaina?"

I looked between the two before looking at the man's face again. He patiently smiled.

"It sounds like a good idea... let's do it." I said, softly smiling before looking at Laurance.

"Alright then, it's settled. Most people have made their decision of where to go but the ones still on the rocks I'll go see if they are interested as well." Laurance walked off, him getting everyone organized with the village's guard leaders.

The day rocked by slowly. More of the guards returned, some with a few objects of need that they could get together, others had people who had ducked into the trees for the night. The guards from the three responding villages were starting to leave with the people who wanted to go to those villages, the group to Phoenix Drop were either stragglers or people who couldn't walk the distance.

Everyone didn't really want to go. It was unsettling if people were only going because they didn't have any other choice.

One of the guards, Reed, came back with some items from the guard station. Mainly weapons that didn't get any major damage and a couple pairs of shoes for us that didn't have any on that morning.

I pulled my hair back and let the wet blanket drop. The sunlight started to be covered by the clouds setting in from the south.

"Miss?" Reed's voice came from behind me. I turned around, seeing in his hand a bow and quiver as well as a pair of boots.

"Laurance wanted me to give these to you. It was what was left from your room at the guard station." He said.

I grabbed the items from him, lightly saying a thank you before he walked off to go help a few other people out. I pulled the boots on, struggling a little bit because of my swollen feet. I sighed softly in annoyance, pushing my foot in with a hard enough force that I kicked the ground. My body retracted my foot as I winced, the stinging pain shooting back up.

"That wasn't very smart," Laurance's voice chuckled behind me, "Reed brought over your things, right?" He asked.

"Yeah. They're right there." I pointed over at the ground. My bag was sitting in the grass along with the quiver and bow.

"Good. Because right now you'll be up front with our Phoenix Drop companion and I'm going to be at the back for the walk," He said.

I nodded quietly before looking up at him, "Do you think going there is a good idea? Everyone gave you a look when you mentioned a group going there..."

He smiled softly, picking up my things and handing them to me when I got my other boot on.

"He hasn't done anything that would warrant as a warning. So, for us who can't walk too far... it'll be a good advantage to get somewhere quickly before it gets too late into the night." Laurance explained.

Laurance seemed... extremely confident. I softly bit my lip as I pulled the quiver over my back and bag around my waist. I held the bow in my left hand, looking up at him, "As long as you're sure..."

He smiled. "Besides, he wants to help you figure out what's going on too. And since it looks like clues are pointing between here and Phoenix Drop it looks like the smartest path to take."

I smiled softly, "Alright."

He chuckled before looking back at the group, "Everyone ready?" He called.

The man nodded as the others nodded in agreement. Reed walked over to Laurance, "We are ready when you are, sir."

Laurance nodded softly before looking at me, "Better go catch up to the front." He winked, pulling his sword out.

I smiled softly before I looked forward.

The man had his bandana around his neck, his eyes looking over to me before he smiled. The little smile on my face stayed as I slowly jogged towards him, careful not to upset my feet.

"Are you ready, Alaina?" He asked, his sword in his sheath. He had a bag over his shoulder, the bag portion sitting on the opposite hip.

I nodded, "Ready when you are, sir." I said with a smile.

He chuckled, "Alright."

"Let's head out," He called to Laurance before Laurance replied in agreement.