Chapter Nine: Origins

"Welcome back, Sir Garroth," Lady Jessica greeted before her gaze fell on me and stopped.

My heart stopped at the mention of his name, his eyes also going wide, him looking at me as I looked at her. Her eyes went wide as her lips parted.

"Lady Alaina?"

I couldn't breathe. I didn't know how she knew my name, where she would have recognized me, or- or anything that was happening. I just looked at the man, Sir Garroth, the guy who lied about never knowing a man with that name, his face began to resemble the man in my mind. The hair, the eyes, the laugh, and the smile.

No. This isn't him. He doesn't act like he knows me at all nor has he shown any interest in being notable in sharing any information. I gripped my bag, backing up from the two.

"How could you even- no, what?!" I looked at Garroth, anger starting to well up. "You lied to me!"

"I-" He sighed, "Fine. I did. But you were saying you have no memory whatsoever! And you said the name in the fire and it- it wasn't the ti-"

"Bullshit it wasn't the time!" I yelled. "I told you of the man and what was in the book and you acted as if you had never heard of anything of that subject! Why!?" I screamed.

"Alaina." Laurance slowly started to walk over, trying to reach for me.

"Don't." I snapped at Laurance. I held my finger in a point to stop. I glared at him before I looked at Katelyn. She looked just as shocked.

"Is that why you were looking at me the way you did!?" I pointed at Garroth, "You knew!?"

Katelyn looked between me and Garroth, her biting her lip as she opened her mouth to respond, "It's not what you think..." She carefully said, "Calm down and we can talk about it-"

"Okay. You know what!? Calming down was way out of the equation when you all didn't say his name until she said it." I looked at Garroth before glaring at him again. My skin burned, the feeling of blood pulsing to my face made everything in me even worse, "What part of being discreet was going to make anything better, huh!?"

"I didn't think that I should be the one to say my name. You were damn near figuring it out yourself," Garroth said, his voice getting angry as well.

"Oh really." I glared, walking over, and standing a few feet in front of him. I wasn't as tall as him, my forehead at his eye height. I looked up at him, him looking down at me.

"I can't believe the one person in this damn world that I feel safest around is you..." I spat before turning and walking out of the cottage.

No one said anything, no footsteps followed behind as I stormed down the stairs. My face kept burning as I walked towards the gates. I wanted out. I wanted away. There was no way that this is the person that I saw. Was I stupid for never seeing it until now? The hair, the eyes, the jawline, colors, it was all pointing to him but I didn't want it to point to him either...

Two of the guards saw me leaving. They watched as I walked past.

I kept grumbling to myself, angry about the entire situation. I never wanted to look back and see his stupid face coming. I didn't want to see anyone from Phoenix Drop anymore. I never should have agreed to come here.

"Alaina-" A voice came from behind me and I growled.

"Leave me alone!" I shouted, not turning around to see who it was.

"Alaina."

"No!" I said again as I trudged before they said it again for the third time.

"Alaina!"

"WHAT!?" I screamed, whirling around, and seeing Garroth stand there.

He stopped, looking at me quietly, without saying a word.

"Oh, so now that you have my attention you can't say a damned word!?" I growled, "You're just as much of a jerk as you were when we first met a week ago!"

His face contorted, him huffing at me before he sighed, "And you're still as much of a punk as you were back growing up." He muttered, looking at me.

"Go away." I said, brushing him off as I turned around, starting to walk away.

"Are you seriously going to leave? You're still hurt-"

"I'm FINE!" I shouted, turning around. I glared at him, angry.

His eyes suddenly relaxed in shock as he looked at me, his body slowly straightening out.

I rose a brow, still angrily looking at him. "What."

"Your burns." He said, slowly walking towards me.

"What about them!?" I retorted, watching him come up.

I tensed as he pulled his hand up to my face, the cool skin of his palm leveling against my cheek. It didn't burn at the touch as I looked up at him.

"The burns are gone..." He said softly, pulling his hand away. "But that's impossible."

I looked away, pulling back from him. I shook my head.

"Let me out of here..." I said, my voice low.

"No." His response was quick, no space to think through.

"Garroth-"

"Alaina... I'm not letting you go again." He said softly. "You left once and never saw you for four and a half years to the point I thought you were dead."

"It's easy finding another person," I simply said, "Just open up."

"It's not easy to find someone who would just hang out in a forest or talk about everything with the trust I could never deserve..." He said as I stopped walking. My eyes glanced to the gate, wanting to leave.

I wasn't ready. Tomorrow was supposed to be the exploration. Not after earlier today. Not after last night.

Especially not after being lied straight to my face.

"Please... don't just leave..." His voice tapped into my mind as I felt a soft touch to my arm. I tensed, turning to look at my touched arm. He lightly bent down to look at my face at my level.

"Please... give me another chance..." He said softly.

"Why should I give you another chance?" I asked, not looking over at him. "I'm finally about to start learning about me before the accident and now all our interactions have been divided. How am I supposed to trust you now?"

"And I shouldn't have done that. It was unfair to you and was an emotion I should have never messed with." He said, "I understand you're angry... but all I want is to help you."

I softly sighed. I closed my eyes, breathing out.

"Follow your heart..."

My eyes opened as I turned to Garroth. I looked at him with no idea of what I felt.

"Okay..." I said softly. "But if you mess up, I'm out and I'll find everything myself..."

He looked at me softly before gently nodding. "As you wish." He said before he glanced at his hand on my arm. He pulled away, straightening back up.

I cleared my throat before I turned away from the gate towards him. I looked up at him before he looked around us.

"Do you want to go back or... are you ready to settle down for the night?" He asked, going back to his professional visage.

I bit my lip, crossing my arms before I looked down, "I'm... ready to just have today over with..."

"Understandable... I'll show you to where you'll be staying..." He said before gesturing to follow. I started to follow, him leading me down the path towards the side of the village.

We continued walking until we reached the entrance to the guard station. It had a similar look to it as Meteli's except a balcony that stretched out over the entrance, almost as if giving a cover to anyone waiting at the front. He led me through the door, a downward staircase along the left wall, a kitchenette in the far-right corner, a little common area in the front right corner, and a second staircase going upwards straight ahead flush with the wall. He led me upstairs, the second floor a little wider than the downstairs area. There were around ten to twelve rooms, all small like Meteli had set up. He led me over to one by the balcony, the opposite side from the staircase.

"I was able to get it so you, Reed, and Laurance had your own separate rooms. It's been a long time since someone has stayed in any of these five spaces so I apologize for the dust." He said softly.

"I'm not picky you know..." I commented, following him as he opened a door and turned to me.

"Ladies first." He said, my eyes rolling as I walked through, muttering a thanks.

He stood in the doorway, looking at me.

"Kind of like Meteli... a bed, nightstand, window, and armor stand. Most use it to lean their weapons on or let their clothes dry." He said with an awkward chuckle attached to the end.

I quietly nodded, looking around the room. I set my bag on the nightstand, looking out the window. I could see the town main area, a few tree saplings right below. I looked back at him as he was looking at the ground.

"Thank you..." I slowly said, walking back over to him, "It's very welcoming of you to let us stay here with you all..."

He looked down at me as I stood a stride or two away. He nodded gently, "It's the least we can do as a sister village," Garroth said lightly.

I flickered a smile at him, looking away. I was done talking, exhausted, but I didn't know how to tell him to go away.

"I'll leave you be..." He said after a few minutes, him starting out of the room. He paused, his back towards me. He looked over his shoulder before saying, "Good night, Alaina..."

I looked at him softly, my eyes looking at his face before gently nodding, "Good night, Garroth..."

He froze for a moment before he quietly shut the door, the latch clicking before his feet retreated from the door.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. My eyes closed, falling onto the bed. My eyes shot open and stared at the ceiling, trying to make sure everything I knew was real.

"This is just insanity..." I muttered, trying to kick off my shoes but couldn't. I growled as I sat up, ripping off the boots from my feet.

No pain.

My brows furrowed as I slowly started to peel the wraps off, letting them fall into a loose pile on the floor. The skin wasn't red anymore, the same pale skin it had always been. I frowned before pulling up my sleeves, looking for the other burns, the blistered burns.

Nothing...

What happened then?

"I'm pretty sure getting angry doesn't fix physical ailments..." I muttered, rubbing my eyes to look again. Maybe I was just seeing things.

But my skin wasn't red or blotched at all. The peach fuzz that was previously burned off my arms was back. I knew it had disappeared because of the smell the day before.

I... I don't get it.

My breathing got heavy as I tried to look away from it. But I couldn't. Nothing added up, nothing made sense, nothing made any of the problems I had any better. I had more questions than received answers.

I hate it so much... but at this moment that's gonna be a tomorrow problem.

I took off my jacket and shirt, crawling into the bed. It wasn't as dusty as I thought it would be, but it was still as hard as I thought it looked. It was better than the floor and I guess that's all that matters.

But if he messes up at any point I'm leaving. I'm not wasting my time and if he's the only one I can remember then I guess I should go find the other people I must have known. Scaleswind would be my next destination.

The crickets chirped outside and other people walking around and door closing kept silence from staying for too long. I closed my eyes, rolling onto my side and facing the wall.

Just all of this for tomorrow...

"Alaina?" A soft voice laughed.

I grunted, laying on the surface, "I'm asleep."

"Well, I knew that much." A wind from someone moving swept over me before a hand gently brushed my hair over.

I instantly smacked the hand, a small smile forcing itself out on my lips.

"Don't even try, dude." I said, cracking open an eye to see a person looking down at me with a goofy grin.

His features had become completely clear. Not exactly to the present day jerk I have to deal with but this soft stubble following his cheeks and reaching up above his upper lip and underneath his bottom lip. His hair was a little brighter than before, it still just as shaggy, and his eyes were a little brighter, filled more with wonder than experience. I bit my lip before looking away.

"I hate you..." I said softly, staring away from him.

"Why's that?" He asked halfheartedly, rolling over me and laying in front so I couldn't get away from his gaze.

"Because." I grunted, looking to the ground, "You lied to me..."

"Well, that part I guess is true. But that's now me, not past me..." He said softly, his hand reaching up and touching my cheek.

I bit my lip, angry that the feeling felt nice. "But you two are the same person..." I said softly, "Doesn't that mean anything?"

He chuckled softly as he looked at my forehead, brushing away some of the ash that was there. "Kind of, but it's how you really feel that makes that difference." He said as he looked back down at my face.

"Now you're even more confusing than before..." I groaned, laying on my back. I stared up at the cloudless, colorless sky.

His chuckle gently rang out as my head turned to him. He sat up before holding his arms out.

"Come here you punk..." He said as I sat up. I looked at him before moving over, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. My eyes closed as he set his head onto my shoulder. My shoulders instantly dropped as he pulled me to him, us just sitting there for a little while. Maybe a word or two but it was just making fun of each other.

I softly sniffed, pulling my head up and looking at him. He turned his head to look at me, a small smile on his lips, "Feel any better?"

I nodded, lightly leaning on him again, "A little..." I said, facing away from him, his arms resting on either side of me.

"That's better than nothing." He smiled, resting his chin on my head.

I giggled, tilting my head up to look at him. "I remember this though... Except the roles were reversed."

He chuckled softly, "Because the focus of comfort has changed." He said softly. He pulled his arms around me tight, leaning his head to the side, suddenly blowing a raspberry into my ear.

"Ick!" I squealed, unable to move from his arms.

"Punk." He chuckled.

"Jerk." I said, wiping at my ear. I looked to the side his head was on, his face right next to mine. I looked at his eyes, biting my lip before softly smiling.

"Does it help with me here?" He asked, gently looking at me, his little smile starting to form as mine continued to stay.

"A lot... It's not as lonely... and not confusing with you here..." I said softly, looking at him.

"Good." He said softly, gently brushing his nose against mine.

I gently smiled before turning and hugging him.

He chuckled before hugging back, pulling me back as close as he could. I opened my eyes, looking up at him from his shoulder.

"I'll give you a real life try, Garroth... but doing this is not gonna happen by tomorrow..." I said softly.

He chuckled, squeezing me again, "Take your time... if I know me, and I do... You're more important than myself right now..." He said before gently turning his head, my head lifting up to look him in the eye, "Just don't be afraid to get to know me. The more you do, I'd bet the more your memories will begin to form again. And when they do?" He gently poked the bridge of my nose before leaning his chin against my nose. I closed my eyes and faded away, the warm feeling of his arms trailing behind.

"You'll be able to know yourself again."