This aching feeling in my head...

I hate it...

My vision is blurry, the world is spinning, my stomach aches...

Why is this happening to me..?

Who am I?

Garroth.

And that's all I can remember.

I have no clue where I came from, why I feel this way, how I ended up here. My mind is just...blank.

It's as if, somebody wiped my memory clean.

But, I remember vaguely. My home. However, I can't remember the people there- any friends or family I may have had. I can see, vague shapes and figures.

But...

Wait...

My vision is clearing up.

But, my headache is still present.

At least, it's progress...

Who knows how long I have been in this state.

~~~

My vision was hazy, but my surroundings were still somewhat visible. I trundled through the forest, my armour clanging against trees I ran into.

Eventually, my vision returned to me. I was able to see everything. So, I stopped running into trees. But my armour still felt heavy, and it was still a bit hard to move. That was probably due to the fact, that I was without food and water, and my body was nimble. Also, the sweltering sun wasn't helping the situation.

Is this where I'm going to die..?

"Hey, buddy, you alright..?"

I'm going insane, aren't I?

"Do you need some help? You look really beat up. Are you okay?"

No, insane mind. I am fine. Leave me alone, now.

"Buddy? Are you mute or something?"

I can't talk, while I'm parched, imbecile.

"Hey! Wait up!"

I heard footsteps running from behind me. Perhaps, it wasn't my mind that was saying all of this.

I turned around, to see something. No...someone...

It was a man. He was shorter than me, but not by much. He had these dark blue eyes, accompanied by the same colour hair. He was dressed in this odd form of attire, which I cannot even begin to describe. I haven't seen anything like it before. Well, maybe I have, and I have just forgotten. But, I don't think that's the case.

"Hey, bud, are you alright? You're very pale...and... Woah, are you wearing armour?! Is that real?! Are you some kind of cosplayer?" The strange man prodded at my chest, his other hand on his hip.

Cosplayer..? What kind of riddles does this stranger speak in?

"Where is the nearest form of civilization?" I asked, coughing a little afterwards. My throat was sore, and it hurt to talk. I was in desperate need of water- to quench this distasteful feeling.

"Man, you're really into playing this whole 'medieval character thing', huh?" The man started laughing, holding his stomach. I rose an eyebrow at him. "But, anyways, do you need any help, Bro?"

"Bring me to civilization, please. I have been out here for days on end, and I will starve or die of thirst, if I can't find some," I managed to choke out, through my sore throat.

"Sure, bud. Damn, you really are messed up bad. Come on, follow me. You aren't too far away from my neighbourhood," the man started walking off, and I staggered after him. After a moment, he paused. "Oh, by the way my name's Dante."

"Right..."

"What? Not gonna tell me your name?" The man, who goes by Dante, laughed.

"The name is Garroth."

"Dude, that's a trippy name. Maybe not the weirdest, but still pretty freaking trippy."

I hate him already.

~~~

"And...here we are! Welcome to Mysteet!" Dante outstretched his arms, walking backwards in front of me.

"Take me to your nearest tavern," I demanded, storming past him.

I walked further up ahead, until something gripped onto my arm. I was pulled back, by an unknown force. Whipping my head around, I was faced with a different person.

It was a girl this time. She had very light blue hair, and the same shade for her eyes. Damn, what is with me meeting blue-haired individuals.

She glared, dragging me. "Idiot! What were you doing?! You could've gotten hit by a car! You're lucky I was here, to save your ass!"

A car..? What are all these strange 'c-words', and what do they mean?! First 'cosplayer', then Dante mentioned something about a 'cellphone', and now this 'car'?! What the Hell is going on?

"Pardon me, M'lady, but may I ask- why are you dragging me?" I glared back, slightly growling.

If I wasn't so weak, I would pull away from her. But, I am without nourishment. Damn you, feeble body!

"You were walking into the road! That car almost hit you!" The girl pointed towards the road, in which a strange device, whizzed by. She let go of me, crossing her arms. "Dante, who in the name of Irene, is this guy?!"

Dante shrugged, nervously chuckling. "His name's Garroth- I found him, during my hike through the woods. Katelyn, he's starving and thirsty. Let me get him something to eat and drink, and allow him to stay with us for a while."

The girl, who is presumably Katelyn, sighed, shaking her head. "Dante, you are too damn trusting. You are literally going to house a complete stranger?"

"Eh, why not. He seems pretty cool, nonetheless. Look at 'em. He's got this cool armour on! And, is that a sword?! Dude, that's such an awesome cosplay!" Dante fawned over me, pointing at the sword within my sheath.

I backed up a little, folding my arms over my chest. I bit my lip, bowing my head a little. My headache growing.

"Whatever, Dante," Katelyn sighed once again, shaking her head. "Just get him some water and food, and send him on his way. We already have too many nerds in this neighbourhood."

"Sure thing, Katelyn. C'mon, Garroth!" Dante grabbed my wrist, dragging me along.

Again, I wanted to protest. But, you already know why I couldn't. I had no idea, where this Dante fellow was taking me...but I couldn't do anything about it. All I knew was, I had a chance of getting nourishment. If he were to suddenly betray me, and turn a blade on me, then I would have no way to defend myself.

But, I really have no other option. If I don't go, I'll die. If I do go, I'll have a chance of dying. So, you see that I have no other choice. It's better to take the chance.

"Welcome to my house," Dante chuckled.

This stranger is rather energenic, huh? He also seems familiar, somehow. So did that Katelyn girl... Maybe I know them from somewhere. Perhaps, my mind is just messing with me again. Who knows.

Dante opened the door, allowing me inside. I gingerly stepped in, looking around. My mind was boggled by the immense amount of strange objects.

"So, buddy, wat'cha wanna eat and drink?"

"U-uh..," I stammered.

"Yo, Dante, you're hom- Woah! Who's the scary guy?!" Another man walked down the staircase.

He had this very shiny silver hair, and these vibrant lime green eyes. He also wore strange attire. Perhaps it was just a common theme among this village.

"Travis, this is Garroth. He needs something to eat and drink. He's been out wandering in the woods for days," Dante explained, to the man who is presumably Travis. "And don't bother giving me the whole lecture, on how I should not bring strange people I don't even know, into our house. I just want to give him something, so he doesn't die."

Travis shrugged, walking over to a counter. "Sounds cool. Nice to meet you, Garroth. I'm Travis- one of Dante's roommates. Help yourself to whatever you can find. Also, dude, I'm totally digging the knight cosplay. Did you get lost after a convention, or something?"

Even more 'c-words'!

"What is thy convention?" I held my stomach, due to an aching pain. It was almost as bad as my headache.

"Woah, Bro! That's a really scary voice. No offense, or anything. But, man. You are terrifying," Travis jumped up on the counter- grabbing a cookie from the jar next to him.

"Right..," I coughed again. "Where is your...food and water..?"

"Here, Buddy..."

Dante handed me a glass, filled with water. He also handed me a strange sandwich. I graciously took them, scarfing down the meal. It tasted...nice.

"Woah, be careful, Dude!" Travis warned, hopping off the counter. "Don't eat that all at once, and ration what you drink, too. You don't wanna get...sick."

"Uh...sure..."

~~~

"So, Garroth. Where are you from?" Dante sat beside me on the couch. I stared blankly in front of me, unsure how to answer.

Where am I from?

...

Phoenix Drop.

That's where.

"I am from the village of Phoenix Drop," I said to the kind, yet still annoying, stranger.

"No, Bro, seriously. Where are you actually from?"

"I was born in raised in the village-state of O'Khasis. I moved, and became the Head Guard of Phoenix Drop, under the Lordship of..."

I can't remember my Lord.

But, how did I remember my past? What is going on?

"Garroth, man, I can't help you get home, if you don't tell me where you're actually from. C'mon, Bro," Dante gave me a strange look.

I merely shrugged. I was telling him anything but lies. That's what I remember. I am telling him the honest truth. I stood up, feeling much stronger than I did before. But, I still was somewhat weak.

"Hey, man, if you want a place to stay...you can stay here if you want. I'm sure Travis won't mind. And I'll ask Laurance when he gets home. I'm sure he won't mind, either. So, what do ya say? We have a guest room, that you can stay in," Dante stood up, crossing his arms. He had a dumb smirk plastered on his fair-toned face.

"Uh...I guess so... But, why do you trust me? I am unsure of your intentions here. I'm unsure why you haven't turned your blade on me. For, I am merely but a stranger."

"You seem trusting, even if you do seem to stay in character a lot. Anyways, you should probably get out of that armour."

What is wrong with my armour?

"My armour is a piece of me, that helps protect myself, and allows me to protect my Lord. I see nothing wrong with it."

"Okay, Bro. Whatever you say," Dante nervously chuckled. "Anyways, you should take it off...uh...our Lord requests it...yeah. Heh..."

"Oh, alright."

I began removing my armour. I took off my chestplate first. Dante's face flushed red, and he covered his eyes. Why?

"Dude! You don't have any clothes on underneath that?!" Dante bowed his head, still hiding his face.

"Dante, Travis! I'm home!" A new, masculine voice called, followed by the sound of a door slamming shut. A person walked into the room in which Dante and I were in. "Uh... Dante...care to explain why there is a shirtless stranger...in our living room."

The new person looked me over, his cheeks pink. He had this light brown hair, and these pale blue eyes. His skin was a tan-colour, and he also wore the odd attire. He crossed his arms, looking over at Dante. Perhaps, this was the Laurance that Dante had previously mentioned.

"L-Laurance, you're home!" Dante jumped, face still red.

Yup, I was right.

"Dante..?" Laurance rose an eyebrow at Dante.

"Laurance, this is Garroth. He's lost, and has nowhere else to turn to. He's going to be staying here with us, for a little while, if that's fine with you and Travis."

Laurance shrugged, dropping his arms. "That's fine, I guess. But, why is he shirtless?"

"Well..," Dante bit his lip, nervously laughing. "See how he's wearing this armour suit? I was going to have him remove it, because of..," he leaned over, whispering something to Laurance. He nodded, and Dante pulled away. "But, apparently, he doesn't wear clothing underneath his cosplays. And, I was thinking, since he doesn't appear to have any clothes...and you and him appear to be relatively the same size...that maybe you could..."

Dante smirked at Laurance, gesturing over to me. I stood in confusion, as Laurance rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Yeah, whatever," Laurance shook his head. "Garroth, follow me. I'll get you some clothes."

Laurance grabbed my wrist, and I followed- unwillingly. I was still a bit confused at the situation at hand.

What is going on in the world..?

How did I end up in this situation..?

~~~