Rion opened his eyes, emerging from his last training session of the week with Specter. He would've preferred to take a day off, but he figured he wouldn't be getting much sleep in the mountains anyway so best to utilize his last night out here properly.
Thinking that, he turned toward the looming mountains above him. He reached his hand out, and a flicker of flame sparked to life. He watched it for a while then clenched his fist, snuffing it out.
"What are you up to?" Ezra asked, stepping closer, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Rion turned to him. "Remember what you said last night at dinner… about building torches?"
Ezra nodded. "Yeah?"
"I think we'll be fine without them."
Ezra tilted his head, uncertain. "What do you—"
Before he could finish, fire flared out from Rion's hand again, crackling and dancing like a mini bonfire.
"You—you know fire magic?!" Ezra gawked.
Rion nodded. "Not until this morning, though."
"Huh, how's that... possible? I'm not calling you a liar but its just, kinda crazy."
Rion chuckled, "No, no youre not wrong to doubt me." He then smiled faintly. "You know, Ezra… I never found the time to tell you, but the truth is I have no memories."
A serious expression came over Ezra's face, "As in… recent ones, or—"
Rion shook his head. "Nope. Nothing at all. Woke up under a tree in the middle of Oland Plateau, I think that's what the place is called" He said with a chuckle. "The only thing I knew was that I wanted to go on an adventure." His flame slowly flickered out, leaving a slight warmth in his hand.
Ezra watched him silently. The look on his face was almost pained. "I—I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry about?" Rion asked, still managing a half-hearted smile.
"It's just… I couldn't imagine losing all my memories… about my family, my village." Ezra said, like it was hard to even get the words out.
Rion nodded contemplatively. "Huh… I never even thought about that. Wonder if I have any famil—"
A flash ran through his mind: a hand caressing his cheek, snow falling, the flutter of a cape, a warm smile, a distorted voice. Rion could hardly make out the words… "Well… done." The memory vanished as quickly as it came, leaving a sharp ache in his head.
"You okay?!" Ezra rushed to him as Rion clutched his head.
Rion looked up nodding slowly. "Y-yeah… I'm fine." He narrowed his eyes, then flipped his coat. "Thanks for listening, Ezra. You're a good friend."
Ezra's worried gaze lingered for a moment before returning to a smile.
Rion cleared his throat. "With that being said, I'm past questioning things. Eventually I'll try to find out more about the past but that time isn't now. I can use fire, and I'd much rather utilize it than collecting sticks for torches all day."
Ezra chuckled. "True that. I'll go wake Maria."
Rion nodded then watched him go, and turned back to the mountains. For some reason, he felt… better. He couldn't exactly place why, but the feeling was more than welcome.
Before setting out, Rion told Maria about his lost memories. She cried, imagining all the songs she'd forget if she lost her memory.
Following that, she attempted to jog Rion's memory with music. Every tune was about as helpful as it was bad, which is to say, not helpful at all. At least they made Rion and Ezra laugh, which was something.
With the mini concert over, they readied their packs and stood to their feet.
"You guys ready?" Rion asked, grinning.
"Yup!" Maria said, looking down at her harp eagerly.
"Sucks to go through this place a second time, but yeah… I'm ready." Ezra sighed.
Rion nodded, then without thinking, blurted, "Lost Keep! Out!"
Ezra and Maria both froze, eyes wide in shock.
Rion immediately went red. "I… uh… feel like I heard that somewhere. Ah… yeah. Sorry."
The silence held for a moment longer before Ezra and Maria started laughing.
"No, I like it," he said, still chuckling.
Maria nodded in agreement. Struggling to hold in her giggles.
Finally Rion himself began to laugh. The three continued to laugh, the sound echoed in the shadow of the mountains as the they headed out.
(And thus, Lost Keep's adventure continues…)