His blood coated the ground like a thin, red paste. I've... never seen such an intense amount of gore before. ...right? Why do I feel like I'm wrong? ...I'm gonna try not to think about it.
Aroha opens the door, casually walking into Messa's house, still covered in blood.
"Do you have a spare change of clothes?"
"I don't think I'd have anything you would like. Well, if my spare jeans fit you then maybe, but..."
"What about a shower?"
"Yeah I got a working shower. I got a washing machine too, so you can wash up on your clothes."
"Oh nice, it's been a couple of days since I've been able to do that."
"Actually, my friend here has an ability that should be able to clean your clothes, if I understand it correctly."
"He... doesn't look too good."
While Isaac was still completely stunned from the events that have unfolded, he was more concerned about something forming in the back of his head. Some memory just out of reach, something refusing to be remembered.
"Oh right, this guy has amnesia and has lost all knowledge of any events that happened since the fall. So he's still trying to... adjust himself to the new lifestyle."
"Ah, then sorry kid."
She pats me on the back, snapping me out of my little trance.
"I'm... gonna head to bed."
"Before that, can you tell us what your ability is? Just to confirm."
"If you figure it out, then I'll confirm your thoughts. Careful, you only get one guess."
"If my analysis is correct, then you have the ability to manipulate or somehow control friction."
"Well done! How did you figure it out?"
"Well, I know your ability is a lighter ability, since you used an invisible physical force to attack him at the end, which can usually be assumed to be a lighter ability. But I knew the ability interacted with physical objects in a way similarly to an enchanter ability. Friction was just the thing that made the most sense, since by immediately redirecting the friction the moment it's generated would cause people to slide across the ground."
"Yeah, it's a lot easier for me to store it in the ground than in the air, since-"
I sneak out of the room they're talking in to try and get some shut eye. I'm just way too tired.
I try to shut the door behind me quietly. Luckily, when I was exploring the house earlier, I knew there was one bedroom with a king's size bed, and one with just a full size. After sneaking into the room with the smaller bed, I immediately turn off the lights before lying down and closing my eyes.
But now that I'm alone with my thoughts, all I can think about is what I can't remember. Trying to remember something that's on the tip of your tongue is already torturous but... There's something else there too, a feeling that makes me really not want to think about this, but it's something that I can't help myself from thinking about.
Did someone order a distraction?
Ah, Maribelle. Nice to see you. Can we please talk about anything else?
I mean, you just got superpowers like, however many hours ago! That's a point of discussion! Now you and I have a little bit more in common, isn't that nice?
Actually, now that you mention it... You'd think that my powers would have something to do with you, right? Like, maybe I'd summon you in battle, or at least my power would be something similar to your alchemy powers...
Nah, it's reasonable why it has nothing to do with me. After all, I'm just a figment of your imagination. I only appear to help quell your boredom, or give you little pep talks that nobody else knows you need.
You thought you were gonna die back there. It's completely reasonable that your last thoughts weren't about your fictional girlfriend.
...Yeah. That makes sense.
Anyway, seems like someone's getting close to the door, so I'll get out of your hair.
"Hey. Wanted to talk about our game-plan moving forward, since I know you're pretty confused right now."
"Yeah?"
"Tomorrow is when we're gonna raid the hotel and free the people."
"I'm not killing anyone."
"You've made that point clear. I won't force you to kill anyone, and I won't kill anyone either."
"Are we going to be working with her?"
"Sort of... We both have the same goal, but it's not like we're going to be anywhere near each other."
"Are there any other alternatives?"
"Oh, believe me, if I had the opportunity, I'd make sure her friends would never find her body."
. . .
"I want to go back to five minutes ago, when you hadn't said that yet."
"Ahem, sorry. I just despise the Society's Vanguard and what they did to my wife."
"Oh... I'm sorry, man."
"It's literally not your fault. It was like 2 years ago anyway."
"Point is, right after we do this one last thing, we can both search for your memories. Have any idea where to look first?"
Yeah... There's a place called Rosemerry Town, it's connected to Dirpending by train. I think that will be closer to the truth.
"I'll try and make sure those bastards don't deliberately shut down the train station tomorrow, alright?"
"Sounds like a deal."
Messa closes the door, leaving me in darkness.
Man... I've lost my memories, I'm in someplace completely different all alone, and I have to work with a terrorist group to just get back home. Wherever home even is...
Despite literally getting superpowers, it's just not your today, huh?
I have a feeling it's not gonna be "my day" for a long time too...
Hey, don't think like that. You gotta look on the bright side. You don't want to be drowning in despair and tears on this fun adventure, right?
Yeah... you're right.
Let's try and fall asleep, alright?
Maribelle crawls into bed and snuggles up with me. But the comfort of another person can't be replicated in someone's mind. Whenever I imagine her snuggling with me, I'm just reminded how lonely I really am.