I Need To Remember

Chapter Two

True to her word, Maxi did come back as quickly as she could, rushing in the room with a tray and a worried expression. The way her hair flowed behind her reminded him of the fire, how it flickered in an abundance of oranges, reds and blues. He was sure if he touched the strands, it would be smoother than any silk beneath his fingertips.

Then someone else walked in behind her. Riftan automatically felt aggravated by the man as he yawned and shut the door after slinking in the room, but he had no idea why. As wondering about it was causing him more pain, he shifted his attention back to Maxi. She set the tray down and helped him sit before bringing the blankets around him again.

"W-We're going to help you now. I brought you some tea and medicine for your head." He frowned. She had bound his arms like a straight jacket so he couldn't move them. How was he supposed to drink? And who was this other person, looking over him with a scrutinizing gaze?

His train of thought was temporarily stopped when Maxi brought the dainty tea cup to his lips. Riftan's eyes shined when he looked at her, and thankful for the help, he took a sip.

His mouth did not want to drink that.

"Don't sp-spit it out! Riftan!" Scrunching her face up, she quickly picked up a cloth and wiped at his face. Maxi tried to get him to drink more, but he flinched away, groaning dramatically.

"I can't, I don't like it. And who is he?" Riftan glared at the man who was failing to hide his obvious laugh. Why don't you drink this shit if it's so funny?

"Now you're looking more familiar." The man mocked him, and he felt the sudden 'familiar' urge to fight someone.

"Stop it!" Maxi lightly hit the dunce on the shoulder, but he began guffawing like a mentally-deficiant donkey. Attempting to ignore him, his wife huffed and turned back to Riftan.

"I'm s-sorry, but this is medicine, not candy. You may not like the taste...but it will help alleviate your pain, so listen to me." He grimaced a little before nodding.

Her stern face was doubly cute, so that made up for it.

As he drank, Maxi finally answered his question. The man's name was Ruth, and he was apparently a wizard who worked for him. Besides that- he was a commander or something, but it was so hard to wrap his mind around it all that he didn't even try. But since this guy worked for him...as soon as he drank the last drop, Riftan spoke looking directly at Ruth.

"I order you to leave the room."

"R-Riftan!" She paused, biting a lip. "Have you got your memories back?"

He just looked at her, confused.

"The answer to that is no. Let me begin my questioning." Ruth rudely butt into their conversation, opening a book he had brought.

"Don't...talk to her in such a tone." Riftan winced as he spoke, hoping the medicine would kick in soon. Maxi rubbed his arm from over the blanket, asking if he was okay. Riftan managed to nod, finding it hard to keep his eyes open.

The wizard rolled his eyes and sarcastically apologized, which sent Riftan a new jolt of energy. He glared even harder than before, making the man flinch.

"Ahem, do you remember what happened to you?" He shook his head.

"You were-"

"Oh, m-maybe we shouldn't. What if it sends him into shock?" Maxi wrung her hands together, but Ruth just glanced unconvinced at Riftan.

"I doubt that will happen. On the contrary, it may bring his memories back to hear what happened. Your permission?" Thankfully the wizard spoke in a softer, more respectful tone. Riftan leaned back more against the pillows propped up behind him.

Maxi slowly nodded, her grey eyes focused on him.

"On an expedition about a week ago, you had fallen sick. Of course you underestimated the illness and decided to continue on instead of resting," Ruth scoffed. "Long story short, you fell and nearly cracked your skull open during battle. I applied healing magic to close the wound, but as I arrived late...you uh, still have some pain. Anyways, you did not wake, struck by a fever. It took two days for it to break. We had brought you back to the castle by then, where you lay sleeping until...now."

When Riftan looked to his side, Maxi appeared to be a bit teary from the retelling. He wiggled under the blankets, trying to free himself and potentially wipe her tears. But Ruth awkwardly fished out a handkerchief from his pocket and threw it at her so he stopped, only able to scowl at the other man's flippant treatment of his wife. Maxi paused crying, looking it over for a moment.

"It's clean!" He looked exasperated, turning back to Riftan. "Whatever, did any of that ring a bell?"

"No." A sigh.

"You don't remember who you are at all? Does this place seem familiar to you?" Ruth swept an arm out, gesturing to the room.

Taking his time, Riftan examined the room piece by piece. He had already looked around earlier, but now he tried harder to remember.

"...it does seem familiar, but I've never been here. Not that I know of."

"Alright," Ruth nodded firmly. "You have dissociative amnesia."

"Why do you speak as if y-you are an expert on the subject?" Maxi glanced dubiously over at the wizard, still wiping her eyes. He gave her a dry look.

"I am the closest thing you'll get to an expert until that physician arrives tomorrow. Look, I read an article on it about ten minutes ago, right here," He tapped the book, shrugging. "Everything seems to match up. He'll certainly get his memory progressively back in a few hours, days, weeks. I suppose there is the rare chance that he will never remember."

Ruth caught the handkerchief that Maxi had aimed at his face, then promptly closed the book. She frowned at the wizard before speaking in a hopeful tone.

"S-So we only need the doctor to make sure there is no additional h-harm, and then he should be good." Maxi looked relieved, raising a hand to stroke Riftan's head. But then she remembered the bandages there and brought her hand back to her lap. Riftan yearned for her touch as his eyes started to flutter closed.

He vaguely heard Ruth taking his leave after they helped him lay down, and he felt a slight dip in the mattress moments later.

"Maxi?" He whispered into the dark.

"Y-Yes? Do you need some more medicine?"

He didn't respond.

"Pffft!" She softly giggled, and it made his heart race when she leaned over, patting his shoulder.

"I get it. W-What's up?" Riftan sighed.

"I really like you."

"Riftan..." She sounded so abashed, it was funny. But then she curled up gently into his side, and all he could think about was how lovely she felt against him.

"Is this okay?" She whispered.

"It's more than okay." He wasn't sure if it was her or the medicine which finally subsided his headache then, allowing Riftan to fall into a peaceful sleep.