Alchemy Of Abyss

Chapter Eleven~5

Eisai looked at every inch of the shop, realizing that he had never seen it before. The old woman moved closer to him. She bent over and touched his hand. "You fainted in front of my shop; do you remember anything?" he remembered everything, but he couldn't say a single word.

"I believe you're looking for answers," — he looked at her unblinking — "I also believe that you're destined to be here." She looked at him and continued, "you just remembered what happened to you for the past year, right?" she moved her hand, yet her eyes stayed on his face.

Eisai held his breath and said, "How did you know?"

"If I told you that touching your hand made me see your soul and know everything about you, would you believe me?" she said, raising one eyebrow along with a small grin over her thin lips.

"Are you a witch?!" he said immediately.

"Oh no," the woman stood up and walked to the right side of the shop and sat on the floor where a small wooden table filled with herbs and flowers and a big wooden bowl were on it. She took some herbs and flowers and started mixing them inside the bowl. "I'm just an old soul with a special ability... like yours. Tell me, what did you remember?"

"I don't know... I slept yesterday and woke up the next day and nothing is making any sense." he took a deep breath and continued, "they told me I have been gone for a year... they are messing with me... I just saw them yesterday!"

"What else?" she said without stopping what she was doing.

"Before I fainted outside, I remembered something... whiteness everywhere and a terrifying, lonely feeling filled my soul..." — he covered his mouth with his hands harshly — "why am I telling you this?! I don't even know you!"

The old lady laughed. "It's the effect of the flowers," she said and pointed at the bowl next to him. "The fabric soaked in it makes you open your heart and tell the truth and also makes it easier for you to process everything."

Eisai had mixed feelings; he was freaking out but completely believing and accepting what she said. "What is happening to me?"

"Your abilities are taking over your body now."

"Abilities? I'm... like you?"

"No, your abilities are way stronger. You are a time traveler." She finally looked at him and saw how confused he was. "Breath kid" — she put the mix she made into a hot cup of water and gave it to Eisai — "drink it, it will help you regain your memories."

He stood up, leaving the cup on the ground, refusing to even look at it, and walked to the door to get out of the shop. But her voice stopped him. "No need to run kid, I can help you calm your soul and also help you with your other ability," she said and waved for him to sit again.

"Other ability?" he said and sat next to her.

"My mother once told me about one of the rare abilities that if a person has... it could be his blessing or his curse."

"I'm cursed...!?" he said and blinked several times.

"It depends on you and how you'll use it," — she pointed at his head — "your mind... forgetfulness is the great blessing we all have except for people like you... your mind and heart will forever remember everything you feel, smell, and hear... this ability may destroy you or help you gain your salvation." Eisai, without thinking, held his head and looked at the ground. The old woman handed over the cup to him and smiled.

Her words felt like icy water thrown at him. He knew she was telling the truth; Eisai knew she was saying words he couldn't believe were even a reality, yet he knew she was right. He remembered every moment he spent in that place.

He followed his instinct and trusted her. Eisai drank what she gave him, he would forever remember its taste.

The sweetness of the flowers was fighting the sourness of the herbs inside his mouth. It made him shiver. She told him to close his eyes and to think about the last thing he saw. He felt the ground shake, her voice fading away, telling him not to open his eyes.