Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Quenched Torch

Chapter 55: Anamnesis

Incense of Energy Root: stimulated the mind, bringing thought quicker and greater. Scent of Razz: calmed the racing mind, quelling stresses and woes. Singing bowls: brought the mind even further into calm, allowing one to better enter into zen. All was set up for a proper session of meditation. Taking a deep breath in as he levitated off the floor, Alakazam closed his eyes, allowing the world around him to recede. The singing of the bowls around him became little more than a din in the infinite around him, the chatter outside blurred until it was indiscernible from this din, and the gentle breeze blowing through the psychic's shop was acknowledged, then subsumed into the everything. All was one, and Alakazam felt tiny, yet insurmountable. A mind in a void, dwarfed yet in harmony. Nothing but him, the infinite... and another presence?

The ringing of the bowls stopped as Alakazam's telekinesis was withdrawn, the old orbmaker giving a sigh. His eyes flicked open as he floated down to the floor and walked over to the door, gently opening it.

"Young Oshawott," he blinked before his visitor could even come into full view.

Beck opened his mouth to speak, though his words caught in his throat as the psychic addressed him. What was he doing? Talking to a psychic, so soon after one nearly killed him? He knew it was irrational, but... damn it, that fear was still there. Maybe this was a bad idea. He could come back after the trip, maybe he should just—

"Oshawott?" Alakazam cocked his head.

"Er... h-hey," Beck coughed, gulping hard as he tried to think of what to even say. Before he could get far on that, however, Alakazam blinked and held up a finger.

"You are here to request my services regarding amnesia, am I correct?" he asked. Beck winced a bit, his last opportunity to turn back fleeting as he gave a hesitant nod. He'd thought a night was plenty of time to steel his nerves, though clearly that steel was either rusted or bought cheap— likely the latter, knowing himself. Stupid piece of shit.

Alakazam eyed Beck for a moment before quietly gesturing him inside. Taking a breath, the Oshawott waddled inside, scrunching up his nose to spare himself the overwhelming scent of incense as he took a look around. Much the same as the last time he had visited here, the shop was unusual, to say the least: the ceiling was draped in cloths and had a few too many dreamcatchers hanging from it, eccentric merchandise glimmered enticingly on the neatly arranged tables and shelves, and what Beck could only guess were mantras or spells were carved into the walls in a variety of strange languages (he was fairly sure he could spot Alphic and Hisuian Creole among them, at least). What was different, though, was that the curtain in the back of the room was drawn, revealing a quaint little room with little more than a cushion, a crystal ball, and some singing bowls and candles all arranged in a circle. Beck's tail flicked— he was fairly sure he knew what that was for.

"...er, a-awight, sir. N-nah tehl, plees," he managed out, managing to look up at the psychic's head. As Alakazam started to rummage through his supplies, he glanced back down at him.

"Confidentiality is of priority, young one," he reassured. "And of course, even disregarding that, I would not wish to go against the wishes of one of your type."

Beck's ears drooped. "Whah?" he asked. Alakazam simply gave a blink.

"I would assume that if you have not revealed your humanity after two moons, you would not wish for me to do so for you now. Now, I do believe I left the ginseng here," he murmured casually as he returned to his rummaging. Beck felt a shiver run down his spine as his eyes widened.

"Wh-what?! Nah, nah, am..." he tried, his words quickly catching in his throat. "...h-haw yeh knaw?"

"Your superego, for lack of a better term," Alakazam said matter-of-factly as he started collecting herbs. "A normal feral does not develop a complex conscience so quickly. And while your internal monologue is little more than feral noise, it is organized far too well. And with both of these in consideration... well. I have seen it once before. Yet rest assured— your secret lies safe with me."