Ashes

Arch II. Empire of Steel. Legend 7. Leave Me

She sat by his bed, concentrating on wrapping bandages around his wrists. Her movements were careful just not to accidentally cause additional harm. The wrists were covered with marks of shackles, which indicated that the young man was trying to escape from them. The girl carefully wiped away the traces of blood. She didn't know (or maybe didn't remember?) this man, but she felt that she had an obligation to help him. As if this man was her old friend whom she had not seen for an eternity. She was extremely focused so as not to accidentally wake up her sleeping guest.

After a while, Eclip slowly opened his eyes. Everything was a blur for a while. When his vision focused, he turned his gaze to the girl sitting next to him. It was Abby. He recognized her immediately. She looked at him carefully with sad eyes. The young man felt nervous and tried to remember what happened and how he ended up here. When he tried to sit up, pain immediately shot through his entire body.

"No-no. Do not move" she said. Her voice sounded worry "You better to stay in bed a little longer"

"What... even happened?" Eclip looked at his bandaged hands, trying to remember at least something. The pain returned again.

"I have no idea how you could have offended Felleria, but... If Cassie had not called to me, saying that a living soul was in danger, who knows what could have happened to you." Abby looked to the side. "I don't know who you are and why you wanted to see me. Maybe you can tell me?"

"I came for you..." he wanted to say, but for some reason he changed his mind. Perhaps he thought that now was not the time or place to tell her the truth, but he didn't really want to delay it either.

"Xentaron is in trouble, right?" the girl seemed to voice the next thought that appeared in the young man's head. "Do you need help?"

"Yes," Eclip nodded. "We don't know what exactly happened and why people fell into deep slumber, but I want to save the city"

"Save? Why do you want to save a place that was never home?"

Her voice echoed in his head. The echo of a long-forgotten past caused a strong trembling, as if winter had come in the room. Seeing this, Abby immediately took off her cloak from her shoulders and threw it on Eclip. The fear and cold immediately went away, and Eclip felt safe again

"I have no idea what you remembered, but I don't want you to feel that fear again," the girl seemed to feel like she had to help him.

"T-thank you" he smiled "Abby, listen..."

"How... do you know this name?" she was surprised. She knew that souls do not remember their names or their past.

"You... don't remember me?"

"What was important to you and to me has long been forgotten." She looked at him, and then turned her gaze to the window.

Her answer was like a knife to the heart. She didn't remember him. Eclip sighed heavily, and then made a strange sound - pain pierced his entire body, and the young man lost consciousness. The girl straightened the blanket and, after sitting next to him a little longer, made sure that he was still breathing.

"You shouldn't have come here, silly," the girl said barely audibly. "The living don't live here long."

------

A few days later (if I can call it that) Eclip opened his eyes again. He felt much better, as if there had been no battle and no attempt had been made to kill him. He sat up on the bed and looked around. He was completely alone in the room, but his attention was drawn to a strange tray standing on the nightstand next to the bed. Eclip saw a note written in beautiful handwriting.

"You're probably hungry. Here's some food. After all, you are a living soul."

- Abby

Indeed, he has been here for a long time, and he has not eaten for a long time. But one thing began to irritate him: the fact that everyone called him a "living soul," as if he had no name. Rising from the bed and having a little snack, Eclip hurried to leave the castle before the guards or, The Ghost saw him. His main goal was to find Abby and try to explain why he was really here.

He again wandered through the quiet streets, catching the gaze of faceless souls. And he could have sworn that he heard them whispering among themselves, discussing him or coming up with a plan to kill him. A slight trembling passed through the body. The young man didn't know whether he should even try to ask them for help, but he didn't have the desire to approach them either. Nobody knows what they can do. After all, only The Ghost knows who these souls were in life.

His thoughts led him to the garden, the only place where there was life. Among these flowers, Eclip saw his friend, who, like petals in the wind, was circling around the lilac bushes. Noticing him, she immediately stopped and knelt down, as if Deimos was standing in front of her. This confused the young man a little, and he asked her to get up. After all, they are friends (or maybe something more?). Abby obediently rose from the grass and came a little closer, carefully examining Eclip. She continued to feel something familiar, but could not explain it.

"Abby, I..." he began to speak uncertainly, taking a step forward.

"Don't come near!" she answered sharply. There was fear and panic in her voice. "I... I don't know who you are or how you know my name."

"I am your friend"

"A... Friend? - she asked again, looking at him in surprise. The girl knew that she had no friends in this place, only a faithful servant who did not allow her sister to kill this young man. "Friend..."

"I just... want to help"

"To whom? I don't need help," she shook her head. "The city where you came from - too."

"But this... your home"

"Home? The soul now has a new home - the Empire of Steel. I wasn't given a second chance, but I didn't do evil either. Just mistake after mistake. But I live here and now..." she fell silent for a second, realizing what she had just said, then continued "And the place where you came from is your home. And, if you really want to save it, then why are you here and not there, with your people?"

Eclip didn't know the answer. He understood that she was asking the right questions, to which, unfortunately, he could not give answers. The young man looked at Abby. Tears sparkled in her eyes. But what is she worried about? Or... about whom? He wanted to move closer, but he was sure it would be a mistake, knowing how she reacted.

The girl wanted only one thing: for him to leave, return home, help Xentaron without her help, and return here only at the hour appointed for him. Abby didn't remember him, and it wasn't her fault. Those who got to the Masquerade of Oblivion forever forgot who they were. All fears, anxieties, all those they loved - all this was forgotten forever. The souls here want one thing: to find peace.

"Just go alone, just leave me here, hero" - this phrase seemed to knock the ground out from under Eclip's feet. No words can describe the pain he felt at that moment.

Realizing that there was nothing he could do for now, he left the sparkling garden, leaving his friend

"And when will you tell him the truth?" a familiar voice asked. Black feathers surrounded the girl, and then icy hands hugged her shoulders from behind.

"When there is time. He's not ready now." Abby turned to the voice. Malphas stood in front of her, having somehow managed to escape from the Void. Looking at him, she continued, "Since you got out of your prison, I want you to help me."

"Even so," he smiled sarcastically, and his red eyes sparkled brightly. "And what do you want?"

"Dean is determined and won't leave him alone until he makes a deal."

Malphas immediately understood what she was talking about and, spreading his huge wings, turned into shadow, leaving Abby alone with her own thoughts.