My Inner Demons (if it was continued...)

Chapter 13: Foreign Memory

Recap...

I look back at the burning city one last time. Watching as the buildings submit to the flames that engulfed them. The sound of screams no longer filling the air and instead replaced by the sound of crackling fire. I felt the warmth hit my face as it illuminated me with that golden hour hue. An inferno for thieves, killers, and guards alike.

All of you deserved this hell.
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I felt the cold air send shivers down my spine as I huddle up next to the fire Asch set. Putting my hands out to the flame, I watch as some of the other guys follow suit while those who didn't sat against the tall trees that covered the moonlight beamed sky. 

It had only been a few hours since we fled from the burnt ruins of Minshe City, escaping only to the nearby forest. Rhys and Pierce were desperately trying to brainstorm where our next base would be whilst the rest of us- Leif, Noi, Asch and I- just huddled next to the fire.

Noi and I were cuddled up next to each other, watching as Leif slowly healed Asch' burnt leg. I shiver at the sight. "That's normal" I hear Noi say, noticing my discomfort. 

I sigh "Is it though? That looks..." I trail off as I stare at Asch' wound, his skin slowly growing back to close. 

"Painful?" Noi finishes my sentence. I nod. "Yeah, well Asch is used to the healing process"

I pause, looking over at Noi, "Used to? So he gets hurt often?" I ask, curious.

Noi chuckles, "You'd be surprised. Although he is our leader and a prince, he's more than willing to risk his life for us" Noi says as he turns to look at Asch, my eyes following his gaze, "That's probably what happened in Minshe City"

My mind goes back to the memory of the burning city. Specifically to when I ran down the alley and found them- an injured Asch hidden behind Pierce who drew his sword against the guards that cornered them. I began to remember the rush of emotions I felt in that one moment. How my eyes widened in horror and how my heart beat like a drum in an empty room. 

"Princess Ava, are you okay?" I hear Noi ask as he nudged me gently- bringing me back to the present. 

I blink a few times, looking around and remembering the current situation. I look up at Noi and offer him a soft smile. "Yeah.. I'm okay, just... thinking" I say. Though, it must've not convinced him as he gently put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in- my head resting against his chest.

I look up and feel my ears begin to heat. "You're a bad liar" He says, smiling softly but reassuringly. "You don't have to tell me, but... just know, I'm always here to listen" 

I suddenly could hear my heartbeat in my ears as it quickened. I looked away, if only to hide my blush, and nodded. I could hear him chuckle softly behind me before pulling me in a bit more. 

"Hey! Better not be getting all touchy Noi!" I hear Asch yell. I look up to see Asch and an exhausted looking Leif, both of them just sitting against a tree stump and staring at us. 

I look down at Asch leg, it wasn't fully healed. If anything, it seemed Leif only managed to stop the bleeding. I looked over at Leif. He looked exhausted, pale as snow and his eyes dull in color. Makes sense, he did just recover himself. 

I free myself from Noi's arms and stand up, making my way over to the two and crouching down. I feel their eyes on me as I observe the wound. I look over at Leif, our eyes meeting. "You look exhausted" 

He scoffed. "Of course I am" He says before softly cursing under his breath. "I used all my remaining magic" He sighed. I frowned then looked back at Asch' injured leg.

"It's fine human," He says with a sigh as he leans his head back and looks up at the leaves that covered the night sky. "It'll heal on it's own in a few weeks time" 

"Does it still hurt?" I ask as I gently put a finger to the area around the burn. He flinches, drawing his leg away as he harshly suck in a breath through his teeth. "Sorry" I utter before hovering a hand over the wound.

"What are you doing?" I hear Asch ask. 

"I'm... trying to heal it" I say, uncertainty interlaced in my voice. I looked over at Asch, and he looked surprised. "I- I don't know how to... but maybe..."

Asch sighs, "Ava, it's okay, really"

"But I was able to heal Leif from the brink of death, right..?" I say as I hang my head, both embarrassed and frustrated. "So... this should be nothing.."

"But you still don't know how to use your magic-"

"Then teach me!" I exclaim, cutting Asch off out of pure desperation. I wanted to help. And it made it worse knowing I could, yet couldn't at the same time. 

Asch just sighed, softly shaking his head. "Ava... healing magic is one of the hardest magics to learn, even then only Leif-"

"Then Leif! Teach me!" I exclaim as I swivel my head to look at Leif. He just looked at me, too drained to speak. I groan, both in annoyance and defeat as I look back at the wound. The memory of Asch and Pierce being cornered replayed on my mind like a broken record. The same with Noi's words...

"You'd be surprised. Although he is our leader and a prince, he's more than willing to risk his life for us. That's probably what happened in Minshe City"

 My mind wandered with questions. Is that truly what happened in Minshe? Did Asch take a hit for Pierce? 

Suddenly I watched as my memory of the scene turned gray as it quickly rewound. It was as if I was recalling memories I never had. The "memory" suddenly stopped rewinding, and instead played. 

I watched as Pierce and Asch were stood back to back, Pierce armed with a sword and Asch with his magic. Slicing and burning any guard that came close. But the number of guards was overwhelming and hard to keep up with. 

Perhaps that's why neither of them saw the burst of fire a guard shot from behind the first few heads. I watched as Asch's eyes widened, pushing back against Pierce and taking the hit himself. 

I gasped as I watched Asch's face twist in pain whilst Pierce's eyes widened. Is this real? Is this really what happened?

Suddenly, the memory began to blur before shattering the gray into color. I pant as I look around frantically. I feel everyone's eyes on me as I look around to see the forest. 

What was that? It felt so real... Was that... a memory? But, I never experienced that. 

I look between the guys. All of them were looking at me with concern, but Asch. He looked at me as if dumbfounded. His mouth was left agape, and his eyes were widened as he stared at me. 

I stared back at him, confused and scared. 

"Did you just... look through my memories..?"

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End of Chapter 13: Foreign Memories

YES YES I KNOW! I WAS SUPPOSED TO POST MORE OFTEN IM SORRY! 
T^T

Word Count: 1235
Date Published: 7/2/24