Disarm Evil

Chapter 24: Mysteries

All who are able-bodied work together to pilot the ship towards the other pick-up location. Among them is Sho, who was piloting the smaller ship during the combat. The small ship is now being towed behind our new acquisition, connected by a sturdy rope. It seems that the team has taken both Tai and Sho under their wing. I have no idea why they would permit Tai to keep tagging along on such a dangerous mission, but ve is here and is receiving Rirmevu-style training from Jomira, while Sho is learning how to pilot ships from Zi.

Once the sails are set such that they may not need adjusting for a moment, Hari approaches Miya and me.

"I'm not sure how long, but I have a moment to chat about the parts of your past that were taken from you if you are okay with potentially getting interrupted." Hari says.

Miya and I give Hari a confused look.

"Sorry, I don't know what you are talking about." Miya says.

"Sorry, not you, I was talking to Dima," Hari clarifies.

"I also don't know what you are talking about..." I say.

"Hmm... Either I am remembering a conversation we didn't have or you two had your minds wiped of it at some point."

"Minds wiped? Don't tell me that is another mind magic thing." I say.

"Unfortunately yes, and I think your memory of our conversation may have gone along with your knowledge of that aspect of mind magic. Anyway, recall the story of how you got caught up in the trafficking mess with Lise. I believe your memory of that time may have been corrupted at some point."

Intrigued, I say, "Go on."

"As I recall, we were both attending the same theatrical production. I had just gotten bullied and ran off to the alleyway because I was afraid of what others might think of me and what they might do to me. Someone tried to assault me in the alley and I was able to buy myself some time using magic. Then seemingly out of nowhere, you showed up, knocked out my assailant, and gave me a dress to replace my stained outfit. However, instead of going back into the theater I went running after you. When I caught up you said you were running away from Rirbuseha. You didn't say exactly why but I think it had something to do with your parents being detestable."

"Sorry, what did you just say?"

"Um, I remember you saying you didn't like your parents in contrast to my wanting to go back to mine."

"I mean yeah I didn't like my parents, but that wasn't why I was... Did you say I was running away? I don't remember running away. I remember just going with Lise because my parents had died."

"No," Hari says, "I think that may be a hole in your memory because I specifically remember you saying you weren't an orphan. I don't remember how that came up but I remember that learning that you weren't an orphan had some sort of memorable impact on me."

The rest of the world feels as though it has faded from existence. It is as though my mind has decided to reject everything I think I knew and everything about present reality. I am afloat in a void of emotion and thought for a while before I permit my mind to think about what I just heard. My parents may still be alive, and someone doesn't want me to know that. It's all too easy to believe that one of them is the someone who replaced my memories of that time. Though I have no evidence beyond it just sounding like something they would do.

"Are you alright?" Hari asks, snapping me back into reality.

"No," I say, "But I'm honestly not sure what I am right now. I don't know how to feel about this. Thank you for sharing though."

"Who do you think made you forget your parents?" Miya asks as we leave Hari to ver work.

"Probably my parents honestly." I say.