The Dreaming Land

Chapter 9: Lost Memories

Deep in the western hinterlands, the beautiful city of Belle Fonte was nestled around the great Fonte river. The winding river cut right through the middle of the downtown. Orius and Misha sat the table of a cafe, who's balcony overlooked the riverfront. The view offered some peace for Orius, letting his thoughts drift away, as if swept away by the current.

Quintir and Imara had offered to do the shopping this time, letting him have some time to himself. Misha had expressed her disinterest in tagging along, and instead decided to stick around the cafe with Orius and have a coffee. The artisan air to Belle Fonte was very comforting. The aroma of fresh coffee, the laid back yet class style of its people, and the modern architecture of the buildings. He was amazed such a nice place even existed.

"After all of this, I'm going to move here." Orius commented, sipping his coffee.

"I'm coming over every day then." Misha nodded, "You can't stop me."

"I'll just buy you a house here." Orius smirked.

"Yes, please!" She laughed.

"So," Orius hesitated, setting down his coffee, "where did you grow up, Misha?"

"North of here," She answered, "in a town called Lisdon."

"Lisdon?" Orius thought for a moment, "That's on the northern border."

"Yeah." She nodded.

"But," He shook his head, "the war between King Harrier and King Vladis only ended maybe eight years ago. That whole area was a war zone..."

"The war hadn't reached that far west by the time I was born." Misha explained, "My parents couldn't afford to just leave, we had no money."

Orius didn't know what to say, he could see where this was going. He nearly regretted asking, but she seemed fine talking about it, so he let her continue.

"One day the war did reach us." She sighed, "It was sudden, came out of no where one night. Just all of a sudden, boom, soldiers everywhere. We tried to escape, but..."

"Misha." He interrupted, "you don't need to tell me."

"It's fine, really." She said, taking a quick sip from her mug, "Anyways, we tried to run, but the whole town was in chaos. I got separated from my parents, and that was the last time I saw them. The whole town burned down, so I just left. I'd actually been where you found me since then, ever since I left my home town."

"Why did you decide to leave with us?" Orius asked.

"I don't know." She shrugged, "I guess it's cause you were the first person to really look at me and talk to me like I was really there. Everyone else just kinda brushed me off, so, yeah. You guys seemed alright."

Orius raised his mug to that, clinking it against hers, and finishing off his mug. He was glad she felt at ease with them. As a child he'd always entertained the thought of just running away from Gigas and leaving it all behind after his parents died. He dreamed of just hopping on a trade caravan headed anywhere and seeing the world, but he knew that would only lead to trouble. Misha was lucky she had them, or perhaps he was just willing to support her, knowing what it felt like.

"My turn." Misha said.

"To do what?" Orius asked.

"To ask you something." She said, "You've asked me two questions now, It's my turn to ask you one."

"Alright, shoot."

"How did you parents die?" She asked flatly.

If anyone else had asked the same question, he'd have ignored them or snapped, telling them a thing or two about minding their own business, lest they get a bolt through the eyes. Misha was different, she knew the pain. She'd understand, and that's why she was asking, he figured.