Weirdos IV: The Emerald Heart

Chapter 22: Steps and Stops

Later that morning, the remaining members of our group, along with the Eliseos and other Purgers, gathered inside one of the halls in the Tunnels to discuss the events that have transpired last evening. The other members of our group who were staying at the other camps also arrived earlier. Matilda and some of the men in the Camp Five also showed us the Intersection, a part of the camp where four tunnels leading to the four others Purger camps intersect. The tunnel leading to the main camp had been shut close due to security reasons.

As people entered the hall, I couldn't help but notice how our members have diminished significantly.

"Okay, first and foremost, how in the universe did this thing happen?" Ezekiel began as he gestured towards RB and me. "What is the meaning of this?"

Cataleya stepped forward. "It was the red pearl bracelet that Professor Evanesca gave to Ike and RB that restored the latter's memories."

RB raised his hand wearing the bracelet. "This. Ike's bracelet already vaporized last night."

"Professor Evanesca gave us red pearl bracelets before to serve as locators and as a way of alerting her if something bad ever happened to us," I said. "I didn't know that they could store memories."

For the first time ever since I met him, I saw a clueless look on Ezekiel's face.

"Serafina didn't really erase RB's memories," Jelal explained. "I only found out about this last night when I tried to draw out Serafina's magic from RB. When he accepted  the full power of the Prime Destruction, the weirdness also consumed his consciousness. Serafina then used her connection as the weirdness' former holder to gain total control over RB. She tampered with his memories and drew out all the emotions the come with them. It was very similar to the workings of my Fear Weirdo."

"That's true. I can still remember some of my memories even when Serafina was controlling me, but they were mostly about my experience with the Legion back when I was a kid. They're not really positive, I'm telling you," RB said.

"It's also possible that Serafina manipulated your memories so that even if you remember us, you still won't feel a thing. Again, it's impossible to totally erase someone's memories. She just probably tried to drown you in dark magic in order to suppress your emotions and true memories," Cataleya added.

Ezekiel just threw us confused stares. "And how did those red bracelets save our butts last night?" he asked.

"Like I said, they store memories," the Seer explained. "They only work in pairs and if their wearers have a deep emotional connection with each other. RB's crystal butterfly, which was also fuelled by memories, reacted to Ike's pearl last night. We didn't really need the complete memories to bring RB back. Again, it's impossible to totally erase someone's memories. The tiny portions of your past inside the pearl and the butterfly, along with the emotions that you had felt with them, were enough to create a chain reaction that revitalized your consciousness and fended off Serafina's magic from you even for several moments. Professor Evanesca must've expected that Serafina might meddle with RB's memories, so that's why she gave the two those bracelets."

"That old hag. . ." Ezekiel whispered with a twisted grin. "She's probably laughing hysterically at us right now."

"However, we should bear in mind that it's not a permanent solution to the contamination issue of RB. Serafina can and will control RB if she gets near him again. Now that we have him back, we should find a way to prevent RB's mother from controlling him," Cataleya added before turning to me. "The same thing goes for you, Ike. Your fusion with RB gives Serafina a medium to control you. You were lucky last night that your Prime state gave you protection from her magic."