It's been about three months since I awoke in this cabin with Aric.
Time goes by funny in these woods. I haven't noticed it passing despite all that's happened. There's nobody here except Me and Aric. We've become somewhat close by now, which I hadn't expected
Kareth: Now where did Aric get off to. He's probably down by the river.
I stand up from my chair, leaving the now empty bowl on the table as I turn for the door.
By now I've healed, mostly. I can walk without pain. Wield and even swing my sword without it feeling like my arm is threatening to rip apart. So my strength has essentially fully returned.
I push open the door and step outside. Covering my eyes from the sun, beaming down onto the cabin.
Unlike my strength. None of my memories have returned. I hadn't been expecting them too but I had been hoping they would. Beyond my name and my sword I still know shitall.
Regardless of my lack of memories my skills with the sword have somewhat returned, I'd like to say I'm decent but I have nothing to compare myself to except a hyperactive child who can barely be trusted with a knife.
Through a clearing in the trees I see Aric, crouched down by the riverbend in the same spot he goes to every morning.
Aric turns and sees me, giving a big smile. The one he seems to always wear no matter what happens
Aric: "Morning Kareth!"
He turns back to face the river
Kareth: He's as enthusiastic as ever.
Kareth: "Afternoon."
I step over a bush, standing about a meter behind him. Though he doesn't bother to turn around again.
Aric: "Still can't get a good night's rest it sounds like."
Kareth: He's not wrong, I haven't gotten a good night's sleep a single time. Because he keeps damn waking me up.
Kareth: "I'm still convinced you don't sleep at all. Keep me awake with all your whatever you do."
Aric laughs at my remark, whilst skipping a stone across the slowly flowing water. The stone bounces a few times before sinking into the river.
Aric: "Sleep's a waste of good thinking time. Besides, the river sounds better than any lullaby."
Kareth: "That's a terrible excuse. As if you think about anything so deeply that you need to fully concentrate on it"
He glances back at me, grin widening. I can tell he appreciates the jab more than he lets on.
Aric: "You wound me, truly. Here I am, philosophizing about life, and you just mock me."
Kareth: "You make it too easy."
I sit beside him on the embankment. The river's surface glimmers with morning light, the flow gentle but steady.
A moment passes in silence, broken only by the birds and water. Eventually, I ask the question that's been hanging between us for a while.
Kareth: "Why here, Aric? Why stay in this forest all these years?"
He flicks another stone, this one skimming less gracefully. His voice lowers.
Aric: "Dunno. Maybe I'm scared of what's outside the forest. Scared I'll lose the freedom I have when I'm out here. Scared that I don't belong in the rest of the world anymore"
He pauses, glancing up at the trees beyond the river
Kareth: Guess he actually was thinking.
Aric: "But that's changed, I've changed"
Kareth: "Into what?"
Aric: "Somebody who is tired of wondering. Tired of being afriad. Tired of waiting."
His expression shifts. He's still smiling but the smile carries a hint of something else
Aric: "I want to see Caldreth. All of it. Mountains that pierce the sky. Cities that flow with life. Deserts that scorch your feet and dry your throat."
Kareth: "And what happens if it doesn't work out? If you were right and the world doesn't want us?"
Aric: "Too damn bad. I'd go anyway."
Kareth: He says it so easily. Makes it sound so simple.
Aric: "You don't remember your past, hell you aren't even sure that Kareth is actually your name. I don't remember anything outside of this forest. Maybe the past we don't know doesn't actually matter. It's what we do next."
Kareth: "That sounds like what somebody with nothing to lose would say."
Aric: "Or maybe it's what someone with everything to gain would say."
His statement caught me off guard. I turn to look at him
The wild catches his hair, the light hitting his bright green eyes. His smile practically reached from ear to ear.
Aric: "I think we make a good team. We have in these last few months living here together. Stoic mysterious sword guy and reckless happy forest orphan. It's a classic adventuring pair."
Kareth: "How would you know what a classic adventuring pair is. And that actually sounds like a terrible team."
Aric: "Oh come on. You know what I mean. We can go all around Caldreth. Maybe you can even recover your memories and I might find my parents or something."
I shake my head, but don't argue with him
Aric grins and stands up with a stretch.
Aric: "Alrighty then. You in?"
Kareth: "In for what?"
He raises his eyebrow, mock-offended at my reply
Aric: "Our grand quest across Caldreth… obviously."
Kareth: He's about as sane as he is smart. So nothing for either.
Aric: "We set out tomorrow. I have a map back in the cabin so we can decide where we wanna go."
Aric seems incredibly triumphant. Like he's just made the biggest breakthrough of all time.
Kareth: "You're really serious about this aren't you?"
Aric: "Deadly so. I've been thinking about this for a long time. And I'm not gonna sit and think anymore. I'm gonna start acting instead."
Aric had already started to walk back to the cabin, leaving no room for negotiation.
I quickly stand up and follow him.
The breeze picks up, rusting the trees around us. The river's flow causes a light humming sound, soft and steady. It's been quiet here, peaceful. Maybe I've been getting complacent
Kareth: "... Alright."
Aric turns to face me, still walking to the cabin. His eyes light up.
Kareth: "Lets go see the world"
Aric cheers and starts running back to the cabin, prepared to start packing and planning. I run after him
Aric: "I'll get started packing. You go take all the firewood and food from the shed!"
Kareth: "So I do all the real work?"
Despite my remark Aric doesn't care, running into the cabin and beginning to pack.
Kareth: Maybe we are those someones with everything to gain.
We spent the rest of the day packing. Aric stuffed out bags with flint, dried food, a ridiculous amount of herbs that he insisted were useful and a tattered journal he repeatedly says im never allowed to open. I sharpened my blade and attempted to fix up my armour as much as I could as well as preparing clothes.
Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, we leave the forest, and the cabin, behind
Tomorrow will be the first time since I woke up on that cursed battlefield… That I feel like I'm actually walking towards something. Though hopefully this time it isn't a forest spirit that tries to kill me.