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A Glimpse
Year: 984-01
After a long time of doing work all over the province, it felt as though they had seen everything. Of course, this was far from the absolute truth.
For some reason, Dr. Picard, with his insatiable curiosity, contacted some people to test his new invention - Similar to the orb that eventually blew up into pieces.
This time, it was far more reinforced.
It seemed all too convenient, that he wanted to know the past of other soldiers...
Part One
Location: The Tower of Amnesia
Mischief
Corkian Gremlin
Okay, can we test it now? Can we?
Kiya
Soldier of Wynn
He's literally not here yet. Maybe we should barge into his kitchen.
Ishmael
Nemract Soldier
...Does this place even have a kitchen?
Kiya
Soldier of Wynn
That's what I'm about to find out.
Given that the last experience involved only glimpses of the past, the current instance was likely going to result in a mess.
Heathcliff clicked his tongue, looking towards his dearly beloved friend.
One person had to channel their memories, and another must be a witness.
Kiya
Soldier of Wynn
I found it. Who has ingredients?
Mischief
Corkian Gremlin
You want beetroot?
Mischief
Corkian Gremlin
Beetroot? I've got beetroot.
Kiya
Soldier of Wynn
...Any other volunteers.
Mischief
Corkian Gremlin
Take my FUCKING beetroot.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Oi, goat. C'mere for a second.
Now being the curious one, Heathcliff can't help but call the other over.
Frankly, this might be invasive, but they all agreed to it. If only situations like these don't go awry so easily.
Mischief
Corkian Gremlin
What! What!
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Test the orb.
Mischief
Corkian Gremlin
I'm not licking the orb if that's what you're asking me to do.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Wh- No! Right, just place yer hand real quick.
Mischief
Corkian Gremlin
But I'm hungryyyy....
He places his hand anyway...and accidentally knocks it over.
As if on cue, the orb, which Dr. Picard had probably worked so hard in making, begins to glow a bright red.
Mischief
Corkian Gremlin
Oh, I don't think it's supposed to do that.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Shite, run for it!
Kiya
Soldier of Wynn
Hey, I'm back with a...
Kiya
Soldier of Wynn
...Why is the orb glowing.
KRRRK!!!!
Only the ringing of bells can be heard in the distance...
Part Two
Location: Somewhere in the past...
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Argh, head's all banged up...Whuh?
As Heathcliff opened his eyes, he found himself once again in the outskirts of Nemract.
With how the world around him seems oddly peaceful and full of whimsy, he could already tell something was deeply wrong.
Or rather...
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
...This is a memory, ain't it.
Heathcliff?
Child of Nemract
Look at this little bug I found.
Emiko
Child of Nemract
Wh-What is that?! No way that's a bug!
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Ah, okay. Guess I'll watch.
Emiko
Child of Nemract
Where did you even get this thing?!
Heathcliff?
Child of Nemract
I ain't tellin'!
Before him was the beginning of it all. A glimpse of a root in conflict.
When they were mere children, Heathcliff had found a strange creature in the sewers. Delighted to have discovered somethign new, he showed it to his only friend.
The two of them were so innocent, always playing together even as their families grew worse. If only he had known.
Emiko
Child of Nemract
You know...
Emiko
Child of Nemract
Maybe taking care of this bug isn't so bad.
Heathcliff?
Child of Nemract
Ya! It hasn't hurt us yet.
Heathcliff?
Child of Nemract
If you think about it, we're like its parents, you an' me.
Heathcliff?
Child of Nemract
...If grown adults were awesome, that is.
Emiko
Child of Nemract
You're silly.
Heathcliff watches the scene unfold with a weary look. He never thought he'd have to face the past like this in an instant.
Memories flashing before him, twisting into different instances like a dream.
If he had known that it was a parasite of decay, perhaps he and Kiya would still be okay.
If he had known...
Then neither of them would be in this mess right now.
Emiko?
???
So why did you bring it to me?
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Huh?
He looks up, and sees the memory staring back.
A fragment with a decaying arm and gritted teeth.
Emiko?
???
You knew it was something dangerous, didn't you?
Emik??
???
Why did you nurture it if you knew it was going to end up killing everyone?
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
No...No, no. I didn't-
Emi???
???
It ate everything beneath the soil, and brought the corruption even closer.
Em???
???!!!!!!?!?!?!?!!!!!!
Why did you nurture it if you knew it was going to end up killing everyone?
?!!!!!!!???
???!!!!!!?!?!?!?!!!!!!
This is your fault.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
That's NOT what happened!
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
I didn't know, I didn't...
It was true, that he may have played a part in ruining his life like this.
And that these feelings needed to be faced no matter what.
This was his fault. And so, he must face the sin.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
You-! You're just messing with me!
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Arghh...GET ME OUT OF HERE!
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
KIYAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
This was his sin to bear.
His sin...
His...
Part Three
Location: The Past?
Kiya
???
Heathcliff!
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Stay away from me. I hurt you. I hurt everyone!
Heathcliff knew this was all on him, and yet...in front of him, Kiya knelt to his level.
His eyes speak volumes. He saw it all, too.
And yet...
Kiya
???
Listen to me! You...you couldn't have known. We were just children.
Kiya
???
I wanted to hate you for what happened. I really did.
Kiya
???
But...I can't.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Why not?!
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
If I had never found that stupid, stupid wretched thing in the first place, you wouldn't be suffering right now!
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Leave me here. It's the only way I...
These hands of his which has killed more than he ever imagined, were they still deserving to be held?
Heathcliff didn't know, and neither did Kiya.
There were dreams they had that could've been reached, but they could always make new ones.
Kiya can only laugh at the absurdity of it.
Kiya
???
...Pfft.
Kiya
???
Don't be an idiot.
Kiya
???
Leave you? In this mess? As if I'll ever.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Kiya...
Kiya
???
I know.
Kiya
???
I'm sorry too.
Kiya
???
But you know we can't face things together just yet.
Kiya
???
There's so much we've done already, and I really would...hate to lose all of it to a memory.
Kiya
Heathcliff's Friend
...I'm pulling you out of this. Get up.
Heathcliff blinks, and stands tall. Compared to Kiya, he was much larger.
His calloused hands, and the other's scarred ones held together.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
I'm sorry.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
...I really am.
Kiya
???
Save it for when we're facing real danger.
Together, they walk.
Until the fragments piece themselves together, and they're back into reality again.
Part Four
Location: The Tower of Amnesia
Dr Picard
???
This is the second time you folks have blown up my inventions...
Mischief
Corkian Gremlin
See, I'm just glad they're in one piece.
Mischief
Corkian Gremlin
Is the beetroot soup good?
Dr Picard
???
Oh? Oh, yes. It's lovely. Give the chef my regards.
Mischief
Corkian Gremlin
Kiyaaa! Doc LOVES the soup!
Kiya
Soldier of Wynn
...I know.
Kiya shakes his head, and places pressure on the ice pack. He and Heathcliff got into a real mess after the orb was knocked over.
So many memories were flooding in all at once that it gave a massive headache.
Heathcliff didn't seem so bothered about it however.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
Give yourself some credit, lad. If the doctor loves your cooking, that means it's good.
Kiya
Soldier of Wynn
I get that, but it's not what I need to hear right now.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
What didya wanna hear, then? Huh?
Kiya presses his lips together, deep in thought.
There's so much he could possibly say.
All these words, and none of them even cross his mind the way he wants them to.
Kiya
Soldier of Wynn
Mmmmm...
Kiya
Soldier of Wynn
Ishmael's whining when we explain this shit to her.
Heathcliff
Nemract Soldier
...Aye, fair 'nough.
He'll have to keep it that way for now.
While there's still memories to be made.