-” Oh, it’s actually another human.” said Liandan after snapping from her daze. She was aware that there would be an encounter with another of her kind, and thought it wouldn’t be much of a surprise, but seeing the boy left a deeper impact on her than she expected.
-” I know, I’m surprised to find that out about myself as well”, Arim replied jokingly. Just like the girl, he also entered a stack full of nerves, which eased considerably after she remarked on her deep observation. “ Right, ugh, introductions are next in line, right Goidell?”
The Firbolg, who was half away from the exit from his last position, got spooked by the intrusive question.
-” Why do you ask me?” he thought in desperation. “Correct. At least that’s what Krass and my brother always tell me…anyway Arim, Zinc, I trust you, you are my rock in this unsteady sea”, he replied in a normal tone, to Liandan and Ogda’s surprise. When he addressed them, though, the slowly fading voice returned. “ You were a nice riffle, but if I stay too long I might start seeing you as a tidal wave and begin to despise you… Farewell!”
Goidell's weird exit left everyone stunned for a few moments, except for Arim who shook his head with a smile as if he found him inspiring. “ Someday…” he muttered to himself, after which he returned his attention to the duo.
-” Anyway, my name is Arim and this here”, he pointed towards his crimson gauntlet, “ is my Pact partner, Zinc. Krass only told me about your memory problems, and that I should help you settle in.”
The amnesiacs took a look at each other, unsure of what to say. They never planned on staying in this settlement, but there also never was a plan B, they just went with the flow.
-” I’m Liandan, and that’s Ogda… Uhm, so I don’t know what Krass was thinking, but we only came here to find help for our amnesia problem. He said we could find it here, so…”
-” So what do you mean by settling in?”, asked Ogda a bit aggressively, taking a step forward, making Arim flinch for a second.
-” I, well… We have medical help here, yes. But in case that’s not sufficient, you might have to go to the human world, and the rift closed a week ago, while the next window will be in two, maybe three months.” The boy huffed, trying to find the right way to convince them of what the rules are.
Zinc then pinched him and made some weird sounds, which seemed to have been a pep-talk that worked on Arim. The boy put on a smile, followed by his hands on his waist as if to keep himself straight.
-” We kinda understand, you’re in a weird place, with people and creatures you don’t know, and it’s confusing. Trust us, both me and Zinc get it . I’ve been living here since I was six, and my partner has a similar problem as yours, he also can’t remember his home. But while you’re here, we’ll shelter you, help and anything else we can. In return, you two will have to undertake our integration program…in the community, not the Firbolg thing.”
-” As in, work and do some activities with the locals?”, asked Liandan. “ That’s no problem, but what if we plan on leaving after those months?”
-” Not our business to intervene. I do hope you two decide to stay, though”, he said a bit coyly. “Also, it’s not going to be anything too strenuous, or dangerous…unless your friend Ogda wants to do some combat training on the side.”
The water monster’s visage perked at that idea. Up until then, even though he felt like his mission was to protect the girl, he felt like didn’t stand up to the standard. “If the trio in the desert were just bandits, I would have died right there and then. If the monster woke up while we were in the oasis, we would have died…”, thought Ogda. He then jumped to the occasion and accepted the offer, to Liandan surprise.
-” I…right. Before any of that, though, how about you help us with that Fect Pact, and then we’ll see what to do next”, added the girl after she felt that the situation was getting a bit out of cosy control.
-” That’s…possible. Just surprised you two weren’t in one already, I guess. Do you want to do that now?”
-” Yes”, replied both of them at the same time.
-” Alright, I guess you are…sure.” The boy then talked with the shop owners and invited the guests to follow him. “ We should find some space for this”, he added ominously.
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