Waves crash against splintered pieces of wood, mixed with long rip fabric linings from the Pyrus Dragon. An endless darkness expands out across the ocean. Ryo clutches onto a large plank, his left eye closed, blood dripping down from a gash above it. Small burns cover his neck, and both arms. A sharp pain weakens his grip, and the water’s cold chill stiffens his body. The constant weight of water-soaked clothes threatens to send him underwater. Muscling up the last of his immediate strength, Ryo pulls himself halfway onto the plank. He rests his head on his arm, glancing out at the dark sea.

A large shadow shimmers in front of him. Flames ignite against the darkness, reaching up into the sky above. They spread across the water in front of Ryo. In the center, the Pyrus Dragon breaks apart board by board. Loud whistles grow louder, and the ship explodes from the multiple impacts of an unseen force. The red flames twist and mix changing from a bright hue into a dull silver radiating a cold heat. It explodes forward over Ryo’s head, disappearing into the nothingness behind him.

Ryo’s vision blurs between his heavy eyelids. A wooden ceiling shifts into view, illuminated by the morning sun. Unable to move, his eyes scan from one side of the room to the other. To his right, an empty desk sits under the open window and a dresser next to it. His heavy body prevents the slightest of movement. Down at his side, a furry creature lays asleep, curled up into a ball. Unsettled, he attempts to lift himself up but sharp pain shoots through his body into his head. Ryo flinches, collapsing back onto the bed. His world spins around him, but his attention turns to his left arm in a sling. Most of his upper body is exposed with medical wrap around his chest, arms, legs, head and neck.

Distant muffled voices break his stare. Light knocking on the bedroom door announces the presence of other people. The door swings open, Axel entering without hesitation. Another individual in his sixties follows him in. The older man wears a long white coat, brown slacks, and polished shoes. A stethoscope hangs from his side on a waist belt. A pair of spectacle glasses hang on the bridge of his nose.

“Ah, it seems that our patient has finally awoken.” The man says. Cheerfulness hides beneath his husky, raspy voice.

He settles in a seat bedside for an update examination. The doctor brings the stethoscope to his ears to listen to his patient’s heartbeat. “Seems like all the life-threatening injuries have been taken care of. Vitals are normal, though still a bit weak. He still isn’t full out of the woods yet.”

Axel leans up against the door frame, his arms crossed. Suspicious written over his face, he narrows his eyes at Ryo. The doctor leans back and sighs.

“Now Axel, if you’re trying to play the tough guy, you may scare our guest.” The doctor says finishing is full check on Ryo. Axel’s eyes dart to the side unable to hide being caught.

“It’s still suspicious. Who the hell is he? He’s been asleep for the last few days, and we have no clue to his identity.” Axel responds.

Ryo glances at them both, silently.

“Anyways, young man. Let me introduce myself, others around here call me Doc. May I ask what your name is?” Doc says, his attention falls back onto Ryo.

A moment of silence passes. The man looks again at the room, his eyes falling back down to his bandaged left hand. “I…don’t know.” He mutters.

Axel leans forward a bit. “What was that?”

He glances back at them. “My name…I don’t remember it. I don’t remember…anything.” He coughs out the words. The unusual calm from his voice creates tension in the air.

“Oh my.” Doc sits back.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Axel straightens his posture. “You don’t remember? You can’t possibly mean EVERYTHING?”

Doc ponders to himself, resting his hand underneath his chin. “This may be a result of his head injury and being found in rough shape. In the medical books the diagnosis is referred to as amnesia. Though this is the first case I have ever seen. This could be a serious case if you can’t even remember your name.”

“Hold on. I have a stranger in my house, who doesn’t even know is name!”

“You’re the one who found and rescued him, are you not?” The Doc turns back to Axel, exasperated.

Axel’s move off to the side, pouting. “I figured if he woke up, we would find out who he is. It would have nagged my conscious if I just let him die there. Besides he could be an enemy-”

“Enough Axel.” Doc’s voice reverbs through the room.

He proceeds to pull a silver flame necklace from his breast pocket. From its chain, Doc dangles it in front of the man’s eyes. “I know you can’t move but does this look familiar?”

Ryo’s eyes scan the pendant’s design. The flame appears to melt under the sun’s rays, and for a moment a name appears on the surface, however, only the first name is visible.

Sharp pain pluses through his head, triggering his body to jolt. “Ugh!” His head whips upward. Muddled images flash through his mind, hidden behind a dark shadow.

“Axel! Grab him, his wounds are reopening!” Doc grips his patient’s shoulders, and Axel places his weight over his legs. Blood trinkles down the side of his face. Many of the bandages become soaked in fresh blood.

Ryo’s heavy breathing relaxes, but his racing heart. From his hand, the pendant drops onto the floor. Doc takes his hands off Ryo’s shoulders, bends down and picks up the pendant.

A wave of tiredness rushes over his eye lids. “My…my name….name…R….yo...” The room spins, his vision fading into blurriness, then darkens.

Doc stands up from his seat. “Well…seems like he knows the pendant. And Ryo? Never heard of a name like that.” He places the pendant on the nightstand next to the bed.  

“That’s enough for now. The patient just woke up and doesn’t need any more external stresses. His memories may come back with time or not at all.” Doc stands from his spot, straightening up his coat.

He walks towards the door. “Oh, and since you found him, the mayor says that you need to look after him.” Doc pushes his glasses up to his eyes. “Make sure when he wakes up, he gets some fresh air. It will help with recovery.” After saying his bit, Doc strolls out of the room, leaving Axel alone.

It takes moments for Doc’s words to process in Axel’s mind. Finally, the dots connect, and he bolts outside the room. “Just because I found him doesn’t mean I became his keeper!” He shouts to Doc.

Days later, Ryo sits outside in a wooden rocking chair overlooking the fields of flowers across the house’s front lawn. A few of the bandages from his arm and neck are gone. Most of the burns are healed. His left arm remains in its sling with some cloth wrapped around it. He stares up at the clear sky, a blank slate consumes his every thought. A light cool breeze ruffles his clothing and hair, carrying a faint scent of misty ocean. Against his skin, the air feels like a cold blanket fighting against his rising fever. Weakness remains in his arms and legs, making it a struggle to stand and walk. He rests his head against the back of the chair, and sleep overtakes his consciousness again.

The quietness only lasts a few moments, until a loud thud reverberates to the left of Ryo’s head. He opens his eyes and turns them to see a piece of branch caught up in the outside lamppost from the porch frame. Axel comes running up the path, dripping with sweat and his bronze sword by his side. He wipes the sweat from his forehead.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.” He says under his breath.

Ryo stares at him then places his head back against the chair.

“Hey! I know you can talk. Enough of the silent treatment.” Axel steps up onto the porch. “Also, I’m surprised those burns and minor cuts healed as fast as they did.”

“What…do you expect…me to do?” He speaks through haggard breaths.

Axel, completely oblivious, finally notices Ryo’s flush face. He winces in pain, sweat rolling down the side of his face. His whole body heating up like a fire. Beside him, Axel places his hand on his forehead but pulls it back quickly.

“Why do you keep having a fever this high!?” Axel raises his voice.

Between his breaths, Ryo squints his eyes at Axel, glaring at him. From the bottom of his feet to his head, the constant movement of pain grows like it’s twisting his insides, looking for some way to release itself. Unable to get comfortable in the spot, Ryo rolls to the side almost out of the seat. Axel catches him with his right arm.

“What is going on?” He brings Ryo’s arm around his neck. “We need to get this fever back down.”

He helps Ryo to his feet and drags him back into the house. From the spot where Ryo sat, a light green mist rises from the wooden chair, dissipating when another wind gust rushes over the porch.