In Search Of Well — series

Volume One: "BLUE DEMON (Source of Water)"

— CHAPTER FOUR —

"The Kariel Family & the Lost Soul" [PART I]

Sofia stared wide-eyed at the stranger, “W-Who are you?” She stammered.

The woman chuckled softly, “I was about to ask you the same thing.” she said with a smile, “Perhaps, a little more friendly.”

“What do you mean?” Sofia frowned, just as she thought back to the artificial voice she’d heard earlier. She  wondered, Was it… her voice? Or is this the ‘owner’ it spoke of?

Questions swirled within her, tangling like threads. Her words caught in her throat when she struggled to find any, feeling like an intruder in a stranger’s home.

Her gaze darted across the balcony, searching for something, anything, to ground her restless focus. It wasn’t long before her eyes settled on the woman inside the room. 

And for a moment, Sofia began absorbing the vivid details of her appearance: stylish black boots paired with her charcoal and crimson high collared outfit that shimmered like metal yet moved with the softness of wool, adorned with neon patterns dancing across the fabric, exuding an aura of futuristic elegance. A pink jacket hung to her shoulders, reflecting light with every subtle motion, while her scarlet hair cascaded over her shoulder and down her back like a waterfall of fire.

Anyhow, Sofia spoke at last, breaking the quiet. “I… I am sorry,” her voice trembled. “I don’t remember how I got here. I just,” her gaze dropped down only to stare at nothing. “I can’t remember anything. Do you know anything about me?” she asked, nervously.

The woman, her gaze softened with empathy like the warmth of spring after a long, cold winter. Her lips parted slightly as she studied Sofia’s state, noticing her shaky hands, the shallow rise and fall of her chest, and the way she stood rooted to a spot she seemed desperate to flee from.

“Why apologize?” The woman said, her voice soothing. “Take it easy, I’m the one who brought you here.” With a reassuring smile, she moved to a sleek side table beside the bed.

Sofia raised an eyebrow. “Brought where?”

“In my home,” the woman replied, glancing back over her shoulder and gesturing out toward the sprawling cityscape behind Sofia. “In the city of Megma.” 

Sofia turned to look at the panorama before her. Her eyes briefly widened, staying between the cityscape and the stranger.

Apparently, the furturistic mansion, the house of the Kariel that Sofia found herself within was nestled on a hieght, a hill, offering her much of an expansive view of Megma, with only fog obscuring parts of the city and beyond.

“Fascinating, isn’t it?” The woman said, a hint of pride laced in her voice, though it swiftly gone away as she noticed Sofia’s warry poise. “Maybe a... bit overwhelming for someone new.” She whispered, her eyes twinkled with amusement. “Well, I’m happy and surprised. Didn’t expect to see you alive—” she hesitated before adding quickly with a chuckle. “I mean, up and moving so soon. So energetically! But here you are,”

A mix of curiosity and mild confusion crossed Sofia’s features, she said, “What are you talking about?” She inhaled, composing herself before asking hesitantly, “And, who are you?”

The woman tapped the surface of that side table. A red light glowed along its edges, signaling its activation, and a soft hum resonated through the air. Not only that, but warmth radiated from the table like a gentle wave, shrouding the room and stretching even to the balcony where Sofia stood beneath the open sky—visibly astonished. She felt strange as the once-chilly wind turned quite comforting like a sheep’s embrace.

Did she just… control the weather? Sofia thought, glancing up at the sky, but the dense rainclouds remained unchanged.

I don’t think so…

Her attention shifted back to the woman, who was now waving her hand over the same table. This time, a ‘ring’ on her finger sparkled, causing a trail of light following her gesture like a tail of a comet. With a flick of her wrist, a glass of water materialized on the table, seemingly out of thin air.

The sophistication of the technology struck Sofia as magic. She stood momentarily breathless. A dozen of questions bubbled up within her, and they were on the verge of her tongue. But before she could speak, the woman made her way to the balcony.

“Wait—” the woman said, realizing. “Did you ask about me? Well, I am…” Her voice faltered mid-sentence, her gaze suddenly sharpened, and her expression grew serious like she’d spotted a crack in a polished mirror.

“Hey!”

“Hey?” Sofia tilted her head. “You’re called ‘Hey’? That’s pretty nasty of you…” she muttered, her face blank.

“No, I mean you! Why do you look pale?” The glass of water shook in the woman’s hand as she hurriedly approached Sofia. Her hand, gentle yet firm, moved Sofia’s face, examining her eyes which looked hazy, as though a layer of fog had settled over them, dulling their shine. 

“Mmuh-Wha’ ish pahhle?”

Sofia mumbled, her mouth struggled against the grip holding it.

“Your face.” The woman replied. “It looks so drained. And your eyes too.” Concern filled in her every movement. “Are you still feeling cold? Or hungry? Or, have you had a headache recently? Maybe some instant flashes of memory? Or… did you hear whispers haunting you?” Her questions poured out like a rapid stream, each one caught Sofia by surprise.

She was taken aback. 

Her thoughts twisted as her mind grasped what the woman uttered. 

How is that possible?! Sofia echoed within. Her voice erupted in a breathy whisper. “H-How could you guess that all? Precisely?”

“Ah, it’s just,” The woman intended to answer, but Sofia wasn’t finished. 

She cut her off like a sharp wind scattering the smoke. “Were you spying on me? Still, you can’t know what’s inside my head. What I felt. That’s impossible,” Her lips trembled, and her voice turned sharp as her surprise gave into genuine suspicion. “You summoned a glass out of nothingness, and you also changed the weather so easily! I ask, what are you?” She took a cautious step back, her breath quickening. “Some kind of witchcraft? Or am I just imagining things?” There was a flicker of unease in her eyes which darted around herself. Her words tumbled out in anxious murmurs. “What’s happening,” She grabbed her head, grimacing, as a dull ache likely pulsed within her temples.

“What! No, no…” the woman spoke, a hint of amusement mingled in her voice. “Relax. It’s not what you think, really.” She sighed, pausing for a moment to let her words sink in, added, “I’m just an ordinary person, like you! Name’s Serah Kariel.”

“Serah?” Sofia repeated the name twice, trying to anchor herself with something familiar now, even if it was just a name.

“Yup! That’s me.” Serah leaned closer, a gentle yet hesitant smile played on her lips as she extended the glass of water to Sofia.

And Sofia, she didn’t just take the glass—but almost snatched it from Serah’s grasp like a thirsty traveler finding a water source in the desert. She drank it in quick and greedy gulps, leaving water streaming down her chin.

“You know,” Serah’s voice slowed. “I didn’t want to confuse you, but I’ve been really curious to know about you…” She paused, noticing how Sofia seemed to measure her every word. “But, I’m not sure how much you recall,”

Sofia flinched slightly. “What do you mean?”

What do I mean?! Serah thought, realizing she was about to overwhelm Sofia. I shouldn’t say things she’s not ready to hear. But I don’t even know her name… what should I ask? Is she really affected by amnesia? She had already suspected that Sofia might be struggling with memory loss.

On the other hand, Sofia’s expression became distant as her mind raced. Could she have figured it out too? Could she explain why I can’t recall? She felt a sense of unease just at the thought of Serah asking her identity, since she was uncertain of it herself.

“Never mind.” Though Serah said quickly, brushing her nose with her index finger. “I’m… somewhat a psychologist.” Her smile brightened with pride, and she stood tall as if this fact made her stand an inch taller. Her eyes gleamed with child-like bliss, defying the fact she was actually twenty-two.

“I believe people’s thoughts are always in their behavior. And I can often sense what someone’s feeling just by watching them. That’s how I figured you out!” Serah sighed dramatically, tossing her hands up in a playful frustration. “But my brothers? Phew! I can never read them. They are so out of my league to decipher.”

“Brothers?” Sofia murmured, almost to herself.

Serah drew a breath, the scent of blossoms soothed her further despite her already calm demeanour. She looked around the balcony, gathering her thoughts. “I noticed you looked, well, uneasy when I came in.” She said lightly. “Waking up here must’ve felt… surreal. I think you’d been through some kind of unusual suffering.” She paused, added, “Not suffering! I mean, experiences. I could even tell it from your breathing.”

“My breathing?” Sofia blurted, confused.

“Ah, forget it." Serah waved her hand dismissively in an X shape, with a hesitant smile. “It’s nothing,” Yet she couldn’t help but notice the faint pale-gray shimmer around Sofia, a subtle hue she could sense but chose not to explain.

Sofia caught Serah’s eyes. “Do you mean,” she asked quietly, “these colors that follow me around?” 

“You’ve noticed?”  Serah blinked, surprised.

Sofia nodded, glancing around as if trying to catch the faint glow lingering in the corner of her vision. “Yes. I thought it was… an illusion, my delusion. But I couldn’t understand it.” She hesitated, uncertain, before adding almost shyly, “Actually, I’m not even sure what I’m saying. What is illusion, anyway?”

“It’s alright,” Serah chuckled softly, stepping toward the balcony’s edge and casting a glance back at Sofia with a thoughtful expression. “It’s something… phenomenal to this city.”

Sofia tilted her head. “Illusion?”

“No, no,” Serah’s voice slowed as she weighed how much to share. “The air of this city, Megma. It’s filled with reactive particles that respond to emotions every second. They manifest our feelings as colors—a sort of living aura. It’s as if the city itself is, somehow, aware of everyone in it. Of you too.” She offered a warm smile. “You’ll adapt to it. Just don’t give it too much of your attention.”

Sofia’s eyes widened, she exclaimed, “That’s epic!!”

Serah grinned, her excitement took over her as she continued, unable to hold back her explanations. “It is, absolutely! Each color in our exhale represents a part of us—our moods, our thoughts. Blush, for example, shows excitement, while a bright green also represents it, but likely the excitement that comes when a wish comes true. Violet, though that’s irony, dishonesty, or lies. And golden is for intense fear if I remember correctly, and,” She paused, suddenly realizing she was rambling and laughed. Her cheeks bloomed with a delicate shade of rose pink. “Sorry about that. I must sound a bit too chatty.” A self-deprecating smile appeared on her face.

…Well, I am quite chatty.

Sofia blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Um, what?” She realized a little too late that Serah had been speaking. 

“Never mind,” Serah tilted her head, as though pondering a silent thought. I wonder what quieted whatever she’s feeling? She’s not as wary as before… she wondered, watching the tension in Sofia’s posture eased. Her hands relaxed by her sides, unclenched. The once suspicion in her gaze has dulled, replaced by a tentative curiosity. And so, her once cautious stance, melted like a drop of honey dissolving into a warm tea. 

Sofia’s gaze followed Serah’s only to colectively gaze beyond the balcony at the sight of sprawling cityscape, magically alive as it was glowing softly under the dim sky.

“This city,” Serah murmured, her voice as gentle as the breeze that whispered past them, tousling the strands of their hair. She leaned against the balcony’s edge, gazing out at the shimmering skyline before speaking like one might speak of an old friend, or certainly, home. “We call it the Land of Serenity.”

The words lingered in the air, carrying a weight Sofia couldn’t quite name. Her face wore a lost expression as she  was still hesitant to look down at the glassy boundary, knowing her reflection carries nothing but the void, an unfamiliar presence.

“I feel... strange ever since I woke up.” Sofia finally admitted. Her voice, barely more than a whisper, caught Serah's attention. “I have nothing to remember," she continued. "nothing to hold on to about myself. And with all this  overwhelming me, it's like,” Her grip tightened on the glass in her hand as she struggled to find words again. Her other hand trembled, fingers clenching the fabric of her hoodie. “My memories are gone.” She raised her eyes to Serah, as if looking for the answer on her face. “How is that even possible?”

Serah let out a soft sigh, her voice deliberate as she spoke. “I didn’t want to believe it, but feared this might happen, after how badly you were injured,” 

“Injured?” Sofia’s confusion deepened.

Serah nodded solemnly. “You were in coma for two,” she explained, her tone softened. “I’ve been waiting for you to wake up, hoping you’d tell me who you are and what happened.” 

“Two months?” Sofia repeated, her voice rose with urgency. “Coma? Wait, Serah. What are you saying? I’ve been asleep for two months?”

“Mhm!” Serah replied. “You’ve probably noticed the bandages around your head,” She took a step closer, her gaze fixed at Sofia’s forehead. “You were badly hurt when we found you. And your head…” She paused, as if the memory itself was too heavy to speak aloud. “There was so much blood.”

Sofia stared at her, stunned into silence. 

Found me...?

Serah continued, “I treated you the well I could. In my care, and the blessing… you healed faster than I expected."

Sofia reached for the bandages. Her fingers trembled as she touched them again. 

“There’s no need to keep them still,” Serah said, “Let me help you.” She moved cautiously, unwrapping the bandages from her head and revealing faint scars and stitches alike which felt severe as Sofia traced them with her fingertips. The wounds felt like a puzzle she couldn’t solve, couldn’t even find the pieces of. She stared at her hands, hoping to search for the answers as she tried to recall the source of her injuries, but she failed.

“How would I even live like this?” Sofia murmured, pulling her hood upon her head despite the warmth in the air. “How do I get back what I’ve lost? My memories? Who... am I even?”

Serah hesitated before placing a hand on Sofia’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out,” a reassuring smile tugged on her lips. “Everyone one will, all together. It might be concerning, or even terrifying to you. But you're not alone in this." she exhaled. "This illness is becoming so common nowadays. And there are many people, some I closely know. They’ve been struggling with amnesia just like you, with lost memories…” her tone grew a little too serious, “…since the dawn of apocalypse.”

TO BE CONTINUED —