"Excuse me?" I said, frowning, and glancing around the room in a slightly nervous manner. My companions had similarly confused and panicked looks on their faces. It was play time. "Who are you? Where are we?"
The man walked around the desk, and leaned back on it, crossing his arms.
"Of course, you don't remember anything anymore," he said, sounding disappointed. He shook his head with a sigh. "Can't be helped I suppose, the magic is what it is."
"I'm sorry, magic?" asked Rosa, her face distorting into a scared frown. It didn't suit her, but the illusion was compelling. "W-what magic? What's going on?"
"Don't worry, child, everything will be explained. There is no need to be scared," the man said, his voice comforting but also incredibly infuriating. The urge to punch him in the face intensified, and I still had no idea who he was. On the surface he seemed polite and considerate, even nice. But I couldn't shake the feeling he was anything but. The man snapped his fingers, and a guard stepped forward. "I wish to talk to Nicolas and Maya," he said, looking straight at me. "Take the other two to the main room and make sure they're-"
He'd stopped, his eyes widening and mouth hanging slightly open and for a moment I couldn't understand why. Then I registered the feeling of cloth in my clasped hand. I looked to the side, slowly, and saw my fist grabbing onto Avani's coat sleeve. I followed the arm up and met his eyes. He looked as surprised as I felt. I hadn't even noticed I'd grabbed onto him.
"Nicolas," the man said slowly. I looked around and then looked at him. I didn't have to pretend to be confused this time. "Do you know that man?"
"I... I, uh," I stuttered. The man's eyes were narrowed and his expression was unreadable. "I don't... know?" I tried. "I can't really... remember." I paused, my eyes flicking towards Avani for a second. "We... we crossed the river... together... I think."
"I see," said the man, thoughtful. He stayed silent for a while. "Perhaps it's best I don't separate you four at this time. I understand you are confused and uncertain, and I wish to show you there is no need to be scared. If staying together gives you piece of mind at this time, that is exactly what i want to give to you." He snapped his fingers again. "Take them all to the main room. Offer them what they need, and make sure they're taken care of. I'll send someone out in a moment."
The guard saluted and then turned towards us. "This way," he said, and gestured for us to go back outside. We hesitated for a moment, but then turned to leave.
"I do still wish to have a chat with the two of you," called the man as we were leaving. I turned my head back. He was smiling. "Nicolas, Maya." I didn't like the name.
The door slammed closed and I could see the man no more.
~x~
We were lead through a different corridor, deeper into the building. Occasionally there would be a window, which showed either the woods outside, or a large indoor courtyard/garden. Everything was bare though, since it was winter, but the snow was plentiful, a thick while blanket spread across the ground. We turned again, and came to a hallway with dozens of doors with numbers on them. At the other end I could see a large room opening up.
A very large room, I noted when we finally emerged from the countless corridors of the building. It seemed to be some kind of common room - the main room, the man had called it, hadn't he? - with tables, couches, and bookshelves all around the room. There was a fireplace in one corned, made from white stone, marble most likely, and in front of it were three plush looking chairs. The room was tall, as well as wide, and along the walls were statues of humanoid creatures with wings and two sets of arms. They towered over the room, watching over everything that happened.
The room was also occupied by over a dozen people. They all turned to look at us when we arrived. Their faces split up into smiles when they saw Meera and me, and they quickly surrounded us, calling out our names. Our... wrong names.
"Nick! Maya! You've come back!" one was saying.
"Where did you go off to?" said another.
"You've been gone for months, Maya, got us really worried!" said a third.
I was very baffled, as was Meera next to me, and the crowd only dispersed after the guard loudly cleared his throat and told everyone to give us some room.
"They came over the river, they no longer remember anything!" he also said, and the faces of everyone present fell.
"Sorry..." I muttered, feeling bad for them. We had been here for years after all, we'd probably known all these people pretty well.
"That's okay, it's not your fault," said a woman with long brown hair. It was pulled up into a top-knot, with a few loose strands falling on her shoulder. "We're all just glad you're safe and sound. We had no idea what had happened to you after all."
I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but a door to the side opened up at that moment, and an old looking man with a puffy white beard and bushy eyebrows walked through. All the people in the room bowed to him, and the guard snapped into attention. He waved his hand good-naturedly, and then walked up to us.
"Nicolas, Maya, how good to have you back," he said with a smile. "And how great to have new people join us as well. Tell me, do you recall your names?"
Avani seemed surprised to be addressed suddenly, but Rosa was quick on the uptake. "Not really, sir... Everything seems to be kind of... fuzzy."
"That's alright, child, that's the way with everyone at first," said the old man. "What about you, young man?" he asked Avani. "Do you remember anything?"
"Uh," said Avani. "I... I remember the river. And... music. But..." He shook his head slightly.
"Very well," said the man. "First things first, you need to be named. Please, kneel." Avani and Rosa glanced at each other, then at me and Meera, and then slowly, knelt in front of the man. I bit my lip. The man lifted a hand to hover over both of their heads.
There was a silence as everyone waited with baited breath for something to happen. It felt like forever and it was excruciating.
"By the power vested in me by the Leader," the man's booming voice suddenly filled the room. "I hereby present you new names, and welcome you to your new life as part of the Other. Rise, now, Pearl," he placed the hand on Rosa's head, "and Miles," the other hand landed on Avani. The two of them hesitated, and then stood up as the hands lifted from their heads.
The corner of my eye was twitching and I forced it to stop. The group of people crowded around Rosa and Avani to congratulate them and the old man stepped back a bit to let them. I walked over to him.
"Excuse me, but what just happened?" I asked. He looked up at me and smiled again.
"Ah, Nicolas," he said. "I heard you've lost your memory too. How unfortunate... I am Christoph, the Namer. I give all new ones the names they shall be known by in their new lives. I was the one who gave you your name, once upon a time."
"But... don't we already have names?" I asked. "What about those?"
Christoph shook his head, his bread swaying from side to side.
"Those are not important anymore," he said, a odd kind of certainty in his voice. How could they not be important? "Everyone here is turning a new leaf, starting a new life, and so everyone gets a new name."
"I... see," I said, not knowing what else to say. I wanted to protest, but I thought it would raise suspicions.
"Ah, well, I'm afraid I must take my leave now," said Christoph and patted me on the back. "The Instructor will be here in a moment to tell you what happens next."
He left, without waiting for a reply. Not that I was keen on giving him one. He, too, seemed like a perfectly nice man, but the way he talked about the lives we'd left behind sent a chill down my spine. How could he be so nonchalant? Most of the people here had had a life on the other side, families, loved ones... And now they were here and everyone else was stuck on the other side, mourning, not knowing what had happened, or if they would ever see them again. How terrible it must be.
I looked over to Avani, and saw him looking at me. He looked understanding, and relieved, and almost like he knew exactly what I was thinking. I sighed and smiled at him. Rosa walked up to me and sighed as well, tired.
"I don't like my new name," she whispered and made a face.
"That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet," I said.
"What," Rosa said. I glanced down at her. She looked at me like I'd suggested the sky was green and the ground was blue. I shrugged.
The brunette from earlier walked up to us.
"I didn't introduce myself earlier," she said, sticking out her hand. I took it. Her shake was firm. "My name is Lotta. I live in the room next to Maya's."
"Nice to meet, er, re-meet you, I suppose," I said. She gave me a sad smile.
"Such a shame you can't remember anything..." she said. "Well, as soon as Instructor Manfred gets here, he'll teach you everything you need to know."
"Who is this... Instructor?" I asked.
"He's a teacher, of sorts," said Lotta. "He should be here any minute now."
A grandfather clock chimed from the corner of the room, indicating it was noon. The door opened on the dot, and a man walked through. He had an almost regal aura, his white hair sleeked back along his head and his brow seemed to be etched into a permanent frown. His icy cold eyes searched the room, before they fell on me and I shivered. His steps were determined and brisk, like he didn't want to waste any time or energy.
"Good luck~" called Lotta as she ducked out of the way. Meera and Avani joined Rosa and I as we were confronted my Instructor Manfred.
________________________________________________________
Merry Christmas, y'all! I know I'm super late but yesterday was kind of a hectic day and I didn't really have proper time to write. Except in the evening but everyone else was going to bed and I really didn't feel like writing until.... two in the morning anyhow. But yeh, we're gonna be writing two (??) more parts I think. Until Boxing day. Probably. Unless Mutu wants to end this today, in which case be my guest.
Anyway. I hope you have a great holidays everyone! Th next topic isssssss "Creation".
Pie out.
P.S. Mutu accidentally used the names of the Ace Attorney main characters for Meera and Akash's fake names, so I shamelessly ripped everyone's names from the games hahahahahahahahahaa.
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