“The time we spent in Alti was equivalent to what we lost in our modern era. That by itself is interesting. It also complicates our return. Where does one say they have gone for nearly a year? Our bodies bear the scars of our experiences. So do our minds. We can’t fool everyone.”

~ Bek Trent, M.A.S.O

Bek stood on the stairwell, looking down at his mother. She was slowly sifting through the bookshelf, pulling out only a few books that he recognized from years ago. It was not long before she turned to look at him, frowned, and then walked slowly to the suitcase.

“Why are you lurking there?” she asked, setting the books inside, “your father used to do that, too. He’d come home from some international conference or symposium, and then stand their gawking while I did all the work.”

Bek smiled slightly and went to join her at the coffee table.

“Most of these are his books,” he observed.

“They’re the only ones with any value,” his mom said dryly, “and I can only fit so much in the car.”

“So you’re taking books?”

“You know why, Bek.” His mom smoothed her dress as she sat back wearily on the couch, sighing. “So, are you going to tell me where you’ve been, or do we need to wait for Silver? She looked like she was at the end of her rope, to be honest with you. Most of us are, these days.”

“First, tell me where you’re going,” Bek said. “I saw two more suitcases upstairs. You’re not planning on coming back, are you.”

“Of course not,” his mom paused, staring at him for a moment, before she said, “You didn’t hear that they announced a city-wide evacuation two days ago, did you.” It was more a statement than a question, so Bek held his tongue as she continued. “That’s a surprise. Normally, you know all of this weeks before I do. From what the news is saying, in a little over a month this place could be under water. I’m heading inland tomorrow, farther from the coast. We were hit by a bad earthquake last week – cracked the foundation under the kitchen – and nearer the coast, it was worse. Just two hours from here, the cities have been all but demolished, and with the tsunami...of course, there’s no way to see the extent of the wreckage, since everything’s completely underwater. Thousands of people are currently homeless, or worse. Seattle’s a mess.”

“What?” Bek asked, not hiding his surprise. His mom flipped the lid of the suitcase shut, shaking her head.

“Things haven’t been going well here. The internet’s been down for nearly two months now. We’re lucky if we have electricity and basic cable, but it’s in and out. I watch the president’s addresses when I can, or the news. Earthquakes and flooding have been the worst of our worries here, but…things aren’t getting better. The authorities tried to airlift aid into the parts of the cities that are underwater, but they keep losing helicopters and planes. The news stations all have competing stories about sun spots and broken cell towers and all sorts of ludicrous things disrupting our navigation systems, but all of it is hard to believe. The only ones who’ve managed to get anyone to safety were working with the MASO, and I strongly suspect magic was involved. The airports are closed, all flights grounded. The only way in or out of town is by car, bus, or train – or rowboat, if you’re too slow.”

His mom looked at him, eyes shadowed. “The MASO knows something. There’s a warning out that the wildlife in the region is being affected by the natural disasters, coming into human cities and neighborhoods in search of food and shelter, but every magic-user with half a brain knows better. It’s the mythical beasts. Things are resurfacing that we didn’t even believe existed anymore, and they’re killing people…how many have been mauled by bears in the last month alone? I’ve lost count. Who knows if the beasts that killed them were even actually bears?”

“You said you’re leaving tomorrow?” Bek confirmed. His mom nodded.

“Now tell me. What is this about? Where were you?” she asked.

“We were in another country. There’s too much to tell, right now, but I need your help.”

After a brief pause, his mom leaned back, sighing for a second time. “What do you need, Bek? I know you would never ask unless you had no other choice.”

“Mom,” he paused, “you told me that you met my father while studying memory manipulation on a grant from the MASO.”

“That was a long time ago,” his mom reminded him. Bek waved her words away. “It doesn’t matter. Someone performed a very powerful spell on Silver to seal a large portion of her memories. I have reason to believe that spell is slowly unraveling.”

His mom’s eyes widened as the implications of what he was saying sunk in. She looked uncomfortably towards the stairs, as if checking that Silver was out of hearing range.

“Why?” she asked softly, “why would they do that? The risks are tremendous. There must have been a reason.”

“Silver knows something,” Bek agreed carefully, “She was the reason the MASO placed me in the high school here. I was supposed to investigate her family.”

“No,” his mom said disbelievingly.

“They had some sort of secret. Every one of them had a false identity, including Silver. I don’t know who she is, but I have my suspicions. If I’m right, she may have something to do with everything that’s happening right now. The flooding, the evacuation—”

“Bek, that’s impossible. There isn’t enough magic in the world to affect the weather this way.”

“There’s one place where that isn’t true,” Bek said, knowing his mom would understand.

“Bek, your father—”

“He was right.” His mom fell silent, staring at him, shaking her head slowly. She had never believed that Alti, as it was described in legend and myth, had really existed. There was certainly no way she would believe it still existed, protected by the magic of dragons that had lived seven centuries before.

“None of it is real,” she finally said.

“Is that why you’re taking these books? Because you think he was wrong? Or is it because you’re afraid he was right?” Bek asked, gesturing at the suitcase, “Mom, I need you to talk to Silver. I need you to help her. If everything you’ve told me and everything I’ve read about memory manipulation is right, when this spell falls apart, it could do serious damage.”

“And do you care because you want to help her, or because you want to know what she knows?” his mom asked sharply. “This isn’t something to take lightly. If what you said is true, that girl needs to see a real doctor. She needs you to take her back to the MASO and tell them what’s happening. It might be the only way she comes out of this sane.”

“I can’t do that,” Bek said softly.

“And why not?” his mom demanded. Bek met her gaze, knowing his expression said everything he needed to. By the look in her eyes, she understood.

He was not sure what the MASO would do if they found out who Silver really was.

“Whatever they do to her, Bek, it might be better than what happens if her memories don’t re-integrate properly. I don’t think you really understand the risk you’re taking here. People in her circumstances are in a particularly precarious situation. Silver doesn’t have a strong support structure to keep her from fixating on the past. If she were one of my patients from years ago, the first thing I would have recommended would be the establishment of a very rigorous routine, and I doubt that’s possible for her right now, either. Second would have been a controlled re-introduction of stimulus we would expect to trigger her memories…”

They both fell silent then, though Bek could tell that his mom was thinking deeply. When she finally raised her eyes back to his, they were determined. “I’ll do what I can to help her, but she needs professional help. At least tell me that you understand that.”

“I do,” he agreed heavily.

“And you’ll find it for her as soon as you can. Swear it to me, Bek. She watched her family die in a terrible way. I don’t want to see her suffer anymore.”

“I swear,” Bek said, wondering himself if it was a lie. That depended on the rest of their conversation.

After that, they spoke a little longer, him answering questions as his mother asked why he believed the enchantment was weakening. She pursed her lips grimly when he described their meeting with the mur, and not merely because he had to explain what exactly they were, and what abilities they possessed. It seemed Silver’s fainting spells disturbed her. It disturbed her more that Silver seemed to have not recognized him the last time she passed out. Bek had not told Silver that she was the only one who had been rendered unconscious by their trip through time.

When Silver finally appeared at the top of the stairs, both of their eyes trailed to her.

“Let me speak with her awhile when you’re done with your questions, Bek,” his mom said softly. “I’ll see what I can do.”