My vision comes to and I find myself tied down to a chair. A person with a blurry face starts to near me with something in his hand. My eyes close and when I reopen them the person is holding onto my hand and I look down to see him bringing a device near my fingers that then grips onto my nail and starts to peel it back. As the pain courses through my body I start to scream and jolt forwards to find myself sitting up in a bed.

I pant erratically as I collect my thoughts, “Another nightmare? But every time the pain feels so real.”. I calmed myself down before taking a look around me. The room around me had a nightstand with my sword resting against it and the bed I was sitting on..

As I situated myself, the door flew open followed by a lady’s voice “Are you okay!? I heard screaming and quickly rushed over!” and in came a young lady who couldn’t be more than seventeen. She had long brown hair and on the left side there was a braid going down with a small bow at the end. She had emerald green eyes that had a worried look as she gazed at me. She donned a green tunic with a white chemise below and a brown corset on top. She had a belt with a book and a quill strapped to it which rested upon brown pants that disappeared below a pair of black boots which rode up to her calves.

The lady comes closer to the bed and I instinctively grab my sword and point it at her. She quickly jumps back while saying “I mean no harm! I wouldn’t hurt the person who saved me!”.

With my sword still pointing towards her I say in a cold voice “I didn’t save anyone… Where am I? Who are you?”.

While I was glaring at the lady a man came into the room while saying “Is everything okay in here Chelsey? I heard shou--”. He abruptly stopped upon seeing my sword pointing towards the one named Chelsey and quickly put his hand on the sword that was strapped to his waist.

The lady quickly stops him while telling him “It’s okay! He’s only confused; I can’t blame him for not trusting me!”. She then does a curtsy followed up with “My name is Chelsey Hishtof and I’m from a family of rich merchants!” she pauses for a moment “Well… we used to be...” she says as her voice trails off. Chelsey then promptly says “And this is Vaero--”.

“Vaero Trusley.” The man says interrupting Chelsey. “I suggest you lower your sword or else I’ll have to resort to violence, even if Chelsey tries to stop me.” he says with a rude tone and rests his hand on his sword once more.

While I start glaring at him Chelsey quickly injects “Why are you being so rude! On the trip to the village you wouldn’t keep quiet about his fight with the wolves!” and Vaero looks to the side with a snarl, his face slightly embarrassed.

I start to put things together with the man named Vaero’s familiar face and the mention of wolves. I lower my sword and put it against the night stand. I then grab my left shoulder and notice the bandages wrapped around my shoulder and body. As I was looking around my body Chelsey said breaking the silence “I wrapped up your arm after we got back into the carriage but there were way more wounds than I thought there was going to be!” she then continues “Luckily I was bringing medical supplies to sell here so I was able to tend your wounds right away. ”. “It really seemed like you’ve been through countless fights.” she then paused wondering if I’d answer her.

“One hundred days… I finally found a road after one hundred days…” I murmured to myself as I looked down.

Both of them looked at me in astonishment followed by Chelsey mentioning “If you came from that forest along that road; it must have been really dangerous!” “I’m surprised you survived but that would explain all of your wounds.”. She then asks with curiosity “Why were you there in the first place?”.

I looked to the side and sigh and peered back at them while I shrugged and shook my head. “Then do you know where you came from before that?” Chelsey questions. I try my hardest to remember any reasons why I was in that forest but just drew a blank slate.

I shake my head again “I don’t remember… the only thing I remember is my sword, yet I don’t remember owning a blade as red as mine.” I say as I look at the blade that gives me a familiar yet not so familiar feeling. Before they say anything else I grab my sword and get out of the bed.

Vaero then with his hand tightening onto his sword voiced out “What do you think you’re doing? If you do anything stupid, like I said, even if Chelsey trys to stop me; I won’t.” and he starts to lower himself into a stance.

I lazely look over to him and answer “I’m leaving, my wounds have healed; so I’ll be getting out of here now.” and I start walking towards the two infront of the door.

Vaero then relaxes a bit, seeming happy that I’m finally leaving but it was short lived when Chelsey sticks her hand in my way “Wait! You’re just going to leave half naked like that? At least let me give you some clothing and treat you to lunch; I want to repay you for helping us!” she then adds “I bet you haven’t had a proper meal since you’ve been in the forest.”

My gaze rested on Chelsey and said “I saved you from the wolves and you treated my wounds; you have already made it up to me with that.”.

Chelsey’s eyes widened a bit as she rested a finger on her lower lip and said “So you do remember helping us!” she then adds “If anything we would have been dead if you didn’t show up; I trust and believe in Vaero but the wolf pack leader was clever and was even able to use magic!” my whole body irked at the words of trust, not really knowing why.

“No, there is no need, you basically saved me too by treating my wounds.” I mention.

“What do you mean? I did say I treated your other wounds but if anything they were already almost healed, even the ones that looked severe.” she claimed before adding “Also i’m a merchant from the great Hishtof family, and we always make sure to keep up our side of the bargain!” she announces as she crosses her arms and strikes a pose of confidence.

I glance towards her for a few seconds before continuing towards the door again while declaring “No, in my eyes your end of the bargain is already paid for in full. I’ll take my leave now.” but as I passed the two my stomach growled loudly and I stopped for a moment in emberracement.

A coy smile rests on Chelsey’s face as she voices out “Are you hungry? I mean anyone would after being passed out for a full day.” she adds in quickly after “Come on, just have lunch with us; I promise you that we are not bad people!”.

For some reason the last part of what she said irked at me. I thought for a moment trying to figure out why it did before giving up and giving her the answer she wanted and with that Chelsey had a big grin on her face with Vaero not so much. “Let's not waste any more time and go down to the dining hall!” she says gleefully and walks out the room with a spring in her step and with a sigh escaping Vaero’s mouth he starts to follow her out.

Before they were fully out of view Chelsey stops and turns around “Oh right, I guess you can’t go out like that. I hope you don’t mind but that I threw away that cloak you had on, it was riddled with holes and rips.” she raises a finger to her lip for a moment while thinking. I peer at her and when she notices my gaze she quickly says “Wait just one moment; I think I have something that will work great for you!” and she turns around and walks off.

After Chelsey was not in the area Vaero then turns to me “Chelsey may trust you but I can’t, especially not someone who says they don’t even remember anything.” he claims in a cold manner before turning around and leaving the room.

I closed the door and turned around, my gaze fixing on the crimson blade. I think back to when I first woke up in the forest; I was laying on the ground with this sword wrapped up in cloth and a note on top. When I checked the note it had a name written on it, Serval Grue . There was then a knock on the door followed by it being open.

Chelsey walked in holding a pile of clothes while saying “I picked you out this cloak, it’s crimson like your sword.”. She hands me the clothes and as I grab them she mentions “I’m sorry about Vaero. He’s normally nice but because he saw you pointing your sword at me he’s just being careful.”. I take the clothing and she adds “He might not trust you right now but just give him a moment, he’ll warm up!”.

I peer into her eyes while questioning “And you trust me?”. I felt a pang in my heart as the word trust leaves my mouth.

She promptly answers “Of course! You saved us, like I said before we were no match for those wolves, even if Vaero didn’t slip and get hurt, the leader was strong.”. She pauses for a moment before adding “Even Vaero himself said that it would be very hard. But you, you killed four wolves so easily!”.

As she finishes I ask her another question “Why are you giving me all these clothes and treating me to food.”.

She replies with “Like I said, you saved us and I live by my family's motto and always pay back in full!”. Chelse then voices “But there is one thing I want to ask.” she pauses for a moment “Will you become one of my guards while you try to remember the memories you lost? Of course I’ll pay as well!”.

I close my eyes and answer “No.”.

I then hear Chelsey say “Ok, I won’t try to force you.” I open my eyes as she changes the topic “Anyways, I’ll be in the dining hall. Let me know if any of those clothes don’t fit.”. She starts to walk out of the room but stops and turns around one more time and says with a smile “Thank you for saving us.” she turns around and walks out of the room, closing the door behind.