Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 47: Memories

Since Analiese’s and Marie’s matters were already settled, Fedrich took Dan away. Although the twins are smart, they are yet to know this kind of matter, so they only thought that their father would be working for Fedrich. Because Analiese can’t be stimulated, Dan immediately left after bidding her and Marie goodbye. Fedrich, to comfort them, said that they can also visit Dan.

Meanwhile, Leui and Gie are walking together with Mhir while Gie pointed at the establishments in the Capital in which Leui might visit. “Leui.” Gie called.

“Yes?” Leui answered as he ate the bread that he and Mhir brought.

Mhir was almost gobbling up the bread because it is very delicious.

“How much do you remember?” Gie asked.

Leui pondered over it. “My memories start when I fell down from a cliff. Then, Mhir and her father found me while they were looking for herbs.” He answered, and then paused. “I don’t remember anything about my family, or my human friends.” He said and looked at Gie who stopped. “My memories only consist of the Other Shore, from that point on.” He honestly told him.

Gie looked at Leui for a while before he took a deep breath. “We became friends only later, when we were still studying.” He spoke. “But, at some point, you started behaving weirdly.” He said.

“’behaving weirdly’? How?” Leui asked. “And why would I behave weirdly?” he added, puzzled.

“I don’t know what happened to you. We were getting along well with each other when, suddenly, one day, you distanced yourself from me.” The corners of Gie’s lips fell as he looked at Leui. His eyes are filled with accusation. But, since Leui’s puzzled expression looked genuine, he just looked away and sadly sighed.

“I distanced myself…?” Leui muttered as his eyes widened in disbelief. Why did he do that? He thought as he lowered his head to ponder about this matter.

There are only two things a person would distance himself from the others: one, the others did something wrong to him. Two, he did something wrong to them.

Leui raised his head and looked Gie in the eye. “Did I do something to you?” he asked.

Gie looked like he didn’t do anything wrong. So, that leaves Leui. It must be him who did something wrong. And he doesn’t have his memories right now. He also remembered that he was in the Other Shore when he woke up, while Gie is in the human kingdom. It must be him, then. He did something wrong and then went to the Other Shore out of remorse. He felt guilty so he chose to leave.

Gie shook his head. “You didn’t do anything wrong towards me.” He answered.

Leui was surprised. “If I didn’t do anything, then, why did I leave?” he asked. “Why did I go to the Other Shore?” he added, feeling puzzled.

“I don’t know. You never told me anything.” Gie sighed. Then, he patted Leui’s shoulder when he saw that the other’s expression looked ugly. It’s really bad to lose your memories.

The helplessness… the confusion…

“Be at ease. I think that you didn’t do anything wrong.” Gie told him. “I know you. You aren’t a bad person. There must be some reason why you ended up there.” he said, referring to the Other Shore.

“I think so, too.” Mhir who was silently listening on the side spoke. She chewed the bread before she resumed speaking. “When we found Leui, he didn’t have anything dangerous on him, nor was he wounded or heavily injured. He’s as clean as he can be.” she said.

Leui sighed in relief. If he was a bad person, he would definitely reveal something through his habits or the way he is living. But, he has been living in the Other Shore for five years, and he can see from the reaction and treatment of the others around him that his character is good. So, why did he go to the Other Shore? He could’ve stayed in the human kingdom. Was there a need to go there? If there is, then what is it?

The more he thinks, the more puzzled he gets.

“Let’s go. I’ll show you my place.” Gie spoke, breaking Leui’s thoughts.

Leui raised his head and nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry to bother you.” He told him.

“Let’s go, go, go!” Mhir happily said as she pulled the two men.

You don’t even know where Gie is living, so why are you the one pulling us? Leui thought as he looked at Mhir before he helplessly smiled.

…

“You’re right! It’s really nice here!” Leui spoke as he looked around Gie’s place.

The lighting is bright and there’s enough sunlight passing through the window. Behind is a wide expanse of green. On the windowsill are flowering vines crawling, enhancing the beauty of the place.

“How much is the rent?” Leui asked as he placed his luggage on the side.

“There is no rent.” Gie spoke. Before any of them could speak, he continued. “I own the place.” He told them.

Leui was surprised. “You’re really…” he grinned.

Gie smiled back. “There is only one room available, and that’s for the lady.” He said and pointed to Mhir who was curiously looking around. “So, we have to squeeze in one room together. Don’t worry. There are two beds, so it won’t be crowded and you can sleep peacefully at night. I don’t snore, either.” He told Leui.

Leui shrugged. “Anything’s fine with me.” He said. “I already troubled you enough…” he remembered that not only Gie wouldn’t charge Dan’s family for Analiese’s check-ups, but he would also hire Marie. He sighed, full of emotion. “Thank you very much.” He told Gie.

Gie nodded and then turned to Mhir. “Let’s go to your room and see if you’ll like it.” he told her.

“Okay!” Mhir excitedly answered and ran outside.

“So energetic.” Gie smiled.

Leui chuckled as he followed them outside. Although he is going to the human kingdom, he still feels strange. After all, he has lived in the Other Shore for a long time and the change in the environment would still bring him some discomfort. That’s why he is very thankful that Mhir followed him. After all, despite the ones he will be meeting are of the same race with him, they are still strangers to him. On the other hand, he is very familiar with Mhir, a dwarf.

So, he was very surprised to meet not only Dan and his family, as well as Fedrich, Melton and the knights, but also Gie, his friend whom he had forgotten. Life is really full of surprises, and this time, it is a pleasant surprise. Although he was already content in living in the Other Shore, he knew, deep in his heart, that he wanted to know his past that he had forgotten. And that is one of the reasons why he is going to the human kingdom.

…

In the deep of the night, a pair of bright eyes opened in the darkness. The owner of the eyes turned and looked at the person sleeping on the other bed beside him. That person is sleeping deeply, like a log, because he was wasted after he drank so much earlier that night.

Gie slowly sat up from his bed. On the other side of the wall is Mhir. Marie, Analiese and the twins will be staying in the house beside this apartment he owns. Marie knows how to bake whole Analiese knows how to arrange flowers, so having a house will make setting up their businesses easier.

Gie looked at Leui for a long time. He got off of his bed, and then silently walked towards Leui. “So, you’ve really forgotten everything.” He muttered as he looked at Leui’s sleeping face. He felt complicated emotions occupying his heart as he looked at Leui sleeping peacefully. “He really trusts me so much.” He sadly smiled before he walked out of the bedroom and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. “Rui… so you’re now called ‘Leui’.” He sighed as he placed the glass of water on the kitchen counter. “To even forget your name… and even forget – “ he took a deep breath. “ – that you’re not from this world… and so am I.” he closed his eyes.

He and Leui met during their college years and they stayed in the same dorm. Gie took up a medical course since he came from a medical family while Leui took up arts. Leui should’ve taken up a business course, but because his stepmother is afraid that Leui would fight for his father’s inheritance and rob his stepbrother, he forced Leui to take arts. It was sympathy that he felt that urged Gie to befriend Leui who looked gloomy, so no one wanted to befriend him despite his good looks.

Gie didn’t know that it would be this friendship that would push him to this situation. Yes. It was because of Leui that he came to this world.