Chapter 23 - part 3

Haiden avoided all eye contact with Screech after conjuring a sphere of light in his room. Dark shadows elongated across the green walls and across the young Wielder's face making his expression even more severe. The atmosphere in the room felt heavy and awkward, neither of them saying one word. Blue sister's light came down in a spectral cascade over the Academy while the clear sky revealed a sea of bright stars. The grounds were quiet and deserted making the silence in the room even more intense than it should've been.

I forgive. Screech finally said something, breaking the unbearable silence. His round body hovered on the other side across from Haiden. He slowly approached the young man as the substance of his existence pooled over but never trickling down past its deformed appendage.

I really didn't mean it, Screech. I don't know what had gotten into me. Haiden hugged his knees and tucked his face under his arms. He still couldn't look at Screech.

It's alright, Haiden. Screech apologize too. Going back and forth with a scrawny hand, uncertain whether to pat Haiden in comfort once again until finally deciding to do so. Static bounced around Haiden's head. I... he began. I have been regaining me-membreries...uh... memberings...knowings! Screech admitted.

Haiden looked up slowly at the grotesque face that stared back at him. His differently sized eyes made him quite the foul creature but despite his appearance Screech had always meant Haiden's best interest and he never lied. You have? Haiden asked feeling stupid, a pang of jealousy directed at Screech flourished in his heart, but quickly squashed the spiraling emotion.

His own memories of a life beyond the Academy and Regor were resumed to repeating awful nightmares and more feelings than experiences. At this point, he suspected that Danil, the one who had helped him regain the bits and pieces he had now and pushed Haiden to join the Academy, had lied to him. He had told Haiden that if he were to grow as a Wielder he would certainly regain the rest of his memories. Were they just empty words? Was his sole goal recruiting powerful Wielders for the Empire? He asked himself, but he couldn't possibly answer. He did not feel any closer to regaining any information, and from what Screech had sensed within Haiden he knew that his memories were taken, not forgotten - like his. The important question was by whom? Another question for which he had no answer. Haiden finally decided to look up and stop being so self absorbed and try to be happy for his friend.

Of course Screech would start to remember, it was just a matter of time for him.

Screech although could hear Haiden's internal monologue, he ignored it, giving him a perceived intimacy that he knew the young wielder needed. After he was done he answered the question that was first directed to him. I have. Not much. Bits, pieces, mostly places and sometimes even a face. But Screech can never see knowings with names.

Do you know who the faces are to you? Haiden asked intrigued.

Screech shook his head. Only that Screech knows she is important.

She?

Screech vigorously nodded in excitement. Yes. SHE. She fills Screech with something. Something important. Must find her.

Haiden leaned back from Screech's sudden burst of energy. Is that where you keep going? Searching for her?

Screech nodded again. Yes. YES! Must find her. But Screech don't know where. Screech sees places, from memories, but places no more. Places different.

The young wielder's eyes widened as Screech had once told him that he was from a "long time ago. Too long." and decided to see if he could now tell him a more accurate date, maybe he could find out for him what had happened to this woman that's important to him. She probably too is long passed but at least he could help him as an act of atonement for what he had done to the poor creature. You said you were from a long time ago, Screech. Things might have changed a lot since then. Do you remember how long that was?

Screech closed his eyes and scrunched up his face becoming a disc of wrinkles, his features being all swallowed up by his substance. His scrawny, bony hands reached to what Haiden thought to be his temples and they began rubbing in concentration. He grunted and squirmed almost as if he would pop.

Haiden stared at his friend for a while before: Well?

Screech sighed. No. But yes, long time ago. Before this, before all. Screech waved his arms around.

That doesn't help at all. Haiden sighed. Alright. Tell me everything you remember. Maybe I can help you find a trial.

You help Screech? He asked in awe and surprise, his eyes bulged almost popping out of their sockets.

That's the least I can do for you, Screech. You help me. I help you. Remember?

Yes! The creature twirled in the air and then around Haiden.

This is all wrong! He began. Shiny towers. But Screech sees none. Tall, and the sisters together. Screech knowings show Screech wide streets and faces Screech knows. One is important. She. She smiles at Screech and we walk and see pretty flower. Happy. I go away, I fight, when I come back she is gone. Nowhere. No more happy. Screech lost some of his altitude and fell in defeat.

Haiden felt sorry for the little guy, he reached out a hand and brushed Screech's head. It wasn't physical, but he could feel the static as he touched him. I'm sorry, Screech. He was sincere. Where have you been looking more exactly, are you sure it's this town? He pushed forward with the questioning. He was now very curious about finding out more about his friend.

Screech goes west from here, away from buildings, away from forests. West. Should be there, but Screech sees only water. No she, nowhere.

That's good! Screech, we can search in the library. Haide said excitedly.

Go tomorrow! The creature twirled again.

Not tomorrow, Screech. Tomorrow Trial, but after. He promised.

After! He flew towards Haiden to hug him but only passed through making Haiden shudder from the static of the condensed Fios that warranted a mild tell off and Screech apologize.

So, you said you fought? Haiden asked and Screech nodded.

Yes, great warrior Screech was. His lips widened across his face.

Haiden was taken aback by this, but it did make sense for Screech to have been someone capable of things deemed miracles in his time, the spells he had shown to Haiden were of a caliber that he, or anyone for that matter, had never seen before.

Speaking of great warriors...Tasgal had been missing, and he wasn't in his room. Haiden began, his face fell in a frown. I was desperate when I called you. I was worried, I'm sorry I stopped you from searching for her.

Screech shook his head. Is alright.

I thought you could look for him, I wanted to tell him about Coner.

Coner... Screech repeated. Bad guy. He shivered, his whole body jiggled along.

Yes, the bad guy. I saw him talk to Parvel, they're in it together. They are plotting something, Screech. They're doing some experiments! Haiden's mind became alert, he remembered what was so important that he talked to Tasgal, besides the fact that he wanted to see him and ask where he had been. It's something really bad. They're going to do bad things to people. Do you think that's what he was doing in that room? With all those bodies? With...

Mara. Screech added. Haiden gave a nod and let his head fall again under his arms.

I don't know what he is trying to do but it didn't look right. He had blood on him, today, Screech. And that night in the forest. I could smell it. He was covered in blood.

Bad man does bad things.

Yes. I have to stop him.

Screech help!

Thank you, Screech. We'll find a way to stop him. They fell into silence, Haiden was pondering on the situation but thoughts on Tasgal's whereabouts kept intruding. Screech squirmed and grunted as he tried to remember more. It was already long passed a reasonable time to sleep and Haiden was not tired. Changing his train of thought he shifted towards Screech.

Who did you fight, Screech? But the creature just shrugged.

Don't know. Knowings not strong enough.

It's alright. It's a start, I'm certain you will be remembering more and more... unlike me. He added with what he thought was just to himself but of course Screech heard. The green blob's face fell but in sudden realization his eyes flew open with eagerness.

Screech felt something!

Sorry, the food didn't sat well with me. Haiden apologized.

No! During my search! Yesterday outside. Yes. Something familiar, like you.

I don't understand, Screech. I've left the Academy grounds only once so far.

Not you, but you. Screeched checked and not Haiden. Someone else. Screech busy search and ignored.

This doesn't make any sense, Screech. To which his friend sighed with frustration.

Maybe man Screech saw taken part of you.

Haiden then realized what the creature was trying to say. You believe that this man might have something to do with my lost memories? He bolted straight up on the bed. The light he had conjured flickered as his blood rushed to his head.

Maybe Screech shrugged. Maybe not.