After she confirmed that no harm came to us, Nomia looked at me, and her expression told me that she wanted answers, answers that I didn't have. "How did the fire not harm you?" she asked.
My usual, indifferent stare conveyed my answer: I had no idea. She released a heavy sigh and said, "Let's go back home, I need to process this."
I shrugged and replied, "Whatever suits you."
She remained silent on the way back, and I didn't care enough to initiate conversation. The walk took some time as we have gotten to the town's outskirts.
After we had arrived and entered the house, I sat on the couch while Nomia told her parents, Eisen and Ori, about what happened at the burning house. I didn't add anything because not only there wasn't a need to do that, but also because something clicked in me and I entered into a trance.
...
Nomia finished her story and sighed again, "I don't know what or who you are. You're just way too strange for a normal human..."
When she received no reply, she glanced at the unknown person, only to see him lost in thought. Ori's eyes widened in surprise suddenly and she said, "Could he be one of those wizards that appeared a while back?"
"It's not impossible," Eisen replied with a complicated expression on his face.
Suddenly, the sound of a knock could be heard from the front door. Nomia stood up and walked towards it, then opened it to see a woman leaning on a luxurious car.
"How can I help you?" Nomia asked as she surveyed her. From her looks, she deemed the stranger to be a foreigner and not from her country.
"Sorry to bother you," the woman said. "I am looking for someone called Orion Fistore. He disappeared a year ago and the wind whispers of his presence in this town. May I know if you've seen him?"
Before Nomia could respond, her parents came from behind her and Eisen said, "There is a stranger that has been found lately, but I am not sure if that's him or not. What is he to you?"
"He's my... uhh... grandfather," the woman replied, trying not to cringe at the last word. The three were surprised for a moment, but Eisen replied, "I don't think the stranger is the person you're looking for."
"No," a voice came from inside the house, "I am that person. I am Orion Fistore."
...
All eyes turned to me as I walked to the door. I didn't even glance at the family that hosted me; my eyes were on the woman that came.
Her tanned skin was indeed distinguishable in these parts of Midgard, and I imagined that people would stare at her. At Bast.
That's right. Most of my memories were now back. Some of the minor things were still cloudy, but at least they were returning at a fast pace.
"Did you bring me some clothes?" I asked her blandly.
"Great to see you too, Grandfather," she replied with a raised eyebrow. Nonetheless, a black robe appeared in her hands and she handed them to me after coming forward a few steps.
I took them, went into the house, changed my clothes, and then came back outside. I looked at Eisen and his family and said, "I am grateful for your hospitality. Please, ask whatever you want in return, and I am sure that we will be able to compensate you for all the trouble."
"Your memories have returned?" Nomia asked, still unsure about what was happening. I suppose things were progressing fast for her to understand everything.
"Mostly," I nodded, my expression still indifferent, still without any shred of emotion.
"What are you?" Ori asked, a hint of awe in her voice.
"A being that mortals like you should not have interacted with," I blocked the memories of Set slaughtering the mortal cities, even though I felt nothing from the scenes.
"Why?" Nomia asked. "You're not a bad person. So why?"
"Because I am dangerous. And I am a bad person."
"But you saved that boy!"
"It was only logical that I would save a child from burning to death," I again blocked the memories of what happened in Egypt.
"Don't give me that nonsense!" She strode forward, anger seething in her eyes. She was about to say something else when Eisen, who was silent the entire time, interrupted her, "Let it go, Nomia."
He turned to me, and his eyes met mine. Then, he shook his head and said, "It was natural for us to give you a place to stay when you were unconscious, and even after you woke up with a lost memory. I did not do it for some reward, so don't feel like you owe us something."
I would have argued, but his tone was decisive. Still, I looked at the sky and said, "It has been years since it rained here. I can sense it."
I closed my eyes and concentrated on that bond that linked me with the World Tree, with Yggdrasil. Through my Lord of Water mark on my right wrist, I asked Yggdrasil to change the climate of this town.
Soon, the rain started dripping from the sky. I looked at Eisen and his family and said, "No longer will this place be deprived of rain. It was no coincidence that I ended up on the shore of this town.
"I once again extend my thanks for all you did, but now it is time for me to leave. Farewell," I turned and looked at Bast.
She had let me handle everything here and hasn't interfered. With my tone as cold as ever, I said, "You are driving, Granddaughter."