For the first time in a while, Rayla is genuinely afraid.
'isn't...isn't that Dark Magika?' she cries out.
'Finally, there is hope. I half-expected you'd get it wrong' he says, as the mark disappears in an instant.
'Correct, that was Dark Magika. I suppose, you've heard about the Dark Elven rebellion, right?'
His calm voice puts her at ease. In fact, she feels embarrassed for acting like that. After all, he said they're friends, and friends would never hurt each other.
'Of course I do! Because of religious disputes, the Darks assassinated the heir to the Elven throne, starting a five year war. I read all about it at daddy's history books'
'Good. You also know, when they lost the war, the Darks continued harassing and raiding in small groups, right?'
'Right'
'Dark Elves are a sub-race whose members are all Dark Magika Naturals, right?'
'Right'
'An abnormal, is the one who's gained his Magika through...external means, let's call them'
'What is that supposed to mean?' she asks intrigued. All this is new to her, she ferls like hearing a new story.
'Before I answer, is there a river around the village?'
'A lake? Yea, a couple minutes north, River Fired'
'You know how to go there? There is something I have to do and I postponed it enough already'
'Sure, I do!, just follow me!'
She takes a second to take a little rock off her shoe, when she remembers.
'Really, what were you drawing on the ground when I came?'
'Oh, that? As I will explain later, I was hit and fell unconscious, until the old man brought me here. That, is the last thing I remember hearing before passing out'
'Really? Now I wanna see!' she closes and reads, but her excitement quickly fades to confusion.
'Bando...Bandoy...Bandoyer? What does it mean?'
'Don't sweat over it, I don't know either' he shrugs 'I thought it was some Elven word, but even after writing it down, I couldn't make anything out of it, so I probably misheard. Shall we continue?'
'Oh yea, right away!' she gives the weird writing a last glance and takes the lead towards the market.
'I forgot, you spent all day at mr.Roman's, right? Then let me officially welcome you to Faugh, the most peaceful place in Garnatha!' she proclaims grandly.
'Very...minimalistic' he comments on the low, wooden houses, the narrow dirt roads and the absurdly many chickens running around.
'Apparently, it was founded under special circumstances, but Granny won't tell me anything more than that. Something about it being so special I have to be older to appreciate, or such, which I personally find very unfair, but I don't complain' she complains 'Really, where are you from?'
'Didn't I tell you? I'm from-'
He suddenly stands still.
'Where am I from again...?'
'Are you okay?' she asks concerned.
'I think...the hit that left me unconscious was more serious than I thought...I have a hard time remembering about my past...'
'It can't be that bad...I'm sure in a few days you'll be just fine!' she encourages, and it seems to work, as he again shrugs and keeps on following.
'I also forgot to ask, what do you need the river for...for...'
'You finally realized you do not know my name, correct?'
'My teacher always says it's never too late to learn something new!' she defends herself.
He sighs.
'Almost certain it's Johan'
'Almost?'
'As said, I barely remember past events, but I vividly do being called like that, so there's that, I guess. As fot the river, I will tell you when we arrive'
'Ooh, you like playing mysterious, huh?' she teases him, there's always a character like that in adventure stories.
'Oi, I've revealed most I myself remember about me'
'But I still don't know what an Abnormal is!, you stopped just as it was getting interesting!'
'For God's...by external means, as I was about to say, I mean a ritual was held in place and planted a source of power in me, are you happy now?'
'A power source? With a ritual? You make no sense at all!, I've never heard anything like this and you explain it awfully!'
'Awfully?! What do you mean-'
'For starters!...'
She starts raising a finger at a time.
'...You start explaining something, then switch subject, then come back to the previous subject, use terms I'm obviously unfamiliar with and worst of all!...'
Small sparks emit from the tips of her hand...
'...you drop all information at once, making it impossible for me to get a grasp! You're a terrible storyteller!' she drops the last one hard as she can, but there is no helping it.
As a passionate book reader, she hates bad exposition.
He stays with his mouth hanging, his face takes a weird grimace, his mouth is tightly sealed before giving up and bursting to laughter, a laughter so hideous yet hilarious she can't help but join.
Grabbing his stomach, he falls on his knees, hitting the ground out of joy, looking like he has no care.
'Rahahahahahaha!'
'Why...Bwahahahahahaha!...why are you laughing!...' she manages to say at last, trying not to fall herself.
He will not answer for a while, when he slowly stands up, with a wide smile covering his whole face.
'Oi, Rayla wasn't it?...'
She nods, wiping the tears from her face for the second time today.
'You...' he takes a deep breath, till he has regain his composition '...You are damn hilarious, you bastard'
'Please!' she points both thumbs at her 'The Red family tree is proud for its names all starting with an "R" and its sense of humor! And look at that!, here's the river!'
They reach the top of the rocky hill and gaze at the large sum of water that covers the vast area around them.
'Isn't it gorgeous!?' she asks enthusiastically, but notices he's in less of a high spirit than before.
He silently draws a piece of paper from his pocket and skilfully turns it to a paper-boat in seconds.
'You were right, before, so let me start over...'
He approaches the river and crouches over the water.
'...My name is Johan, in a month I turn nine years old. I was given Dark Magika through a ritual, but I do not remember how exactly. In fact, I barely have any recollection of my past, I assume because of a physical injury. The only thing I know...'
He gently lets the hand-made boat on the water and watches as it "sails" along the moving water.
'...is I lost someone...'
She waits in silence, watching the boat with him.
'...I have no idea who it was, but I'm afraid...'
She sits besides him, as the boat travels beyond their sight.
'...afraid of being alone...oi, Rayla...'
He turns at her. His voice breaks, but his face remains calm.
'...could you keep me company?'
She embraces him again, even stronger than before.
'You will never be alone!, I promise! I will always be there for you Johaaaan...' she quickly falls to tears once again.
'For the love of God...'
He sighs.
'What a crybaby'
He holds her in his arms.
.
.
.
Roman the undertaker, watches over the writing on the ground.
'Bandoyer...' he murmurs.
He lets a sigh slide, then returns inside the house.
A weird smirk appears across his face.
'This will be interesting...'