Bea was cooking in her kitchen that afternoon. She was busy stirring venison soup for lunch.
There was a sound in the room near the kitchen.
It looks like Joshua just finished taking a shower.
Bea glanced at Joshua who was getting dressed. From behind the curtains, she could catch a glimpse of the tattoo on Joshua's back.
"Strange tattoo... I've never seen a tattoo design like that. But there's something even stranger than that. Joshua… in a week his condition has improved rapidly. Incredible healing. Who is he really?", muttered Bea dreamily.
"Smells good. Is it for lunch?" Joshua suddenly came out of the room and immediately sniffed the food in the pot.
Bea was startled and immediately snapped out of her reverie.
"Yes. This is venison soup. I tried something new with spices. As soon as my brother comes home from hunting, we will immediately eat it together. He's not home yet. Maybe he stopped by somewhere so he was a bit late.", answered Bea while looking out.
"Angus is lucky to have a sister like you, Bea. He will never lack delicious food."
Ah, you exaggerate, Joshua. My cooking is just ordinary."
"No. I mean it. You're a good cook. I can imagine that someday you will be a wife who takes care of the household well.", Joshua answered with a serious face.
Bea fell silent. Her face looked blushed. She didn't expect that Joshua would say something that made her heart flutter.
"Sorry. I came home late. Look what I brought."
Suddenly Angus enters. The crossbow he usually carries is nowhere to be seen.
"Brother, you finally bought a new weapon. So that's why you came home late." Bea replied with her hands on her hips.
"Ha ha yes. With this rifle it will be easier for me to hunt. This rifle will help me to be able to hunt more efficiently so I can make more money.", answered Angus while proudly showing off his weapon.
"Enough chit-chat. It's lunch time first. It doesn't taste good when it's cold."
Bea then set the table for lunch. While Joshua sat at the dining table.
Angus approached Bea who was putting soup in a bowl and whispered, "Bea, did I disturb you two earlier?"
"What do you mean, Brother?"
"You think I didn't see that earlier? You blushed. Do you have a crush on Joshua, don't you?"
Bea's face immediately turned red and she pinched her brother, "Keep your voice down, Brother. He'll hear it."
Angus provoked Bea, "Yes…he's a handsome man, he even exudes an air of nobility. It's only natural that you like him. You're also old enough to get married anyway."
This time Bea pinched Angus even tighter, "Don't talk carelessly. I haven't thought that way even though… I do have a crush on him. I just met him anyway."
Angus whimpered softly, "Ugh. You're right. We don't know who he is or what happened to him."
Bea snorted indignantly at her brother's naughty behavior.
Joshua, who was sitting at the dining table, watched the two of them.
"Bea… Joshua is looking over here", teased Angus while helping Bea bring food.
This time Bea stepped on Angus's foot as she walked to the dining table, "Sorry it took so long prepared because of my fussy brother. Let us eat."
Angus followed Bea while enduring the pain of his leg being stepped on with all her might by Bea.
They enjoy lunch together. As usual Joshua didn't talk much. Bea glanced at her brother and motioned for him to talk to Joshua.
"Ahem… it looks like you're feeling better Joshua. Are you interested in accompanying me to try out my new rifle? Maybe we'll try Groson Creek after lunch?", asked Angus with an enthusiastic face.
"Sure. I'm also bored at home all the time.", Joshua replied while drinking his drink.
"So, you're bored huh? Is Bea less attractive? She does look tomboyish though.", Angus said with a chuckle.
"Brother!", Bea immediately pinched Angus's cheek.
"Ouch, ouch. Bea, your brother was just kidding.", groaned Angus.
"Ha ha you two get along really well. It is not that. I'm just confused… what really happened to me. Maybe taking a walk outside can help me find my memories." Joshua answered with a faint smile.
Joshua's serious words made the atmosphere somber for a moment.
"Err... Alright then. Let's finish our lunch and leave immediately. Hopefully Joshua's memory will come back soon.", said Angus trying to raise the mood.
They continued having lunch and afterwards said goodbye to Bea to leave.
"Groson Creek is not that far. Joshua and I won't be long."
"There's no rush, Brother. I'll be waiting for you guys while looking for new recipes I want to learn."
"Oh yeah, Bea earlier when I was in Danton, I heard a rumor that some wanted bandits had run away. We'll be back before dark to be safer.", Angus embraced his sister.
Merchant Town of Danton is the closest town that can be reached from Westray Village which is located to the west of it.
"Take it easy brother. There's nothing exciting on Westray. Our village is very small and doesn't have anything of value to rob." Bea let go of the hug while patting her brother on the shoulder. To reassure Angus that everything will be fine.
"Have fun.", answered Bea while waving her hand at Angus and Joshua who walked away.
Angus and Joshua left the village by the north door to Groson Creek.
Westray Village is a small village surrounded by a pine forest called Humlodge Woods. In the northern part of Humlodge Woods is where Groson Creek is located. Groson Creek is where Angus finds Joshua dying and badly injured.
Throughout the trip Joshua was mostly silent. Occasionally Joshua would look around him blankly. He tried to remember the places he passed but he couldn't remember anything. In fact, he even felt it was like the first time he was there.
"So… is there anything you remember?" Angus asked, approaching Joshua who looked far away
"There isn't any. It feels like my first time going to this place."
"Don't give up just yet. Maybe when we get to Groson Creek you'll remember something."
Joshua tried to smile but in his heart he felt doubtful.
"Hey, try this. Try to aim at the deer over there." Angus gave Joshua his rifle to try.
Joshua tried it. The deer he targeted as if it sensed danger then walked away. Joshua tried to follow where the deer went but lost track.
Suddenly, Joshua's eyes stopped. Far ahead he saw a thick fog that seemed to surround something. A stark contrast to the scenery at Humlodge Woods. The mist gave an uneasy feeling to Joshua.
Joshua immediately put down his weapon and felt his breath catch.
"Oh, that. Forget that if you want to go there. That place is dangerous."
"What's that, Angus?"
"It used to be known as the city of Nova Mesto. I don't know what happened. But the city was suddenly enveloped in a thick fog in an instant. Anyone who tried to approach it would hear voices from the realm of the dead. Scary. We'd better stay away from it."
From a distance one could see the fog swirling in a thick vortex.
"Let's go. Groson creek is not far." Angus walked back.
Joshua nodded as he returned Angus' rifle. He tried to get his breath back to normal and walked after Angus.
As Angus had said, they had finally reached Groson Creek.
"This is where I found you. More precisely on the rock over there. You are stuck in a tree and your body is drowning.", pointed Angus.
Joshua walked in the direction Angus pointed and crouched down. He touched the stone which still seemed to have some traces of dried blood stains. Only silence and the sound of running water was heard.
Nothing could trigger Joshua's memory.
"Remember anything?"
Joshua shook his head disappointedly, "Nothing. There's nothing here that I remember.
Angus sighed, "Sorry to hear that. Well… if there's nothing else we can do, maybe we should just go home. We'd better go home and enjoy Bea's cooking than wander around.
Joshua nodded disappointedly and got up.
BANG!
The quiet atmosphere in Humlodge Woods was suddenly broken by a loud sound.
Gunshots were heard from the direction of Westray Village.
Joshua and Angus looked at each other.
BANG! BANG!
Gunshots sounded again loudly.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Not just once but several times before stopping.
"Bea... still in the village.", Angus looked panicked and immediately ran.
But suddenly a strong wind blew.
Joshua with incredible speed ran past Angus.
And before Angus could say anything, he had disappeared from Angus's sight.
"What the hell happened? What are you, Joshua?" Angus hissed in surprise.