Memories of the Dark: ''He Can Smell Your Thoughts"

Lianna Morris,

I'm not grouped with Cedany. My poor heart, why can't you just be happy even just for a day? The closest I have to a friend is Godiva, who is leading us to the east mountains.

"Why are we heading to the mountains again?"

I scratch my head as Godiva smiled at me. She is heaven-sent, she's so patient with me.

"We are on an expedition to find Acantha's long-lost treasures. We are all assigned to find a specific treasure. William Hawk's team are assigned to find the Statuette of Seduction, Harold's team are assigned to the Staff of Fortitude, and ours is the one and only Grimoire of Tranquility!" Godiva gleefully explained everything.

"All of those sounds so fancy! However, we don't even know what they look like. How are we supposed to find them?" It's so stupid how they expect us to find something that we have never even seen! I want so badly to rant, but there is no one to rant to!

"Didn't you listen to the staff carefully? They said that once you've seen it you'll get some kind of sparkly feeling, that's how you'll know." Muriel answered even though she was not the one I'm talking to!

"And did I ask you?" I couldn't contain myself and I ended up saying the words out loud.

Godiva and Muriel had shocked look on their faces.

"Are you alright, Lianna? You look pale." Godiva looked genuinely worried for me while Muriel looked at me with a fake smile. I just know she's killing me inside her head.

"Ahahaha! Yes, I'm fine. I'm just you know a little scared because of this expedition thingy!" I laughed it off as Godiva still looked worried.

"If ever something is bothering you don't hesitate to tell me. I'm always happy to help a friend." Godiva is such an angel, she even thinks of me as her friend. It just wants to make me cuddle her to death, but in a good way!

-

Moments later, we finally reached near the mountains.

"Alrighty people! This is where we leave our horses behind. We can't possibly bring these horses up to the mountains, these mountains are too steep. We might harm the horses if we force them to climb up." Spoken like a true leader. I'm so proud of you, Godiva!

"So we are going up these mountains? It'll take us hundreds of days to climb, you know?" Of course, at least one person will complain and that would be Pay me.

"Mister Peyton Rowntree, please refrain from complaining. All of us here will be doing the same thing as you. And you do know that you have advantages since you are such a talented mage, am I right?" I gave Peyton an annoyed smile.

"Yes, you are right. Thank you for acknowledging my greatness, Miss Mari—" I quickly pushed Peyton to a bush, but he held me. So in the process, we both fell into the bush.

The bush is very prickly and my arms were itching all over. Eek! I am on top of Rowntree! We wouldn't be in this awkward position if only he didn't try to reveal my disguise, Lady Mari Juana!

"Little rabbit, let me help you up." Before I could even process that, I am being picked up in the air.

I look at Peyton, who looked shocked as well. I looked at the person who carried me in his arms and immediately swoon over the handsome man.

"Athalos the King of Bunnies! You saved me with your handsomeness once again." Athalos chuckled at my sudden burst of energy.

"A Bunny King must take care of his bunny after all." Athalos' smile was the double kill for me.

"Can you two get a room?" Peyton bitterly stood up from the bush.

"We would if we could! How can we possibly get a room in a forest, huh!?" I angrily talked back.

"Lianna, are you alright?" Cedric ran up to me with a worried look.

"I am now." Athalos brought me back to the ground. "Athalos helped me." I bring two thumbs up at Cedric whose eyes widened.

"Look, you're covered with scars on your arms and hands." Cedric touched the scars on my arms and hands.

I didn't even notice that I got hurt. It didn't sting, I just felt an itch. I couldn't probably process it right away since the situation was embarrassing.

"Don't worry, I always bring your handkerchief with me!" I let out the handkerchief from my skirt.

"Oh no! Is poor Lianna hurt?" Henry joined in and soon the others gathered up as well.

"Lianna, what happened to you?" Lief looked shocked at the state of my arms.

"I just fell on a bush, you don't have to exaggerate!"

I was starting to get annoyed. It would've been just fine if it was just Athalos or Cedric! My romantic moment is gone!

I started to feel the pain in my arms. I looked at Cedric who is gently removing the slight blood on my arms.

I didn't even notice that there was blood in my arms. I suddenly felt dizzy. I can't stand the sight of blood. It's ironic how I'm trying hard to look tough, but the sight of blood makes me weak. It's because of Billy and the others. How can I forget?

"We should get going, everyone! We don't have all the time in the world." Muriel's high-pitched voice hurts my eardrum. At least that helped me snap out of my dizziness.

"I agree with her. One person can help with her stupidity, the rest should go back to work." Cecilia Isolde, the girl that Lief started hanging out with had a disgusted look on her face.

What's her problem? Ohoho! She's picking the wrong person to give that kind of attitude!

"I— I guess we should hurry up..." Godiva looked at me with an apologetic look. It must be hard to lead people with these kinds of attitudes.

"Athalos, come on! Let's go up the mountain." Muriel pulled on Athalos' arm as they went up ahead.

"Do you want me to carry you?" I put a hand on my chest and looked at Cedric with my mouth dropped open.

How can he say that!? No shame whatsoever?

"Mister! Are you feeling unwell? That is very out of character for you to say!" Cedric stared at me with a confused look.

I won't lie, the face he just made is adorable. I might eat him up right now, but that's not possible. Because that would be cannibalism like what that Oudart did.

"I am your friend, I should help you. You can use me for support if you're not feeling well enough to walk."

"You're too kind, Cedric. It's making my heart all warm and fluffy. I don't expect you to have such a good personality." It may be a bit cliche, but it's true and that's how I genuinely feel.

Cedric looked down at the floor with a frown on his face. He must not like how I complimented him about his personality. I'm not that dense, I could feel it.

"I'm sorry, don't mind what I've just said." I smiled at him and continued to walk towards the others.

They didn't even wait for us, talk about selfishness. I didn't even bother to look at my wounds, because if I saw even a small amount of my blood I would probably faint.

-

We continued to walk up the mountains for hours. It's starting to get dark. Throughout those hours I managed without talking to anyone, it feels lonely without Nell and Dan. I did bring Dumphry with me, but we were not allowed to bring 'pets' on this expedition. So I told Dumphry to follow us at a very far away distance. I don't even know if he's still alive. Before we started this expedition, I should've come up with a signal to know if he was there. Now I just had to bear the idea of him getting killed or in danger.

"You look like you have something in mind. Mind sharing it?" A guy I have never seen before asked.

Of course, I mind. I have never even known about your existence until now. Who is this dude? He is wearing Acantha's brooch, so he must be a representative. Maybe he is just not a person to make a big impact on people which makes them forget he exists.

"Do I know you? Hehe..." I scratched my head and he looked hurt by my question.

"I'm Alan Wallace. I'm upset that you forgot about me." Forgot about him? Did I ever have a conversation with him?

"Maybe you are mistaking me for someone else?"

"No, I'm not. Lianna, you've talked to me before. We're in the same sorcery class, we talked after every class."

Now that he said it, I remember him. He comforted me whenever I made a mistake, but he would only do it after class. He would make me feel bad about it though, rather than comforting it's making me want to just burn in hell.

"Ah! Yes, Alan Wallace. How could I forget? You're so annoying, you should just keep your mouth shut." I smiled at him, but I know he could tell I wasn't glad.

"Should I fuck off?" Alan had a smile on his face which made the question hilarious.

"No, I want someone to accompany me."

"I'll gladly accompany you. I have a question though, is the bird that kept following us your familiar?" How did he know about Dumphry?

"He's alive? Thank the Goddess!"

"Yes, I can smell your familiar." Allan looked up at a tree.

"How do you know it's mine though?"

"I can smell a lot of things. To the point that I can smell thoughts, intentions, emotions, and some other things that a normal person couldn't possibly smell."

"You're amazing. Is that a magic spell I can learn?" Something like that would be very useful to me.

"No, I was born with it."

Oh, wow. The way he said it was pretty braggy. He could've just faked it by being humble with a sprinkle of denying.

We weren't done with our conversation, but it ended because of a high-pitched scream. We were all alarmed and Godiva signalled us to stop moving as we analyze our surroundings.