Chapter Two.*

I finished picking the flowers needed with Eli and walked back home.

By the time we returned, the sun was ready to set. People finished with work and every conversation was the same. The mystery boy and his origins.

" Eli is it true you found some crazy hot guy by the river?"

My sisters friends swarmed her and took her by the hand to get every detail.

I took the flower bails and placed them behind the house. Washed my arms and face from the barrel, then went inside.

Mother was cooking stew and it smelled delicious.

Granny was further in with the boy. I saw Dilip with his sword, sitting with his back to the wall with a nonchalant expression.

I walked inside and sat behind granny silently.

The boy was still on his stomach. His main injury was the back of his head which now tightly wrapped. He slept soundly his back rising and falling rhythmically.

" No fever thank Ehlite. He should be awake anytime now." - granny sounded optimistic after a few more checks

He didn't seem ready to me. But what do I know about healing anyway.

" He looks though... and different. " - Dilip spoke, while spinning the sword. " I never seen hair this colour. Why blue? "

Dilip asked something, I've also thought of before. Most people in the villages nearby were black haired, brown or rare cases like the ladies in my family blondes. I bet he stood out, wherever his from.

" He might be an Solider from other nations at war with Insatel. Theres no shortage of them in this world. I feel like they been warring since I was a child. " - granny turned to Dilip and conveyed her thoughts.

" Monsters like Emet are everywhere and growing in numbers, yet the king not lifted a finger to help. When just one blessed of his would be enough to free these lands and it's people."

I agreed with her.

In the last century Emet been worshipped and feared by this village ancestors. All this time and King refused to help any of them. For those with blessing of fire, lightning or other magical abilities anything seemed possible.

Yet the king of Insatel was more interested in taxing, it's people and terrorize smaller nations. He called himself a conqueror, like it supposed to mean anything.

Are we all conquering when stepping on ants taking their lands from them?

My grandmother sighed long and turned to me.

" I'm gonna go and rest little one. Go home, your wife must wait with dinner. - Dilip got up and put his sword away. " Tell Menir, once he is free to come here."

" As you wish Vistellia. I change Menir before night and we see in the morning."

" Thanks for your help. Please give Lola my best will you?"

" I will..see you two soon." - he nodded a little towards me an walked out.

After Dilip gone. Granny got up and stretched her muscles.

" I'm going to eat something then rest a bit, please look after him until Menir arrives."

Ughh..I was starving to. I don't wanna complain to granny who worked three times as much.

" Very well. I'll stay. "

Granny squeezed my hand before leaving us alone.

How boring. I walked to window and opened wide. It cooled down a bit and the air was very pleasant.

I saw kids playing around near the wheat fields. How I wish to be as carefree as them. To have no other problems, than how to spend my day until supper. They looked at this world with such innocence, when did I lost that? When did Eli?

I heard rustling behind me. Granny must be back.

" Who are you??"

I heard a weak voice.

Instead of granny, the blue haired boy was looking at me. I stood frozen and just stared at him back. He had piercing eyes full of distrust and hostility.

" Who are you? And where am I?" - he turned his head looking for something familiar. " W-what is this place? "

" Try and..r-r-relax please ! " - I put my hands up and indicated no hostility. " Y-you shouldn't move just yet.. Granny!!"

He looked surprised by my sudden scream and whipped his head to the entrance, when granny and mother burst through.

He tried to get up but fell back seemed to injured to do such a thing. He opened his eyes wide from the pain, struggling to balance himself.

" Lie back down!..your wounds still fresh."

Granny unafraid was already helping him back on the bed which he didn't refuse.

After settling down and drinking some water placed near him he looked calmer and yet confused.

" My lady.." - he sounded polite and afraid. " Can you tell who you are?"

" My name is Vistellia Wold and you're in my house."

" Can you tell me, what happened to me?"

" Well my granddaughters found you terribly injures and we bought you here to heal those. " - she poured more water and handed the empty jug back to my mother. " Dont worry you seem to be through the worst."

" So I was saved..by you?"

" With help of many others...yes."

He looked at his hands. He seemed upset. He looked up hopefully.

" But I...do you know who I am?"

" I dont, sorry..You had a bad head injury, I'm sure your memory will return soon..."

He looked scared and checking frantically around until he saw our mirror.

" Can ask for that please?" - he was looking at me and then to my right.

He just pointed at the mirror and granny looked at me and nodded. I went and took it off the wall and brought it to him.

He didn't look that scary up close.

" Thank you lady."

I was never called a lady in my life. He sure had good manners even without his memory.

He took the mirror and brought it close to his face.

He touched his cheeks and was astonished. He laughed slowly and with little humour. His eyes widened in horror.

" Why can't I remember this face?..W-what is this!? "

I saw tears in his eyes.

It must be terrifying, to wake up one day not even remembering your own face.

"Give it time my boy. " - granny reached and waited patiently. " I suggest to rest and maybe eat something to get your colour back."

He give back the mirror and looked into granny's kind eyes. Closed his and kept breathing until it became slow and calm.

" Thank you for your kindness. - he looked very touched. " For saving my life .."

" Call me Vistellia." - she gave her most reassuring smile and pointed at herself. Then us. " This one behind me is my daughter, Seline and the one over there is my eldest granddaughter Lylly."

He looked at us one by one and give short nod.

Looked at again. He looked ..handsome.

I didn't have time to check because of the panic but...Eli friends were very right without seeing him.

" I apologise for earlier. " - he was looking at me, sounded genuinely sorry. " Hope I didn't scare you to much."

Those eyes were extremely blue. Like holy cow it's more clear than spring water. I was so lost the best in could muster.

" I wasn't afraid.."

My God..why? Why lie like that?

Me screaming for my grandmother in fright, putting my hands up in submission, was proof enough to even a blind man.

" I see..apologies for assuming. "

He smiled and protected my non existent pride.

My mother returned with some food. He give thanks and eat with ferocious hunger. After finishing and had some water, Menir arrived with sword drawn.

He looked less shocked than us three.

" Menir put that away..it's not needed." - granny put her hands on the blade itself.

Menir was a loyal healing apprentice of granny, he only had a sword because, every man carried them. He seemed halfway running away and start wildly swinging the blade. His better judgement won.

He put his blade back into it's sheat, but kept his hand on it.

" I believe our guest might need to sleep some more." - she got up and patted the boy shoulder. " Your memories might return faster.. now rest."

" Thank you Lady Vistellia for everything. I will head your words." - He nodded slowly and leaned back o the bed.

" Hmm..let us all leave him be. Let's go."

We left him there, before I walked out, I saw him with his eyes closed. I can't believe Eli missed this.

I left my mother and granny, and run towards Sen.

They mostly spent time their in the water specially in the summer. I saw them having a laugh, playing in the shallow waters.

"Eli.. He woke up just now." - slowed down enough to catch my breath.

Instead of an answer, she ran straight past me her girlfriends in tow close behind.

Boy.. I guess she really is interested in him. Although.. He did look better than most man in Emet village and his body was sculpted like...Ughh who cares.

I'm not gonna let some random guy get me all flustered after a single exchange.

I walked slowly back. Our house was always often visited, but today? It was ridiculous proportions. Enough already, just go home !

I pushed past a bunch married women and saw my childhood friend Liz and her two year old son, taking with my mother.

" Lylly hey.. Everyone is talking about your family and that handsome soldier."

How is everyone know he is handsome? As far as I'm aware it was only me and my family that saw him properly. Was it Menir? Why?

" I don't know about handsome or solider considering he doesn't even remember his own name. " - l leaned against the wall and played with her son a little. " ..But yes, Eli found him this morning. By the way have you seen her? "

Didn't need to ask, I heard her and grandmother talking through the thin walls. My own mother came out and answered anyway.

" She is helping your granny. She seems.. super excited too. " - she smiled and took over with the baby.

Oh great..

Looking at my mother, she didn't mind that we know nothing about this boy and his history. She was happy her youngest daughter making eyes at him.

Instead of voicing my thoughts, I just said a short goodbye to Liz and went to see what's going on inside.

I heard their voices before, I guess they didn't let him sleep. I walked in the room my mother shared with granny.

".. I wouldn't stress about it. Memory loss like that can remain for days, weeks however.." - I saw her on his left and Eleanor on the right. " I have to tell you. It may never return."

The boy was sitting up on the bed and, listening to granny intently. When she got to the end, he looked sad and lost. Furrowed his eyebrows and leaned back, still shirtless.

" I-i understand..it's just a lot.- he looked up the ceiling and took some time before he sighed deeply and turned his head back. " I really don't know, how to thank you. I owe you and, your family a lot. "

He was talking to Eli, who turned red in an instant.

Granny just smiled at them kindly and gave my sister a proud look.

" In any case.. We can't keep calling you boy. " - she turned his attention back to her and thought about it for a second. " For now about a name? Hmm..What do you think about Zephyr? It's my late son's name.."

Now he is taking my father's name? Why? What are doing granny!?

" Zephyr.. " - he closed his eye and nodded towards her. " It's a name, with a lot of meaning then. I'll do my best not to bring shame upon it. Once again.. I thank you. "

Even actively trying, I couldn't fully dislike him.

How can you hate anyone who is that.. polite? and thankful? and...attractive.