Strained breathing could be heard in straw-roofed house, where its bricked walls contaminated the interior with odor of an abandoned mansion. Its grayish interior housed a table and chair made from pale-white wood, even though its rough surface and uneven edges made it look more brutish than elegant. In one corner a tiny bedframe stood missing its mattress which was rested on a dusty floor of white sand, the mattress measured no longer than 1.2 meter seemingly made for a tot rather than a grown adult.
Memor was in deep sleep, his eyelids twitched while his body jerked as if he was being restrained. A deep furrow was present on his snow-white face making him look more like a corpse than a living being. Hours has passed since the beginning of his struggles which is starting to reach a climax, Memor legs extended and retracted so viciously it almost toppled the bedframe next to him.
"AH!"
Memor woke up with a light pulse going throughout his whole body starting from his heart and ending on his limbs. Raising his sweaty face to look at the clothes on him, he realized how big of a mistake it was to sleep on the grey floor even if he cleaned it before he slept. The vintage black harem pants were almost completely white with its patterns being blanketed to the point of it barely being evident. I guess I shouldn't choose comfort over convenience.
Before his eventual attempt at sleeping on the dusty ground Memor had to either cram his body on the mattress or leave a dangling limb or two seeking comfort, as his mattress may hold only toddlers.
Standing up was an endeavor on its own, having most your muscles active through the night; he managed to stand upright after a few painful attempts. Glancing to his right past the wooden window frame, herds of homes are seen grouped in four or more with streets surrounding them, all with a similar aesthetic to Memor own home. The sky was matte-black with luminescent stars in the thousands glowing in its wake.
Shifting his eyes to the supposed 'moon', Memor joked.
"Sigh, I should've slept on the crib last night."
What was supposed to be a 'moon', was bigger in size than what a sun should've been and the so called 'moon' is eclipsed with a dark eerie black that only leaves its edges glowing with light. The people of his village named it the "Vanta Blockade" since the darkness could be compared to Vantablack.
As faint smile played on Memor lips, as he let out a soft chuckle.
"Why am I even making a joke? It's always night. Day is thing of the legends."
Shaking his head, he patted down the dusty pants to rid it of white sand. The soft moon light slipped past the window frame, masking his torso and hips in faint light. Lowering his face, Memor had a furrow on his brows and his thin lips pressed together in an attempt to console oneself.
Grabbing at his waistband, he loosened it to get to a pouch tied to his trousers near his pelvic bone. He untied the pouch from his trouser, then fitted it back to its place.
Held in his hand, was bag emitting a faint white glow seeping through the fabric. Unraveling its seal, he was met with a bunch of white flowers each having four petals fully spread out and a soft radiant bud in its center, no larger than a small pebble. Reaching out a hand to a bud, it flickered under his touch. Retrieving a bud, he held it in his hand with a hesitant look in his brown clear eyes.
Hesitating for a moment, he pushed the whole flower into his mouth, down his throat. Seconds later, a heat spread from his stomach and all over his body. It didn't stop there though, the heat kept intensifying, especially in his stomach and esophagus. It burned to a point where Memor couldn't stay on his feet, dropping to one knee with a yelp, his face somehow looked paler than he already was. The heat kept increasing. Soon, a sharp pain burrowed to his soul, crippling his feet. An eternity seemed to have passed until the pain and burning subsided.
Getting back on his feet, Memor was different. A cold force has pressured the human part of him down leaving behind the aura of a ghost. He fastened the bundle to where it was originally found.
Memor let out an unnoticeable sigh. I been shoving these Bayel flowers down my throat for 16 years, how long will I last before I go insane?
A cleanse was needed since his drop on his floor repainted the harem pants to a new design.
As Memor patted himself clean, he made his way to the door. What stood was a tall white wooden door, made of the same material as the stool and table, with rough spots, jagged edges, and myriad shades. Three dull steels bars fashioned the door, wrapping at the top, bottom, and center.
He headed out with a smile on his face, not of the happy kind, but a fake one that projects a childish pureness.
***
Memor's hut was located at the far end of the village, closes to the village entrance, only separated by farmland which housed Bayel flowers; and Corpse wheat, a staple food in the village. At its entrance a wooden arch hung a sign engraved on it" Welcome to Sal Village".
A cascading row of huts stood in between Memor's residence to the nearest well. After a quick walk, he was in sight of the well, in its embrace, children with chubby white faces played with the water or ran in circles from one another. Men sped through the process of cleansing themselves to get to their work, while women made chitchatted amongst themselves or held their children forcefully to splash water upon their faces, disregarding their protests.
Most wore anchor-grey tunics that reached the knees with the same colors of harem pants, others wore thick long-sleeved sweaters rather than a tunic. The garments worn were either smooth and cut or rugged and tough, reflecting their separate social classes, but discrimination never showed around the sacred well.
"AHHH, MORI SAVE ME FROM THIS ADOPTED SISTER I HA-! "
Memor looked right, a short haired-brunette carrying the same whiteness he did sprinted through the sparsely crowded streets. Freckles masked his nose and a pair of dark hazel eyes hung his face. It was Luni, a childhood friend Memor made at edges of the village, where the impoverished civilians lived.
Luni's screams echoed throughout the area leaving everyone in its wake bewildered, as if donkey riding child flashed past them with mischievous grin. Unfortunately, it was cut short by Luni's eventual tumble, faceplanting onto the ground. A couple chuckle escape from the nearby crowds.
Luni transitioned to a crawl, staring Memor down with puppy eyes, close behind, a long haired-brunette, her hair reaching her shoulders, with health skin and a thin build followed we a ferocious playful glint in her black eyes. Her name was Calypso.
Oh boy, acting nonchalant, Memor turned back his attention to the well, as if never seeing this peculiar scene.
"HEYY! MORI! Aren't we fwends. Help a brother out, would you?"
Having put on an innocent grin, Luni begged, but it was too late, as the enraged beast was upon him. Calypso lifted her little brother by the collar with much ease, in contrast to her thin stature.
"Who you calling adopt you little Booger?!" A smirk spread across her face.
"Who else is there, hehe."
Ignoring her brother's mockery, she shifted her gaze to the unperturbed act Memor displayed.
"Mori," her smirk widened. "Would you be so kind as to escort this child to Learner's Academy?"
Memor's eye twitched knowing her intentions but how could he disobey, the sorry-state of Luni stood as a testament to her tough personality. Well Luni, you're on your own for this one.
A wide smile shown on Memor's face, shaving away his unwilling expression. "Sure thing Sis, let me tie him up for ya."
"HEYY! who side are you on in this!" Luni whimpered.
Calypso seemed pleased with the idea, reaching at her belt to grab a bundle of ropes.
"OK! OK! I promise I'll behave," Luni pleaded. "Could you not turn me into luggage." An innocent smile graced his face like the accused in court making a silly effort to appease the judge for a lighter sentence.
"Welp you wouldn't- "glancing at Memor, an unknown emotion flashed through her dark eyes cutting herself off. She sighed," we'll speak of this later."
Calypso clipped back the line onto her crowded belt. She was fitted with an eminence-purple jalabiya, knitted with spirals and velvet flowers. Wrapped all over her upper body was a long opaque scarf capturing her with several layers. Her belt fashioned a basic pugio, a couple bundles, delicate and rigid ropes, including several devices Memor knew nothing of. A steel brooch of an open book tagged here chest; representing her rank as a grade 1 Mnemonist.
"Y'ALL ARE LATE FOR YOUR OPENING CEREMONY GET A MOVE ON!!"Calypso ordered, throwing Luni from her grasp. Luni scurried off, clamping Memor to him on his way towards the well.
The arms of Luni's sweater smudged strips of white across Memor's waist. Memor sighed internally, how many instances of this could happen in one cycle.
***
The more one approaches the center of the village, the more structured and proper the buildings were made, some high-class citizens even had grey-sandstone bricks as walls with Lanterns hung at the rim of their windows.
At its center, an enormous tower dwarfed all structures in its vicinity, its name was Torsal. Dark glossy bricks framed its body, creating shifts in its glint in the moon light like gold shimmer. South of Torsal erected a cliffside, standing at 1 kilometer in height, no grass grew nor trees swayed their leaves as there were none to be blown. At its edge, a rope bridge connected towards Torsal's balcony that enclosed an attic.
Memor and Luni had cleaned and hurried to the academy just in time for the opening ceremony, but their exhaustion crippled their minds, preventing them from making sense of the principal's speech.
They found themselves assigned to a classroom full of teens. The smell of youth seeped through their nostrils from the clamorous chatter. Around 30 students occupied the standard classroom. Most chitchatted amongst each other, but a few sat alone, taking in their surroundings.
Memor made his way to an empty space whilst Luni busied himself on the teacher's seat, with a spreading motion of the hand.
Seated comfortably, Memor watched as Luni sped past his future Learner mate's seats with a mischievous look in his brown pupils.
"Watch the instructor after he sits down." Luni whispered, plopping down onto his place next to Memor.
"I spread glue onto the seat, once they're down they won't be able to stand without tearing their trousers." A couple gremlin like laugh escaped his mouth.
Memor made a dubious expression before retorting," are you sure about this? Last time you laced your sisters drink with an aphrodisiac she aaah... mutilated you aaah... you wouldn't want a repeat of that would you?"
Luni shivered at the thought, but how could he back down, after going so far as to purchase glue to assert his dominance over the instructor.
"On my memory, I will fight whoev- "
Luni was halfway in his show of courage when the door opened. There walked in a brown cloaked woman, her gait was loose and soft, but her presence radiated an air of discipline. A head of black hair reaching her cheeks, framed her sharp face.
She leaned her body towards her decks commanding the attention of every student.
"I am Evangelia. As of today, I will be your instructor during your time here." Evangelia stated with a commanding tone.
Even though Memor heard this introduction, he was too busy staring at Luni's transformation from confidence to nervousness and lastly, horror.
As a young man no younger than Memor, he couldn't help ogling the instructor a moment too long before realizing what he was about to do to her.
"Miss if you wou-"
"Call my Master." Evangelia cutoff, Casting her gaze on his small stature.
"Yes, aaa... master Evangelia about your s-"
"Don't worry about the seat, just clean it up."
Luni stood up in surprise, muffled chuckles resounded throughout the class, while glazes aimed at him.
Luni, humiliated, stook a step forward to clean the seat, but was stopped by his new master's words.
"Don't wipe it now, do it after the lecture." She stated with an innocent smile.
Luni's expression grew pale as he realized his blunder, the glue after hardening will take hours to scrub off. If he were to do it then, it would have solidified.
"I…" Before Luni could even retort, Master Evangelia shot a ferocious gaze pushing Luni's word down his mouth.
Silence settled in the classroom.
"4 regions occupy this world respectfully known as Memory, Will, Passion and Intellect. Each domain houses different powers." Evangelia began.
"Individuals born in the Memory domain can awaken as Learners in their late teens, apart from a physical buff and a transcendence of memory, they gain two distinct abilities. Mind Path, where a Learner can share memories to other Learners with the other party's consent and Memorable Nerves, that gives the ability to turn a Learner's body and mind to the emotional state of a certain memory they have."
"From a Learner one can become a grade 1 all the way to a grade 6 Mnemonist by taming Memory Fragments."
"How is a Memory Fragment created?" A student asked.
"I was getting to that!" She replied with a glare. "There are many theories on how they are created, from natural generation, to being an artificial creation of past demons. But, the most agreed upon speculation, is when reality coalesces the memories of a certain event's surrounding area, from beasts, humans and even objects. This could be a fall of a settlement, to a failed migration of a beast pack in the winter."
With that, Evangelia spent the next couple hours educating the youths, on the different types of jobs Learners do, to the ways that Learners integrate their skills to aid the prosperity of Sal villages.
"Any questions?" Evangelia asked.
A delicate hand rose at the back, it was of a lady of red hair streaming down her sides, wide blue eyes hung her face with a set of soft dimples.
"You at the back, state your name," Evangelia pointed.
The girl stood straight, as she patted off the creases on her long tunic.
"I'm Adara, and I was wonder if Memory Fragments existed before the Great Passion Curse?"
"Hmm, I am not sure Adara maybe you could find out in the school library, but anyhow, my time is up. Class dismissed."
A couple students lowered their rising hands, realizing Master Evangelia's ignorance to their presence as she made here exit, leaving behind a band of baffled teenagers. Memor on the other hand, made a journey to the close academy library a few buildings away from the lecturing halls.
The library sprung two stories, made of black stone derived from the cliff connected to Torsal. The smell of paper seeped into Memor's nostrils, filling him with a sense of calmness.
If only Luni was here, how unfortunate. Luni was back in class scraping at a seat.
Making his way in, Memor was met with brown wooden bookstands queuing along both sides. At the end of the hall a librarian sipped tea, her wide pupils entranced by an opened book laid atop her desk.
He seems focused, if only Luni could have such an attitude in anything other than pranks, I won't have to share in his punishment!
I wonder what the Great Passion Curse is about. uncle Ceres never seems to let me learn more than he shares. I can never understand him. Memor jested, as he sauntered towards the librarian.
Hearing an approach, the librarian extricated himself with great effort to address the arriving student.
"You lookin for the history of The Great Passion Curse aren'tcha?"
How... A bewildered expression spread across Memor's face, seeing this, the librarian reciprocated with slight a smirk.
"It's the first day of a new batch of students, it's only natural for those of the lower-class to crave new knowledge." The librarian scanned Memor up and down.
"All the copies about the Great Passion Curse are already borrowed. You can try your luck sharing a book with someone here."
Memor Mentally sighed, might as well try my luck.
He nodded in approval at the librarian, turned right and walked past the columns of bookshelves at a measured gait. Past the bookshelves, long tables and chairs spanned the width of the hall, several students sat ingroups of no more than 3, while a few lone stragglers skimmed through old texts with lowered heads. A distance from the tables, sprung floor to ceiling windows, inviting a soft pale light.
A distinct flowy red hair could be seen at a distance.
What's the worst that could happen? Approaching the unsuspecting red head, Memor pulled out a chair beside her catching her attention.
"Alari, right? I was wondering if you could share some history to this poor boy."
"Ah of course, h-have a seat."
What a nice girl. If only Calypso coul- never mind.
Alara pushed the book in front of her towards him, and packed her stationaries in a rush to leave.
bewildered Memor asked. "Where are you going?"
"I-I was leaving since you wanted to read."
Maybe a bit too nice, "there's no need for that! I just wanted to learn the history of Passions Curse."
What do I do with you... Memor sighed internally.
"How about this, you seem intrigued by the tales of the past, why not just explain it to me."
Hearing Memor's words Alara's face beamed with excitement, like a child receiving a bag of candy. She grabbed Memor's shoulders with surprising force.
Crap she's already a Learner; she could break me if not careful!
Memor spent the next few minutes in a struggle, trying to tell her that the delicate mortal shell he wore could not handle her strength.
"I'm sorry, I just get so excited when history is involved."
"No no, it was my mistake for not clarifying" Memor covered his face with a hand." Anyhow, you wouldn't mind telling me the history of the Great Passion Curse, would you?"
"Of course not, and by the way my name is Alara not Alari."
Settling back down, Alara opened book she pushed to Memor called History of the Memory Domain to the part about The Great Curse.
"14 centuries ago, the 4 regions were all ruled by grade 6 Powerhouses of their respective domains. The Memory domain Mnemosyne, the Will domain Thelema the Passion Domain Eros, and the Intellect domain Nous. They shared their gifts amongst one another, building prosperous empires housing millions of souls. People adored them, worshipped them, praised their generosity."
"6 centuries passed in peace, till Thelema's curiosity got the better him, he sought a memory that tortured Mnemosyne for as long as he could remember and shared it to his equals, igniting an anger in them not to be quelled for years to come. Mnemosyne's was blamed and sacrificed by the other domain leaders so as to extricate the horrid memory from their souls. Their verbal anger, transgressed into the annihilation of Mnemosyne and his land."
"Eros and Thelema collaborated to curse the land of Memory, while Nous battled Mnemosyne in her own domain.
"Thelema began with the sky, he willed the sun to expand and burned the horizon, melting the sky. Gradually, the darkness of night was etched in its backdrop, till the sun was no more."
"When the moon rose, Eros manifested her rage upon the moon. It enlarged, larger than the sun that was extinguished was. A seed of darkness was planted in its ground, slowly tainting its center, leaving only a rim of light breaking through its veil."
"Mnemosyne's kingdom fell and soon, so did he."
"Mnemosyne represented the memory of all realms, with his fall from grace, all regions lost their history, culture and tradition, but what happened to Thelema, Eros and Nous could only be described as tragic."
"What happened to them?" Memor black eyes blazed curiosity.
"They lost their sense of self. A grade 6's complicated sense of self could not be remembered without the existence of Mnemosyne. So, they dispersed into nothingness, taking their gifts with them to their graves."
Alara shut the book History of the Memory Domain having completed her tale, an elated expression hung on her face.
She really enjoys tales huh!?
Memor stood up and paced in the direction of the floor to ceiling window, adjacent to his desk.
Quite an interesting tale I must admit, but why does it sound so... muddle? I guess it makes sense, with Mnemosyne gone the memory of mortals must've regressed to its current state. No physical records were kept before Mnemosyne's death since his gift to the lands, was memory.
"Thanks for your time Alara. I really enjoyed it, but I must leave."
"Already? I didn't even catch your name!"
"Call me Mori."
With the sun gone, the eclipsed moon circled the stary sky in round arcs, one could tell the end of one cycle by observing its position. By the time Alara finished her tale, it was almost the end of the current cycle and Memor haven't eaten since its beginning.
I wonder what uncle Ceres have in store today? A gluttons expression revealed on his face as he walked out.
Past the village entrance, pale wood trees ingulfed its surroundings. The wind whispered through the dark leaves, leaving an eerie sense of stillness. A dryness found its way into Memor's mouth, turning his lips crusty and senseless. Memor walked through the forest, soon finding a large boulder hiding a hatch on its side.
The boulder was no more than 100 meters north-east of the village entrance.
Memor made his way down set of stairs from the ajar hatch, at its end, a large hall with walnut-colored walls came in view. Complicated diagrams nailed onto walls were shown by chained lanterns hanging off the roof. Burly wooden tables scattered across the hall, each holding metallic parts and blueprints of all kinds.
At the far end of the round hall sat a fit old man, he had grey tipped hair and a glove on his left hand, decorated with golden accents. He tinkered with a leather bag, which emitted a faint glow under his palms influence.
Having heard Memor's approach, uncle Ceres extricated himself from his craft and walked towards an adjacent room. Memor followed.
In dimly lit chamber, a meal for two, of Corpse bread and buffalo soup, were held up by a round dining table, with a set of seats opposite one another.
They enjoyed their meals in silence, only the sounds of broken bread crumbs and slurping of soups echoed in the room.
Memor finished first, patting his belly with a satisfied sigh escaping his lips.
An eager smile appeared on his face.
"Say, uncle Ceres, it wouldn't cost much to get me a new bed, would it?"
Ceres glanced up; his sparse white beard twitched at the question.
"Do you still roll around like a child in your sleep?" Ceres said wit is hoarse voice.
"No"
"Really?" A knowing smile appeared on Ceres's lips.
"Hey! Reading my memories is off limits!" Memor stood up.
"I never did." A mischievous smile brandished Ceres's face.
As a grade 2 Mnemonist, reading the memories of a normal human like Memor in secret was a walk in the park.
Memor sat down, feeling ashamed from getting caught by such a cheap trick.
"Like I always say, until you can stop eating Bayel flowers like a baby, you don't deserve an adult size bed."
The Passion Curse affects all creatures in the Memory domain. Any creature that gets infected by the curse will slowly lose their control of their emotions and transform into monsters of rage, first mentally, then physically. The surviving humans of Memory domain created an Artifact called Fragment Shield, protecting cities of people from succumbing to Passion's Curse.
Newborns are too weak to handle the pressure that the Fragment Shield put on them, so they were fed Bayel flower to jarring up their emotions.
Since a young age Memor was fed Bayel flowers to control his emotions, but as he grew older, the Fragment Shield never had an effect on him. Forcing him to continue eating Bayel flower, each time more than the last as he grew older. The effects of Bayel flowers last almost a whole cycle, allowing Memor to experience true emotions near the end of each.
"So Memor," Ceres called in a clam tone. "How many cycles till you become a Learner?"
"Around 53, why?"
"Just asking." A flash of furrow found its way onto Ceres's already wrinkled face.
Ceres was one of the most accomplished artisans in Sal village, having created an Artifact that could predict the awakening of new Learners by observing the clarity of their future memories. Artifacts are made of Memory Fragments. By funneling its powers into different items such as a bag or robe one can enchant them with fragment abilities.
Memor changed the topic, noticing Ceres dark expression. They bickered for the next couple minutes till the eventual leave of Memor.
***
Ceres sat motionless in the dining room, only the tapping sound of his gloved hand echoed out.
I need to speed up my plans. A deep sigh escaped his lips, as he glanced at where Memor had sat.
***
Memor returned to his hut to find his door ajar.
A thief? I own nothing of value to steal though? Carefully pushing the door open, a burning candle illuminated the interior of his hut.
On the chair, a familiar figure sat crossed legged, a soft smile playing on her face.
"I let myself in if you don't mind." Calypso's smile widened.