Chapter Ten:

                                   Blaze.

    I frowned. “What do you mean. . . everyone's after you? You're running away? What—-?” 

    “Everyone is after me. Like I said. How many times do I have to repeat myself for you to understand?” he interrupted. 

    “And…how many… people…is  that. You mean everyone?” I managed to get out, as I sat forward a little. He just stared at me, his expression turning irritated the next second. He opened his mouth then closed it, resuming applying his medicine again. 

    “You're not going to tell me?” I asked in disbelief. 

He shook his head and said “Not if you're acting like that.” 

    “Like what?” 

    “You look like Emine when he’s waiting for me to give my food to him.”

he replied, his voice and face disgusted. “Plus, you won’t need to know the answer.” 

    “But–but–we’re a team! If I don't know everything, then I won't be able to protect you.” 

    “I don’t need protection, and we’re not a team.” he snapped. “I’m leaving you soon, anyways…so, no.” 

    “I’ve already told you everything there is to know about me!” I protested. 

    “Doubt it…” Sebastian said, still not looking up. I sighed, “What is it you want to know? Tell me!” 

    “There is nothing I want to know.” looking up quickly. 

    “But, can you still tell me?” I begged. Sebastian responded by giving me a look that clearly meant no. I fell to the floor, laying on my back, disappointed. 

    “You will tell me someday! You will tell me! I guarantee.” I said, pointing a finger in the air. 

    “Whatever you say. . .” Sebastian sighed in disbelief. I gave a small

smile. “Anyway, get up, we need to train.” 

    I quickly scrambled up to my feet, alarmed, noticing that he was trying to get up. “No, no, no! You're not getting up.” 

    I pushed him down again, gently getting him into a sitting position on the ground. I shook my head. 

    “You're staying down. You're still weak.” 

    “You're weak.” he retorted sharply immediately after. “That's why we practice. Do you think I got as good as I am without my practice? No. Practice time is precious. You would die without it.” 

    Still the same! I thought. Well, this is going to be a challenge! I’m weak, huh? Better practice then. 

    “Okay, I will just practice with you watching me.” I suggested. “You can watch, preventing injuring yourself, I can still practice and become–in your words–less weak.” 

    Sebastian watched me carefully as if he was considering this. Then nodded. 

    “Hey, perhaps I’ll become better than you.” I said cockily as I grabbed

my stick. Sebastian scoffed, but I could tell that he found the idea amusing. 

    “Just. take your sword.” 

    “Okay. So, what do you want to talk about?” I asked eagerly, wanting to talk as I practiced. Sebastian groaned.

    “I would rather not. Practice with no sound. No talking.” he replied, looking clearly displeased.

    “Fine. Don’t talk. You’re no fun anyways. so rude…” I muttered. 

    “Heard that.” 

    I sighed. I walked to the middle of our camp, in front of Sebastian, and closed my eyes. I listened as the wind passed my ears. 

    “Your stance is all wrong.” Sebastian said before I even started, which made me stumble forward. I looked at him confusedly. 

    “I didn’t even start!” I complained. 

    “That's no excuse. You must have forgotten what I’ve taught you. We’re not doing anything else until you get that stance right. Try again.” Sebastian insisted. 

    “Okay. Fine.” I gave in, trying not to get annoyed. Don’t get angry now, he would teach you, but he’s injured, he wants to but I’m the one who forced him to stay down. . .

    I continued my practice–getting lectured–but practiced nonetheless… 

    After a full day of training with swordplay, it was sundown. After checking up on Bylur and Furio, I went to sit next to the fire. 

    I watched as the flames of the fire were dancing gracefully. As I started to relax I realized just how soar my limbs were. I let myself take a breath of relief, feeling the cool air on my neck. 

    I got lost in the sound of the crackling fire, the smell of wilderness all around me. My gaze traveled to Sebastian who was sitting on the other side from where I was sitting. I saw that he had a thoughtful expression on his face, lost in memory. 

    Such a complex person. . . I wonder what got him like this? I wondered. And he won’t tell me. What secrets are you hiding…?

    Sebastian’s gaze turned and met my own and he gave me a peeved look but looked a little distant. 

    “Why are you staring at me like you have a hard decision to make?”

    “No, reason. Sorry.” I said, shaking my head to get back to my surroundings. “Thinking.” 

    He just nodded his head, which made me ask 

    “You okay? Seems like you have something on your mind. Want to talk about it?” 

    “No.” 

    “Sometimes talking about stuff makes people feel better. Whether it’s about the stuff that's bothering them or just about random stuff.” I smiled. “Or…that's what I noticed,” he just stayed silent. “Okay, that's a hard no…let me ask you questions.” 

    “Please no.” Sebastian objected quickly. 

    “It’ll be easy…like…what's your full name?” I asked. A few minutes had

passed before he replied to my question. Finally he answered. 

    “You already know. My name is Sebastian. Are you deaf or something.” 

    “Nope. I mean your full name. First name and last name.” I prompted. This is stupid, I thought. But it’s the only way to get into conversation with him, it seems like. Sebastian thought about this. 

    “It’s just Sebastian. I have no last name.” he finally replied. I was taken aback. 

    “No last name! You need one!” I exclaimed. “You know what. Let me name you!” 

    Sebastian slapped his face lightly with his hand. “I’m not your pet! You can’t do that! What do you mean ‘let me name you’?” he asked as he looked shocked. 

    “Exactly what I mean. Now–” I examined him, considering the name. It has to be perfect. But what is it? Something cool? Strong? Confident? Scary. Mysterious? There's so many that could be perfect. But what explains his personality? 

    “Listen,” he started. “I don’t really think it’s necessary to–” 

    “Blaze!” 

    “What?” 

    “That's your name!” I said excitedly. “Sebastian Blaze! But–um, now that you love your new name that I came up with. Why didn’t you have a last name?” 

    “Because–I didn’t.” Sebastian shrugged his shoulders, his face going more distant. “My just parents didn’t, I suppose. They didn’t care for me much.” 

    “Aw, that’s so sad.” I said. “And, ha, you told me something about yourself.” 

    He crossed his arms and closed his eyes. “So? That's my will. You didn’t make me do anything. I chose to. There is a difference.” 

    “Uh-huh. Or you just chose to because you're finally warming up to me!” I blurted out, feeling as though my whole face was smiling. 

    I could have sworn I saw a flash of embarrassment and a small smile accompanying it on his face as he just said 

    “Believe what you want, I can’t change your mind.”

    I opened my mouth to say something but got interrupted as a sound was made. I swiftly tur ned my head towards the noise and saw Furio awake and whinnying. I sprang to my feet, then strode towards Furio. 

    “Whoa! Calm down!” 

I reached out my hands towards Furio, grabbed the bridge of his nose and stroked it until he calmed down as Emine growled behind me.

    “Calm down, buddy. What’s got you so freaked out, huh?” 

It took minutes to calm the black horse down, and by the time he did the horse’s eyes were wide with fear. I turned my head around to see Emine had stood up. His fur on end, his eyes wide, and he was now barking.    I took a couple steps forward, worried. “What’s happening with him?” 

    Sebastian shook his head, his face anxious. “I don’t know. He only really acts like this when–” he broke off. I looked left to right then at him again. 

    “When–?” I said, gesturing my hand for him to continue. Sebastian took a sigh. 

    “He really only acts like this when he senses danger around.” he said. 

    “I don’t see anything.” I said. 

     Sebastian said nothing in response but a nod of his head. He rested a hand on his sword but did not move it from where it lay. I sat down next to the fire, forcing my muscles to relax. Emine also laid down, putting his head on his paws, still whimpering. Although his fur was still on end, he wagged his tail as Sebastian started petting him on the head and his tongue drooped down from his mouth. 

    I gave a stretch of my arms, yawning. “I’m going to bed…goodnight.” 

    “Night.” Sebastian said, but sounded far away from the conversation. I layed down next to the fire, putting my arms behind my head. I turned my head to see Sebastian keeping watch with a weary look on his face and his sword in his lap with his finger around the handle and scabbard. 

    I closed my eyes and soon after fell into an uneasy sleep, Sebastian being the last thing I saw, the crackles of the fire was the last thing I heard.

                       Chapter Eleven:

                Questions about the past 

    I walked through the forest, the mix of mist and fog that surrounded me and it made it hard to see my own two feet. The mist and fog were pure white and were trailing behind me like the tail of a horse.

    The wind was howling past me like the echoes of a cave. The sounds of my footsteps hitting the ground was like raindrops pattering. My mind felt crystal clear, better than it has been in a while.

        “Hello.” a new voice had suddenly said. Shocked, I quickly grabbed the sword that appeared on my belt barely grasping the handle.    

    “Who’s there?” 

    “What do you mean, who’s there? It’s me!” the voice replied. I looked around to soon find a silhouette of a person coming out from behind the trees. When they came closer, I saw that it was a little girl, but the face

was a little blurry. “Do you remember me? I’ve missed you so much.” 

    I rubbed my eyes just to see that it was real. I was not making this up. “No, I don’t. Should I know you?” 

    “I’m your family! What do you mean you don’t remember me!?” 

I took a step back, shocked. “I-I’m sorry. I-I just don’t…remember…” 

    Another silhouette came up, and this time it was a little boy. Again, I couldn’t see their faces. He took the little girl's hand. 

    “We are your full-blooded siblings. You have to remember us.” 

    “We’re your family.” Two more voices said, two more people comame up, this time an adult woman and a man. 

    “How did you forget us so easily?” 

    My eyes started to sting as tears sprang to them. 

“I didn’t mean to! It’s not my fault!” I said as my tears ran down my cheeks hoping they would understand.

    “How could you?” 

    “Don’t you love for us–” 

    “--care for us?” 

    “Do you hate us?” 

    “No! I don’t!” I argued, falling onto my knees as they kept talking, covering my ears to stop listening but alas it didn’t work. 

    “I didn’t mean to forget all about you! I-It wasn’t my fault, it must be Kenric! Please, forgive me!” 

    “We can forgive you–” the older woman said. “--if you come back with us and agree to never leave. Come here, son.” 

    I looked up quickly to see the woman’s arms wide open as if signing for a hug. I was about to get up but I stopped as a sound echoed in the distance. 

    I-is that–Sebastian! I thought as I heard him calling for me. I turned my head towards his voice. I turned it back to my parents. 

    “Could I bring my friend along? He doesn’t have any parents who care for him, they could be dead, but if he can just–” 

    “No, I’m sorry, dear, he isn’t able to.” They interrupted. 

    “But–” I stopped. I stood and looked at my parents, 

“--but if I go with you, he’s going to be all alone.” 

    “So be it then.” 

    I stared in disbelief at the family that stood before me. I just couldn’t believe it. 

    “Could I at least tell him goodbye?” 

They shook their heads which caused me to say, 

    “but he’s my friend. I need to say goodbye!” They shook their heads again. 

I averted their eyes as I set my gaze onto the ground. 

    “Then. I’m sorry. I’m not going with you. I need to be with my friend. He needs me.” I said as I turned my back on them all and started to tread forward. 

    “Come back to us. We’ll start life over. Just the five of us. Come back to us, brother.” The little girl said from behind me. 

    I ignored them as I continued to walk forward. 

    “Don’t leave us!” The two kids cried out. 

    “I’m sorry.” I said. 

    The two kids started crying, forcing me to listen because I couldn’t rid

their voices from my ears and mind. The cries sounded with pain, sorrow. I couldn’t bear it. This is hard enough on me, please do not cry…I thought in agony.

    “I’m sorry.” I said in a whisper… 

    I woke up without a sound, feeling as though I was drowning, jumping onto my feet. My heart felt as though it was beating like an earthquake.

    “Finally! You're awake!” An irritated voice said. I opened my eyes to see the sun shining down, its rays splashed down onto Sebastian making it look like an aura was around him, who was standing in front of me dressed in his cloak. 

    I rushed forward and hugged him, surprising him with this action, I bashed into him and knocked us both onto the ground. I managed to hug him for a few seconds, until Sebastian shoved me off of him saying, “Get off of me! What are you doing!”

    “Sorry.” I apologized quickly as we both got onto our feet. 

    “Don’t touch me! Why did you do that?” his voice was angry. I grinned

and said, “I just missed you.” 

    “What do you mean? I’m with you all the time!” he said, exasperated. 

    “Oh, yeah. Well, much worse could have happened. You had no idea.” 

    “You make no sense.” 

    “Yeah. sorry. I guess I got ahead of myself.” I said as I scratched my head. He just stared at me, his eyes squinted, then it looked like he was going to leave it alone. I examined Sebastian up and down and saw he was carrying a bucket, and there I realized that the wind was making me colder than usual, and there I realized that my clothes and hair were sticking to my skin, and then I finally noticed I was wet. 

    “Why am I wet?” I asked. 

    “Because. I splashed you.” He replied. 

    “With what?” 

    “Water.” 

    “But why!?” I exclaimed. 

    “Because! You were annoying to wake up!” Sebastian answered. I didn’t say anything back and instead just smiled, which he just replied with a

frown.

    “How is your injury doing?” I asked curiously. 

    “Well, considering that you just jumped on it, you probably reopened the wound. So, does that answer your question?” he replied sharply. I just beamed, brushing off the fact that I’ve made a mistake. 

    Sebastian scowled then turned away. 

    “We need to get out of here. We wasted time already by asking your stupid questions.” 

    “Hey!” I said, taking a little offense. “My questions aren’t stupid!” 

    Sebastian ignored me just by saying, “get on Furio.” 

    I subsided, trying not to get irritated as I mounted Furio. 

    “Um–there is a little problem.” I swallowed. Sebastian, now mounted on top of Bylur, looked at me, his eyes expectant. 

    “I don’t know how to ride.” I said nervously. 

    “Really? Are you serious?” 

    “Yes. I’ve never really learned to.” I said, my voice getting quieter with every word. “And you never taught me or anything.” 

    Sebastian groaned, getting off his horse, then wrapped a rope around Furio’s neck. Now holding the rope, Sebastian got onto Bylur again, and started walking. 

    As Furio was being guided through the forest by Sebastian I sat on the saddle, intrigued and excited that I was riding the horse. The last time I rode was when we took the horse outside of town! 

    “So, why are we moving out of the spot we were anyway?” I asked. No answer. Then finally, 

    “because.” We had ridden for an hour that I thought I was going to doze off on the horse. Nothing of the sort had caught my interest. 

    “Sebastian!” I groaned. 

    “What is it?” Sebastian asked in a sharp tone. 

    “I’m bored!” I complained. “How do you do it? How do you travel for so long without getting bored.” 

    “Being hunted keeps me entertained, plus I have conversations with Emine. So, you’re fine. No complaining.” 

    “But I’m not like you!” I pointed out. “I’m not like this silent person who

enjoys solitude. I’m not the silent knight of the group! I’m not Sebastian Blaze! I’m me! I need to talk to someone or I’m going to die!” 

    “Stop being overdramatic.” Sebastian ordered briefly. 

    “Please. Talk, I enjoy the sound of people’s voices.” 

    “Well, that sounds creepy. Nobody is going to want to talk to you if you sound like that.” my friend noted, “Fine.” 

    “Er—-what's your name…?” he started off awkwardly.

    “Can’t remember.” I reminded him.

    “Oh. Right.” he said, and I could have thought he sounded a little flustered. Few minutes had gone by until he said something that absolutely surprised me. “I had a name for you.” 

    “What?” 

    “well–I mean, when you first didn’t tell me your name, I had to have a name to call you something. I couldn’t call you something like “the stranger.” 

    Hah! I’ve been calling you that the whole time before I learned your real name! I thought, silently laughing. I smiled big. 

    “Really? You have one? What is it?” 

    “It’s nothing fancy, really.” 

    “What is it, tell me!” 

    “It’s fine. I really don't want to tell you.” 

    “Please?” 

    Sebastian sighed, staring ahead to the road. Then he finally spoke. “Pine. It was Pine.” 

    I was dead quiet until he asked, “. . .hello? Answer me! Are you awake.” 

    I blinked a few times. 

    “I love it!” I bursted out excitedly. 

    “You do. . .?” he asked, sounding confused. 

    “Yes! It’s perfect. Pine and Sebastian Blaze take on the world together! So good.” 

    Sebastian looked over his shoulder at me. I couldn’t read his emotions easily but I could see a small smile on his face which told me that he was happy. He quickly looked back to the road up ahead, coughed which sounded fake, then said, “good, good. Everyone should have a name.”

    I allowed myself to take a fresh breath of air and to be happy.

    “Have you found a way to unbind us, yet?” I questioned, feeling a little awkward. 

    “No, not yet.” he shook his head. 

    “Do you at least have any leads?” 

    “No…well maybe some,” he replied, “there are some ways to bind people together, therefore there are some incantations to break them. They are easy to do depending on which one you used, and depending on how high your magic is. Especially this kind of magic, it's hard to use because it is very sensitive. There is one problem which I cannot fix. I did not create the spell. Kenric did. Kenric bounded you together, then I, trying to break it, bounded us together instead by accident. I still don't know the spell he used though. It seems powerful. Do you happen to know the magic he used on you?” 

    “No.” I tried to think. “I don’t even remember if he was talking. And he certainly didn’t tell me we were bound together.”

    “Hm, interesting. Perhaps he did it by not speaking then.” he

suggested. “Could you maybe think of why he wanted you. Like, why did he keep you prisoner?” 

    “I don’t know.” I shrugged my shoulders, I looked to the sky, getting lost in the drifting clouds. “He’s completely crazy, does that count?” 

    “That I do know.” Sebastian agreed. 

    “I have a question. How do you know Kenric? You seem like you know him.” I asked. There was no reply for several minutes.

    “Sebastian?” 

    “What?” he looked over his shoulder. 

    “I asked you a question. Did you hear?” I said. 

    Sebastian stared at me with a blank face, I gazed back. Finally, he blinked several times looking as if he snapped back into reality, then he shook his head. “Uh–huh? Can you say the question one more time?” 

    I swallowed. Grinning, I said, “Um–actually, it was nothing. Just something stupid again.” 

    “Okay, then.” Sebastian looked back to the road again, his eyes glazed. 

    “Did you maybe make Kenric–angry with you in any way?” he continued

to ask. 

    “Not that I remember. I don’t remember anything from the past. No friends, family, foes, my life.” I said, remembering my dream from this morning. 

    Then again, maybe I’m not trying to remember it. Maybe It was a bad life, maybe I don’t want to have my past memories in any way…I thought. But then why do I have the desire to get my memories back, because now it seems like I would do anything to get them back. Because then it would be perfect. Remembering my family, then I could go back to them. I wonder if they miss me. And I wonder if they’ll let Sebastian come live with us…I thought as I looked across to see him sitting on his horse. But then again, would they? Do I want the memories back?

    I sighed weighing this option. I watched the sky for the rest of the ride as it changed colors throughout the day. A few weeks went on like this. We’ve been traveling, sword training, learning how to fight and hunt, and I finally learned how to ride a horse, which I was grateful for. For each new day I’ve been having that dream, reliving each moment, waking up

from Sebastian and so on. 

    I was laying on the ground beneath the starry night sky, swinging a metal sword around. I stopped swinging the metal sword and looked over to my right as I heard a thump. I saw that Sebastian came into the clearing and dropped three rabbits onto the ground. 

    I scrambled up into a sitting position. Sebastian knelt down onto his knees, taking out his carving knife and started to carve on the rabbits.

    “How was the hunt?” I asked. 

    “How does it look?” he replied with a grunt. I just nodded, getting the feeling that he doesn’t really want to talk. I said, 

    “Do you think that I’m ready to have this sword?” Gesturing to the sword that I had in my hands. 

    Sebastian looked up from the dead rabbits for a few seconds and shook his head. “No.”