One hour later…

  Skye sat on a bench in the park, cradling his head in his hands. He sighed in resignation.

  The solarite hadn’t disappointed in spectacle. It had left everyone semi-blinded and deafened for fifteen minutes straight, after which the entire city was—justifiably—furious. They’d hunted him down, placing a hefty bounty on his head, and even used channeling to track him.

  Unfortunately, their ire didn’t last.

  The bell made everyone forget the whole incident. Even that massive, catastrophic explosion hadn’t survived his curse.

  He sighed again.

  Rage welled up inside, and he shouted in frustration, punching the bench. He continued until his throat hurt, until his knuckles bled and couldn’t feel his hand anymore. Rising shakily, he triggered his curse, avoiding the stares of those nearby.

  What was he supposed to do? He’d tried everything imaginable to break his curse or convince anyone of the truth. He’d consulted every channeler in the city, searched through every book, scroll, and tome he could get his hands on, overused the bell, and completely ceased activating it.

  Nothing worked. No one remembered him, and he couldn’t affect or alter anything. It appeared the only possible escape from this Void-spawned curse was death.

  He wished the bell also worked on him, removing his memory after each use. Then, he’d be reborn with every chime, not knowing the confusion or terror his past selves endured.

  As if that wasn’t disappointing enough, his efforts at investigating the criminal wardens had all failed. He’d spied on over a hundred different wardens, trailing their steps everywhere, eavesdropping on their conversations, reading their archives and messages.

  Finding nothing.

  It was as if the men who’d killed his team were ghosts. As if they never existed.

  He roamed the streets aimlessly, eventually stealing a meat pie from a restaurant in Lunaline District. There, he headed to the edge of a high perch overlooking Pyrpphire District below where workshops and smithies blazed and factories thrummed with the work of machinery.

  Beyond it, the blue lake stretched vast, triple the size of Troqua, partitioned by walls, columns, and ancient stalagmites into distinct bays. Boats traveled across it, fishing or transporting goods to Florald District. The green district stretched beyond the lake, its sprawling gardens and farms illuminated with large gems. There, greenfingers channeled to grow crops and farmers raised their cattle.

  The scene was breathtaking in its scope. Hundreds of thousands of individuals went about their everyday lives, working, transporting goods, or leisurely enjoying food and conversation. Children played. Carts hummed as they floated, shoving dirt aside. The whole city overflowed with zest, its noises infectious and lively. Yet even staring at it, Skye couldn’t find the energy to raise the pie to his lips.

  Lately, all food had become bitter as if his tongue turned anything it touched to coal. Many a day he had to force himself to eat, and some nights, he went to sleep empty. His struggles weren’t about revenge and saving the city only. He was sick of spending his days alone, tired of sleeping his nights in filthy holes. He wanted his old life back and to spend time with his friends. He wanted to go back home.

  He clenched the pie until it oozed between his fingers.

  He hadn’t seen the Medhars since the night Stenser threw him out. He held no grudges, but he didn’t want to relive those events. To suffer their hatful gazes again.

  Sometimes, he dreamt of being a cockroach in their house, scuttling around as they screamed, trying to crush him. He hoped that when his curse finally broke, they wouldn’t regain their memories. Because that night was best left forgotten. Slowly, he forced his body to loosen up, doing the breathing exercises.

  Something skidded sharply behind. A shout of anger followed.

  Across the street, a boy with familiar features ran, carrying a stack of books and tomes half his size. Blinded by his load, he’d stumbled into the path of a passing carriage, causing it to swivel sideways to avoid him. It scraped its bottom against the cobblestones, shooting sparks, and breaking miniature shards of the amegravos on its bottom. The driver unleashed a string of curses as he drove away, summoning everyone’s attention to the incident.

  The boy sat his books down on a rock on the far side of the road, adjusting his glasses, and removing the brown hairs stuck to his face. It was Lyonel.

  “I’m sorry!” he called.

  Skye had seen him several times in the past few weeks, and even spoke to him twice. But like everyone, Lyonel had no clue who Skye was or any recollection of their friendship.

  One thing Skye had never discussed with Lyonel was the curse. Lyonel wasn’t a channeler, but he worked as a scribe at a bookstore. Maybe, he’d come across a passing comment about it in some ancient scroll Skye had overlooked.

  Chase every trail, Skye thought, hurrying toward his old friend. But before he reached him, four boys stepped out of a nearby alley, led by a tall teenager, surrounding Lyonel.

  “Hey Lyonel! What have you got there?” the teenager asked.

  Nakais Alektom had a dirt-eating grin, a punchable face, and the body of a fat ape. Even his fancy doublet looked smug. He and Skye used to “get along”, if getting along meant rolling in the dirt while pummeling each other with kicks and punches. If there was anything Skye was thankful for since he was cursed, it was not meeting this coalbrain.

  Skye quickened his pace. Nakais must be proud of himself, ganging up five against one.

  “Books again?” Nakais asked, ruffling the papers. “These are useless. Why don’t you ditch them and come with us?”

  “Yeah, ditch them in the Scar and jump after them!” Billiam giggled. Gap-toothed, freckle-faced, and a dimwit, anyone could tell he was Nakais’s little brother by a single glance.

  Nakais smacked Billy’s head, eliciting a startled yelp. He turned to Lyonel. “I’m serious, Lyonel. Stop wasting your time in that bookshop and come with us.”

  “I-I don’t know about that,” Lyonel said sheepishly. “I have work to do.” He tried to back away, but the boys behind kept him in place.

  “Leave him alone, you bovine-brained brutes!” Skye shouted as he arrived.

  “Who’s that?” Nakais asked. “Anyone know him?”

  The four boys shook their heads. Nakais turned to Lyonel who frowned in confusion, shrugging.

  “Stop bullying him, Nakais! If you want a fight, I’ll give you one,” Skye challenged.

  “Bullying?” Nakais said, feigning ignorance. “I’m not bullying anyone. Lyonel’s my friend.” He wrapped an arm around Lyonel’s shoulder, pulling him tightly. “Isn’t that right, Lyonel?”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “Yeah,” Lyonel said, forcing a smile.

  “What’s a bovine?” Billiam asked stupidly.

  Skye paused, clenching his fists. Fighting Nakais and his gang seemed like a thrilling exercise, but he didn’t fancy spending the night aching in some alley without Dr. Stenser’s ointments. Still, by activating his curse repeatedly, he could theoretically wallop them without anyone realizing what was happening. Steeling himself, he approached his foes.

  “Who are you anyway, coming here, calling names, and demanding a fight?” Nakais asked, stepping up and puffing his chest. “Do you know who I am?”

  “You’re someone who believes he’s six times as smart as a third of how smart he really is, but you’re only a quarter as smart as a double of how smart everyone thinks you are,” Skye replied.

  Nakais squinted. “What?”

  “I think that was a compliment,” Billiam said.

  “Evidently, my statement applies to your brother as well,” Skye said.

  Nakais crossed his arms. “Lucky for you, I promised my parents not to pummel punks from the streets anymore. Otherwise, I’d have you on your knees begging for forgiveness by now.” He tsked. “I don’t know you, but Lyonel’s my friend, and I’m trying to get him to join me in warden training. He’s got talent, but he’s too shy to see it.”

  Skye blinked in shock. Not only was Nakais acting with self-restraint; he was also training to be a warden, and he wanted Lyonel to join him as well? Last time Skye checked, neither of them were channelers and they didn’t get along.

  “I’m sorry, Nakais.” Lyonel stepped back, scratching under his gloves. “My ability’s not good enough to join the wardens. I can do better down here.”

  “That’s nonsense! If your brother could become a warden, so can you!” Nakais encouraged.

  Skye’s scowl deepened. Dray was a constable, not a warden, right? The world had moved on far without him.

  Lyonel hesitated, pulling nervously at his gloves. “Dray is much stronger than I am. I-I won’t make the cut.”

  “Of course, you will! You just need practice. That’s why you should come with me,” Nakais insisted. “I can ask my parents to get you a private tutor. Maybe hire that Shamoun guy to train you.”

  Skye’s jaw slackened. Last time he and Lyonel had run into Nakais’s gang, they’d gone home painted purple and blue with bruises. Now they were chatting like old pals?

  It had to be the curse.

  Skye first saw Nakais when he was pranking Lyonel by pushing him into a muddy hole. He’d stepped forward, pushing Nakais into the same hole, starting the war. Since Skye had never fought back, Lyonel had no reason to be at odds with Nakais.

  His disappearance had made everyone get along.

  Gritting his teeth, he summoned his bell, wanting to run away. But something Nakais said caught his attention.

  “Did you say Shamoun? As in Varick Shamoun, the famous channeler?” Skye asked. “Lyonel, are you a mentalist?”

  Lyonel smiled shyly. “A terrible one, but yeah.”

  Skye’s eyes widened. He wanted to ask Lyonel about his curse even more now, but not in front of Nakais and his loudmouthed followers. “Can we talk privately? I need your help with something.”

  Lyonel stuttered, but Nakais intervened. “No, you can’t. You have to talk here.”

  “I didn’t ask for your permission, Nakais,” Skye frowned.

  “You heard him. Talk here,” one of the boys said from behind, a new one Skye didn’t recognize. Nakais attracted flunkies like poo did flies.

  Skye exhaled. He had the mind to grab Lyonel’s arm and run, but he knew that would only provoke Nakais into following. Unfortunately, his curse couldn’t affect other people, even if he were touching them when he activated it. Not that he would ever cast it on a friend as that would be heartless. Still, since everyone was going to forget this conversation anyway…

  “Have you heard of a spell capable of erasing specific memories from a large group of people at once?” he asked.

  The boys frowned. Not an unexpected reaction according to his experience.

  “Memory manipulation?” Lyonel cocked his head. “I don’t know. That’s pretty advanced and not my specialty.”

  “Any information could help,” Skye pressed. “Think of it like a curse that can be activated at will, but not completely conscious or controlled.”

  “That sounds strangely specific,” Nakais said. “Why do you want to remove people’s memory? Are you planning to steal something?”

  “Maybe he wants to go peeping!” Billiam exclaimed.

  “No, it’s because I want to break the curse!” Skye clarified. “It’s… horrible.”

  “He will most definitely use it for peeping,” The new boy quirked a smile.

  “I would never peep on anyone!” Skye yelled.

  “That sounds like something a peeper would say,” Nakais said, crossing his arms.

  “It can be used for peeping,” Gafor said sagely. He stood behind Nakais, cuter than a caveboar, smarter than a snail. “And even stealing ladies’ laundry.”

  Skye rolled his eyes.

  “I-I don’t know anything about curses,” Lyonel interjected. “I don’t think I can help. You should seek someone more experienced.”

  “I already spoke with every mentalist in the city, and they couldn’t help,” Skye groaned. “No one could tell me why everyone keeps forgetting about me. That’s why I’m asking you. Have you read about anything that can cause repeated amnesia? Of anyone who could do such a thing?”

  “Wait, everyone forgets about you?” Nakais said. “That’s… weird.”

  “That’s awesome!” Billiam said. “You could totally peep anywhere without getting caught!”

  “No, that’s terrible,” another boy said. His name was Lastin, tall and willowy like a stick and as intelligent. “Who’d prepare your food?”

  Skye raised his arms in consternation. “Is this what you’re worried about?!”

  “This curse sounds like something a Psycho elexos would cast,” Gafor said.

  “Don’t say that word!” Lyonel whispered, eyes darting up as though he expected the monsters to come crashing down. “They could sense when someone mentions their name!”

  Nakais waved a dismissive arm. “Bah, my mom says that’s a made-up tale to make children behave. Like the mazemeaker monster in the Deeps, or the lady that eats naughty children in the Coals.”

  “Wait a minute. How can an elexos be psycho?” Lastin asked, causing Lyonel to flinch. “Aren’t they all mindless.”

  “No, you idiot, he meant a psychoxos, as in a mentalist elexos,” Nakais clarified.

  “Stop saying it!” Lyonel hissed.

  “How does that look like?” the new boy asked.

  “Oh, I know!” Billiam threw his hands up, fingers arched like claws. “A hulking mass of flesh and tentacles with a giant, empty skull!”

  “Billy, no monster shares your anatomy,” Skye said, getting tired of being sidetracked. “There’s no such thing as a Psycho elexos, or at least, none has ever been seen before. I know this because that was my first theory and I researched it thoroughly.”

  Lyonel cleared his throat. “I haven’t read much on the subject of memory manipulation. But I heard the Obtundrils had a large library -“

  “I’ve already been to their library,” Skye interrupted. “And to the Cordropees’, the Rikals’, the Alektoms’, and to every grand library in Troqua.”

  “When did you visit ours?” Billiam asked, frowning with Nakais.

  “If you’ve already visited all those libraries, I don’t think I have anything to add.” Lyonel shrugged apologetically. “You said it can be controlled consciously. Have… you tried not using it?”

  “Yes,” Skye said, growing exasperated. “It builds up within the span of few days and activates on its own. I tried resisting, but the longest I lasted was five days.”

  The boys exchanged questioning looks. Skye knew those expressions. They came right before the name calling, and the eventual, inevitable dismissal.

  “That sounds… bogus,” Lastin said.

  “It sounds like you’re pulling a prank,” Billiam added. “But it’s not funny.”

  “Maybe he’s not straight in the head,” the new kid suggested, pointing at his skull.

  “This is a waste of time,” Gafor said. “Come on, Nakais. Let’s leave.”

  “Please,” Skye pleaded to Lyonel, ignoring them. “I’m desperate. If you have any clue, any idea of who might be of help…”

  “Well, I’m not sure…” Lyonel trailed off.

  “Come on, Lyonel! If you know something tell the guy!” Nakais said, slapping Lyonel’s back.

  “You believe him?” Billiam asked, confused.

  “You believe me?” Skye echoed, more confused.

  “No, you’re insane,” Nakais said, nodding. “But you’re asking for help and helping others is what wardens do.”

  Skye couldn’t believe his senses. A world where Nakais stood up for him was too fanciful. He wouldn’t even dream of such a marvel.

  “Yeah, that’s right,” Billiam said, thumping Lyonel’s back repeatedly. “Don’t be stingy! Help the guy!”

  The other boys joined in after the Alektoms, encouraging and cheering Lyonel.

  “Alright, alright,” Lyonel said, stepping away from the boys. “I’m not sure this is useful, but… I might get in trouble if I talk about it. We all might.”

  “Don’t worry. No one will hear of this, I promise,” Skye said.

  Lyonel swallowed, looking contemplative. The boys gathered closer.

  “Sometimes, my brother brings home strange books,” Lyonel whispered. “He doesn’t allow me to read them or view their titles even. But I can tell they’re special. Some’re made of strange materials and bound weirdly. They have strange symbols that glow or even move. I think… I think the wardens have a secret library hidden somewhere in Troqua.”

  Skye gasped, a shudder passing through his spine. The wardens enforced a monopoly on information related to trade routes, elexii, channeling, and many other topics. Of course, they had a hidden library. He should have considered that ages ago.

  “Where is it?” Skye asked quickly.

  “I don’t know. I never asked. Even if I did, I doubt Dray would tell me.”

  “Where’s Dray now?”

  “He’s got guard duty on the surface,” Lyonel said. “I think there’s a party at the Neashures’ estate.”

  “Yeah,” Billy confirmed. “Our parents were invited but not us. So unfair.”

  Skye took off running, waving back. “Thanks, Lyonel! I won’t forget this!” he shouted as he activated his curse.

  ?????Days until Green Eve: 40?????