{-Myr-}

Llewel would always tell her to rest whenever she had a headache; she was sure he didn’t realize how nearly impossible that was. Still, she tried for a while after he left. Still faced with the same results, it didn’t take long for her to give up and wander back downstairs.

She stepped back out of the way when she saw Relenri talking to someone. Myr thought she recognized him—some person from her memory who, despite no evidence, she knew to be a threat.

“Yes, of course,” Relenri mumbled. It was slow, careful, like one wrong move could make a list of threats come true. She caught a glimpse of Myr but quickly shook her head. “I’ll make sure the others are aware of it, as well.”

“No need.” His voice was chilling, friendliness barely hiding a darker tone. It brought back a feeling that she didn’t want to understand. “We already have others contacting them. And I don’t think I need to remind you what would happen if it turns out you were harboring them…”

“No one would dare, sir.”

He sulked back out the door with little interest in the players he passed, even if they seemed to take an interest in him. Myr only stepped out into the open when she was sure that he was gone.

She walked over to the counter and waited for Relenri to finish talking to the players. “Who was that..?”

“You don’t need to worry about him,” was the quick response. “Once they decide you’re not here they’re not going to stay any longer. Really, it’s nothing. It’s just something I’m going to have to make sure Zetai and Reynneak know about when they return, that’s all.”

“There’s one person I’m willing to accept lies from, and that’s Llewel. I know it’s more than that.”

Relenri, unable to think of anything else that might deny it, simply chose to ignore it altogether. “I would’ve assumed you would’ve tried some more to get some rest. You don’t look well.”

“It’s kind of hard to sleep when your head’s pounding,” Myr mumbled. “Do you need any help around here? If I’m going to be here then I might as well help out…”

Relenri gave it a moment of thought before nodding. “Though there’s one more thing I’d like you to do for me before you start. There’s a coat over there, it’s supposed to be for decoration but it can be worn. Put it on and make sure the hood covers your hair.” With Myr’s look of confusion, she added, “Just trust me.”

Myr walked up to the coat and put it on. She pulled the hood up and assumed that it did what Relenri had hoped. “Alright, what can I do to help?”

“Tamlio told me a little while ago that he had something that I needed. I haven’t been able to get it myself so I’d appreciate it if you could run over there and get it for me.” Relenri stopped to welcome another player before addressing Myr again. “Just tell him you’re there to pick something up for me and he should know what it is.”

“I’ll be back in a couple of minutes,” Myr promised. She couldn’t imagine it taking any longer than that; it seemed like all these cities had the same layout, so her familiarity with Nafrius didn’t go to waste.

“Whether you have it or not, come back if your headache gets worse,” Relenri instructed. She knew something more but that was all that she dared to say.

Myr nodded and left.

The streets seemed to be busier than usual. There were dozens of people looking around, though what exactly they were looking for she wasn’t sure of. She recalled how, twice, lots of players were looking around Nafrius for eggs. She didn’t understand it at the time and she still didn’t quite understand it now, but she told herself it was something similar.

If it wasn’t for the fact that she knew these weren’t players.

She self-consciously pulled the hood closer to her. It wasn’t hard to imitate the reactions of the players; confusion and a kind of curiosity they knew could quickly turn self-destructive. Still, she was as quick as she could be without drawing attention to herself on her way to the shop.

The bell above the door made her jump, but the caution was soon diminished by the acknowledgement they were alone and the shopkeeper’s cheery greeting.

“Welcome to the Kyirius City shop! We’ve got plenty of wares to choose from so, please, take your time and look around!” Once he’d said what he needed to, however, he looked out the window. “There’s an awful lot of them out there this time, huh..? They haven’t come in here yet, though. I wonder what they’re looking for. It’s not the first time they’ve lost track of Casrane, but usually they don’t put this much obvious effort into looking for her…”

Myr decided she didn’t want to focus on what he was saying. “I’m here to get something for Relenri. She said that you had it..?”

“Oh, right! It’s over here somewhere.” He turned around and began digging behind the counter. “I was expecting her to get it herself. We can’t give quests to people by our own means. Is it a new quest? I’d like to know, it helps me prepare for having to do this a lot more frequently.”

“No, I don’t think it’s a quest.”

“And a player went along with doing something for us NPCs without a reward for it..?”

Before she really had time to consider it, she said casually, “I’m not a player.”

He looked up at her with a mix of confusion and panic. “W-well, if you’re one of them, then I’m afraid I can’t give this to you. In all honesty, I don’t even know what it is, but Relenri asked that I make sure no one did. I’m just the messenger! I had nothing to do with this, I swear! Don’t bring me back to that dark room, I can hardly focus enough as it is—”

“I’m a NPC, just like you,” Myr said slowly. She once again assured that they were the only two there before explaining further, “I’m Myr.”

“Oh, that’s worse. That’s much worse. You’re not supposed to be here. You’re not even supposed to exist. They talked about you. I didn’t want to believe them.” Tamlio shoved a box in her hands. “Here, take this and bring it back to Relenri. I don’t want you in my shop any longer than you have to be. It’s only going to be bad luck to be around you. I’ll certainly be taken out completely if they see that we’re together. Go on. And please, whatever you do, never say that you saw me. I have enough trouble as it is!”

Myr left, unable to understand his desperation yet knowing it was probably better not to ask.

She tried her best to blend in with the players, hoping that no one would consider her any more than ordinary. She felt like she could relax when she got to the inn and Relenri welcomed her.

“Here’s that thing you wanted,” Myr said, placing the box on the counter. Unable to get Tamlio’s words out of her head she asked, “What’s in it..?”

Relenri grew a wistful smile as she opened the box and showed Myr its contents; a single drawing marked with the words I love you! “Early in development, I was supposed to be the adoptive mother of a little boy. About a year into the game, they took him out of my care and gave him to a young couple in Kehnore instead. I shouldn’t remember ever taking care of him; no one else does. Fininri of all people was able to help me get a hold of something of his. I could never be seen with this, but… it’s a nice reminder of the time we spent together.”

Myr just stayed silent.

Relenri shrugged as she carefully closed the box back up and put it away. “A lot of us have lost someone. Isralla, Ruzlue, Cahacu, Esaphi… that’s just the handful that I know right now. Most of them were coded with that loss, though—they never felt it themselves, only memories of it. To the few of us that had to experience it… it makes it easier to have something to remind us of the good things.”

“Is it… weird that I wish I could remember that much..?” Myr mumbled. “Enough to know if there’s someone I’m forgetting…” She winced when it felt like a spike went through her head.

Realizing this, Relenri offered, “Why don’t you go back upstairs? It’s about prime time but I’ll make sure those rowdy players stay quiet until Zetai and Reynneak come back.”

Myr slowly nodded and made her way back upstairs. She went to the room and, hoping it might actually do something, curled up under the blankets.