Chapter Text
…
Oh no.
Oh goodness for all the love that is Livia, no.
Please don’t tell me…
I am literally back where I started.
Why am I laying here again? Surely there’s a better use of my time before *she* comes looking for me all concerned about my wellbeing.
I might as well lie straight to her face, then hope with every fiber of my being she drops it.
Naomi: “Whoa!! Are you okay?”
Absolutely. Please stop asking.
Naomi/ “Are you alright? You just collapsed out of nowhere! What happened?”
This. This is what happened. To live through it again when once was already horrible.
But I don’t need her to know that. I just want her to give me a vague pointer in the form of a map, then go on with her day.
Yet…
…
Something in my mind tells me that I’ll have to wise up to brave this alternative pathway. And even then, I just want to get back to where I was supposed to be.
“…”
Oh. I forgot she’s still here, waiting for me to answer her burning question.
I hoist myself off of the floor and stand up, turning to look her in the eyes.
Me: ‘I’m fine, don’t worry. Nothing of value hurt.’
Naomi: “I’m glad to hear that! It just looked like it did to me…”
Of course it did. Then again, it was exactly like this the first time. Except she doesn’t know of my apparant amnesia.
Which it isn’t. Because someone decided to mess up my life by inflicting this agonising spell and locking most of my previous life memories in a prison that will never, ever be fixed until I find out who is responsible.
But that’s not a short term goal right now. I know my goals for this layer somewhat well. And the highest priority order is getting out of this layer, even if I have to prove myself to Livia for as many times as it takes.
……
Naomi: “You’re kind of thinking really hard… Did the fall you took make you think a lot?”
Oh, how unaware she is.
Me: ‘No. I just feel like this sometimes.’
Those feelings also harbor a desire to avoid unnecessary fighting. I only fought Syl and Orin because of the infomation I had lacked, and what infomation I have now can and will cut away at downtime.
…
I should’ve not been so hasty giving Naomi half the truth of my circumstances.
Me: ‘Actually…’
Naomi: “Yeah? What’s up?”
Me: ‘I miiight have kept my mouth shut about my apparent amnesia, and have nothing else to say on the matter.’
‘Oh, and I think we should skip out on asking Syl. I know enough.’
“How do you know enough about amnesia if you have amnesia?”
Me: ‘…Would you honestly believe me if I said I’ve experienced this before?’
Naomi: “I mean, maybe? If you knew a bunch of things about me, then I’d be surely convinced you’re a time traveler of sorts.”
Here goes…
Me ‘You like sunflowers because they represent you. You’re particularly responsible for making Sanbarian the way it is with your gadgets, have a particular liking for oil (for some reason I cannot understand why, and you…’
Naomi “I…?”
Might as well tell her straight out. It might be mean, but I’ll be damned if she doesn’t belief me.
Me: ‘You’re… not particularly great at cooking.’
Naomi: “…”
I think she’s contemplating this last piece of information. Hopefully she isn’t too unhappy about that.
Naomi: “You’re definitely gone down the time travel rabbit hole. (You didn’t have to mention that, though…)”
At least she believes me.
Anyway, next up on the list is…
Me: ‘I also need a map of Layer 2 and a wagon to drag us out to Snowdrift Peaks.’
It’ll become more apparant when I get there and have a clue on what to do.
Naomi: “The map I can provide. Here you go!”
I very much take it with severe relief and begin studying it.
The more I look at it, the more I see a solution that doesn’t require fighting.
Of the seven I remember, I can cut down on five to six encounters if I do it right.
And of all of them, the one I want to avoid the most is Mido.
For as much as I would pity her, there is no doubt she will attempt to murder me the second I step onto the shrine grounds.
So… how about we dont clear that pointless misunderstanding and just…
Me: ‘We skip going through Cerassom Fields and instead go the opposite of the Forest that covers an entrance to Olumien.’
Naomi: “Why would you go past somewhere so elegant and beautiful?”
Me: ‘There’s a Najanos there who swears vengeance, and I do not want to be there.’
Naomi: “I guess that’s fair…”
Now with a plan in mind, Naomi goes off to call
a wagon. Thanks to her “totally fair” discount, of course.
As I board it, I think about what could change when I get back to where I was before.
Maybe Livia will have something new for me when I get to Olumien.
…Hopefully.
(After a while, we’re out in a forest in a wagon, slowly but surely travelling to Snowdrift Peaks.)
(I pass the time by having leisurely conversations with Naomi about things. This happens to include her mother.)
(After a while, drowsiness takes hold, and I close my eyes, drifting to sleep.)
…