Furvus Eques Chronicles: Lapsus Memoriae
SLAM
SMASH
THUD
A body hit the snow-covered plains of Coerthas, a youthful green eye gazing upon a sword levelled at his neck.
“Wrong. Get up and do it again.”
A commanding voice, armored in more than one sense, compelling the youth stand up and hold the poor lump of wood he called a sword. The youth breathed heavily, staring down to the armored imposing figure daring him to attack.
“Again. Strike.”
Hearing the command, the youth charged forward! From the right, from the right! He thought frantically to himself, determined to break the guard and –
SLAM
SMASH
THUD
He was again knocked into cold cushioning snow, a sharp pain upon his side, staring up again to a sword pointed at his neck.
“Wrong again. Have you forgotten our lesson?”
The armored voice chided him, scarlet eyes scrutinizing the youth from beneath visored shadows.
“’Tis not the first time today. Have you forgotten? The reason you are here?”
“I-“
The boy’s words caught in his throat.
Why am I here?
He asked himself, over and over, time seeming to slow to a stop – a lone green eye staring up against scrutinizing scarlets.
“Well? What is it? Why are you here?”
The armored figure demanded, setting their greatsword to the side, grabbing the youth by the collar – lifting the boy up easily to their imposing height.
“-Why- are you here child?”
The figure demanded answers, red eyes threatening a great number of things to the youth before roughly throwing them to the snow – armored greaves kicking the makeshift sword over.
“Remember your reason, then strike, only then will you pass this lesson.”
The armored figure readied their greatsword, holding a stance, daring the youth to strike again.
Remember…Remember…Remember…
The youth reached within his mind, struggling to bring forth the image, the memory, the face that started it all…
Remember…I need to remember. Or else…
The armored figure stared less than pleased, lifting their greatsword up.
..Why?
The youth conjured memories, and feelings – all of which he felt freshly and strongly. But, as he conjured up a face, remembered the face of his reason -blank, nothingness, a void, a -lapse- in his memory. He did not remember the face, the face of one dear and lost.
It was so long ago…
The youth cried, screamed in his mind, shame filling his soul. He remembered everything but the face - so lost in the annals of time.
I should remember, I need to remember…Why can’t I- Why?
Stolen, the memory, the face, the reason – leaving only emotions to fill the void. Anger and shame that overrided fear.
SLAM
SMASH
CLANG
The boy’s wooden sword finally hit armor, a telltale clang echoing along the lifeless plains of snow they inhabited.
“Good. You remembered.”
The armored voice chimed, gauntlets now settling on top of the boy’s head.
“I-I didn’t. I did not remember.”
The boy admitted, letting their head hang in shame, hands clenched into fists.
“I’ve forgotten it. Their face. It’s been so long, I…How could one forget something so important?”
The boy grit his teeth, shame filling his gaze as he pleaded the armored figure for answers.
“A lapse in memory. A face, a voice, a person, and youth, are all forgotten, their marks are ravaged and rend by time. But what remains are emotions. You will never forget what you felt – whether you wish to or not. Remember those feelings and your sword will strike true.”
The armored figure retracted their hand, stepping back away from the boy.
“Do not let a brief lapse in memory make you forget. ‘Tis the end our lesson today.”
The boy stood in the snow, standing and holding his sword, watching the armored figure join the shadows in the distance.
Lapsus Memoriae
A lapse in memory.
Nothing is safe from the lapse of time, for memories fade…
