Chapter 145: Memory Back (2)
Taja let out a terrified scream, shielding her head with her hands. She slithered her lone tendril as fast as she could, darting further into her hideout.
When Ren finally battled his way out from the mass of puppet-like alphas, he just managed to see the last trace of Taja, as she vanished into the winding, maze-like tunnels that went deeper into the den and led to some temple. He knew chasing after her blindly was a bad move.
Brushing off the blood smeared on his face, Ren spat, clearly annoyed.
Kestrel, who had just returned and was out of the loop about the showdown, only picked up on the heavy, aggressive power in the air. Ren stood there, his eyes burning with a fierce look.
"What happened? Who were you fighting with?" she asked, looking at Ren. "You injured again?"
On her tendrils, she carried a bunch of different-sized bags. These were stuff she’d found, left behind by adventurers from various times, after exploring several layers above.
Not sure which of them might have the right medicine or something Ren might like, she decided to bring everything back, letting him pick and choose.
Ren mentioned it was Taja and revealed a nasty cut on his arm.
"That bad? Does it hurt?" Quickly dumping the bags, Kestrel searched for a healing potion and then settled beside him, ready to patch him up.
Ren looked away from Kestrel, just giving a small nod.
He also had a pretty gnarly wound on his lower back. When she checked it, she asked if it was painful. Ren just gave another nod, acting cool, as if the brutal injury was no big deal, just like getting a minor scrape from a kitty.
He even had a bite mark on his stomach area, so deep it almost went right through him. Even now, the injury looked bad, still dripping with blood.
Kestrel carefully wrapped bandages around Ren’s waist. Her soft breath grazed his scarred skin. Seeing the myriad of injuries on him, she realized the extent of his ordeal while searching for her across the many levels above. Her fingers delicately brushed over the bruises and wounds, feeling his muscles instantly tense beneath her touch.
These muscles, when tight, felt as sturdy as steel. Their contours, illuminated by the fire’s golden light, looked like they were gilded.
She could spot several bruises and puffed areas, and she knew exactly who caused them, deepening the sting of his wounds.
Guilt bubbled up inside Kestrel. She fetched a soothing ointment, starting to apply it when Ren suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Kestrel, surprised, looked at him, "What’s wrong?"
"Please, don’t touch," he murmured, his voice as soft as a gentle stream. Throughout this, he had kept his face hidden from her, not looking her way even once.
Kestrel felt a wave of confusion. Just the day before, Ren had been so forthcoming, even transforming into an orca to be nearer to her, playfully holding onto her tendrils. Now, he seemed distant, not giving her even a fleeting look since they woke up. She thought, "Guys can be so unpredictable."
In a shadowy corner, the mutants whispered amongst themselves.
"Seriously, did you see him earlier? What a drama king!"
"He’s making a fuss over a wound he got himself."
"He sure knows how to play his master."
"One second he’s whipping up a meal, the next he’s being all emotional."
"He’s sly, just like a lot of humans."
"The better they look, the trickier they get."
"We should watch out."
"Absolutely, always be alert."
...
These mutants had keen ears, catching even the most distant murmurs.
Ren, of course, heard every word, but due to the reddish hue from the fire, no one saw his cheeks turn a shade redder in embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Kestrel went through the bags she’d gathered. Every so often, she’d find some potions or preserved food. Sometimes, she’d find belongings from past travelers, some marked with old bloodstains.
After a while, noticing her silence, Ren glanced her way. He saw her holding an aged keychain, deep in thought. Covered in layers of dust, the keychain had a photo of a family. It probably belonged to a past alpha who once ventured here, leaving behind this keepsake.
Kestrel brought the old keychain close to the light of the campfire, staring intently at the photograph. The warm glow of the flames lit up her pale, delicate face. Her deep black eyes, devoid of emotion, gave her a mysterious look.
Following where she looked, Ren saw a tall woman in the photo, an alpha, with long legs and a ponytail. Her bright smile was radiant. She cradled a tiny baby in her arms. The baby, with its pale skin and deep black eyes, seemed so cute, playfully reaching for the mother’s hair.
"Do you recognize them?" Ren curiously asked.
"Ren." Kestrel’s gaze met his, her face almost ghostly white, her expression far away.
Her eyes, so deep and dark, mirrored the alpha woman’s in the picture.
Ren felt a jolt of surprise. Kestrel had just said his name, something she hadn’t done since they first met underground.
"Did something come back to you? Did you remember, Kestrel?" Hope sparkled in Ren’s eyes.
"Ren. Yes, that’s you," Kestrel whispered, slowly standing up, "I’m a beta, I’m Kestrel. I think... I think I’m starting to remember everything."
She stood near the fire, gripping her head tightly. It felt like her thoughts were being torn apart. Memories from her past flooded back, so intense it hurt. She remembered a devastating fire from her childhood, watching her father and mother tragically caught in the flames...
"Kestrel, Kestrel, go find the secret..."
"Stay safe."
"Always be cautious."
The woman in the photo Kestrel held? It was her own mother. Her mother had once been to this very place.
A chaotic storm of images and sounds filled Kestrel’s mind: shimmering sapphires, ships lost at sea, the Erdtree singing its ancient songs, eyeless stares, giant decaying monsters challenging Kestrel’s psychic world, altars stained with old blood... And amongst those memories, the face of a kind-hearted alpha, smudged with blood, yet always caring and smiling...
All of Kestrel’s lost memories came rushing back.
This avalanche of memories, the overwhelming rush of feelings, made her head throb painfully. The world seemed to whirl around her, making her feel as if she was floating in empty space.
Suddenly, she felt the reassuring embrace of strong, warm arms.
"Kestrel, Kestrel?" A familiar voice reached out to her, grounding her amidst the chaos.
