1.03 - Memories

 - Yttrium - 

...It appears as though he's not here anymore. Only his spear remains beside me.

Don't know how. He was asleep long before I was, so maybe he walked off and left without me, I dunno. But I don't think he'd never do that. He'd normally still be lying here, still asleep, cause that's all he really likes doing. I can't help but wish the dude would be a bit more active...though not active enough to leave me in the middle of the swamp without a clue as to where they went!

I leap up from where I was sitting, and begin hollering out to Boron through the trees. He probably just went a little bit away from here. Probably didn't wanna sit near my goofy ass for too long...pfft, that'd be hilarious.

"Boron! I'm up!" I yell. "I hope you didn't get stuck in anything again!"

...Ah. 

No response. Okay, maybe they went further than I'd hoped. But it's not like they're lost, right? What reason would he have to get lost?

 I skip off back into the thick marsh, still yelling for Boron. "Where are you? Hello!?" 

 

But still, nothing. Ahah...oh dear.

I feel that familiar feeling again. The one where my core begins to shake in my chest, and my breathing quickens without my consent. And yet I cease it from continuing, halting my breaths for a moment to recollect myself. We've barely looked around, I rationalize in my mind. Surely he didn't...you know. 

I keep walking. I skip through the endless trees, through the water, across small pools of fish and thorns. I don't care if I get lost, I'll always be able to find my way back. It's one of the good traits of mine, y'know? I wish I had more good ones to my name. 

...Man, my voice is getting hoarse with all this shouting. I still haven't seen any trace of him. Not even a rustling in the bushes or a distant swear cause he stubbed his toe again...

My core begins shaking louder as I clutch my chest, deeply breathing in and out. This isn't the time to be feeling like this, dammit. Sure, I have no idea where he is or where he could've gone. And sure, maybe it's bizarre that he went somewhere without his weapon, but...w-what does it matter that I can't find him!? Why should I care!? That's silly. This is just silly! In a world like this made up of so much nonsense, who am I to act so entitled!?

...Ah. It's. It's not working. I'm trying to laugh, but I'm just choking.

I'm forced to sit on the trunk of a weeping tree as my legs begin to wobble. I'm made of jelly again. Hah. 

The world feels like it's going dark around me as I sit down, staring at nothing and everything at the same time. Shapes and patterns dissipate into meaningless nonsense as thoughts I don't want cloud me. There have been so many kidnappings. Elementals who were loud and proud one day being lost in the night, or injured without warning. Nobody knows who is doing this or why.

Maybe I was to blame. Maybe I was the one responsible for this. That Boron is gone now, nowhere to be seen. He was probably just another victim. Another statistic who won't be seen again. Who was I to try and interfere? Huh? Who told me to try this shit!?

I look down at my hands...my stupid hands. I can feel claws and feathers begin to grow on me. A monster. I'm a monster who did what they weren't supposed to, and spilled blood...now, how can I wash off these hands...

"Bwahahahaah~! You are that Boron, She knew it!"

 In a moment's notice, the feathers and claws recede. I gasp as the world around me returns to its status quo, my lungs filling with relief. From ever so slightly beyond the trees, I hear the sound of someone familiar, chirping and giggling in amusement.

...Sulfur, you sweet little idiot. Looks like my complaining actually was pointless in the end. I shake off the excess of my emotions, bottling up whatever remains. I have no use for it. I don't think I ever did.

Oh well, time to get the green man back. 

-

- Boron - 

Despite my wishes, my eyes began to open. Slowly and groggily, the image of the world around me began to form. I was expecting to see exactly what I did when I fell into the land of dreams. Some grass, the sound of Yttrium going off about...whatever, maybe a pesky bug crawling on my face. But instead, I found my gaze to be met by the light of flimsy lamp, differing pieces of furniture, holes in the wall that I can only assume are windows...

Where the hell am I?

My eyes shoot open as I try to sit up on the couch I was apparently resting on, only to realize that I've been tied down with rope. Am I some sort of hostage? Well, that's annoying...ugh, and so is this pounding headache...The one time I leave my home, I end up in this situation. Maybe if I just go back to sleep, I'll be unaware of whatever else will happen.

Slam. I am jolted in surprise at the sound of a door slamming, along with a stranger skipping into the room I'm trapped in. They seem entirely unaware of my presence as they hum to themself, looking through cupboards merrily.

They soon catch a glance of me as I watch them, obviously annoyed by the antics I've been subjected to yet again. "Oh!" They exclaim, walking over to me. "Sulfur sees that you've woken up! Let her untie you." 

Oh, phew, looks like this isn't a hostile situation-

...Wait a minute. What did she just call herself again?

As she kneels down to untie me from my ropes, My dull mind begins firing off rapidly, as though a sudden thunderstorm is being held back only by my weariness. She looks so familiar. Too familiar. Like a walking snapshot of the past, with only a few key differences. Her fur is that same pale yellow shade, her eyes that blazing blue color I could never forget...

I sat up as all of the ropes were finally pulled away, now deep in my thoughts. "...You're...Sulfur."

"Sulfur is Sulfur, yes!" She responded. "She found you sleepwalking last night while she was hunting. She didn't want you getting hurt, so now you're here! ...The ropes were to make sure you didn't run off again. Sorry." 

I sleepwalk?...I suppose that makes sense. Usually when I wake up lying somewhere random outside my house, I assume I had fallen asleep there and forgot. Days are always just a hazy mess.

That wasn't my biggest thought at the moment, however. I just kept staring at her, in awe. She looked so much like her...I couldn't find words. It'd be rude of me to draw a comparison like that to someone who no longer knows who I am. 

For one of us to die, our core must be broken. It sounds quite difficult to achieve, given that they are stored safely in our chests…but it happens more than anyone wishes it did. But over time, the core shall heal. It shall eventually reform, and when it does, another one of us shall be born to take our place. They are usually similar to their predecessor, but oh so different…yet she, especially, feels like a warped mirror.

"By the way," She begins to speak again, pulling up an old photo she had in her hands. "When Sulfur found you, she thought you looked familiar. You look like someone from this photo she has, right?"

She handed the photograph to me, and as I held it in my hands, staring at those old, faded smiles, I felt as though I had forgotten how to breathe.

 

"That's...me." I stuttered. I could remember all of their names, their voices, even all of the adventures we went on together. How I could smell a faint cider scent upon entering the inns we frequently stopped by, before sitting down and dining on whatever we desired. Potassium would pay for the bill, though on some nights we found ourselves with barely anything left since Tungsten would always eat so much...ah, and Sulfur. My dearest friend. She would sing sometimes, what a treat that was. 

These memories. I had locked them away for so long, but how can I keep them away when met with this?...As much as I hate to admit it, I could feel a warmth in my core for a mere moment as I stared into my own eyes. 

"Bwahahahaah~! You are that Boron, She knew it!" Sulfur chuckled. "Sulfur has heard so many stories about you...but she thought you and everyone else died!"

Deep breaths, Boron. Deep breaths. I remain as composed as I can while I respond to Sulfur's question.

"I...haven't left my home for a long, long time. I found there to be no reason to, in a world that has moved on from all that we did...Perhaps you could call me dead in such a sense."

"Really? That sounds boring, Sulfur could never! What made you come out now?"

"A little bird dragged me out. There appears to be a bunch of elementals being kidnapped."

"What kind of bird was that!? Birds can’t talk."

Before I can open my mouth in response. A loud banging is heard from the nearby window.    

"That kind of bird."

"Yttrium!?" 

Sulfur ran over to the door, opening it to yell at the pink man outside. "Why are you here? Why are you at Sulfur's house!?" 

"I'm the guy's travel buddy, obviously."

"But you're tiny and annoying, while Boron is tall and really nice! That makes no sense!"  

She thinks I'm nice?...That's something I haven't heard in a while. Regardless, I stay silent as the two bicker outdoors. It's actually quite amusing to listen to. Like old times...

...Times that I lost, forevermore. I could now recall the despair I felt after it all. Trying to recover my old friends, only to see that their cores had already been reborn into the next generation....a generation that wanted nothing to do with me. The feeling of tender emotions- emotions I haven't tasted in forever, yet no longer want- sinks back down. 

After what felt like ages, Sulfur comes back inside, dragging Yttrium by the scruff of their collar. They're holding my spear all the while...good thing we didn't lose that. "Boron, do you know this guy!? They say you do." 

 "...Yes." I sigh. I don't...want to see Yttrium as a friend. At least I think so...I just need them. Yes, that's all.

"See? We're good friends. Can you let go of me now?" Yttrium says. Sulfur huffs in defeat as she frees her grip.

"Sorry, Boron. But this isn't a bird like you said it was. It's more of a pest to Sulfur...but since you like them, then she's okay with it." 

"..What does it matter that I care for them...why do you see my opinion so highly?"

"Huh?" She tilts her head, as though confused by my slurred words. "Why wouldn't she? You're a hero to Sulfur."

Ah...I truly don't understand her, it seems. "I'm not a hero. I'm dead, like I said earlier."

Sulfur frowned. A moment of bitter silence filled the room, not one of us looking into the eyes of another...That is, until Sulfur got onto her feet.

"No, you are! Sulfur is gonna prove it." 

I looked up at her, intrigued at whatever she was about to pull. 

What I didn't expect was for her to summon a bow out of thin air, holding it up by some sort of flaming energy she emanated. She dropped the bow into her hands, before giving me a smirk as she pointed it in my direction.

"En garde, old man! Fight me like you did in those tales, and we'll see if you've actually lost that spark!"   

. . . . ...Hah.

I'm shocked, and yet I see that shine in Sulfur's eyes. A shine that the Sulfur I knew long ago used to have, when she held her own weapon oh so proudly before me. 

I don’t understand what she sees in me. Truly, I don’t. At this point, it’s hard to believe someone so withered and gone can be anything to anyone. After all I’ve done and seen…what motivates me to grab onto someone again? To risk a loss that was once unfathomable to me, which has now become my only legacy?

…But that’s not true. If my only legacy was that day, then how did I end up here? Looking at the descendant of someone I once loved, ready to spar against their faded idol…

I let a small smile slip out of my face.

"Perchance." 

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