章 4: One-Way Trip (3)

The taste of the warm liquid pouring down his throat was completely foreign to his acquired palette. To be fair, porridge served throughout the Middle Ages was deficient in flavor due to a lack of spices and garnish.

Not that it stopped the lowly peasants from eating their fill every day to survive.

"Feeling better now, dear?" Hissa softly whispered, eyes watching Lynch's every shiver calm down ever so slightly.

"…" Lynch stayed quiet, content to guzzle down the warm food served for his betterment. It was better than nothing, at least. If it wasn't for the lack of taste, things would've been perfect.

As perfect as a child suffering from nightmares and an existential crisis could be.

The two spent the minutes as quietly as possible, the only sound being Lynch's consumption of the bland-tasting porridge. Once the bowl was empty, Hissa saw fit to take the wooden bowl from his hands, the shaking arms all but an afterthought after the calming gestures.

"… Thank you." Lynch's quiet voice caused Hissa to perk up slightly, the corner of her lips rising to form a gentle smile.

"It's no problem, dear." Patting Lynch on the head as well as ruffling his shaggy, blonde hair, Hissa walked away with gentle strides, the young boy all the while watching the brown-skinned woman intently.

'What should I do…?' Lynch's thoughts spiraled downward, with fear, doubt, and confusion staining his once-clear head. 'Can't run. Don't know where I am. Play the amnesiac? Could work, dunno if I should… Come clean? Probably won't believe me…'

As much as he was panicked and confused earlier, he was given enough time to come to terms with his current predicament and was hellbent on trying to look for a way for a happy ending…

'Or as happy an ending could be in this shit situation…' Lynch dryly commented in his head. He wasn't that smart, as much as his tiny circle of friends believed otherwise, nor was he physically active with his somewhat sedentary lifestyle. He was pretty much screwed, one way or another. 'For now, though, shove those memories of Jorge to the wayside. Since I still think of myself as Lynch, I'll refer to myself as Lynch.'

One decision had been made; now all that was left was to decide whether or not to play along with the people in the village or make a run for it. And judging by the surrounding area, the choice was a no-brainer.

'Village life it is, then.' Decisions made and mental health once more steering towards the positive, Lynch felt himself relax.

Humans were adaptable beings, and Lynch was a practical young man… boy… No use crying over spilled milk, as the saying goes. Whatever comes his way, he will meet it head-on.

No matter how fucking shitty it is.

"Dear?" Lynch's introspection was cut short when Hissa approached, her gaze soft.. "You feeling alright now?"

"… Yes…" Lynch nodded, his voice still raspy from the ordeal his current body has suffered. A storm, Lynch remembered what Asad said.

'I'll have to dive into those memories again later down the line.' To be honest, Lynch was afraid. He was afraid of having his psyche and personality overwritten by the dormant one sleeping deep within him, if there even was one. 'Shelve that thought. Shelve that thought!'

Lynch twitched when he felt something tap his shoulder, eyes glaring at the offender. In front of him, Hissa stayed kneeling, her eyes full of worry while staring at the young child.

"It's okay, dear. Everything will be alright." Hissa brought Lynch close, his head smushed between her bountiful bossoms. "Everything will be alright."

Lynch felt gentle strokes on his head, fingers combing through soft, silky hair. He felt his eyelids grow heavy, and a yawn escaped his lips. A testament to his exhausted self.

Memories of a woman tending to him with kind hands invaded his head as he went off to sleep.

[][][]

"So, the lad's all better now?" Asad chimed from his bar stool, a stinky mug of beer clasped in his right hand.

"He's sleeping back in my house." Hissa said with a worried tone. "I had to calm him a few times earlier. What happened to make him like this must give him nightmares."

"Aye." Asad brought the mug to his lips and chugged. "Ahh, still not strong enough. Anyway, aye, lad's been through a rough time. Storm just beyond the sea looked like the gods above woke up and chose violence."

"A pity for a soul so young to go through such hardships." Kareem commented off-handedly, his cane propped up beside his chair. "But there is a problem."

"I know." Asad sighed, with Hissa following suit, knowing the stigma the skin color of Lynch has among the villagers. "They'll think him one of the empire's offspring."

"The older ones, at least." Hissa supplied while sipping some beer in her mug. "Those that were among the defenders a few years back will probably demand his death."

"Although he looks different from the normal Empire dogs." Asad chugged down his filled tankard once more. "Too pale and too skinny."

"Hope for the best." Kareem sighed loudly, his tankard of beer fully empty. "Kindly relay that to the boy, Hissa. If he wants to fit in, he'll need to know."

"Of course, Elder." Hissa bowed slightly, the alcohol now catching up with her body. "The dear boy won't be bothered by those war veterans. A little threat from me will keep their leash tied."

"… I keep on forgetting you're the most feared woman in Al Bahok." Asad grumbled before taking another swig. "Ah well, less trouble for the lad is appreciated."

"Agreed." Kareem gave a crooked grin. "Might dig into our food reserves a bit, but more manpower is always appreciated."

"So, fishing? Farming?" Hissa raised an eyebrow, to which Kareem nodded.

"Yes." Kareem then stood up, taking the cane beside him with one hand and using it to prop himself up. "Once he's settled in enough, have him work by the riverside. An extra hand with them wheat fields will be greatly appreciated by the others."

Their meeting over, the three of them went their own ways. Asad went into his house, Kareem into his, and Hissa into hers, where Lynch would still be sleeping like a baby.