***
It had started small and unnoticed, the Claith forgetting the date and then the year. She couldn't find her shoes in the morning nor her nightgown in the evening despite them always being placed in the same spot- the General eventually placing her shoes in front of the door itself so she had to kick them aside or step into them before leaving her room. She once turned to him while brushing her small cat and asked aloud, "What is her name?" Her curiosity earnest.
Soon, though, these symptoms grew worse. She forgot where the kitchen was despite her weeks of visiting it, the General once found her favorite hair ribbon thrown away with kitchen scraps and when he asked her if it was a mistake, she stated she didn't know where she'd gotten it. The woman began questioning the marks on her arms; where had this tattoo come from? Who branded me? Why is my hand so burned up? And the General tried to answer, a rested on her shoulder, yet she always looked confused a moment before smiling and giving a nod.
Her cheerful nature concerned him for what had happened to her depressed nature over the events she'd been placed through? Wasn't she still sad over her son being given away not long back? But he questioned nothing and continued with relaying an answer to her every question, keeping a sharp eye on her wherever she went. He often found a loose servant and sent them after the mage to be sure she didn't get lost or in trouble, and the servant always returned stating only that she'd met someone new at the Willow and they looked a bit puzzled by her introduction.
The General tried to ignore the nagging worry at the back of his mind, until he couldn't anymore. That was the day Merina turned to him and asked after a long pause, "Who are you anyways?" - and Hamelin could only stare for he was her closest friend in the whole world.
***
It had started small and unnoticed, the Claith forgetting the date and then the year. She couldn't find her shoes in the morning nor her nightgown in the evening despite them always being placed in the same spot- the General eventually placing her shoes in front of the door itself so she had to kick them aside or step into them before leaving her room. She once turned to him while brushing her small cat and asked aloud, "What is her name?" Her curiosity earnest.
Soon, though, these symptoms grew worse. She forgot where the kitchen was despite her weeks of visiting it, the General once found her favorite hair ribbon thrown away with kitchen scraps and when he asked her if it was a mistake, she stated she didn't know where she'd gotten it. The woman began questioning the marks on her arms; where had this tattoo come from? Who branded me? Why is my hand so burned up? And the General tried to answer, a rested on her shoulder, yet she always looked confused a moment before smiling and giving a nod.
Her cheerful nature concerned him for what had happened to her depressed nature over the events she'd been placed through? Wasn't she still sad over her son being given away not long back? But he questioned nothing and continued with relaying an answer to her every question, keeping a sharp eye on her wherever she went. He often found a loose servant and sent them after the mage to be sure she didn't get lost or in trouble, and the servant always returned stating only that she'd met someone new at the Willow and they looked a bit puzzled by her introduction.
The General tried to ignore the nagging worry at the back of his mind, until he couldn't anymore. That was the day Merina turned to him and asked after a long pause, "Who are you anyways?" - and Hamelin could only stare for he was her closest friend in the whole world.
***
