Adventure of Exiles

The next day after working on the farm, Felix went back into town.

He stopped by Chris’s clinic in town to check up on Noah.

Chris was tending the front desk as he greeted Felix,

“Hi Felix, you here for Noah?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Noah is in his room and awake.” Chris sighed. “It’s been really quiet for a while now and now three patients in a row. Noah who came in bleeding and with concussion. What is going on? Is it something I should know about?”

Felix scratched the back of his head, “nothing to worry about.”

“Uh-huh. I also have the man you found on the beach. His name is Isaac.”

“What about the last patient?” Felix asked as he walked back into the treating room.

He then saw a farmer named Evans. He looked like shit.

“Oh. Evans, what the fuck happened?”

He looked at Felix and groaned, “not so loud boy. I tried matching Michael drink for drink last night.”

“Why would you even try that? Tempt fate like that. He has a body forged by the gods. He was the greatest soldier in the war. He is the North’s most deadly warrior.”

Evans laughed boisterously. “Thanks, I needed a good laugh.”

Felix went over to Noah.

“How you feeling, bud?” Felix said as he sat down next to Noah laying in his bed.

“Oh, hello Felix. My head hurts and I can’t stand up straight without getting dizzy. Also, Chris has me drinking this disgusting herbal tea and he won’t let me leave. It’s not all bad I suppose my older sister Catherine stopped by with cookies. Still there is so much yet to do.”

“Head injuries are serious!” Chris called out from the front.

“Ah. That reminds me.” Felix handed over the staff piece.

Noah looked at it, “yes! I can finally study it now.”

“Don’t do it now. Just hold onto it.”

“But there is much I can learn.”

“And there is so much time to do so. Get your rest in. Take your time studying it and we will be waiting for you.”

“But-”

“But nothing.” Felix said flatly, his tone clear. No arguing.

“Alright.”

Felix stood up to leave when he turned around to see Isaac looking at him.

He looked to be the similar age as Felix, but he felt much younger. It was his eyes. They were bright and filled with innocence.

Isaac didn’t say anything. He was carrying a plate with herbs and a cup of tea.

“Hey there, Isaac. Nice to see you awake. How are you feeling?”

“Who are you?” He asked.

“You know the guy who saved you from an extreme sunburn on the beach? We took you into our house.”

“Oh, so it was you? Thank you.”

“Can you tell me why you were on the beach?”

“No. I don’t remember. Sorry.” Felix met his fair share of liars and cheats as a mercenary, Isaac was being honest.

Felix looked at Chris with utter confusion.

“I believe Isaac has dissociative amnesia.”

Felix looked back at Noah with even more confusion.

“What does that jumble of fancy words mean, Noah?”

“It means his memory is blocked off and he can’t remember certain things. I’ve read about it. When you experience a traumatic event. Your brain may suppress the memory, so you won’t have to remember the trauma. In Isaac’s case he cannot remember anything before his awakening.”

“So, you don’t know who you are? Where you are from? Your parents? Friends?"

Isaac looked down and shook his head.

Felix sighed, of course. Memoryless wanderer washing up on the beach why not?

“Since his memory loss is the result of trauma, I’m letting him stay here and help in the clinic. It’s the right thing to do.” Chris said.

“He’s still got that wicked looking scythe.” Felix said as he reached for it on Isaac’s back.

Isaac backed up, “don’t touch that. I wouldn’t want to hurt you.”

Felix withdrew his hand, “alright.”

“I know how to use it.” Isaac said confidently.

“Oh really?”

“I don’t know. It just feels natural. Like breathing. Even without my memories.”

Felix pondered it. His sword training has been drilled into him since he was young. So much so that it is ingrained into his mind and muscle memory. So, if Isaac really doesn’t have his memories. It’s plausible his fighting style is still there.

“Alright then, I believe you. We should test this out someday.” Felix turned back to Noah.

“Noah. Be good.”

“Yes, I will.”

Felix waved goodbye to Chris and left.

***

“Son of a bitch!” Felix yelled as he chased after the ram.

“Come here!”

“Felix. Language.” Klaus said.

“Sorry. Dammit, I’m sorry. You little bastard, get back here.” Felix yelled as he chased after the ram.

“This is why you have to watch the rams. They are mischievous.” Klaus said as he followed along.

“Gotcha!” Felix yelled as he grabbed the ram by the horns.

He struggled against the ram for a bit before he managed to get it back to the field.

“What a mess.” Felix complained as there were sheep scattered around.

It’s been a couple of days since they were at the ruins. Since Noah was still recovering and researching, Felix just got back to work.

“Oh, it happens. Looks like today they are more skittish than usual.” Klaus replied.

“You don’t seem concerned.”

“Part of the farming life, Felix. Some days are good days, some days are bad days. What’s important is we keep on living and making the best of what we have.”

“I guess. Still, we could use an extra pair of hands, why can’t we get Lisa to help?” Felix asked as he wiped his brow.

Klaus laughed.

“If it was so easy, why don’t you give it a try? My daughter has her own life to keep her occupied.”

“What if I drag her by her ear?”

“That would be a sight. She’s a grown woman, Felix.”

“I’m pretty strong.”

“So is my daughter.” Klaus replied.

“How about I lend you a hand.” Felix heard from behind. He turned to see Lukas approaching behind him.

“What are you doing here?” Felix asked as Lukas leaped over the fence.

“Oh, I came by for a bit to help Maria rearrange the furniture. I owe this family a lot.”

“It’s no big deal, Lukas, we are glad to help you.”

Klaus replied.

“Even so, I still owe the Scherzer family a great debt.”

Klaus patted Lukas on the shoulder.

“I’m surprised you would offer to help.” Felix commented.

“Why is that?” Lukas asked.

“I just assumed you would have some resentment for me kicking your ass all the time.”

“Ha, no it’s good training.” Lukas replied with a smile.

“Tsk.” Felix rolled his eyes. What a good guy or whatever.

He let it go the three of them worked to corral the herd of sheep.

“So, you known Lisa for a while now?” Felix asked.

“Her? Yeah, we are childhood friends.” Lukas replied.

“Is that so?” Felix said.

Lukas put his hands up, “oh. It isn’t like that. We are just friends. She’s always been like a little sister to me.”

“Hmmm.”

“I can understand you. She’s a handful. She’s strong willed, smart, and has a big heart. A hard worker too, raised by a good father to be so. When she sets her mind on something, she has a singular focus.”

“Yeah, you can say that again. She is a handful.”

“You are a hard worker too. You had a good father?” Lukas asked.

Felix burst out laughing, Lukas gave Felix a curious look.

“You couldn’t be further from the truth. Dad left mother and me to fend for ourselves.”

“My apologies. I didn’t know.”

“It’s fine, Lukas.”

“If I may?”

“Go on, not like I can stop you.”

“My father Marco was a mercenary in the Twenty-Year War. He was a feared warrior in the war. But he’s also a drunk. My mom divorced my dad when I was a kid. After that, he got much worse. I’m still terrified of him.”

Lukas sighed and kept talking, “When I was a kid. I accidentally broke a window, and my father punished me by making me sleep in the cold rain outside. Jakob found me and took him back home with him. He and Jakob have been feuding ever since. Jakob, Maria, and Klaus. They been like a second family to me ever since then.”

“Well looks like you got the shitty end of the stick too. That’s why you want to become a knight?”

Lukas nodded, “And what about you, Felix? Why did you become a mercenary?”

“Money. The Order of the Raven is one of the most elite and respected companies out there.”

“There has to be a reason more than just coin?”

“No. There really doesn’t have to be one.”

Lukas frowned but left it like that and soon they were done moving the sheep into a new field.

Lukas waved his goodbye and left.

Klaus and Felix then worked on the fields for a while.

They kept at it, not saying much which Felix appreciated.

He felt a bit more grounded and at peace.

After the fields were tended to, he heard some footsteps behind him.

He turned to see Eileen and Jakob walking up. And in front of them, running with a big goofy smile on her face was Lisa.

“Hey, Felix! I got big news.” Lisa said as she stopped in front of Felix.

“Big news? Like how the moon is made of cheese or the sky is green?” Felix replied.

“Hush you. No, I got approved for having a stall for Sea Bounty Day.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Don’t sound too excited, Felix.”

“What’s with the old bird behind you?”

“It’s a family dinner we eat as together as a family often.”

“I’m helping out with the cooking. You should come and join us, Felix.” Eileen said.

Felix saw the smiles on Eileen, Klaus and Lisa’s faces. Even more bizarrely it even looked like a smile on Jakob’s face.

A big happy family.

He didn’t belong here.

“Uh. No thanks. I’m tired from all the work and I should head home.” Felix replied and he went to walk away when he was grabbed by the back of the neck.

“Ouch, hey.” Felix said.

“Gods be damned, boy. Didn’t anyone teach you manners?” Jakob with an irritated reply.

“No.”

“Eileen and Lisa have been kind enough to invite you. Don’t be rude and refuse.”

“Okay, asshole.” Felix said.

He then sighed, “I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s very kind of you to invite me. I humbly and deeply beg for your forgiveness, but I must politely refuse.”

“No.” Jakob replied as he dragged Felix back with him.

“What? Let me go. Hey.” Felix protested.

“Oh hush. You are staying for dinner.”

“Isn’t this a family only thing?”

“You’re family for the day now, boy.” Jakob replied.

“Jakob. Be gentle.” Eileen said.

“He’s a raven. He can handle it. And you better not skip your sorry ass on training tomorrow, you hear me?”

“Loud and clear.” Felix muttered under his breath.

“Good.” Jakob said as he let go.

“Thank you for coming over to eat, Felix. Grandma made a delicious pie earlier.” Lisa said as she followed behind Felix.

“Aren’t you going to help me?” Felix asked.

“Nope!” And with that she stuck out her tongue at Felix.

“I’ll remember this.”

“I’m sure you will.” And with that she skipped off.

Felix sighed. He tapped Jakob’s arm and with a nod, Jakob let Felix go.

He stood for a moment to take in everything. He watched as the family enter the house with smiles.

The smell of the food was wonderful.

Felix felt awkward and out of place.

He was also still dirty from the day of work.

He stood for a moment to take in everything. He watched as the family enter the house with smiles.

He went inside. Klaus gave him a hearty slap on his back as he came in.

The smell of the food of home cooked dinner was overwhelming.

There was a warm sense of happiness as he sat down at the dinner table. Eileen, Jakob, Klaus, Maria...Lisa talking so loudly and enthusiastically.

A happy and loving family.

He never felt more alone.

He really didn’t belong here.

Dinner went by like a blur. He couldn’t even remember what happened.

Just the feeling in the pit of his stomach.

As soon as the opportunity presented itself. Felix was out of there. He basically ran out.