School

ㅤ Mana once joked that Alvarna attracts travelers with amnesia. And though Iria wasn't amused, she couldn't help but see the irony. She and Kyle had arrived in the town almost simultaneously, both remembering nothing. But it was precisely this lack of memories that brought them closer. And also… "It's funny how I can't remember anything except a single wish," Iria said, admiring the starry sky with Kyle, "to build a school. As if it were some kind of vital necessity." "Hmm…" Kyle thought, looking deep into himself. Somewhere there, a confident thought flickered: If I ever have children, I'd like them to go to school, not homeschooled. Alvarna is a good place, worthy of better. I'll talk to the mayor about it. I'm sure he'll approve the construction. "Just like that? Are you ready to build a school with me?" Iria was incredibly surprised. She'd only shared her dream. She hadn't thought she'd be able to start making it happen so soon. And Kyle chimed in, as if he'd been thinking about it for a while himself. "Yes. I think that's a great idea. We'll need teachers, though. We'll manage with the materials somehow. I hope…" Kyle tried to imagine how much resources and money would be needed to build a specific building. He felt a little uneasy. 'It's okay,' he tried to reassure himself, 'I'm not alone in this.' 'We'll have to sweat,' Iria agreed with him, not knowing herself. "Well, we can be the first teachers. You'll teach the children about farming and edible plants. You're also a pretty good cook. And I..." Iria wondered what she was good at. "I'll teach them how to hunt! And count! I'm pretty good at that too," she grinned, picturing examples based on money bags. "You?" Kyle grinned back. “Barrett would rather become a teacher,” he finally laughed openly. "Hey! Are you the one calling me a thorn!?" Iria tried to hit Kyle, but missed. The peace and quiet of the night were hopelessly shattered… ㅤ The next day, having received permission from the mayor, Kyle and Iria began to work hard, collecting everything they needed. Kyle worked in the field, cutting down trees, crushing stones. Iria chose a more interesting pastime: she ran around the neighborhood, collecting any useful items, while simultaneously slaying dangerous monsters that strayed unacceptably close to the town. At home, she crafted crafts, increasing the value of the goods. Some of the loot had to be sold, which Iria did reluctantly: she didn’t want to lose money, but she didn’t have enough hands for everything… At some point, Kyle had to take care of the surrounding area as well… Irie was strongly advised to take care of herself. For the sake of the future of her and Kyle's child. Fortunately, the founding of the school was not far away. Iria never became a teacher. However, the villagers showed active participation, each eager to pass on their knowledge to the next generation. Moreover, Alvarna was rapidly expanding: young people were forming couples, bringing new life into the world. Soon, children outnumbered old people, which pleased the older generation. The school awaited its first students… ㅤ For eight years, Kyle, Iria, and their child lived without knowing grief. Peace and happiness were broken only by the occasional earthquake and seasonal storm. And also the oppressive feeling that grows in Kyle’s soul with each passing year. Until one day, his memory returned and put everything in its place, forcing him to leave his beloved family and comfortable home. No storm could stop him from fulfilling his duty. That morning, Iria stood before a hurricane-ravaged field. The fateful night had not been in vain for her either. Although sleep clung to her, not allowing her to wake up and say goodbye to her husband, she was tormented by the "nightmares" of the past. Twice the past… She remembered her home, too. Where she had wanted to build a school. There. Not here. And now she was tied to Alvarna and couldn't even temporarily travel because of her child and the uncertain situation with her missing husband. "Great… I built a school. But in the wrong town..." Iria couldn't shake the feeling that fate had overdone it with the irony this time… ㅤ