I saw him

22nd of Shar 358

I walked around the halls of the private rooms, looking for someone to talk to, someone who could help, wondering where I should go. I passed by so many doors and plaques that they started to blend together. I must've gone around the tower at least three times before I came across a room by itself that I swear was not there before. The plaque read "Master of Foresight". I looked back and saw that I was in a hallway that I had never been through before. I saw the others walk past the hallway. I took a deep breath and entered the door.

As soon as I open the door, it smells of home. Surprised, I looked around, and that picture felt even more real. This was the outskirts of Eldercairn; it felt and looked like that clearing, which I had spent many nights in with Memory, down to the most minute details. The flowers against the trees, the herbs in the nearby forest, the soft glow of the candlelight of the village in the distance. In front of me was a campfire, and a figure was sitting against a tree just outside of its light. A featureless face with grayish skin. The figure stands up and moves into the campfire's light, where it transforms into a familiar face. They looked just like Memory, though not perfectly. It sent a shiver down my spine just how close they did look like him.

I asked them about my search for my teacher, and they said that they foresee us meeting again soon. However, they said I would not like what I saw. But I will also be happy to be reunited. They said I will have to make a choice and that they are curious to see how this will unfold. Knowing will not change the outcome.

Shortly after, almost as I blinked, I was back in the hallway, staring at a blank wall. I ran into the others at the stairs. I'm not sure how I feel about being referred to as the "little one". I wrote about what just happened as we headed to and sat down in Solas'dir's office. I can't get the image of the figure's appearance as Memory out of my head. What did they mean by I won't like what I see when I reunite with Memory? Did something happen to him? What did they mean by my knowing not changing the outcome? Has everything that will result in our reunion already happened? I have so many questions, but so many answers from such a short exchange. I do not know whether to feel relieved or... I don't know exactly how to feel about this new information. I can think more deeply about this later.

The others begin to recount their experiences in the tower with each other while we wait for Solas'dir to get back with our new job. Hornet spent their time looking at books about tattoos and found information about a sorcerer from the past. Hymn had run into the Master of Foresight just as I had and gotten interpretations of their dreams. Fathom met with someone known as the Realmseeker and received a gift of a watch from them. Apparently Solas'dir was searching in his archives for some information for Fathom. Fathom also talked about their experiences in some sort of alternate reality and how their watch tells the time but as a before and now and a tomorrow, and... it makes my head spin; I can't even grasp how they tried to explain it.

Hornet called to me, asking if "this one" was mine. I knew immediately they were referring to Erafinyr, and I called out to her, asking what she was doing. She was on Hornet's shoulder, drawing something on his ropes. Another one of her pranks, it seems. She returned to me, and Hornet gave an explanation of why not to touch them like Erafinyr just did. They picked up a succulent from nearby, undid the ropes, and took their glove off. They picked up the succulent with their bare hand and within 10 seconds, the succulent turned to ash. Hornet gave Erafinyr a pass because what she drew was funny. But Erafinyr was absolutely terrified. She hid on my shoulder, shaking, and whispered that she wouldn't go near Hornet again.

We continued to talk amongst ourselves until Solas'dir came back, and I comforted Erafinyr.

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