Echoes of forgotten

Commander of the knights.

Elara followed the mercenaries—no, knights in disguise, she reminded herself—through the forest. They had switched from following Elara to showing her the way after telling her she was leading the wrong way a couple of times. They guided her carefully, often stopping to check on her as they had noticed her limping from time to time. The encampment, obscured by trees and large boulders, was well-hidden, its location chosen for strategic advantage.

As they neared the clearing, Elara heard the faint murmur of voices and the occasional clink of armor. Then they broke through the treeline, and she saw it: an organized array of tents and equipment nestled in the heart of the forest.

"Commander Lupina has returned!" one of the mercenaries called out as they approached.

Elara froze. Commander Lupina?

Her eyes darted around, searching for whoever might be referred to by that name. No one else seemed to react, though. The knights in the camp turned their attention to her, their gazes ranging from stunned disbelief to visible relief.

The confusion that had been simmering in her mind boiled over. Why are they looking at me? Lupina... That name isn't mine.

Before she could fully process, a tall, older knight hurried toward her. His silver armor bore intricate blue accents, its design a seamless blend of practicality and elegance, on one of his shoulders a strange yet familiar flower was engraved on the armor. Where had she seen it?

The knight's grizzled features softened as he stopped in front of her, bowing his head briefly.

"Commander Lupina," he said, his voice steady but thick with emotion. "You're back. By the god, we thought we'd lost you."

Elara opened her mouth to respond but closed it again. She didn't dare confirm or deny anything, not when she was still trying to piece together this bizarre situation.

The knight continued, unaware of her inner turmoil. "When we couldn't locate you after the attack, we feared the worst. We sent word to hire mercenaries to aid in the search, but…" His eyes flicked to the disguised knights who had escorted her. "It's good to see they succeeded."

So that's their cover story, Elara thought. It aligned with what the disguised knights had said earlier about being hired by House Aeternum, but she knew better. She had overheard their hushed conversation on the mountain. They weren't mercenaries; they were royal knights sent by the Crown Prince.

She decided to stay silent about this for now. The information felt too volatile to reveal, especially when she still didn't understand the stakes of this world.

Another knight approached, a younger woman with a wide, tearful smile. "Commander Lupina," she said, her voice trembling with relief. "You're really here. I— We've been searching for you for days."

Elara forced a faint smile and nodded, trying to appear composed. She didn't trust her voice to sound convincing, so she remained silent.

The older knight gestured toward the largest tent in the camp. "You should rest, Commander. Your injuries—" He paused, his expression darkening. "You've been through more than enough."

Elara followed him, her thoughts spinning. She passed rows of knights, each of them bowing their heads or saluting as she walked by.

"Commander Lupina," one said, his tone reverent.

"She's alive," another whispered.

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from reacting. The name was unfamiliar, but clearly, it carried weight. Who is this Lupina they think I am? Didn't those mercenaries-knights call me Lady Aeternum? 

Her head was spinning with all those questions. In just one day, she has heard of three different identities she posessed.

As she reached the tent, she paused, her hand brushing the flap of fabric. The jungle flashed in her mind again—the man with turquoise eyes, his face partially obscured by shadows.

Elara pushed the memory away. She didn't have the luxury of indulging in mysteries right now.

Once inside, the tent was surprisingly spacious, with a cot set against one side and a small table holding maps and documents on the other. She sat down heavily on the cot, her legs trembling with exhaustion.

The older knight stood at the entrance, his posture stiff but his expression soft. "Commander," he began, hesitating. "I'll ensure that everything is in order. If you need anything…"

"I'll let you know," Elara replied curtly, forcing herself to sound authoritative.

"I'll send for the physician" The knight nodded and left, the tent flap falling shut behind him.

Alone at last, Elara exhaled, her hands gripping the edge of the cot. The room was spinning, and not just from fatigue. She didn't belong here—she knew that in her bones.

She glanced at her hands, her nails clean but slightly rough, as if she had been training. Her reflection in a small polished mirror caught her eye. Her hair, a silvery cascade streaked with faint blue strands, shimmered in the dim light.

"This isn't me," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Who am I supposed to be here? Elara, Commander Lupina or Lady Aeternum?"

Her mind wandered briefly to the mercenaries—the knights. Their earlier conversation had been vague, but one thing stood out: they had mentioned the Crown Prince. Someone of importance was involved in her retrieval.

But why? What is her relationship with this Crown Prince? 

She leaned back against the cot, staring at the tent ceiling. Her body ached, her wounds throbbed, and her thoughts were a chaotic mess. She didn't know who Commander Lupina was or why the knights revered her. She didn't know who to trust, least of all herself.

For now, all she could do was play along and gather as much information as possible. Perhaps this strange, surreal world would begin to make sense if she could piece together the fragments. 

One thing was certain: if she wanted answers, she'd have to start asking the right questions.