Forgetfulness
Training should've started ages ago, and it was supposed to be over by now.
Yet Emily was nowhere in sight.
Had something happened to her?
Just as I was about to pack up after waiting so long, I heard her voice in the distance.
On one...
Remember!
On two...
Do it right!
Emily...?
I spotted her wobbling forward on her hands.
Not figuratively. Literally.
Remember! Do it right!
Oh, Captain. My apologies.
I committed a foolish mistake.
I completely forgot about today's training session.
Neglecting training is unbefitting of a Journey member!
As a sign of reflection, I chose to discipline myself.
Apology accepted. Now could you please stand up like a normal person?
Something about being stared up at from that position was deeply unsettling.
I have no excuse.
I find myself forgetting important matters... far too often.
Even while carrying out my duties in Candle Square, I lose track of things I shouldn't.
Ms. Claire scolds me every time I do, but I never seem to get any better.
...Hmm. I don't think I used to be like this.
Maybe you just have too much on your mind.
Too much... on my mind?
You might have a point.
I suppose I should allocate more of my work hours to cleaning.
Cleaning? Why cleaning?
Oh, cleaning helps steady my mind.
When I focus entirely on it, everything else fades away.
And the more I learn about it, the more I realize how much it resembles combat. Which makes it... rather enjoyable.
Lately, I've been researching ways to apply modern tactics to the cleaning process.
Such as applying close-quarters combat tactics to keep dust from drifting away before it's wiped up.
Combat tactics, huh...
Why do you sound so surprised?
You sure seem familiar with combat and tactics.
Ahem. That's because I served in the Antares Mercenaries for quite some time.
A mercenary group?
Not just any mercenary group!
The Antares Mercenaries is one of Lavistar's most elite forces.
We were known for executing every mission flawlessly, backed by cutting-edge equipment and modern tactics.
Then why'd you leave?
That's because...
Umm...
I appear... to have forgotten the reason!
You forgot... why you quit?!
A-as I said, my memory hasn't been at its best.
Rest assured, I'll let you know if I remember.
But more importantly...
Emily was clearly avoiding the question.
She wouldn't look me in the eye. Suspicious. Very Suspicious.
In the end, she never explained why she left the Antares Mercenaries.
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off...