Jake\'s POV

Like an idiot I stood there watching everything unfold. I was intrigued, but more importantly I was mostly clueless. Mike explained to me everything that I forgot, he might have left a few things. Most importantly, but not having those memories made it hard for me to empathize with the situation. Deep down I know I should care about the war situation, but somehow I just didn\'t. This can\'t go on like this, if we\'re gonna be involved Imma need my memories.

"Mike, I want my memories back" I declared, earning a startled expression not just from him but also from Maland, who was stranded here now with us.

"Jake, I don\'t know the spell, remember?" He reminded me.

"He is a Goblin, doesn\'t he know" I swatted my hand at Maland who simply blinked at me.

"I am more of a warrior" Maland simply shrugged. "I don\'t engage in the use of such complex charms"

"You must have something? Anything" exasperated, I asked.

"Do you at least know the spell"? Mike asked Maland.

"Yeah" He nodded.

"Fine, give it to me. I\'ll give it a try" Mike asked.

"Are you crazy"? Maland\'s voice raised a few decibels. "This is a memory charm, okay. If you even remotely make a mistake you could end up frying his brain" He scolded Mike. Mike\'s eyes widened and so did mine and we looked at each other mirroring each other\'s expression.

"Wait, how do Goblin\'s learn this then?" Mike asked after a minute.

"They try that on some animals," Maland sighed. "But for that you need to be familiar with those animals, to tell if the spell worked or not".

"I don\'t know any animal with a memory loss" I mumbled. Both Maland and Mike gave me a weird look, "I mean, to test a memory restoration (?) magic, you need someone with memory loss, right"?

"Not all memories are restorable. The ones that are still there, that are lost in your head, only those can be retrieved" Maland informed us.

"And mine is…"? I trailed off.

"Yes, it\'s retrievable," Maland nodded.

"So, what next"? Mike asked me.

After careful thought, I asked, "This Victoria… does she know the spell"?

"I suppose so," Maland nodded. "When it comes to spells she is kind of a prodigy"

"Well, maybe she can help us. Mike you can open portals right? You can take us there"! Mike exclaimed.

"That sounds like a great idea." Mike\'s face lit up. "Except we have no idea where the f**k she is" His smile turned into a scowl. "Didn\'t you hear Sofosys say that she is away to find a cure"?

"Well… I guess I can wait until she is back" I suggested. I really didn\'t want to fry my brain. It was frustrating enough without all the missing pieces, I didn\'t want to lose everything. I did want to know more though, so I guess for now all I gotta do is keep asking questions. "Well, since we are instructed to wait, let\'s wait".

"I\'ll see you later then" Maland cleared his throat.

"Nuh-uh" Before he could make any move I called out. He was not going anywhere. Not yet. "You are coming with us. After what happened today, who knows what might come next. We have to be cautious, and together."

"Look, I was only attacked because I was with the princess. They won\'t bother with someone insignificant like me".

"Okay, first of all, you are not insignificant" I declared. He blinked, not expecting me to protest on that point. "And secondly, those people are unpredictable. You never know. Besides, Cassie said that she will reach out when needed, right? It\'ll be easier for her if we stay close"

"But.." Maland began, but I cut him off again.

"You wanted to protect me right? Don\'t you think the best way to do that is to be next to me"? I argued.

"I suppose that\'s tr-" he paused suddenly, "Wait, how do you know that"?

Oops, I shouldn\'t have said that. "Um… He told me that you followed me once because of that same reason. I assumed that\'s why you are here".

"No, some things are odd. How did you know we were here? Or that we were in danger. Your timing, it was… impeccable."

I looked at Mike who looked back at me for an explanation. This time, Mike took over, "We were passing by when we saw the woman who murdered Linda." Mike sighed. "We didn\'t interfere, but it seemed like you were about to die, so we didn\'t want it either. I jumped in".

"Okay" Maland nodded suspiciously, reluctantly buying our story. A wave of relief washed over me as we managed to convince him.

"Anyways, as I was saying, come with us". I insisted.

"He is right, you should stick with us" Mike backed me up.

"Fine" Maland sighed, exasperated. "Where to?"

"Our dorm"? I suggested.

"That sounds about right," Mike agreed with me.

We walked through the road only to realise a little later that we didn\'t exactly know the way. Luckily, Maland was not that acquainted with cell phones and technology, so I opened up the map and put it on mute.

We found the bus stop and rode it till we reached our stop. The dorm was still farther away, and the way to which was through an abandoned park. With the moon directly above us, it was hard not to perceive this situation as spooky.

On our way we suddenly heard some noise coming out of nowhere. There wasn\'t a source, it was just there. It seemed to be coming from behind us, but there was no one when we turned. What was happening. Both Mike and Maland assumed an alert stance, and I just mimicked the same as to not be left out.

Suddenly a portal opened, and Mike seemed ready to attack when a beautiful blonde lady walked through it. "Vicky," Mike\'s voice quivered..

"Look, I know you think I am dead, but-"

"Why would I think that"? Mike prompted her.

"Because… I disappeared"? She proposed. She finally spotted Maland and wondered if Mike remembered everything.

"The memory charm didn\'t work on him" Maland affirmed her suspicion.

"Oh thank God, that saves me so much trouble." Victoria rejoiced. "Look, I found a way to save Cassie\'s… my mother."

"Wait, what"? Mike interrupted.

"Yeah.. I am Cassie\'s biological sister. Adrianna" Victoria.

"That is… so messed up," Mike mumbled. "In a way you are both of our sisters, and she is my girlfriend"? Mike shivered with disgust.

"Come on, you and I were never related by blood" She rolled her eyes. "Wait, she is your girlfriend?"

"I guess, she confessed." Mike mumbled, unable to suppress her smile. "I mean, I think we are in a relationship, but she had to go back since Arpholeus attacked Maefhaelore.

"I see," She nodded. "Anyways, as I was saying I found a way. But, it\'s not… very convenient."

"Don\'t tell me you are gonna use Dark Magic" Mike was alarmed.

"No, that\'s not what I intend to do" Victoria shook her head. "I need to find something, something that doesn\'t exist"

"What" This time I mumbled. That made no sense. How can you find something that doesn\'t exist? You gotta invent stuff. Or is that what she was asking?

"It\'s complicated Jake." She answered me. Wait, she knew me? Right, I forgot.

"Can you restore my memory?" I asked out of the blue.

She seemed taken aback and looked at Mike, "I am half goblin, so the magic didn\'t work on me. As for Jake, it worked. With everything going on, it would be so much easier for him if he remembered. Can you help us"?

Victoria considered for a moment then mumbled, "If I do it the queen will hate me." She sighed. "So, I guess yeah, I\'ll restore your memories" She gave me a smile before mumbling something.

A sharp headache as if I was getting hammered appeared. I screamed in pain which accompanied with a flash of memories. Linda, Victoria, losing my Dad, the training.... The pain, everything was back. Everything, including how I planned on living my life, and my resolve of treating Maland\'s hand. I finally understand why he was the only one I recalled.

From practicing with him on a daily basis, to spending time with him and the resolve of his hand…. Of course I remembered him. Maybe Victoria was right? Maybe I did have feelings for him.

"Jake"? Mike asked me to check if I was good.

"Yeah, I am fine" I replied, much less jollier than earlier. "I remember... everything." I informed them.

Mike gave me a poignant smile before turning to Victoria, "What is it that you are looking for"?

"It\'s called enchanted forest. It is supposed to possess greater power, maybe something that can not only save my mom, but also help us win this war. Will you guys help me"? She looked at us, hopefully.

"I will"

"I will"

Mike declared without hesitation, followed by Maland.

"So will I" I added. If indeed it possessed the powers as she said, then maybe I too had a use for it.