CHAPTER 9: DOWN MEMORY LANE

The memories move forward to Norrin’s time in the Games. A series of challenges young people in the Citadels participated in for sport and glory which offered grand prizes to the champions of each event. The most coveted prize being a spot in the Leagues, which some saw as an easy path to a life of luxury.

"Yeah in reality, the Games served as a secret recruiting tool for the Governor’s armies, where most competitors ended up serving." Norrin explained to Nassima. "The events, which included trials of strength, combat, speed, and agility, helped the Commanders place each new recruit into a specialized unit of their choosing. I did not win any of the prizes, but I didn't really care, because I wasn’t there to win."

Norrin then focused on a girl with red hair who waved to young Norrin from the crowd, and it made both his younger and present-day self smile. The girl was Highborn, but that did not to matter, because she was there to cheer on her friend, and that is why Norrin competed.

"I did well enough in the sprints and obstacle courses to be approached by the Commander of the Scouts." Norrin said as they watched younger Norrin and the Highborn girl with red hair celebrate his new opportunity. "I thought my life would only be good times like this forever."

Nassima smiled at Norrin as he relived the memory, but he could see that her bright green eyes held a touch of sadness.

Norrin’s flashbacks fast forwarded through his training with Scouts. "Here I recollect feeling I had a pretty good idea of the direction of my life at this time. But then, the Second Conflict came, and the entire Realm was shaken to its core. Hard times came for all. and my friend, the Highborn girl with red hair, became entangled in a situation she could not get out of because of it. I wanted to help her, but he was powerless to do anything."

The Second Conflict ended with little fanfare after an agreement was forged between a few Highborn families, and Norrin decided to withdraw from the Firstview army. He reached out to his Highborn friend, but it was too late. Everything Norrin thought he planned out for his life had changed.

After that Norrin was lost in the world. He tried to push through his life, but everything only became harder for him. His anxiety was out of control, people he thought were friends used him and he drifted from job to job without a greater purpose. He lost all ambition and joy for the world around him.

“Please, Nassima, I don’t want to see this,” he pleaded with her. The memories of this time of his life hurt too much.

Nassima obliged him, she felt his emotions and it brought her to tears. They moved forward in time to when Norrin found the Chasers, or rather the Chasers found him.

Norrin was working in the shipping yards unloading goods. On his break, he spotted a high perch where he could look past the walls and planned to reach it. But, it was a difficult climb to the top. He scrambled up and over a small wall, traversed several rooftops, balanced himself on small ledges and made a series of dangerous leaps that had to be timed just right. He did all of this while also avoiding the attention of the Citadel Guardians patrolling the ramparts. But, it was the perfect place of solitude he thought, and worth the danger he put his life and body in. At the top he was able view the entire valley to the east of Firstview and daydreamed about going past the cliffs on its horizon. Since he refused to believe anyone else would take the risk that he did to climb to his personal perch, Norrin didn’t hear the person behind him. But suddenly, something told him to move. He barely dodged the strike headed his way but afterwards landed awkwardly on his back.

“I don’t have any coin on me!” he yelled out, thinking he was getting robbed…again.

The man held up his hands and laughed. He had walnut colored skin and a huge smile that made his eyes gleam with mischief. He bore the marks of a Southern Niner, light leather armor, and the bright turquoise scarf of a Chaser.

“Relax, cousin. I’m not trying to rob you,” he said, extending his hand to help Norrin up. “I was just testing your reflexes. Didn’t mean to come off so aggressive.”

“You serious? That’s not solid. I expected better from a Chaser,” Norrin replied, refusing the Chaser’s hand and getting up on his own.

“Sorry!” the Chaser whistled, “Let’s start over. I’m Dex. I watched you on your way up here. It was a very impressive climb. So, I thought I would come up and offer my help.”

“Help? Help with what? I don’t need help. What are you on about?”

Dex smiled big again. “I think you do need help cousin. You want to get beyond the walls, and I know how you can do it.”

"Dex invited me to the Chasers guild, and explained to me how the Chasers operate, and from there I was all in!" Norrin said with pride.

He recollected his time training with the other Chaser recruits, and all the friends, mentors and compatriots he met on the way to becoming a member of their guild. He saw all the faces and remembered the names of the people who affected his life in large and small ways. Scenes of his life as a Chaser zoomed by as if he was flying through his mind’s memory banks. All the while, Nassima was close by, accompanying him on this journey through his past. She always had an inquisitive look in her eyes and a small grin on her face, as she grew to know him in ways no other person ever could.

Norrin was at first afraid of revealing so much of his past to her. All of his regrets, embarrassments and mistakes were also there for her to see. But he felt this deep amount of trust towards her at the same time. He could tell that she was not there to judge him, but to gain a better understanding of who he was. By him opening himself up and trusting her with everything, he was also gaining Nassima’s complete trust in return.