Shon sat in the healer’s hut, looking at the sleeping face of the large, dark-skinned young man who had saved his life. At a first glance, he looked to be in his late teens or early twenties, which wasn’t much older than Shon himself. But as Shon continued looking at his face, he had the impression that the stranger must have been older.

After all, how could someone only a few years older than Shon cross the Endless Desert on foot? Who was this person who literally came out of nowhere to save his life the night before? How did he get there? Would he ever find out?

Tam, the town healer, was not optimistic for the stranger’s odds of survival. She said his sunburns and dehydration were some of the worst she’d ever seen during her time in the desert, and that was saying something. She had covered him liberally with herbs and bandages for most of the day, and afterwards she had used some of her strongest oils and aromas under his nose to wake him up, but he hadn’t even stirred.

As evening began to close, Tam had lit a candle in the hut so that Shon could stay with the young man. “You’re welcome to keep him company, dearie,” Tam said. “But I wouldn’t get too attached. If he wakes up in the next couple of days to drink and eat something, he might yet make it. But if he remains as still as he is now, I’m afraid he may end up being a mystery with no answer.”

After Tam left and the door was closed, Shon leaned forward in his chair and brought his bald head much closer to the stranger’s. Tam may have used all the tricks and tools available to her as a healer, but Shon hadn’t tried all of his tricks yet. Shon glanced at the windows of the hut to make sure that the curtains were drawn. His special abilities weren’t a secret to Tam or many of the others who lived in Life’s Edge, but Shon still preferred using them without being watched.

As he leaned his head closer to the young man on the cot, Shon closed his eyes and tried to focus his mind on the thoughts and images in the stranger’s head. At first, Shon had the sensation that he was wandering through a thick gray fog with no sense of direction or time. Suddenly the fog burned away and Shon found himself assaulted by such intense sights, sounds, and other sensations that he couldn’t make sense of them all.

Shon heard an overwhelming chorus of screams and snarls, crumbling stone and crackling fires. He saw whirlwinds of sand and dust, an unstoppable tide of teeth and claws, and in the midst of it all, he saw two great monstrous faces staring at him. He felt cuts and bruises on his arms and legs, falling rocks on his head, and choking smoke in this throat. And somewhere in the impossibly far distance, he heard a low and terrible laughter that rattled his teeth.

Just when Shon began to fear that he would be consumed by the intensity of the sensations, he saw a light begin to grow at the edge of the horizon. Unlike the warm, yellow sun, this light was bright white and gave no heat, but everywhere that the light touched, the sounds and images burned away, until there was nothing left but white and silence.

Shon suddenly sat up in his chair, startled and breathing hard, but otherwise unharmed. He was relieved to find himself safe in Tam’s hut once again, and wondered to himself how the stranger could bear to stay asleep in such a nightmare. Was that merely a dream, or actual memories from the stranger’s past? Shon shuddered at the thought.

Shon stood up to fetch some water from the corner of the room, but when he turned back to his seat, he saw that something about the stranger had changed. He couldn’t tell if it was a trick of the candlelight, but it seemed that his chest was raising higher with each breath he took. After a few moments of kneeling by his cot, Shon was sure he could hear the stranger begin grunting, and under the covers he was beginning to twitch and stir.

Shon sat back down in his chair and placed a hand on the stranger’s forehead. He tried to direct calm and peaceful thoughts to the stranger’s mind, which seemed to calm him down. As the stranger’s breaths became slower and slower, Shon realized that he might be calming him down too much, and decided to change tactics.

Shon placed the tips of his fingers on the temples of the young man’s head. He then focused his thoughts into a clear and direct message, hoping it would get through the confusion and haze. It’s about time you woke up, Shon’s mind said to the young man. How do you feel?

At first there was nothing but silence and the occasional sound of the candle flame sputtering in a large pool of wax. Then, after a long wait, Shon sensed the reply, I hurt.

Shon had to focus to keep his excitement from carrying over with his thoughts. He didn’t want to confuse the stranger or impede the conversation with a sudden burst of emotion. I’m not surprised by that, Shon said through his mind. They had to bandage you from your head down to your feet.

My feet are down? the stranger asked with puzzlement in his thoughts. They feel level with my head.

Astute observation, Shon replied. They feel that way because you are currently lying on your back. I just meant to tell you that your entire body is bandaged.

My whole body hurts, repeated the stranger. My whole body is bandaged?

Yes, that’s right, Shon replied.

Everywhere that hurts is bandaged. I don’t want my body bandaged. Then it won’t hurt, the young man reasoned.

Ah, I see the confusion, Shon interjected. Your body does not hurt because it is bandaged. It is bandaged because it is hurt.

There was a long pause before the young man responded. Then why does it hurt? he asked.

I was actually hoping that you could tell me that, replied Shon. What were you doing coming out of the Endless Desert? Nobody has ever lived to cross that desert in recorded history. I’m surprised that you actually survived it. Our healer had never seen someone with so many sun blisters and sores as you have. By all accounts you should be dead!

I don’t understand, responded the stranger.

I’m sorry, what is it you don’t understand? asked Shon.

I don’t understand, the stranger repeated.

Hmm. I have an idea that may help things, offered Shon. First, let me introduce myself. My name is Shon. I am an ethereal wizard, which means that I have magic in matters of the mind. That is why you and I are able to talk without needing to move our mouths. I can send my thoughts to your head, and also hear the thoughts from your head. What I would like to try right now is a bit more complex, however. If you can try to open up your mind, I am going to try and read your memories. Now that you’re awake, I’m hoping they’ll make more sense. Is that alright?

Memories? repeated the young man.

I know it may sound strange, but I think it will help with your confusion, Shon continued. Will you try and keep your mind as calm and open as possible?

Yes, the young man replied.

There immediately followed a sensation like an invisible butterfly fluttering around in a spacious, empty hallway. Just as quickly as it began, it was over. And then there was silence for several moments.

Where are your memories? Shon asked.

I don’t know, replied the stranger.

Who are you? Shon asked.

I am Tarun, replied the stranger.

Well that’s a good start, Shon replied. What else do you know?

I know that my body hurts all over and it is bandaged all over. I know that it doesn’t hurt because it is bandaged, but that it is bandaged because it hurts. I know that you call yourself Shon, and you are an ethereal wizard, which means that your mind can speak with my mind, and you are trying to find something called memories, but I am not helping you.

The last flood of thoughts came so suddenly, and felt so complete, that Shon knew they really were the only thoughts and facts available in Tarun’s entire mind. He really had just told Shon everything that he knew.

Actually, Shon responded, you just helped me understand a great deal, thank you. I suppose I can rule out asking you where you are from or how you crossed the Endless Desert for now. Can you open your eyes?

I will try, Tarun responded as his eyes began to flutter and blink.

There you go. Can you see me? asked Shon. Ah, you are squinting, that’s good!

My eyes hurt when they are open! Tarun shouted in his mind. Too bright!

Oh yes, that will pass, Shon reassured him, just keep squinting until it’s comfortable to open your eyes all the way. There, it’s getting better already, isn’t it? I’m right in front of you can you see me?

I see you? Is that what you are? asked Tarun.

Yes, replied Shon. This is what I am. This is what another person looks like. Well, I guess most other people have hair on their heads, but let’s stick to the basics. Wow, your mind really is empty. I don’t mean to be rude, of course, I just mean that we’ll really need to stay basic to teach you. I didn’t realize it until a moment ago, but you haven’t even been communicating with words because you don’t know any language other than your own name.

Words? asked Tarun.

Yes, replied Shon. Hmm… Usually people communicate with words instead of thought to thought like you and I have been doing. Even I usually put my thoughts to words, but since you don’t understand any words you have just been understanding the thoughts themselves. You, however, have been thinking pure thought, but my mind turned them into words because I understand better that way. Fascinating!

Bad? Good? Tarun asked, confused.

Well, it certainly is good that you have me around, Shon replied, or you wouldn’t be able to communicate with anyone until you learn some language. That makes you a very lucky individual that I found you, because I’ve never met anyone else with my magical abilities.

I’m lucky you found me, Tarun repeated.

Well, in all honesty, you found me, Shon confessed, and I’m the fortunate one for it. Do you even remember saving my life from those gamblers?

I don’t understand, replied Tarun.

No, I guess you don’t even remember that, Shon stated. Well, whether you remember it or not, I owe you my life, and I’m going to help repay you however I can. And it is apparent that you really need some help to become functional again.

You will help me understand what I don’t understand? asked Tarun.

Exactly, Shon reassured him. What is the first thing you remember?

Suddenly there blazed across Shon’s mind an image of the sun rising over the desert landscape from inside town.

Shon nodded. Ah, I remember that sunrise. That was right after you saved my life. If you hadn’t been there, I doubt I would have lived to see the dawn. 

Alright, Shon continued, we’ll start from there. Starting from yesterday’s sunrise, we’ll begin rebuilding your mind and your memories, so you can understand the world around you again, Tarun.

Yes Shon, teach me to understand! Tarun commanded.

For a moment, Shon was taken aback by the force of Tarun’s command. It was not a harsh command, nor was it a command born out of dominance or arrogance, but something in it shook Shon to the core. There was something about Tarun that had such strength and authority that Shon could not deny his request. At that moment, Shon promised himself that he would discover who Tarun really was, and where that strength came from. He knew that it would take a great deal of work and patience, but promised himself that day that he would find Tarun’s memories.