JP - The Keep - Arrival of a Unicorn

Bjorn walked along the path slowly, not sure of exactly where he was. The hood of his jacket was up, but that didn’t hide the fact that he had a damned horn poking out of his head. The person that had found and woken him up had told him what he was and given him a name, but everything else was a complete mystery.

Seeing the gates of this place up close was surprising, interesting even. It was morning by now - he had walked all night - and he had no clue where he was. He just hoped someone here could help him.

Frowning, he started toward the second gate, which he assumed might be called an inner gate. He wasn’t sure of what anything was anymore. Where was everyone anyway?

“Hey- who the hell are you?” A guard demanded at the inner gate.

Bjorn almost jumped out of his skin. “S-sorry! I…uh…I’m Bjorn…uh…where am I?” He called back.

“The Keep.” The guard said sourly. “What are you doing here?”

“I don’t know…” Bjorn replied. “I think I’m lost.”

“Damn right you’re lost.” The guard said irritably. “Go be lost somewhere else, we have enough inhuman weirdos in here already.”

“But, I need help finding where to go,” He retorted, frowning more. “And is it bad to be inhuman?” Bjorn did not like this guard already.

“Do I look like a map?” The guard asked. “Why can’t you just be normal? Instead you’re walking around able to stab people with your head acting like that’s okay.”

“I…I…” Bjorn grimaced and shoved his hands into his coat. “I don’t stab people with my head, sir. I just need help…I don’t remember anything but my name.”

“How is that my problem?” The guard asked.

“Why are you being so rude?” Bjorn snapped, his face suddenly cold and serious.

“It’s my job.” The guard said.

Rolling his eyes, Bjorn’s entire demeanor suddenly seemed to change. “What the fuck is your problem, eh? I’ve done nothing wrong and you just start telling me to fuck off? It wouldn’t be too hard for me to kick your ass, little guard!” Sparks swirled around his horn as he grabbed one of his scimitars.

Hearing a commotion, Wulfsen delayed his breakfast even further as he rushed to the gate to see what trouble was happening now. “What’s going on?” Wulfsen demanded.

“This weirdo is lost and being a pain in the ass.” The guard said.

Releasing his scimitar, Bjorn seemed to go back to normal. “I just walked up asking where I was…” He muttered.

“You’re at the Keep.” Wulfsen said, wondering why the guard created so much drama over it.

“But where is that? I’ve been lost for a long while and all I know is…my name.” Bjorn admitted uncomfortably.

“You’re about a day’s travel from Portside.” Wulfsen said, frowning.

Bjorn bit his bottom lip nervously. “Where is that?” He honestly couldn’t remember anything at all. “Sorry…I just don’t remember anything.”

“It’s the biggest city around here.” Wulfsen said. “Where are you from?”

Bjorn blinked and tried to think. “Uh…I don’t know.” He answered.

“Are you injured?” Wulfsen asked, wondering if the guy had hit his head.

“I don’t think so,” Bjorn pulled down his hood and felt around on his head - no injury. There was an odd symbol carved into the side of his neck, though. It was a dark magical symbol that always had something to do with memory.

Wulfsen looked at the mark on the man’s neck. “I think you should come in and talk to someone who knows about magic.”

“Okay,” Bjorn said and gave the guards a look. “This is how you treat people, sir.”

Wulfsen led the amnesiac inside. “Bai or Alex are probably getting breakfast now.”

“Who?” Bjorn looked at Wulfsen in confusion.

"They're both magic users." Wulfsen explained.

Bjorn nodded slowly, confusion still on his face. He really was lost.

Keeping up with Wulfsen, he followed him and felt a bit more relaxed. At least this guy wasn't calling him a weirdo or treating him badly.

Wulfsen led Bjorn to the Main Hall, he did not see Alex but he did spot Bai. “Bai!” Wulfsen called and waved to get the magic user’s attention before taking the unicorn the rest of the way to him. “Good morning, Bai. This fellow has turned up at our gate, remembering very little. I suspect that there may be a magical explanation.”

Bai looked at the unicorn man. “This day just keeps getting better.” He sighed. “What do you remember about yourself?”

“Nothing, really.” Bjorn told Bai. “When I woke up, a guy told me my name was Bjorn and sent me off with a few supplies. I’ve just been wandering around…lost.” He shrugged.

“Maybe if you go back to where you woke up more can be found out.” Bai said, studying the man for a moment, sensing some magic.

“I don’t remember where that is…” The unicorn man said sheepishly.

“Maybe Bella can backtrack, she seems good with scents.” Bai said. “Have you noticed any unusual markings since you woke up?”

“Just this,” Bjorn pulled his wild hair out of the way to let Bai see the odd symbol carved into his skin.

Bai swore. He knew what that symbol was, what it did. “What do you remember of the man who told you your name?”

“Uh…he looked kind of like a raider of some sort? Dress in a lot of black…more than me, actually.” Bjorn answered as he looked down. “Said he worked for some woman that I can’t remember the name of.”

Bai did not like the sound of any of that. He suspected who the woman was, but did not want to lead Bjorn by saying Galina’s name in case he was wrong. “Get something to eat and sit down, let me know if you remember anything. When I see Bella I’ll see if I can get her to track where you woke up- there may be more clues there.”