what is this place?

...Chapter 2...

Trona had carried Yuuta back to town and had rented a room in an inn. She placed him on the bed and busied herself while she waited for him to wake. 5 hours passed before Yuuta finally woke up. He slowly opened his eyes and groaned in pain as he slowly got up.

“You’re finally awake.” Trona stated. Yuuta slightly jumped in surprise. He placed a hand to his chest in hopes of calming his racing heart. He took a calming breath in.

“Where are we?” He asked.

“You love asking questions, don’t you? We’re in Lyenia.” Trona informed.

“Lyenia?” Yuuta repeated in question.

“Yep.” Trona nodded her head. “The city’s been around since like forever.”

Confusion was still written all over Yuuta’s face. “I’m still confused.” He shook his head as if silently saying ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ “What happened?” He asked.

“Oh. You decided to take a nap while I was talking to you, rude by the way. I had to carry you all the way to this inn.” Trona said, recalling the past few hours. A cold wind entered from the window making Yuuta shiver. That was when he realized that he felt the wind hit his bare skin.

He quickly looked down and saw that his clothes were missing. He turned his attention back to Trona, eyes filled with panic and asking a silent question. ‘Where are my clothes!?’

Understanding the look in his eyes, Trona looked away, pink dusted her cheeks. “They had dirt and dust all over them.” She let out an unladylike snort. “Made me sneeze the entire way here. I went ahead and washed them for you.” She paused as she saw Yuuta’s face go red. “Don’t worry I didn’t see anything!” She rushed to add.

Yuuta averted his gaze and watched his hands fiddle with the warm blanket that was draped on his waist down. “Thank you.” He managed to say through his embarrassment.

“You’re welcome. That’s what friends are for. Speaking of, you still haven’t told me your name.” Her eyes reflected curiosity as she looked at him in slight expectation.

“Oh. Right. My name’s Yuuta… I think?” Yuuta said, unsure.

“You think? It does sound foreign.” As if remembering something Trona stood up and approached her bag laying on the floor at the corner of the room. She took out something and handed it over to Yuuta. “Here you can have your stupid book back. I can’t read or understand anything written on it.” She says dropping it on his lap.

“This is mine?” He looked at the book in confusion and curiosity.

“Yep, that’s yours. Do you have memory loss or something?” Trona replied.

“Most likely. I can’t recall anything before our meeting. Just that my name was Yuuta.” He answered as he examined the book in his hands. He traced his fingers along the symbol embedded onto the cover. He slowly opened it and carefully skimmed the writing. He found that he couldn’t understand a single word written.

“This looks gibberish to me. The only thing I can remotely recognize is the signature. Viv- Vieva- Vee- V- Veivay-” Yuuta attempted and failed to read the signature.

“Let me see that!” Trona exclaimed, snatching the book from Yuuta’s hands. She squinted her eyes as she looked at the blotched signature. “Vee-va. Viva! It says Viva! You really are stupid.” She said as she gave the book back to Yuuta. Yuuta frowned at the offense.

“Viva…. I need to find him. He may have answers, about my past and why I lost my memories.” Yuuta stated.

Trona walks towards the table across the room. She picked up a bowl of cooked rice before walking back to Yuuta and giving it to him. “Well, you can’t right now. Rest for a few more hours. I know a guy that can help us, but first, you need to get energized. Besides, your clothes still need to dry. The guy we’re meeting doesn’t exactly swing that way if you know what I mean.” She said with a smug look as Yuuta looked at her in annoyance. Trona giggled.

“How long will it take before we can start looking for Viva?” Yuuta asked, still looking annoyed.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be on the road the day after tomorrow.” Trona replied. As she headed towards the door. “I’ll head downstairs and rent another room.” She informed her.

“Why?” Yuuta innocently asked. Trona turned red.

“I’m not sleeping with a ***** man until I’m 40.” She stated before walking out the door. Yuuta processed her words before also turning red. “Right.” He mumbled but Trona was long gone.

Trona quickly descends the stairs. “So you and that boy having fun up there?” The girl behind the counter asks with a smirk. She looked to be in her early twenties with golden-brown hair and sapphire blue eyes. In short? She was a beauty.

“Fenia, it’s not like that!” Trona exclaimed.

Fenia let out a chuckle. “I’m only messing with you. So where’s he from? Is he from the west like those soldiers that just arrived?” She inquired.

“Nah. Sort of found him like… outside town.” Trona said.

“Oh! A mystery. I love mysteries! Tell me more.” She said her voice filled with excitement and her eyes swimming with curiosity.

“I would if I could.” Trona sighed. Fenia pushed a key towards her. “Thanks. Which room?”

“The one right beside the other one you rented. Don’t forget to return it.” Fenia stated.

“Oh, and do you know any shop that sells boy’s clothes?” Trona asked

Fenia gave her a grin that rivaled the Cheshire Cat’s. “What for?” She prolonged the vowel.

“Yuuta’s clothes are beyond saving and too small for him. He needs new ones.” Trona replied with a deadpan expression. She actively ignored the grin still plastered on Fenia’s face.

“Didn’t know little Trona was so nice. Did you mature overnight?” Fenia said phrasing her words to seem innocent. But Trona caught the hidden meaning. She turned red and glared at Fenia in annoyance.

“Hehe. Just down the road, on your left. You can find good quality clothes for cheap prices.” Fenia informed, still smiling in amusement.

A few hours passed and Yuuta began to worry. “She’s been gone for a while now…” He murmured to himself in worry.

He stared for a minute before deciding to distract himself. He examined the book again. “This symbol… It’s got to mean something. Trona said she found this near my body. But it can’t be mine since I can’t read anything written inside it. Whoever this Viva guy is, he’s got to have some answers.” He said to himself. Too lost in thought, Yuuta startled when the door suddenly swung open. He jumped and screamed in surprise and before he knew it he had already fallen off the bed and was now splayed on the floor.

“Guess what I got you!” Trona said in a singsong voice. Yuuta sat up, rubbing the back of his head trying to lessen the pain. Trona stared at him for a few seconds before she shrieked. She turns red as she closes her eyes and covers her face.

“Put this on!” She exclaimed as she threw a set of clothes to Yuuta’s face. Trona rushes out the door.

A few minutes later Yuuta slowly opens the door and peeks outside. He saw Trona sitting just beside the door. She hugged her knees to her chest as she slowly rocked herself back and forth. She was whispering something to herself.

“Trona?” Yuuta tried to get his attention.

“I didn’t see anything, I didn’t see anything. I didn’t see anything.” She chanted.

“Umm- I’m sorry about that. I’m decent now.” He hesitantly stated. Trona slowly turned her head towards Yuuta.

“I will forever be traumatized.”

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