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The last thing I remember before waking up in the middle of the forest was seeing a beautiful meteor shower and then an earthquake. I saw a huge meteor crash near my home.

Maybe it was stupid to approach, but I was so curious that I couldn't help it. Would you have done the same if you were in my position? When I reached the meteorite, all I could think about was touching it.

After touching the stone, it felt cold to the touch, like ice, and I felt a headache. I squeezed my eyes shut before blinking, trying to get out of the crevice. In that instant, everything went black.

***

The smell of smoke woke me up; there was a sweet aroma of soup and roasted meat that finally awakened my senses. I heard voices, but decided not to open my eyes.

"So pretending to be asleep, that won't work," a loud, authoritative voice sounded.

"Be more polite, Chiron," another man's voice echoed. "He passed out at least two hours ago; he needs a break to work."

"Shut up, this isn't your business."

"Yes, it is, weirdo. This business became mine when He sent me here to help," the boy replied to Chiron. Their conversation gave me a headache.

"Who are you? Why am I in the forest?" I asked, looking for a way to escape. If they were kidnappers, it would be bad.

"Don't worry, Deianeira, or rather Deyan," the only girl in the group said softly. "My name is Joan, but many also call me Joan of Arc."

"My name is Chiron, the same one who trained Heracles." The one called Chiron introduced himself; he doesn't have the horse aspect of the myths.

"It's an illusion. If he showed his true form, we'd be discovered," the boy spoke kindly. "My name is Noah, the same Noah from the ark."

I tried to process what they were saying; they looked very different from the paintings. Or was it another illusion to break stereotypes? At first, they had mentioned someone named Deianeira or Deyan. Who could that be?

"Come on, Deyan," Noé called with a cheerful smile.

"Who's Deyan?" I asked aloud, the look of panic on Juana's expression not going unnoticed.

Juana seemed to be thinking quickly, as if trying to find a solution to a rather serious problem. She even felt sorry for me and wanted to offer to help me.

"Where do you live?"

"Where do I live?" The question was simple, but I couldn't remember. "I don't know."

***

Reality hit me at that moment. My only memory was the meteorite. At first, I panicked, but then I thought it was useless.

"It was the shadows that caused this to you, the shadows that were drawn by the meteorite's fall."

Noah had a small apartment nearby, and it didn't surprise the rest, but it seemed shocking to me that someone who, according to the Bible, existed thousands of years ago was here, alive, just like Joan of Arc and Chiron, who was from mythology. The apartment was in the center of the city. I felt like I'd been here before, but I didn't remember.

In Noah's own words:

"My Lord paid for a month's bills for all the utilities. When it's over, we'll have to work."

I didn't remember my age, but I highly doubt that, given my height, I'm old enough to work.

They were very different from what people said, or so I thought. Chiron was very kind, although sometimes he would argue with Noah about his beliefs, but afterward, Chiron would snort childishly as if he'd lost and continue reading a history book. Joan of Arc was sweet and quiet; if she wasn't busy all day, she'd be reading a book. Noah was lively and slept in odd positions—the positions someone would use if they were sleeping in a very uncomfortable place. Most of the time, he left the house to gather information and then prayed when he returned.

I decided to follow my own routine. Chiron had obtained my medical records—now I was worried about who he stole them from—and I studied them. No illnesses, no bruises, and nothing unusual, just as the centaur said, were the work of those shadows.

***

Noah returned two days later; he had been arriving very late lately. When he returned, he was loaded with books. They didn't look like school books or anything similar to the ones Chiron read.

"Study about France, you'll thank me later. We're leaving on a journey."

Could dying make you polyglot? Noah proved that it most likely was. If he died, he would at least want to learn Japanese.

A news report came on the television about a bank robbery in France. The shadows had attacked, and now it was our turn to travel to them. I really didn't want to die, but I also didn't understand why we had to go to France.

"Your summoning power will be useful. You're a summoner, and thanks to the cards in that backpack, we can fight," Juana explains with some hesitation. She doesn't want to bring a child into battle, even though it seems I'll have to go no matter what.

I really didn't want to go to battle. I don't want to die. I was barely 15 and I was already in this. If I had my memories, I could refuse this deal. They helped me recover my memories, and in return, I helped them with the shadows. If it weren't for the fact that I'd have to fight, it would be fair enough.

What happened before that meteorite fell? Why did the shadows take away my memories?

Those questions were the only ones on my mind these days. I'm in a bit of trouble.

I decided to close my eyes for a while and try to remember my life. I wouldn't mind remembering anything, no matter how simple it was. Anything, no matter what it was.

After several minutes, I only felt a very strong headache. It was a migraine if I wasn't mistaken. It was useless; I couldn't remember anything. I focused on getting some sleep; it was the best thing I could do right now.

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