The Centrality (6-21-17)

An expression of weariness crossed Elli's face, and she fixed her eyes on Tukha. "What's... what's everything?" she asked, her shoulders sagging as the exhaustion of the day thus far began to hit her.

Tukha tilted his head slightly. "Would you mind focusing that question in a bit, friend? 'Everything' is a bit of a wide proposition."

"Okay, let's try this." Elli took a deep breath. "Who am I? Why do I have amnesia? What's going on here?"

"Mm." Tukha took a step to the side, hands in pockets, looking away from her and towards the endless forest. Elli still couldn't see his eyes behind the sunglasses, but she had the impression that his face had fallen a little. "I suppose those are fair questions. I'll answer what I can." He drew his hands from his pockets and held them palms-up in front of him. A picture, faint and hazy, appeared between his hands - something blue, with lots of green and brown.

"These are the mortal lands," Tukha said. "Or, rather, a representation of them, at least. That's where you're from, Elli Alakrit. As for why you're here..." He paused and looked around again. His gaze fell back on the Centrality, looming up behind the two of them. "That's my doing. I have an important task that I cannot do on my own, and I cannot ask my colleagues for assistance. So I, ah, expedited your paperwork, so to speak. It is nothing you need to concern yourself with... yet, anyway."

"And the amnesia?" Elli asked.

"As I understand it, it's a side effect of ascension. Your brain sorting all the new sensations out." Tukha glanced back to her. The picture that he had summoned had disappeared, and he was fidgeting with the cuff on his sleeve. "Speaking of, friend, once Diza and Dia have completely processed your admission, you'll likely begin feeling more going on in here." He tapped her forehead.

"Hey!" Elli huffed.

"Don't take that the wrong way. I mean your senses will begin to expand. And once they do, I can help you learn what to do with them. In the meantime, though, so that you and I can eventually complete my task, I would ask that you go about your time here without raising suspicion. Meet the others, certainly; explore the Centrality, absolutely; but remember this - you and I are nothing more than colleagues, I had nothing to do with why you're here, and we certainly never had this conversation." Tukha cleared his throat. "Is there anything else you need to ask?"

It took Elli a moment to take it all in. "Uh... can I get a hat somewhere? Your hat's pretty neat."

The question took Tukha by surprise, and he let out a belly laugh, one that echoed through the forest. "Check your room," he eventually said, wiping a tear away from behind his glasses. "If you want one, it'll be in your closet." Tukha reached out and shook Elli's hand. "If that's all, friend, I ought to be going. Be seeing you."



Elli watched quietly as Tukha headed back for the Centrality, leaving her alone.