Mythic Festival

It was afternoon, or maybe it was evening; what day was it? It was hard to remember, harder still to think, but that was okay. All that mattered was her; my mistress, the Lady Nym.

You were at a Wild Hunt concert. More specifically, you were at the outdoor music festival at which the indie punk band Wild Hunt was a featured act. During the fall semester, you purchased the tickets as a gift for Tiffany. You both loved the band, especially the lead singer Daimhin.

It was your shared interest in this obscure band that brought the two of you together in the first place. After you "broke up" (aka. Tiffany went nuclear and tried to ruin your life), Tiffany kept the tickets, and you assumed you wouldn't be coming to the festival. You were surprised when a high school friend broke his leg a week before the festival and sold you his ticket. Shortly after you arrived, a stunning woman with tattoos on her hands and arms approached you and whispered something in your ear.

What did she say? I can't remember. Recalling recent events was hard, harder still to think, but that was okay. All that mattered was her; my mistress, the Lady Nym.

Lady Nym walked beside you and brushed her fingers across your shoulders.

Hero, I am thirsty; let's get some drinks.

You held up your hand and showed her your wrist.

I don't have a drink bracelet; I'm not 21.

Nym smiled.

You're with me. We don't need to worry about the rules.

Nym led the way to one of the drink booths. There was a long line, but Nym walked past everyone and approached the side of the booth. A good looking guy with a full sleeve and two goat horn tattoos on the side of his head greeted Nym.

Hello, Nym didn't know you were coming. Who is your gentleman...

You step out from behind Nym. The man's mouth dropped open.

Oh no. No, no, no, no. What have you done? Tell me you are not so stupid that you beguiled a demigod. THE demigod. You know how long I have worked on this. Planned for the perfect way to approach him.

Ry, I can explain.

Explain? You know what She said about him.

Ry...

'Save and destroy.' The prophecy was very clear. 'A child of the gods will walk the earth again. Mark his passage. With a thought, he will save and destroy.' We need him to help us, everything depends on his goodwill, and you beguiled him. What were you thinking?

There was more to the prophecy than that. Besides, now he'll do whatever I want.

How long do you think your little enchantment can last? He is saturated with divine energy; it's pouring off him. Reality ripples around him. When he releases a trickle of that power, what is going to happen to your beguilement? As soon as he taps into his power, your spell is going fall away like cobwebs. Then what do you think happens?

But...

Nym, his power is rooted in ****. Punishing those that have done him wrong. You've made yourself a target. If we're lucky, he'll just take it out on you. But what if he turns against us all? Nym, I pray you haven't ruined our only hope. I need to set things right.

Ryder held out a glass of wine and offered it to you.

Lord Komos sends his regards.

Nym mocked him.

Lord Komos my ass.

Ryder continued.

Accept this drink, my Lord. It will clear your head.

Go ahead, hero, Ryder isn't going to give up until you drink.

You took the glass from his hand and sipped the wine, but Ryder put his hand on the bottom of the glass and tipped it forward.

Excuse my presumption, but this is not a time for sipping.

You swallowed the wine, and the world tilted. You reached out, grabbed Ryder's shoulder to steady yourself, and a surge of energy passed between you and the bartender. You smelled wine, earth, and sex. Suddenly it was as if a fog had lifted; you remembered everything. Your nights with Horcliff, and meeting Nym.

What did you whisper to me?

It was a love enchantment, I whispered 'Adore me. Nothing matters but the Lady Nym.' Pretty standard stuff. I am sorry if I...

You interrupted her.

You didn't need to use magic. You are stunning. I've never seen a more enchanting woman.

Nym smiled and stroked your hair.

Well, aren't you sweet, but I'm not exactly a 'woman.'

What? What exactly...

Kiss me and see.

Ryder moved to step between you and Nym.

That's a bad...

You pulled Nym into your arms and pressed your lips against hers.

You had a vision of her bathing naked in a spring, deep in the woods. Her skin was more blue than flesh-colored, and her body gave off a faint glow. You sensed pure cold water bubbling up through limestone. The water was faintly magic, but you sensed more power deep under the ground. You tried to find the source of the power, but something was fighting you, wanting you to turn back. Calling on hidden reserves, you **** your way past the resistance. Following the water, you traveled rapidly through the limestone, distance became a blur, and at last, you came to a giant underground lake. There was a rich glow of magic; it was beautiful.

NO!

You regained awareness. You were backed against the stall, and Nym held a knife to your throat.

What?

You had no right! That is my place. Give it back! You are not permitted to see it!

Nym, I warned you. He does not know our ways and you were behaving recklessly.

Ryder, he **** his way into my heart's place. He saw...he...he stole it from me!

Put down the knife! He doesn't know how deeply he has wronged you. Please do not add to your mistakes by making him your enemy. Our enemy.

Nym reluctantly lowered her knife. Ryder turned to you.

I am sorry for the rather indelicate nature of our introductions. Allow me to explain more familiarly. I am called Ryder, and this lovely creature is Nym. As has been implied, we are not precisely mortal; I mean, human. I am a satyr, and Nym is a nymph, a water nymph, more specifically.

More specifically, a naiad nymph, not some common puddle slut.

Ryder rolled his eyes.

Anyway, your kiss with Nym initiated what we call a 'sharing.' It is an exchange of surface memories. Among our kind, it is like a hug, a greeting shared by friends. During the sharing, you **** your mind deep into Nym's essence. It is incredibly inappropriate behavior. The memory you took from Nym is sacred to her kind. So long as another holds that memory, she can never return to that place.

I didn't mean...

Your kind never do. You take and take and leave behind nothing but ruin.

Ryder was frustrated.

Enough! Nym, would it satisfy you if I wiped the memory from his mind?

Yes, do it! Please, Ryder, you know what will happen to me if I am cut off for too long. Do it now!

Wait...

My Lord, I assure you this will not harm you. I've done it many times in the past.

Not to me, you haven't.

Ryder looked uncomfortable.

That is not entirely accurate.

What is he talking about?

Let me get us some drinks; there are some tables set up for the staff where we can sit and talk undisturbed. Keeping you in the dark will only lead to further misunderstandings.

Ryder handed everyone three drinks.

I don't think I should drink all these.

Nym laughed.

We only get one drink; the other seven are Ryder's.

Ryder just shrugged and led the way to a group of picnic table.

I will tell you everything I am permitted. It will be more than some of my people would like, but less than you deserve.

Just under ten years ago, our seer had a vision about your coming. Life has been hard for my people for centuries, but our situation has become dire in recent decades. A demigod offered hope for our continued survival. We needed to find you and learn everything we could about you before you came into your power. It look a long time, but about five years ago, our seer was finally able to locate you, and I was sent to observe.

Why you?

Your father owns a bar. I have a natural affinity for bars. And, unlike most of our people, I have a reliable source of magic. I worked for three years beside you in your father's bar.

That's not possible, I'd remember...

You took three years of memories?

Ryder looked away.

You did not have your powers, so you never saw me as you see me now. But yes, my people thought it would be best if you did not remember me.

What do your people want from me?

Ryder and Nym exchanged a glance.

We face both a long-term danger and an immediate threat; we believe you are the key to solving both. More, I cannot say.

You started to protest.

I cannot say, at this time. I promise I will persuade others to give you all the answers you deserve. Now, to mend things between you and Nym, I propose a trade. I will restore the memories from your past if you permit me to remove the memory you took from Nym.

You thought it over and nodded your head.

Press your head against mine, and when you remember, do not think too poorly of me.

You pressed your head against Ryder's. He inhaled sharply.

Sorry, your energy is just so...

Ryder had his hand down his pants.

Ryder, get your hand off your cock. Focus!

Perhaps afterward we can all...

Ryder!

Yes. Fine. But I think I understand why you seduced him. His divine energy is almost irresistible.

You felt something change. Events you had forgotten from your high school years working in your father's bar resurfaced. You recalled a fun, friendly bartender who was easy to talk to and gave excellent advice. Well, sometimes the advice got you into trouble, but it was always great fun. He helped you sneak kegs of beer out of the bar to throw parties for your friends. He taught you how to ask out your first girl, and he coached you in your seduction of the captains of the lacrosse team and the chess club (they are a couple now). Ryder was a good friend to you. Hell, he was your first crush.

How could you take those memories from me? You were a huge part of my life. Why?

I am sorry, my Lord. It was not my decision.

You bought me my first condoms, you stopped me from driving home drunk from Tommy Tilson's Halloween party. For three years, you were more of a father to me than my dad. And you wiped all that away. You erased three years of my best memories.

Ryder's betrayal hurt you deeply. Ryder stood up from the table and reached toward you.

My Lord, I...

You brushed his hand aside.

I thought you were my friend, but it was a lie; I was just a kid you spied on. You pretended to be my friend, but you never cared about me.

Something flipped inside Ryder, and his tattoos glowed with a bright green light. He slammed his fist on the picnic table, splintering a wooden board.

I have never stopped caring! They ordered me to wipe your memories, but I never stopped watching over you. My Lord, I have followed you day after day to make sure nothing happened to you. I have dedicated my life to you.

Bullshit!

Ryder grabbed your head in his hands and pressed his forehead to yours. Images flashed through your mind, Ryder watching you attend your first college party, in the stands at a high school swim meet, at your graduation. He was holding something back; you pushed. There were flashes of you working out in the gym, making out with Carlos over winter break, changing in the ...

Ryder pulled away from you.

No!

Fuck, you did watch over me.

Perhaps stalk might be the more appropriate term.

I never stopped caring about you, my Lord. I never gave up faith. Please forgive me.

Why this 'my Lord' stuff? You used to call me Adam.

You have come into your power; you are now a demigod, and I am...was a servant of the gods. We cannot be like we once were. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to address you directly.

Nym rolled her eyes.

The gods have been gone for millennia, and you are a servant to no one. This guy may be a demigod, but he is still just a freshman college student. Pull the stick out of your butt Ryder.

My Lord Komos...

Your Lord Komos was a worthless drunken frat boy who vanished with the other gods and left you, quite literally, holding the cup.

Ryder looked down and almost under his breath.

I hold to the old ways.

You put your hand on Ryder's shoulder.

I decide for myself who my friends are. I am still pissed that you fucked with my memories, but...

You turned his head and kissed him on the lips. You sensed a surge of joy pour from Ryder.

I'm just glad to have you back in my life. I didn't know how much I missed you.

You hugged him. He always gave the best hugs. It was like you melted into his chest.

It was a touching moment, but a voice brought it to an abrupt end.