the heart will always remember

The masked apprentice encounters a boy beneath an autumn-coloured canopy.

When their eyes lock, everything seemingly comes to a halt and the apprentice finds himself unable to breathe, the wind knocked straight out of his lungs. It’s not recognition, he knows. As usual, his mind draws a blank and an empty supply of memories, but there’s something about the face he sees that draws him in, and he can’t bring himself to look away. The man’s features aren't like most others in this country—instead of sharp edges and pointy jaws, his face is round, cheeks soft with baby fat, his nose small and button-shaped, and then his eyes are so dark they look almost black. Just like the apprentice’s.

Something inside him stirs at the realisation.