Homage to Atka

It took almost three hours before Mamnen “came to” after the tense, angry blackout after Atka left his apartment to find the Ring Master. Once he did though, full of regret and despair, he charged out in the darkness and searched the horizon as if he’d see her somewhere waiting just outside. She was gone, a figment now in his memory, lost in a city not meant for a budding, female tiefling to be lost in and asking to be entered into the dangerous Ring of Dex. If anything happened to her, it would be most assuredly his fault.
 
Closing his eyes, he searched his own feelings and threw them out beyond himself to reach hers. Atka was…not frightened. She appeared dogged, determined, slightly confused? What on this plane could have her–now she felt joyous, silly, laughter. His eyes opened. She was with someone. Fuck, he thought to himself and hoped it was with someone who would not harm her.
 
Cringing at the thought of his lilywhite, passionate twin sister out in this rather seductive city, Mamnen shuffled his way back into his apartment. He collapsed back onto the couch and sprawled awkwardly across it–far too long for its five foot length. He draped his legs over the arm and rested his chin on his forearms on the other arm. Sighing, he spoke to nothing,
 
“I never got to share myself with you, Atty. Not my true self anyway… I hope that the note I left in that journal is decipherable. You’re brilliant; I know you’ll figure it out and find your way back to me. Know though, that I will not stop looking for you, because we are twin flames, you and I. Destined to be one and the same. I see your true potential though not how it will manifest, and I wish I would’ve kept my control enough to be able to teach some to you so we both could thrive in our outstanding exceptionality.
 
“I love you, Atty. My passionate, haughty sister. Your love for this family mirrors mine from that night until my dealings in the library. I know that you’ll sink into the idea, the realization that my logic is the righter, as it is not based on a temporary feeling state like love or hatred, despite what you might have thought. It’s calculated. You’ll see. You’re brilliant. I know you’ll see.”
 
***
 
Mamnen followed the word of his blacksmith mentors on how to get updates on the tourneys and results of the Ring of Dex, and hung out in that district waiting to hear the phrase “female tiefling.” It was not long. On his first day of listening, near its end, he overheard many people sprinting from the tourney arena exclaiming, “She conceded! Someone actually conceded!” Mamnen’s heart sank so deep that he thought he might throw up right there. Atka, he knew. Atka, no, he thought, not in the arena. He knew what that meant. She’d be auctioned to the highest bidder, or worse! He couldn’t save her.
 
“I can’t save her.”
 
“What, buddy?” someone asked, turning to him, most likely assuming he had addressed him.
 
Mamnen reached over and gripped the collar of the man’s chemise, pulling him closer. “She’s gone forever. She conceded. I can’t save her.”
 
“‘Ey! Tiefling! Hands off the merchandise, alright? You want me to pummel you–”
 
Mamnen’s face faded to a stoic reflection of nothing but a glare, and he eyed this human man below him square in the face. “That is exactly what I want you to do.”
 
“What the fuck is the matter with you? Let GO,” the man said. Mamnen smelt his fear, obviously intimidating him. Mamnen was a tall, burly tiefling who was so poignant in his stance and hold that it must’ve felt really threatening. “Seriously, let go, alright?” His human voice shook a bit now. Breathing rate increased. Exposed arms began to glisten with a nervous sweat. Face colorless.
 
“Tell me I can save her.”
 
“You can do whatever you want once you let go!”
 
“Tell me and mean it,” Mamnen growled.
 
“Alright, buddy, alright! You can save her!”
 
Mamnen released the shirt collar, face unchanged. The man suddenly stumbled back awkwardly, and then took off running, but Mamnen took no heed. He knew that a truth told under duress was still a lie, so he felt no better…