What...?

[Dawnika Snow]

The vigilante was taken aback from his question. Her father named her after her mother died.

“Snow is not my family surname, yet it is my true name.” She started, as if this would take minute to discuss. “Shall we walk as I explain? I can't stand the dreary sight of this world of nothingness any longer.”

The green gunsmith looked around, as if just realizing that he was standing in a completely blank world with nothing of any particular note within. “Ah… yes, I agree. This world is… quite a miserable sight. Impossible to stand for very long.” The glow in his eyes darkened before, like a light switch, shutting off entirely, replaced with merely two yellow eyes.

The vigilante nodded, “I don't suppose you have any knowledge of the area do you?” She turned her head to look at the gates in the distance.

He went silent, blinking. “This… This is the Nexus. The place where… um…”

The name by itself sparked Dawn’s memory. “That Omni dick said people respawn here when they die. So it seems that I died before and have comeback. It could be the same for you, it might be why we can't remember anything.” She said walking off towards a random gate.

“I suppose…” Ballad replied, following her. “You were saying about your name, miss Snow?”

“Oh right,” she continued. “My father named me after my mom died. She died giving birth to me. Poor medical situation for a struggling family.” The tone of her voice got slightly more harsh as she continued to speak. “My father saw my safe delivery as a child as...something like a silver lining. Snow. It's harsh and unforgiving and takes without giving, but every morning the sun rises. There will always be dark in the dawn, but we live for that dawn. It must sound stupid to someone else, but my name expresses everything I've lived through. My father died when I was young and I couldn't save him.”

No response was given. She turned her head to look back at him. His head was angled in such a way that he couldn’t look anywhere near her face, much less look her in the eyes. A small puff of smoke shot out from underneath his coat sleeve before it seeped through the confines of his red scarf, followed by a small coughing fit from him. His eyes glowed gold for a few moments before the intensity of the light lowered once more.

Dawn awaited a response. It seemed he didn't have much to say. “You probably think it's dumb. To me, my name is a symbol of hope. For happiness - one day. What about you? Why Ballad?”

It took a fair few moments for him to respond. “I… I don’t quite know. I assume my parents believed I would become a writer of music when I came of age. That…” he said, glancing over towards Dawn’s weaponry for a brief second, “didn’t quite happen.”

Dawn nodded and replied as she turned her head back. “Well, fear not. Everyone has meaning, whether or not you know why doesn't matter. It’s what you do with the information that makes you who you are.” The two approached the Frozen Field’s gate much more quickly than they thought. The cold winds blew through the entrance, sending a chill down Dawn’s spine.

“Shall we?” She asked.

He stared into the portal, the winds smashing into his body. His eyes were glassy, almost like he was under hypnosis before he blinked and responded.

“Y-Yes…” he said, his hand instinctively reaching for his revolver, “I have a feeling we will find our hidden memories within the Frozen Fields…”