Identity

A book was placed in her hands and to her it felt heavy both tangibly and spiritually. Her arm and her confidence swayed under its weight.

The Tome of Entitlement

Upon regaining balance she flipped through its pages, careful not to damage the moth-eaten, fragile pages. It was quite a huge list. It was a list of what seemed like names. Some were striked through, some had both strikes and circles over them whereas some were plainly written names. She wondered if she had to choose one of the names which neither were circled nor striked and she started reading through the names which were written in plain text.

Coffey

Igna

Kairo

Quickstorm

Such strange names. They aren't divided into feminine, masculine or gender-neutral names.

She flipped that page.

That's right…Skald told me to choose a name beginning with S.

As the girl flipped more pages, she also noticed another thing.

They're arranged…alphabetically. Like a dictionary…

She paused and looked up from the tome.

Why do I know what a dictionary is?

When the realisation hit her with full force, she felt a hollow in her from where the information had come from. She wasn't sure where she felt it, the head or the heart.

Why do I not remember something…more important?

Her breaths echoed in her mind as she could hear them loud and clear. Her dark eyes skimmed from the face of Peryton to the audience and then back to the list on which she couldn't focus anymore.

Breathe.

I should focus on the present, The Naming Ceremony.

Focus.

Focus.

Focus.

She kept chanting.

I need to look for a name that begins with an 'S'.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

She started flipping through the pages faster and even more so when she reached the section of the alphabet 'S' that she'd been looking for. She started flipping the pages faster and along with it, her heartbeat grew rapid too.

This can't be. Why?

Every single name beginning with 'S' was struck out.

There should be at least one, right?

She considered choosing a name from other letters but Skald and Skadi were the only acquaintances she had. She had no idea what would happen if she chose a name beginning with something else. And she didn't want to wager on it, especially because currently, nothing made sense to her. Her memories started back when she was running in the forest. Everything was unclear and confusing. Her decisions had nothing to be based on except the two unfamiliar acquaintances.

She looked back at the list of struck-out names.

What is a name? Something to be called by. A particular sound one reacts to. Is that all that a name is?

She didn't remember being called by any particular name. Then why did it feel that a name was something much deeper than just plain letters or a sound? Why did it feel that there was an emotion and a sense of belonging attached to it?

Why does it feel like a huge decision?

She finally found one single name after flipping back and forth multiple times which fulfilled all the criteria which was that it wasn't struck out and it began with 'S'. Only one single name left.

"Selis. I choose Selis." She announced with uncertainty.

What a strange name. It doesn't even mean anything as far as I know. Which is not a lot in my current state.

Peryton nodded and asked in a slow serious voice, "Are...you…sure?"

She didn't like how he sounded.

This process is irreversible. I won't perhaps ever come across an opportunity to choose another name again. This name would be my identity forever and it will stay with me no matter what happens to me. If I fall down the darkest depths or walk up the stairs in the sky.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Yes." She nodded, opening her eyes, "Yes. Selis shall be my name." She looked up from the book, meeting the eye of Peryton with considerable confidence in her words and her glinting eyes.

How long would she remain just a 'she'? A nameless girl. She needed a name. She needed this name.

She looked at the silent Man in the Mouse Mask and then at the audience. Her eyes instinctively searched for familiar faces in the crowd to approve of her actions; however, she could spot neither Skald nor Skadi.

"Very well. Henceforth you shall be known as Selis." Peyton boomed, closing the huge book.

There was no cheer or applause or anything resembling it. Rather, everyone was dead silent and only the calls of a distant bird from the forest below could be heard. She didn't even know why or what she had expected. Finally, Selis spotted Skald and Skadi looking at her from within the crowd. They were almost hidden from view because Skald was quite short and even more so was Skadi. From what she could understand, Skald was grinning and Skadi had a small frown on her face. She didn't know what to think of that.

Were they happy or unhappy? What did they think about her following their advice? Did they have ulterior motives?

"Dismissed!" Peryton announced abruptly breaking her chain of thoughts. The Spectres had disappeared without a trace when she had turned to look back at them from the audience.

Just how?! They were standing there just a second ago!

Strange…Everyone is very strange over here.

The ones in the uniforms dispersed eventually.

Only Skadi and Skald stood there waiting for her to walk up to them.

She…Selis…yes she was Selis now. Selis walked towards them. As she looked at the two and their very different expressions, she couldn't help but wonder what a strange place this was and what would happen next.