“Child...” The ethereal voice flowed over her consciousness with an unearthly sizzling quality. “Child. It is time to wake up.” Arian shifted slightly as the command of magic in the voice rippled through her body.

“Child, please you have work to do.” the motherly tone finally cajoled her to open her eyes and take in her surroundings. A picturesque forest stretched before her with a calm river meandering its way through the trees. Little life forms dance in and among the leaves chattering as they went about their business.

Slowly she moved her hands over her skin, feeling the texture of her hair.

“Child, I am sorry I can not be with you any longer. This is the last gift i can give you.” Arian felt the soft caress of lips on her forehead which glowed slightly before fading, leaving behind a soft warmth. She jumped as her the sunlight seemed to wrap itself around her form and solidified into a nondescript linen dress. She stared at it till she felt a soft nudge on her shoulder. A doe stood there her brown eye gazing fondly at her as she nuzzled up against the girl. Arian reached up and with shaky legs stood on her feet clinging to the neck of the deer.

Together they slowly made their way to the water , stumbling on till she was able to navigate the way with minimum support.

She knelt on the ground and ran her small hands through the water. The cold water filtered through her hand pleasantly. Her green eyes staring innocently back at her shimmerred back at her as she took in her appearance.

She had a child’s round face with a head full of silverly curls that draped themselves wildly down her shoulders. Her skin was sunkissed as if she lived a life wandering the outdoors and small freckles decorated her face like a map of stars. Suddenly she stiffened as pain splintered her head as the goddesse’s blessing blossomed in her mind. Information flowed in and words formed. The life forms she had detected earlier were birds and other small animals. Understanding dawned as she learned the names of the wind , the trees and the water and she promptly fainted unable to process the over load.

When she came to she was no longer among the forest but it a weird vehicle, a wagon her magic chimed in and she could hear a smattering of voices from behind the curtain but the words made little sense to her.

“Found.... Child... Too dangerous. “ filtered in. Suddenly the curtain and a curious friendly face looked in and smiled when they saw she was awake.

“Hello Child. I am Axion, part of the Silver Strikers. “

Arian frowned slightly. She could understand the words and knew the words to say back but she realised that she was unable to know how to pronounced the words and thus stared back mutely. Axion frowned. This was not the reaction he was anticipating. “Your home girl. Where is it” She shook her head and tried to make a sound of confusion. Axion’s eyebrows lower in concer. “Can you speak, Child?” he shortly asked. When she shook her head again no he sighed and settled back into his seat letting the curtain close. “ We will be resting in a local town tonight. We shall see what to do then.”

The rest of the journey she spent sleeping on and off, listening to the conversations outside the wagon and humming softly to the the music of the mana in the air that she unconsciously read.

Axion, sitting at the front of the wagon frowned listening to the uncanny tune. It was like nothing he had heard before and held such a grave amount of life to it that twisted ones feelings and was borderline familiar yet foreign.

The small town they rolled into was a charming village that was situated along the banks of a bubbling brook. Voices of different volumes bounced around as the people ran , saunter and gossiped in the streets as the sun sleepily settled behind the mountains on the horizon. Soldiers nodded their greetings as the adventures pulled up to the inn and unhitched their horses, chattering as they got ready to settle down for the night. Arian was spell bound.

Axion beckoned her to follow him in as he went up to the bartender

“Two rooms and a cot for the kid.” he said sliding some silver coins across the counter. The bartender nodded and swiftly made a couple notes on a piece of parchment before tossing a set of keys on the counter.

“Second floor. Two rooms to the left. Will have my girl sally bring up the cot. How many nights?”

“Two. will need dinners and breakfast also.“ he added as an after thought.

“Two silvers for the rooms. You will pay the coppers when you eat. “ he deftly counted out the coins and slid the change back over.

Axion nodded and scooped up the keys and change and gruffly grunted. “Come girl.” as he headed up the stairs. Arian staggered along after him.

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Axion closed the door and looked at the girl. She was pretty. Looked strong enough for a kid. Maybe he can use her a porter. And there was something that flickered in her green eyes that resembled innate powers. Hopefully the cost of the kid will even out.

“Can you read kid?” the kid paused and tilted her head to the side and nodded yes. Well thats one less issue he thought.

He stiffly pointed at the bed.”sit and dont move.” and tossed a loaf of bread her way and went to join the rest of his company for dinner.

With a grateful sip, he crashed heavily on the worn bench. A young woman leaned over with curious look.

“Hey Axion, what you going to do with the urchin?” Her dark brown eyes were so dark they appeared black and though she had a smile there was no friendliness in her countenance. “Doesnt seem like you can get a ransom for finding her. Hope we didnt waste money on her.” Axion scowled and inclined his head in agreement.

“Kid doesnt seem to know where they are from or can talk. But it seems to know how to read and write so we can use it for basic chores or a cook while on missions. “ he gave her a crooked grin. “ i know how much you like your chores, Myra.”

She snorted at him and settled back taking a sip of her wooden tankard. They sat in companionable silence as the tavern slowly filled with the regulars. The smells from the kitchen was drifting over the half door causing many stomachs to grumble with anticipation building up and just when it was about to burst open the kitchen door burst open and two bar maids entered with cheers of greeting to the patrons inside.

“Who is ready for the madam’s feast! Tonights dinner is her famous beef stew and sally’s delectable bread.” they made their way between the tables and started taking orders and playfully flirting among the guests.

A chirpy red head saunterd over to their table and flashed them a flirtatious smile her eyes lingering on myra coyly.

Myra returned the look with eager confidence as Axion rolled his eyes and ordered their food. The waitress ran her hand delicately across myra’s chair before sashshaying away. Soon tables were being filled with overflowing plates of warm meaty stew that had a delightful scent of thyme that pleasantly whafted up to the diner’s noses. The golden brown bread loaves, still steaming slightly; tore easily to be swiped through the gravy that dripped over the tender chunks of beef. The madam of the established knew her craft well and was well celebrated for her delectable home cooked meals.

Soon the warm room was filled with the clink of dishes, animated voices and a group of musicians entertained the folks with song. Axion and Myra happily drank the night away and the voice slowly drifted upstairs. Arian sat quietly on the cot, the bread long devoured was just the memory of crumbs on the thin sheet. Mentally she looked at objects, her eyes scanning the room calmly and pausing as new words drifted in her mind. Bed. hearth. Window.

The curiosity of a child would usually have by now not been able to resist the command to be unmoving but Arian sat still. The sight of the child sitting stiffly on the cot unmoving caused a look of almost revulsion on Axion’s crew. They settled into their cots. Each one wondering how long the child will be following them and if their wages would suffer due to the burden.

Life for Arian from then was not much better. Her clothes resembled the very rags that were used to clean the floors. The horses mistook her hair as tasty morsels of dried hay and were always disappointed when they had a taste. she would stand leaning up against the horses, grooming them while they chomped contently on their evening oats. A brief respite from the commands of contempt and anger that always seemed to follow in her wake.

“ Kid, start a fire” was always shortly followed by her scramble to catch the firestarter that was chucked her way. The branches and logs would catch on her soft skin till the hardened over with callouses; at the end of the night her hands were cracked and red with dried blood. Being a mercenary group they were on the constant move; Axion thought shoes were too expensive to spare so she would alternate between riding a pack pony and trotting to keep up with the caravan.

“I dont like her” the staff would whisper together in huddles like vulchers. Their eyes following as she limped around.

“She be uncanny. “

“Aye those witch green eyes” they would agree shaking there head then shivering.

“She has this stare as if there is just an ... an absence of character. “ spiting to show the revulsion of the creature.

“Its her lack of speech that frustrates me. Cant tell if she is actually understanding when all she can do is parrot our words “ Myra will sprout then giggle viciously. “Bet thats why she was abandoned.”

Axion would shrug in response to their fears, "free labor, don't have to spend much time on it. no need to teach it more than the basic chores." but he too would scowl at her when she wasn't watching as she would try and mimic their speech as if when they spoke it was the first time she heard the words. putting the girl out of mind he turned to his company. "we are approaching the dungeon town, Deephollow. As you are all aware, a new level has opened up and I want to challenge as soon as possible. i heard the synergy guys and earthfield are our major competition ."

"As long as the Order doesn't step in," Myra interjected contemptuously, "neither of those stand a chance against us" Axion shot her a look of annoyance.

"last time you claimed that some no name beat you in a tournament." Myra flushed red with anger and then smiled snidely "and you got scammed out of your girlfriend."

Refusing to dignify her with a response Axion turned his back to the table and with a dismissive gesture he sent them off to their rooms.

"tomorrow we ride in earnest, get your rest and we will be purchasing a temporary guild house and three moons from then we challenge the dungeon."