Silver burned and emerald withered as the Arsonists continued to siege my home. No, a siege implied resistance. Most of the Fae of Elafina had long been massacred, and though every arrow I let fly struck one of the hulking armored monsters dead, the army that poured forth made it hard to see anyone surviving this accursed night.

My perch high in the inferno was spotted faster than I would have wished for, but before I could slaughter the spotters and run, a cone of octarine force reduced them and their reinforcements to ash. A massive shadow tore its way through the burning canopy, crashing to the forest floor and crushing a few more of the horrid barbarians that had tried to get around my flank. The bat-like shadow raised itself up to its full height and delivered a roar that extinguished the flames that had surrounded me while sending those few standing invaders fleeing in terror.

“How's the south looking?” I inquired with the battle-weary beast. Though shallow cuts riveted his scaled hide, I was sure that none of the blood that covered his beautiful form was his own.

“Gone.” was his quick yet heart-wrenching reply. “Slaughtered and resurrected as the walking dead.” He added with apparent disinterest and a click of his large jaw. I wanted to scream, but instead I bit my lower lip until blood filled my mouth and tears clouded my eyes.

“The western community, the area where they’re digging in. Vaporize it, and everything near it. We need to start murdering their back line while we still can.” I ordered my companion with a growl. He grumbled, but complied nonetheless, and with a jump cleared the canopy above alongside a single beat of his enormous wings.

“Hell damn you Hera, where are you?!” I shouted to the careless stars as I gazed upon the fire that was once again taking away my world.

Jumping from my a flamed perch among the silver trees to the forest's bottom, I hit it running. North was my destination now. Last I had seen it they were holding strong, but with the south village gone it would only be a matter of time before they closed in on it. However, if I could get there in time and warn them there might still be a chance that It could still be saved, if-

My running pittered out into a walk, and then into a hopeless, motionless, stand. There, at the entrance to the northern community, back against the burning outline of my home and surrounded by the dead of those who had attempted to flee from the massacre was a man. Quietly, yet murderously, he raised his fist which dripped and glistened with Fae blood. Trying to make out details was difficult, the inferno behind casting a blinding red halo around them, though strangely one thing could be seen with ease.

A chatelaine of adamantine and gold. It was braided with a length of silver leather which held the three flat stylized disks together. Comfortably and lightly it sat around his waist, even as it appeared to hold a tremendous weight, one that could shatter bone or bend steel. Those disks though, they held upon them a symbol I would never forget for as long as I lived; that of a fist in war, painted with blood.

I raised my bow in silent response, ready to meet out slaughter with slaughter.

I awoke to the sound of a whispered prayer. My mind felt split in two, and something deep in my soul agreed. I could not see, but I could hear. Could not move, but still feel. Everything was agony. Everything but the soft melody above that soothed the cut in my spirit.

At first I was content to merely listen to the melody above me. Yet when it became obvious that for all its beauty I could not understand it, I tried to see it instead. But when I tried to open my eyes, a thought crossed my mind.

How do I open them? It felt like it should have been obvious, but I could not remember how. I then tried to move, but failed in the same way. How do I do anything? I could not answer myself. But I must have done something, for the soothing noise above me ceased.

“Awake already are we?” The voice whispered, its tone soft and caring. I tried to answer, but I didn't know how, and so I continued to wait in both silence and annoyance for something to happen. I sat in anticipation, for the voice above me was now quiet for an agonizing amount of time. Thankfully the one above finally realized something was wrong, because a slight feeling pressed itself against my temple.

“Ah, my apologies.” She whispered again, her voice sending a shiver down the length of my being. “Your soul was wounded deeply after your fight. I've been healing what I can, but the damage is extensive.” She continued in her whisper. For my part I was now confused and concerned. The way they described it, this was very bad, yet I couldn't picture exactly how. Before I could put too much thought into the situation however-.

“There.” the stranger breathed out, and in a sudden flash of true lucidity, I breathed in and opened my eyes. It was beautiful. All of it. I realized that I was laying upon emerald grass that shot up wildly around us, and that I was looking up. I looked upon thick silver trees that towered into the sky, to the birds above that chirped happily at each other in the towering intertwining branches. The light that streamed down into the clearing around us illuminated the assortment of animals that watched at its edge. Strangely there were a few I thought I might recognize, though no name came to mind for any.

But what was the most breathtaking was the woman before me. She wore what I thought was a church outfit that fully covered her lithe body. As I looked, the term saint entered my mind. Yet even as it did I knew it was perhaps only partially true. The outfit was mostly black, but it possessed bright golden trimmings that glowed with a strange brightness that complimented her light skin. Upon a face that was both beautiful yet stern sat a ghostly veil that covered both her eyes and hair while streaming down her back and onto the grass around.

There was an aura around her that seemed to brighten the clearing even more than the sun above. Yet even as I continued to look and drink in my surroundings around me, the one before me smiled with a brightness that one would call divine.

It was beautiful, and I knew that I would never forget it for as long as I lived.

“You look like a child just born Cynthia.” The stranger spoke with a light laugh, yet it quickly died down as I did not speak. I believe I could now, as words began to conjure themselves before me, but I began to fear what I wanted to say.

“Cynthia…?” They asked again and at that I had to wince, because the name Cynthia meant nothing to me. Yet this woman before me called it with such familiarity that there was no question as to who I was. So I opened my mouth and spoke. It was dry, and as the words tumbled out so did a cough of ash go with them.

“Do I know you…?” Her reaction was worse than I thought it might be. Slowly, yet frighteningly the light around us dimmed to near darkness as the animals around us turned and fled. For a moment I thought she might lay some sort of divine wrath upon me, but even as I waited for her judgment I saw tears stream down from her veil, her lips beginning to tremble.

And so I lay there as the stranger continued to weep above me. It was so strange, for this person knew me and had known me well it seemed, yet while I felt I should have known them, I simply didn't. The person this woman was looking for was simply not here.

Considering the sudden turn of events, I was hesitant to even breathe for fear of what might happen should I make this woman even more unhappy. And yet, though I didn't know her, I felt something deep within begin to understand her. Was this pity perhaps? Or something caused from the echo of a memory that was no longer here? I didn't think I would ever know, yet I believed I knew what I needed to do.

Thus, with strength now returned, I slowly pulled myself up from my emerald bed and reached for this mourning saint. They did not resist as I drew them into an embrace, and let them shed silent tears into my side. It was all so strange at that moment. Here with a stranger I knew nothing about, we both mourned another stranger lost.

This continued for an eerie amount of time, yet perhaps for not as long as I had thought it would. When she was finally done with her thoughts, she gently pulled herself away and stood up fully, her veil swaying gently behind her.

“Forgive me, you are surely confused and I have done nothing but deepen that.” she apologized solemnly, yet though she tried to hide it I could feel the deep melancholy in her words.

“I knew you well, didn't I?” I responded in turn. The stranger just continued to look down at me, her veil hiding my intent to see her thoughts accurately. For a moment we continued to simply stare at one another, but it seemed I had won this contest as she sighed and looked to the side, though I doubted it was to look at anything specific.

“Cynthia… are there any words that can describe what we have been through? The things we have done, the wonders we have seen, the individuals we have met… What am I supposed to say? ” As she continued to speak to me, her melancholy only deepened further. “But then I suppose it means nothing to you? No, I know It doesn't, I just continue to hope it does I suppose. That this sudden nightmare will end.” Her voice trailed as she finished, and although I couldn't see her eyes, I could still see the thoughts raging within her.

“But you did something to me right? Healed me? Couldn't you just-” I begin, only for the woman to interrupt with a wave of her hand.

“I cannot. Your mind, your soul, is not just damaged, but on the verge of complete collapse. Honestly, the fact you can even speak is miraculous enough. I have no clue as to what you might remember… and what has been lost. Though I could try to force a repair using my own memories, they would be extremely patchy and most likely leave you even more confused than you are now.” Once again she trembled slightly, and the light around us nearly vanished as she did. “I have failed, and now my Cynthia is dead and there is nothing I can do.” Her tone died before me. For a moment I continued to simply sit in the grass, unsure how to proceed.

This was all going so fast, I had just awakened after all, and already I was dealing with something beyond my ability to deal with. Mostly because I was the problem here, but I had to do something, if only because I feared what would happen If I didn't. And so, taking a moment to compose myself, I breathed in deeply for what I was about to do.

“Maybe,” I tentatively started as I slowly stood, “I'm still very lost, and this has been a lot very quickly. Maybe this Cynthia; the person I am, or was, is gone. But you said that we had once been… friends? Companions? Either way, what we had was special. And although It was built over a span of time I still don't really understand, is it perhaps too much to ask that we try to do so again? That we can… start again?” There was more hesitation in my voice than I meant for, but I knew my words to be true. And so did they.

Even with the veil she wore, her surprise was easy to see. Yet so too was the soft smile she now wore as she seemed to take me in some new light. Probably the one that came into the clearing as the mood seemed to lift, if just slightly. The woman before me slowly lifted a single hand, her palm down as she looked at me expectantly.

In truth, I had no idea what she was doing. And yet, almost instinctively, I gently took her hand in mine, and with a slight bow I brushed my lips against her hand. Strangely it seemed to be the right thing to do. For when I finished my bow and looked to her for some verification that what I did was correct, her smile had brightened.

It was almost as bright as her first. Almost.

The woman before me then curtsied, her poster the picture of polite, yet regal. And although the atmosphere from before remained, it seemed that at least for now we could put this to the side.

“I am Hera. And I ask that you please forgive me, for my first impression has been less than ideal.” Hera formally greeted me as the light slowly returned in full.

“Well… hi Hera, im… Cynthia I guess. Uh, please take care of me?” I greeted(?) back with some uncertainty. With a light laugh, Hera began to say something in response. Yet before she could start her smile suddenly faded as her head turned to look behind me, and I turned with her. I had felt there was something there a moment before Hera had signaled its approach, and it seems I should have listened.

Stolen story; please report.

For before me, from the border of the clearing I had awoken in and out of the towering silver trees strode a massive creature of the same color as the forest around me, though perhaps of a slightly darker shade. It was lizard-like, in that it was a quadruped with a long neck, and an even longer tail. It seemed to possess large wings, which were currently folded along its back. From the creature's reptilian-crocodile-like head a pair of knife-like horns grew from its skull. Behind the horns flowed a row of the same sharpened knives that continued down its spine. The size of the creature was staggering for me, its torso alone easily filled a twenty-five foot area, never mind the rest of it! I imagined that should the wings unfurl, the creature would fill twice the space around it.

The creature, resplendent and beautiful, strode from the forest edge with a dignified gait. Its size meant that it only took a few of its impressive steps to reach us. Its head, which was held high as it approached, slightly tilted down so that its beautiful, cat-like iris could look down upon us. And they were startling to look at. The sclera was the same as the creature's scales, but far more vibrant. Yet even more than all of that was the vast intelligence one could see in them.

And then it opened its mouth, and from deep within the creature's throat rumbled forth words that shook the air. Lacking lips, the creature spoke from deep within its throat, while “spitting” out its words with snaps of its tongue

“I see you succeeded in your endeavor.” Though the creature spoke, it was not with the same words that Hera had been using. In my mind, a name was applied to the language we had been using, the Simple Tongue as it was. But this creature spoke in something different. So why did I understand it?

“She lives, yes. Unfortunately there were… complications.” Hera answered back in the lizard's own language with a scowl. The creature's eyes narrowed at the comment.

“Explain…” The creature began to say, yet stopped as I took a step forward.

“I know you.” I whispered in awe of the creature before me. I saw the creature's eyes suddenly widen before narrowing in… suspicion? The creature then, without a sound, slowly lowered its head. It hovered only an inch above the emerald grass when it next spoke.

“Oh my lovely Sith, what a curse fate has shackled you with.” The being mourned aloud, “The memory of memory loss is terrible indeed.” His words, which originated from deep in its throat, caused the ground to gently rumble and it soothed my mind to hear it. The words themselves however, only hurt.

“I know, I know you…” I Whispered as I raised a hand to the creature's reptilian head, “So what are you?” The creature's eye then seemed to not look at me, but through me. It was as if it was looking upon times and places eons past. Better times perhaps. Its next words echoed across the clearing, in both affirmation and melancholy.

“I am Dragon; The Great Race of Ur. Adamantine is my scale, and force is my breath.” As the dragon finished, tongues of a strange octarine energy wafted from behind their sword length teeth.

“I see…” I answered as I took in the dragon's form once again.

“Then who are you?” The dragon’s gaze did not return to me. Instead it seemed to look farther away than it already was.

“Thric…” The creature slowly dragged out. “...Haurach.” It finished with a crack of its tongue, its longing gaze giving me the impression it meant more than just words.

“Thric Haurach… what a lovely sound. But I don't understand it, do I?” I questioned, although we both knew the answer. And so a response wasn't given. Instead, I simply continued to feel the silken scales beneath as we took in the silence around.

“How touching.” Hera commentated some time later with what sounded like… annoyance? Yet even as I pulled away from the dragon's form to look her way, I could see her begin to gaze around our clearing.

“However, we should not linger here. Iron-Woods are not exactly… safe at the best of times, and we are deep indeed.” At her words, I too began to look around the clearing. Although none of the creatures that were there when I awoke had returned, I still couldn't escape the feeling that there were many more eyes on us that could be seen.

“And where to?” Thric questioned, though he seemed in far less a hurry than Hera to leave.

“There's a rangers lodge not too far from here. It was where I had originally meant to meet with you, though her condition required me to act immediately.” Hera responded as she began to walk away in a seemingly random direction.

“Follow me, we'll reach it within the day.” Having no real reason to disagree I began to walk after her along with Thric, who seemed quite uncaring with the idea. For a while we walked through those silver trees, who’s girthy trunks seemed to stretch ever higher into the sky above. Thankfully they were spaced quite far apart from each other, giving Thric quite a lot of room to maneuver here with the two land walkers. Actually…

“Hey Thric, while i'm not complaining per say, is there a reason you're not flying there yourself? Or maybe just flying us all there for that matter?” I couldn't help but ask after some time.

“You don't remember it I see. Well, it doesn't matter. My reasons for staying by your side are now my own, and shall remain so until I deem otherwise. As for your other idea,” Thric continued on before I could ask him to elaborate on his “reasons”, “flying through this forest is… unpleasant. There are a few beasts here that don't appreciate my presence, and have made it a point to not disrupt the perceived peace of this land.” The dragon finished. The comment seemed strange to me however. After all, what thing could exist that could even bother the dragon before me, let alone demand something from him.

But in the end, it didn't matter. He wished to walk with the rest of us, and so that was that. But that didn't mean my questions were over.

“Earlier, you called me Sith.” It was perhaps less a question, and more a statement, but the intent was the same as far as I was concerned.

“I too am interested in that.” Hera responded from in front of us, much to my surprise. Thric slightly grumbled as he went on with his explanation.

“When you’ve been around as long as you have, one's name tends to carry a certain weight with it. So to lighten that weight every now and then, many adopt false names, or traveling names, so that they may continue to live their lives a little more… free. Something I'm sure you're well aware of, witch.” Hera seemed annoyed by the title, not that she commented on it as he continued to address me.

“Sith was yours. And though it may have been a false name, it was the one I knew you under. I suppose in my case, it is more real to me than Cynthia is, but that's nothing more than semantics.” Thric finished his elaboration with a roll of his great eyes. I put a finger on my cheek as I thought about the subject.

“Sith huh? Now I can't help but wonder; how many other names am I known under?” I mused to myself out loud. When I didn't receive an answer, I gave up on the thought and turned to Hera.

“So… If we have the time, I do have a lot of questions…” Considering the circumstances, I didn't think it was a bad time to ask. If only because Hera was no longer the only one who could answer them now.

“Just one at a time please.” Hera answered with an exasperated sigh. Much to my own annoyance.

“Sorry if I'm a bit curious.” I snipped back. Hera sighed again at that, though it was more of a defeated one then one of annoyance.

“Sorry. I know that you have a lot to ask after, I'm just not really one for long explanations.” The saint replied as she nodded toward me to continue. So with permission to ask away, I did.

“Where are we?” I settled on this first, hoping that it would be a nice lead in for what would come after.

“We’re in an Iron-wood forest west of… Andtin? Close to it at least.” Hera answered while resting a few fingers upon her cheek.

“No name?” I probed back a little deeper. She seemed to think on that question for a moment before responding back.

“Elafina.” I pondered the name I didn't recognize, and my response before moving on to my next one.

“These tree’s… what are they?” It was perhaps not my most pertinent question at the moment, but looking at their massive frames surrounding us without end was starting to get to me.

“They are most commonly referred to as Iron-wood trees. Strongest wood in all the planes, though very hard to work with. I know craftsmen who spend decades learning to work them into something usable.” Not the response I thought I'd get, but I also had no idea what to expect in the first place so perhaps I should just stop expecting anything in general.

“Alright, let's see… you said I was in a fight?” I questioned while trying to recall everything I had learned so far.

“Yes,” Hera answered, though it was after a defeated sigh that she continued, “Alas, I arrived at its conclusion. Had I known you were in danger beforehand, this situation would never have occurred.”

“Then it's a shame you didn't.” Thric commented with what sounded like irritation, not that Hera acknowledged it.

“So, you don't know who I fought or why?” I pressed forward, hoping to learn why I was like this to begin with.

“Who specifically? No. But I know that they were leading a mercenary group composed of a large number of Orrucs. And as to why, well they were assaulting your home when I arrived, so I assume it had to do with that.” When she said nothing more, I decided to add some more questions to the list and moved on to the next one.

“What happens next?” That one seemed to give Hera some pause, as she took some time to respond.

“I need to talk to some… colleagues, one of which resides at our destination. After that, we'll see…” Was hoping for more, but with a huff I was on to the next.

“Are we… in danger?” I asked with far more hesitance leaking into my voice than before, and I couldn't help but let my eyes roam over the forest around us as I did.

“Not in the slightest.” Was her instant response. Her absolute confidence was surprising given her earlier statement of potential danger, yet reassuring as well.

“You're more confident than I thought you'd be.” Though a statement, it sounded even to me to be a question.

“Confidence is only part of it. First of all, Thric here could eat most of the inhabitants of these woods,” The chuckle Thric gave made it seemed like he agreed, “Second of all I'm aware of most, if not all, of the inhabitants that dwell here. And as long as we stay near the forest's edge we will encounter nothing that can delay us. And lastly, your assailants left long ago, leaving behind a poultry group that was easily crushed when I found them.” She sounded almost happy about that last part.

“Ok,” I responded a bit hesitant, “So about the things we MIGHT encounter-”

“Look Cynthia,” Hera interrupted with a stern wave of her hand, “while I am both capable and willing to answer your more personal questions, when it comes to questions of the world around us I'd prefer you start with this first.” She said as she quickly reached into a fairly small pocket in her robe. She then pulled out a large book of some kind, much larger than the pocket should have been allowed to carry. Before I could ask about that she threw the book to me, which I easily caught. I looked at the title curiously.

Miralica’s Spell-Binding Guide To Almost Everything.

“...Almost Everything?” I questioned my gifter. She, in turn, gave a chuckle to my “question”.

“Things change, and quite frequently as well.” Was her response. Interested, if only to pass the time, I opened it up and immediately realized something.

“It's not very large…” I commented. And once again, Hera merrily chuckled. Feeling a bit annoyed again, I started quickly flipping through the “Guide”. And continued. And continued more. For a startling amount of time I just flipped pages and pages, far more than should have been allowed in any book, let alone this thing. I was flipping pages for so long and concentrating so hard that when we stopped at a lake, I would have walked into it if not for Thric holding out a claw.

“Oh, thanks.” I said as Thric gave a hearty chuckle.

“Next time I'm letting you walk in.” The dragon said back. A moment later Thric lowered his head to the water and began draining it. Leaving him to his drink, I looked over to Hera who was looking at me with amusement.

“Oh, don't stop flipping on my behalf.” Hera commented when she caught my look. While I wanted to be annoyed again, I just couldn't.

“How?” Was my response. Which made Hera smirk in continued amusement.

“Infinity contained within the bounds of a book.” She held up her hands in a, what can you do gesture. “It's said that magecraft is the addition of rules that we willingly add to our reality. Well I'm no mage, the opposite in fact, but with the things they can do these days I can't say the saying doesn't hold any weight.”

“Infinity huh… but, how do I find what I'm looking for?” I questioned back while I continued to flip through the endless pages.

“Just think of what you wish to find.” Was her rather dismissive response. And so I did. I thought of Hera.

When I turned the page, there she was. Though her entry was fairly small, more of a general overview of the woman before me than an in depth review. What was there was fascinating though. She was a priest, so far up the chain that she had nearly the same divine status as the god she worshiped. Though who that was apparently unknown.

It also stated that she was part of a very prominent Paradigm, or Guild, referred to as the Arch-Lords.

Curious again I went to turn the page, to see what these “Arch-Lords” were all about. But before I could a single finger, dainty in appearance, pressed itself against the page. Looking up, I saw Hera continuing her amused look as she spoke to me.

“I understand the rabbit hole beckons so, but before you jump in perhaps a rest and wash by the lake? We still have a ways to go.” Her eyes quickly traced over my form after she gave her advice. Curious, I held my hands to my own eyes. They too, were dainty in their appearance, yet covered in hard callus. They were caramel in tone to Hera's light complexion. They were also covered in cuts and mud and other red grime.

Understanding passed through me as I made my way over to the lake, gently closing the book and handing it to Hera as I did. At the water's edge, I looked down upon the stranger that looked back upon me. They wore a form of emerald colored studded leather, with long grass colored fabric flowing in front of and behind their waist and down to their ankles. The black cloak they wore was also torn in several places, though it seemed somehow unmarred from the dirt and blood the rest of the outfit sported.

The uniform held a shredded sanguine colored hole however; right where their heart would be.

I raised a hand, and watched as the stranger repeated the gesture. The stranger's face was quite feminine, colored caramel like the hand, though also marked with the same cuts and dirt as the hand before me. Yet while the iris of the strangers eyes was an almost luminescent silver, it was the long pointed ears that shot outwards and the below shoulder-length pale hair that caught my gaze.

I'm not sure for how long I stared at the person before me. What I did know was that I could not relate with it at all. They looked like a fighter, a warrior even. Yet what did I know of fighting? Of surviving? They looked like an individual that could spend a hundred lifetimes in the most treacherous places imaginable, and be perfectly at home. They looked… like someone else.

A rumbling to my side caught my attention, though my gaze remained on the stranger before me.

“Of course you don't recognize that image,” Thric commented as I continued to stare. “It is the form of yesteryears that has come and gone for someone who is no longer here. But I see that this is troubling for you, so my advice is this; wait for the grand sculpture that is time to craft a new form with the coming years. Then, when the time comes and you are ready to look again, tell me what you see.”

It took me a while to respond to that, but when I did all I could offer was a nod. And with that, I crouched to the water's edge and began to wash away the yesteryears. A cocktail of blood, mud, and other grime was washed away when I was finally finished, though the rips and tears were beyond my ability to fix. It was satisfying in a strange way to freshen up like this though. And while it was a stranger that looked back at me still, they now at least seemed far more comfortable than before.

Turning to my companions, the priest saint Hera and the adamantine dragon Thric Haurach, I slowly walked over to them. They stood side by side, facing towards the forest but turning just enough so their heads could watch me. I strolled up in between them and flashed them a hesitant, if appreciated smile. Thric gave me a grunt, and Hera merely handed me back the book before waving a hand toward me. I was confused at what she was doing, but looking down I found that all the holes and cuts in my uniform stitched themselves back together with a mind of their own. Without a word she strolled forward into the silver growths.

I followed after her, Thric right beside me, and though I was still clueless and memoryless, I had a feeling that something was starting. A journey, perhaps? It was hard to say. Hera seemed to have a plan for me, even if I had thrown it off by not being who she wanted me to be. But I couldn't help but admit to myself that I was just as excited as I was afraid of what awaited ahead. Would I remember who I was? Did I even want to? What would happen to me If I did? Yes, It was frightening to think about. But as we traveled through this domain of silver, I couldn't help but not care. That could all come later. For now I would simply enjoy both the atmosphere and the infinite pages of the book before me.

Starting with…