The sky is falling.
Everything is crashing.
The world is ending.
...
At least...
...
That's what everyone thinks...
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There are many people in the world. People who lead peaceful lives. They live and die without deep regrets or needing to face adverse dangers. Others chase lives full of excitement. They fight each day, giving it their all to live without regrets.
But all of them, every single one, share one thing in common. Dreams.
Not hopes and inspirations but the dreams people experience during slumber. There are many varieties, ranging from peaceful to terrifying. The worst dreams are Nightmares, scenes where your worst fears come to life.
Nightmares are strange, horrifying, and twisted. They feel like life as you sleep yet become distant illusions when you awake. They ruin lives. Shatter perspectives. Distort emotions. All in a moment’s time.
But at least we know their illusions. Moments that will never come.
…
Right?
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Her first memory was burning. Just burning.
The heavy billows of smoke that rolled over, consuming the bright blue sky. Flames as they whipped around, lashing at everything and anything in their paths. Embers which sparked and flickered. When they landed, the small sparks combusted into more eruptions. They devoured buildings, homes, people, friends, families. Everything.
With it all came another surge of smoke. It suffocated her, strangling her nose and lungs with a murky scent. The scent of burning… burning wood? burning hair? burning feathers? burning FLESH? She didn’t know anymore. But it was—everything was drowning her. She was drowning in a sea of flames.
Then. Another wave of screeches pierced her ears. The screams for help. Sobs of horror and terror. And a single voice yelling at her, telling her to run—at least that’s what she thought it was saying. It was muffled by everything else that was happening.
Despite the burning, she stood there. She stood there, paralyzed by the tragedy. It was as if her feet turned to stone and her wings clipped. She stood there until someone pushed her away.
The fall felt instant, like the blink of an eye compared to everything else. The only things on her mind were the ground beneath her and the fire. Rocks dug into her back. Fire lashed at her arm. Stones scraped knees. Heat scorched her eyes. Branches scratched her legs. Embers singed her feathers.
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The next thing she knew, she was lying on the muddy forest floor. Rain trickled down leaves, lightly kissing her skin. The cool ground and cold rain felt comforting and lulled her consciousness away. She lay there. On the ground. Covered in dirt and ashes. for a while… a few hours? some days? Only the forest knew.
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For Fauna, the day started as normal. She woke up at dawn, got dressed, and prayed. Afterward, she and the other nuns prepared a simple breakfast. They woke the children up and ate together. Fauna then completed her daily chores by sweeping the halls, dusting the paintings, and teaching the children. Around noon, she began preparing for lunch with the children.
Since it stopped raining last night, the nuns decided to search for mushrooms in the woods. They quickly gathered their baskets and knives. Fauna wandered northeast, following a trail of mushrooms. As she approached a small clearing, she noticed a body lying among the leaves.
“Who are you?” She inquired from behind the tree.
No response.
“State your name.”
No sound. Fauna set her basket on the ground and inched towards the figure. As she approached, she saw the body of a young girl sprawled on the ground. Burns and scratches covered the child’s body. They stood out against her sickly pale skin. Her clothes were ripped and singed like old rags. Mud caked her long maroon hair, tangling every strand. The child looked no older than nine. Fauna sprinted over and grabbed the child, draping the body over her back. Then, she snatched her basket and rushed towards the church.
As she neared, the children and some fellow nuns spotted her. “Sister Fauna! Back so soon?”
“Emergency!” She shouted, trying to catch her breath. “Find Priestess Allison! And get a medical room!”
As they rushed to prepare supplies, a lycan woman came to help Fauna. They carried the young child into the church, hurrying towards the medical room. Along the way, the two passed a human grinding herbs into a paste. As Fauna and Alena set the unconscious child on the bed, a half-orc came dashing through the medical rooms. She was carrying a tub of clean water and some dry towels.
“My goodness!” Aylin, the half-orc, paled as she wiped away the grime. Every swipe revealed more and more wounds: deep scratches on her back, heavy burns on her arms. “What happened to this poor child?”
“I… I don’t know.” Fauna’s brows furrowed, and her lips quivered. “I found the child passed out in the middle of the forest.”
Rose, the female human, dressed her wounds with herbs and wrapped them with bandages. After a few moments, a reptilian woman burst through the door. “Where’s the patient?”
“She’s laying on the cot, Priestess Allison,” Fauna replied. Allison advanced toward the child and checked on the wounds. She quickly muttered something, and the spell engraved on her bracelet shined. It coated the patient in mellow light, erasing the minor scratches. “The child’s in no danger.”
“Thank you.”
Allison shook her head and left. “It’s no trouble. She should wake up in a few hours. Just keep an eye on her.”
Everyone left, but Fauna stayed. After Allison reassured the group, her initial panic faded away. She started examining the child and noticed her red feathered ears. Why was a young harpy in the woods?
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When she came to, the first thing she felt was soft. Soft warm blankets. Then she heard faint whispers. The gibberish faded, and something creaked. Her head pounded when she tried to focus. She squinted from the harsh light. Wooden planks and stone. Who are they? Where am I?
As the fog cleared, she saw a woman standing by the door, staring. The woman had lightly tanned skin, brown feathered ears, and more feathers trailing down her arms. A harpy. The harpy turned, reacting to the sudden attention.
“You’re awake.” The harpy observed her. She sat up and scooted away from the harpy. “Good morning.”
“Where… where am I?”
“I am Fauna, a nun of Yunar. You’re in a Creta church.” A slight smile graced the harpy’s face. “And who might you be?”
She watched Fauna, opening her mouth before abruptly closing it. Then, she whispered, “I… I can’t remember.”
“Then, what can you remember?”
There was a moment of silence as they stared at each other. “Fire.” Fire and burning.
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She stayed at the church for a few days. It took a week for her skin to heal, and only a few scars remained.
Then, the week turned to weeks. After a month, the nuns asked if she had remembered anything else. She didn’t. They recommended that she get a new name and identification. After contemplating for some days, she accepted their offer.
“How about Lexi?”
“Lexi?” She paused. “Lexi… Lexi works.”