Location: ???

The night sky roared in agony, as it was torn apart by a strange fiery attack.

Rae had not known the night sky could do that. She also wasn't sure how someone would attack the night sky anyways. And she certainly wasn’t sure why someone would attack the night sky.

Was the night sky strong?

Rae hoped the sky was strong. She liked the night sky. It was pretty, and could tell you which way you were going if you knew how to read it.

Eventually, the large fire lance faded, and with it the night sky’s roar. She wasn't sure if it was a fire lance. But she did not know anyone who could cast such a spell.

Rae decided she should record this knowledge in her knowledge keeper.

She began rooting around in her pack, from which she withdrew her vial of ink, ink layer, and the newest knowledge keeper.

She began by drawing the spell. She knew drawing it would use a lot of ink, but she hoped someday she might learn the name of the spell, by showing the crude sketch to a magic practitioner.

Once she was satisfied with her drawing, she wrote about how the sky had roared in pain, how the sky could be attacked with a big enough magic, and how one should not attempt to attack the sky, because if one decided to attack the sky, the sky would surely retaliate.

Given how she had not seen another giant fire lance, Rae figured that the sky had won. The sky had to be strong, she figured, it had always been there after all.

She set her knowledge keeper down on her pack to let the ink dry, and began to think about her current unfortunate circumstance.

See, Rae was learning to be a keeper of knowledge for the tribe. Her job was to learn, record, and share knowledge.

However, Rae’s knowledge was not very useful in the current predicament the tribe had found themselves in.

Rae didn't need to hear the hushed whispers to know supplies were dwindling, that people were going to have to be left behind.

She knew no one liked it, but she also knew that they would all starve if they kept this up.

‘I'm going to be left behind. I'm not strong, my knowledge has been of no use, I can't make tools, I can't forage, and I can't hunt.’ Rae told herself for the fifteenth time that night.

‘Well there's nothing to be done about it. I can't go back, if I do, I will be taken too. I do not wish for a fate worse than death. Only a miracle could save me now.’

She finished her depressing train of thought, before lying down on the rough ground, hoping she would get enough sleep to keep her going for the next day.

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Location: dailan village of the fox-kin tribe.

Rae woke up in her bed, a gentle breeze blowing through her window carrying the gentle scent of spring flowers.

She enjoyed the moment briefly, only bothering to get up when she noticed the sound of sizzling in the kitchen.

Sniffing the air again, she caught the faint scent of her sister's cooking. Not wanting to risk missing out on that, Rae quickly moved to find something suitable to wear to breakfast.

Looking into her closet she decided to go with something plain. Sure, she would need to eat quickly, but she couldn't afford to get her nice clothes dirty. Especially not today.

After all, today she had promised grandmother she would go to the church to learn about the ancient artifacts, and the church would not let you in if you were wearing anything but your best. Something about offending the gods by not bringing your best.

Satisfied with her breakfast attire, Rae stepped out of her room, and made for the kitchen. As she reached the table her sister began setting out the delicious smelling meal.

As if on cue, her brother burst through the front door, and sped into the kitchen, followed shortly after by her parents and grandparents albeit at a much more reasonable pace.

Rae scarfed down the delicious meal. As much as she would prefer to savour it, she needed to get changed into her fancy clothes and start heading to the church sooner rather than later.

Rae finished eating quickly and ran off to her room to get changed again. Tossing her plain clothes to the side, she quickly grabbed her fancy clothes and began putting it on.

Once that was complete, she grabbed the small handbag that she had prepared last night and began making her way to the church.

The Walk to the church was a long and boring one. Her movements were very restricted because of the clothes she wore, so she could not move fast.

Arriving at the church, she explained that she was here to learn about the ancient artifacts.

After a short wait, someone came to teach her all about the ancient artifacts. As she was taught, she was guided around the church to different murals, and told about the artifacts, and how they were sent by the gods.

Approaching the next mural, it seemed familiar for some reason. A streak of fire across the sky. As the guide was explaining about how when the gods sent artifacts, they came down like a Lance of fire from the heavens, she started to faintly hear a strange sound that seemed to be getting louder every second.

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Rae woke abruptly from her sleep as the night sky let out another pained roar.

Disgruntled from the obnoxious awakening and having to sleep on the ground with only her tail to use as a blanket, Rae looked up to see the giant fire Lance slowly tearing its way through the still dark sky.

But something was wrong.

Something had the fur on Rae’s tail standing on end.

Something… then she noticed it.

‘is that… getting bigger?’

Her eyes went wide with realization.

‘That's heading towards here.’

‘I'm going to die, aren't I?’

She noticed she had began running

‘What is the point of running, that spell is huge. Even if it doesn't kill me, I will die anyway. I cannot find food, I cannot prepare food, I will starve. I do not know how to find water. I will dehydrate.’

Her legs did not care for her pessimistic thoughts, instead opting to run away from the now giant rapidly approaching Lance of fire.

The giant Lance of fire passed over her, deafening her sensitive ears, and blowing her off her feet. Time seemed to slow down. Then she saw it. She saw the massive Hulk of superheated iron fly past her. That was no fire lance. That was an artifact sent by the gods.

Rae had read about them before. The churches were all too happy to teach her about the gods and their relics.

‘Maybe, just maybe, this is the miracle I need’ was her last thought before she flew off the cliff.