Cold. It was freezing like ice. Then hot. It was burning like flames. Always pain. Agonizing pain which felt like thousands of needles pricked at my skin each second.

Voices. Hushed voices I could hear, yet understanding was not in the picture. A strange language they speak. It felt familiar yet very distant as well.

I wished to move, but my body remained silent. Where am I? Pain throbbed in my head. I wanted to scream, yet I could not. Who...am I? An answer never came. No name. No memory. Just agony.

After what seemed to be forever, my body finally responded by allowing me to open my eyes. Blinding light, from the sun I presume, welcomed me. More pain. I shut them back up. A few moments later, I tried again and again until my eyes had adjusted.

It was only then when I noticed the birds and children singing in delight. There was an old lady sitting beside me, watching me with caution and concern in her eyes. "You're awake!" she exclaimed in the unfamiliar tongue. I found it strange I could understand it.

"Losh mila a nash! Thank the stars, girl! I thought you would never wake. It had been nearly two weeks since a hunter of our Lunite Village had saved you from that wolf." She continued to speak under her breath as she examined my condition. Once she finished, she asked, "How come you aren't speaking? Dragon's got your tongue?"

I nodded my head. "N-no. I just...thanks for saving me." The words flew out of my mouth. My voice was young but raspy from dehydration. It made me feel like I had a mouthful of paper and thousands of cuts in my throat as I spoke.

The woman laughed. "It wasn't me who saved you, child. If you want, I could go grab him." She got up. "Oh yeah. What is your name, dear?"

"I-I don't have a clue..."

"What do you mean by that? You ought to know your own name! Mine is Elyansa Forsok'an." She said as she placed a hand on her chest with pride.

My brows furrowed in frustration. "I already said before. I don't know!" Anger was evident in my voice. "I don't remember who I am or where I came from. My mind is an empty slate which throbs each time I try to think about anything!" My body shivered as a cold wind blew. I clutched at my head as it pulsated with the rhythm of my heart. Soon after, I passed out once again.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

***

I woke up many times with the same thing happening. I either got a cold or hot flash before I faint. Luckily, Elyansa seemed to not be fazed at what was happening to me, so I figured it wasn't dangerous or life-threatening. It did leave a bitter taste in my mouth though. Each time I wake, it takes a longer period of time before the flashes come to pass.

Elyansa had given me the name Natilya Floren'del, meaning strength and courage for the unknown. She had said to be curious, or I would never gain my memories back. So, I began to think more often, slowly overcoming the nauseating headache.

A week had passed when I was able to begin walking again. The Mother, Elyansa, showed me around the village. From what she told me, a village Mother was the healer and female leader of a tribe or village. There was also a Father, the male leader and the strongest of the tribe or village. There was no concrete, just dirt roads and small pebbles here and there. Lush grass of the brightest green was nearly everywhere the eye could see. The houses, or should I say huts, were made of stone and mud.

Where are the bricks, lamp posts, and mailboxes? What about the cars and trucks? Hang on. What were they again? Man, I hate this amnesia! Maybe, I could ask.

"Hey, Mother Elyansa. How come your village doesn't have cars or pavement? Your huts are not pleasant to the eyes neither. How come?" I asked with a confused expression.

The Mother looked at me strangely. "I don't know anything about cars, but we don't have paved roads as they are too expensive. The same goes for our houses." I could see the hidden frustration and enmity in her eyes, but her voice was calm.

I shied away, knowing I had hurt her pride. I didn't mean to. It just happened. Elyansa was quieter as she continued to lead me through Lunite Village. The people I saw were working laboriously, but it seemed like they always had the time to say hello to fellow villagers and to myself. They all had bronze skin while mine was like snow compared to theirs. It made me stand out more than I wished, but I can't change the way I am. At least my mouth was becoming more used to the language.

She brought me over to see the man who had saved my life. We chatted for a while before Elyansa made us leave. The conversation made me think of many things, but they all left me with a clueless headache. Curse my amnesia!

"I want to find my memories as soon as I can," I said in the language my mind remembers most.

The Mother paused and glared at me. "What?"

"That is the language I remember. Considering your response to it, it must not be of this land. I belong elsewhere, Mother." I lowered my head as tears welled in my eyes. "I want to find myself!" My words were choked in the midst of my tears. My throat burned.

"This isn't fair! I want my home. I want myself back. I want to know the things I am missing!"

A different language than the other two. "Where am I? Who am I?! I want to know!" I screamed hoarsely. My next words came out as a whisper. "I don't even have a name. I am a nobody, a shell of a former self."

Heat crawled its way into my body. I knew it was time, yet again, to sleep.