It had been one week since Zarro attempted to power drain Merci. One week since the girl had undergone the stress of the transfer. One week she has been unconscious.

That is until the fifth day of the following week. Merci’s eyes finally fluttered open. Startled and alone Merci soon began to feel her heart race as she tried to observe her surroundings, however her vision failed as it was pitch black.

Can’t see? Am I blind?

Merci thought to herself in a panicked voice. She began to wiggle her feet and hands. Good movement. Merci soon began to swing her legs over the bed she woke up in and walked alongside it. Feeling her way to one side of the room in hopes to find an open window.

Feeling a breeze Merci sighed and opened the wooden shutters. To her delight she was welcomed with the coolness of the night air and brightness of the full moon light.

Okay, it is just night time. Thankfully I can see.

She let out a sigh of relief as she took in the landscape in front of her. Before her was a sea of the ethereal blue grass cast in a warm white glow of the full moon.

“Interesting,” she whispered as she rested her head against the window seal. “This isn’t familiar to me at all.”

“Because it’s not.” A mysterious charming but husky male voice echoed through her mind.

“What? Who…who are you?”

The voice never responded back to her. “Maybe I need more rest.” Merci walked her way back to the bed she woke up in and rested her body against the cool mattress. She had no cover so she had to embrace the cool night breeze.

Just need more sleep. That’s it. Merci thought to herself as she closed her eyes and forced herself back to sleep.

As she slept Merci was welcomed with vivid images of a well built town that catered to nature and its beauty. Two suns rested on either side as the west side casted a large castle shadow against the bustling city.

“Sunne.” A familiar male voice spoke up in a calm tone. “Please tell me you remember?” The voice, despite being calm, is full of sorrow and defeat. Pulling causing Merci to feel heartbroken for the mysterious voice. If only she could help whoever this was, she would.

But Merci couldn’t answer in her dreams. As her body floated over the vast cityscape. Showcasing a breathtaking view of various tree-like structures housing many elven figures. The paths of the city streets were various colors of stone and lined with various tree types. Merci could point out a few of the common trees that she somehow knew, weeping willows, oaks, various fruit trees, and more. This place oddly felt familiar to Merci but distant all in the same.

Despite all of it’s stunning beauty Merci felt a devastating pull as off in the distance showed grave devastation. As various buildings and tree-homes crumbled to the ground. The area was singed with burned matter as a few bodies had remained scattered in the area.

Merci couldn’t help but wonder what happened here.

“War. War happened. My sweet Elara, what did they do to you?” The voice surged with sadness and despair.

“Merci.” She managed to speak after hours of silence. Merci remembered a name being spoken to her repeatedly during her sleep.

“No. That-” The male voice was cut off as Merci was jolted awake by the sound of loud footsteps racing up the stairs.

“Merci?” A female voice spoke out. “Oh thank goddess, you are awake!” The woman went to the edge of the bed and sat down.

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“Who are you?” Merci questioned the woman who appeared to be a charming human in her thirties. Her hair is a thick mossy brown and often pulled back in a braid as it would normally reach down to her lower back. Her eyes are a striking blue and her skin fair.

“You don’t remember? Then again how could you. You took a terrible fall from the horse a week ago.”

Merci cocked her head, a horse? She thought to herself.

Merci shook her head, “Sorry, I don’t remember any of that.”

Violet sighed in relief. “That is alright. I am your mother. Violet Darkwood. And your father is Zarro Darkwood.”

Merci just stared at her blankly. “And I am Merci correct?” Merci asked as she remembered her dream. As the mysterious man’s voice had called her Elara.

Violet looked at her questioningly. “Who did you think you were?”

“Merci.”

Violet sighed in relief. “Well dear, breakfast is ready if you want to come down and eat. I know you must be staring.”

Violet stood up and walked towards the door. Waiting in the door frame for Merci to follow.

“Give me a moment.”

“Of course, go down the stairs and the kitchen is to your left. I am sure the smell of bacon will lead you straight to it.”

Merci nodded and waited until Violet was out of the room. She cautiously got up and walked over to the floor length mirror that was in her dull and undecorated bedroom.

She stared at herself for the first time in six days. And saw a set of scarlet eyes looking back at her. The eyes followed as she looked over herself for the first time. Her hair looked like a red velvet rat’s nest. The skin on her face, arms, and legs appeared a bit dirty with what seemed like dried blood and mud caked in places. The clothes that she wore didn't fit her right as they were slightly bigger than her own curved frame. In fact, they resembled that of what Violet wore.

“Am I wearing her clothes? Where was mine?” Merci questioned softly as she slowly walked over to the shabby looking wardrobe in the left corner. Each step caused the floor to creek and a shock wave of cold seeped through her body.

A loud creek filled the air as Merci opened the wardrobe and saw very little selection for clothes for a girl her age. Three tops, a dress, a pair of shorts, and a pair of pants was all that hung in the wardrobe.

“Makes my decision easier.” She mumbled as she grabbed a black short sleeve shirt and a pair of worn looking black pants out from the wardrobe.

She slipped off her current attire and slipped on the new outfit. Merci further went into the wardrobe and found a pair of black boots and wool socks. She quickly slipped those on too.

“Better. I guess.” Merci grumbled as she walked back to the mirror. “Now for this hair.” Merci glanced around the empty room and managed to find a wired brush and began brushing.

Ow. Merci thought to herself as she cringed at the pain that throbbed against her skull as she brushed her hair for the first time in six days.

Bath after breakfast. The smell of bacon is really drawing me in.

Merci sighed and walked down the cracked wooden stairs and followed the smell of fresh crisp bacon and found Violet and a man sitting at a tiny table.

The décor of the kitchen was simple. A cooler, a heat box that cooked food, a couple of counters, a sink for washing, dim lighting and plain walls.

Merci walked over to an empty chair that sat on the wooden table’s side. “Glad to see you are awake Merci.” Zarro said with a snarky voice.

He clearly didn’t miss me much. At least Violet seemed to care.

“Please take your seat.” Violet said in a caring voice.

Merci nodded and took her seat. “What is for breakfast?” Merci questioned as her stomach growled intently as she looked at the table and saw it was barren but the smell of the foods still hoovered in the air.

“Well, it would have been bacon and eggs but you failed to come down in plenty of time,” Zarro said. “So you get bread with butter and jelly if you wish. There is milk in the fridge. After you eat, meet me in the barn. We have work to do.”

Zarro stood up and walked to the front door of the house and left.

“I’m sorry Merci, if I had it my way I'd give you what was left. However, we must’n disobey your father’s orders.”

Merci nodded. “Where is the bread?”

Violet got up and walked to the counter and pulled a loaf of freshly made bread from the bread box and a knife from the drawer. “Cut it yourself and the butter and jelly is in the fridge. I’d hurry if I was you otherwise he may punish you if you are any later.” Violate spoke as she left Merci to do her own doing.

Merci sighed and began to cut a slice of the bread that was given to her. She ate the bread quickly as her stomach rumbled loudly.

“They will pay for this.” The male voice from last night echoed in her mind angrily.

Merci stopped mid bite. Okay, I am not imagining this. Or am I? Merci thought to herself as she went back to devouring four slices of bread. She put the rest in her pocket and went to the cooler to see several things of milk. She grabbed one of the smaller pitchers and chugged it to help wash down the bread. Placing the empty container on the counter she made sure the cooler was closed and walked outside.