The sun started to set. After making the fire, I began preparing my bird. Once it was ready, I skewered it on a stick and set it over the fire to slowly cook. When it was done, I ate it. Let's just say the taste was awful, but my stomach was happy to finally have something in it. For the moment, my hunger was sated. Then, I got thirsty and started looking around for water. This time, I found it much faster than before, as from my vantage point, I had seen a river about 400 meters away. I quickly went there and drank with my bare hands. Luckily, the water was clear and fresh, not salty. Since I didn't have anything to carry the water back to my makeshift camp, I drank as much as I could and returned to my fire—I didn't want to start it over. With my hunger and thirst taken care of, I could finally think clearly.

The moon was out again, my only companion for the night. I started thinking about what was happening to me while adding more wood to the fire.

"So, I don't know where I am. There's no one else around except birds, and weird windows pop up whenever I do something for the first time or think about it… I need a plan. I want to understand what's happening to me, but first, I need to prepare."

I looked up at the night sky and took it all in. The endless expanse of stars was mesmerizing. With so little light around me besides the fire, the night sky was incredibly clear. So many stars with different hues were visible, and my companion, the moon, was slowly rising to the center of it all, like a mother watching her child's first steps in the world. I got sleepy, moved closer to the fire, and slowly closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep.

A shadowy, cloaked figure appeared in front of me, its face hidden beneath the clothing it wore.

"Come closer..."

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I couldn't do anything but follow the figure's command. No matter how hard I tried, my body wouldn't listen to me. Slowly but surely, I moved closer until I was about two meters away. I couldn't make out any of its features.

"What is happening?"

"A little bit late and very far from the rest of them…"

Them? What did that mean? Were there others like me here?

"Larrios is the name you chose? Interesting. I was sure you didn't remember anything from your past life, but it seems souls have instincts of their own..."

As she spoke, my body moved on its own again, following her command, until I stood right in front of her. She raised her right hand, and her index finger touched my forehead.

"Since you've already chosen your name, it's only fair you have a first name too. Consider this my gift to you, little one."

Her finger began to glow slightly, and I could feel some kind of energy burning inside my head.

"From now on, your first name will be the same as mine. You are now part of my family, little one. You shall be named Astarte. Larrios Astarte!"

As she spoke the words, my eyes brightened, and I felt something being inscribed into the very fabric of my being. Astarte.

"I'm sorry I can't give you more. The Others received their names from the Higher Ones, and their gifts are far greater than the one I've given you. But rest assured, you are not merely a pawn in this world; you are my family. This will protect you from their interference in mortal affairs."

I didn't understand much of what she was saying, but ever since she touched me, I felt calm in her presence. In fact, I enjoyed being near her.

"Time is not my friend, little one, so I must leave. Remember this: I will watch over you. While you do not have The Others' gifts, your growth will allow you to achieve whatever you set your mind to. Be brave and experience life as it is…"

I began to descend slowly, and the figure faded away from me. I felt like I had gained and lost something at the same time. Sadness started to overwhelm me...

When I opened my eyes, the night was over, and the sun was beginning to rise. The sadness still lingered. My eyes were wet. I had cried in my sleep.