Several Months Earlier”You’ll never return, this is not your home.”
The words from the dream still rang through the young Maiden’s head as she looked into the glass circle which sat on her bed, a present from her Mother the night before. Elir Nazik had been her home for a decade and eight years and her thoughts of it had only ever reinforced her feelings. Never once had she felt herself to be an outcast. Not once did she feel as if her pale skin, so stark in contrast of that which all of those around her possessed, was that of an outsiders. She was always treated kindly by everybody around her, knowing nothing but love from her friends and family. Yet, those very words had come to Nala’s mind the night before she was to leave Elir Nazik. Was she truly never meant to return to this city, to see her Mother again? Her future had always been tied to this very place and her dream had shattered that future as if it were a glass mirror.
Her thoughts were interrupted as her mother walked into the small room, clad in the green and brown ceremonial wear that was required of her.
”Nalashira, daughter of mine, I can’t express how happy I am nor the fear I have for you in words alone. For eighteen years now I have raised you, watching your progress in the Academy closely even if you didn’t realize it. Today is a momentous occasion for you, the day when you set out to begin your Journey of ten years. I have faith that you will return to us, my only daughter,” She said as she approached, wrapping Nala in her arms once she was in range. Nala’s mother, Veneria, had done more than just comfort the tumultuous feelings which raged inside Nala for weeks. Veneria, the ever absent mother though she was, had calmed the storm of thoughts of the dream which Nala had the night before. Nala knew, no matter what, that she must come back to this woman who stood before her, the woman who she had called Mother for so long. No God or Spirit would stop her from coming back to Elir Nazik, to her Mother.
Veneria left Nala in her room, knowing full well that she would not see her daughter for ten years, and went down to the gates of Elir Nazik where the crowd of War Maidens waited for the daughters of Elir Nazik whose Journey would begin that day. Nala donned the cloth armor and leather armor which she had been provided by her Mother and took one final look at herself in the glass.
This is me. I am Nalashira, daughter of Veneria and War Maiden of Elir Nazik. Her thoughts bolstered her confidence as she strode out of the house of her childhood, walking well now the path of maturity which had been set out before her. Her legs guided her down the streets of the oasis city, her destination being that of the Gates into the great desert. Nala arrived at the Gates and stood before the Elders of the War Maidens.
”Nalashira, daughter of Veneria,” croaked the old woman who stood in the center,
” we’ve gathered here to see you off on your Journey. It may well be the greatest ordeal you must endure, daughter of Veneria. As such, it is our greatest honor to present to you these items which have been prepared especially for you. Let you, dearest daughter of Elir Nazik, War Maiden, and Comrade of all her gathered, treat these well and return with them in your hands. May the Spirits guide you and lead you home when the time comes.” Nalashira bowed, as she had been taught long ago and glanced over the items. Most of what was set before her were simply rations or camping gear. Yet, five items which sat on the ground before her. Two were swords, bearing the signs of the fine crafting that Elir Nazik was known for. The remaining three items were a bow and arrows, made from the palms which grew in Elir Nazik, as well as a leather quiver to hold them. The young Maiden gather up her gear and slid them into place as if they were nothing new.
”Elders, Maidens,” Nala said with a brief pause as she turned towards her Mother,
” my revered Mother, I thank you all for this gifts which you have bestowed upon me. I shall be sure to think of Elir Nazik whenever I fight. I vow on the Spirits that I shall return in ten years time. May the Spirits protect you all while I am gone.” The War Maidens parted the path for Nala to walk out of the gates. Before her stood the desert which surrounded her home of eighteen years, a tribe native to them waiting to lead her on her way out. The sun stared down at her as if it were an eye watching her. Long had she looked up at it in her years before that day, a constant view in the expansive desert that was her home. Nala knew not what it would be like beyond the desert but knew that this day had been one long in the making. She would meet new people and encounter creatures she had never before seen. Her heart hammered in her chest as she took the final step beyond the gates of Elir Nazik, knowing full well that she would not see them for ten years.
Present Time”Reborn and reborn again."
Nala shook in her bedroll at the thought of those words from the night before, the ones which echoed about her head as she dreamed. Surely they were not words which implied that she would die, that was not the Fate meant for her. At least, she hoped that her Fate was not to die again and again for the amusement of these so called Titans. She would fight her Fate a thousand times over even if it meant waging war on the very beings who sought to kill her only for amusement. They were no Gods or Spirits, Nala knew not what they truly were, and thus she had no intent on letting them lead her life. She rose from her spot on the cold ground, stretching as she stood, and walked over to the clear water of the lake nearby. Her hair had grown longer since she left Elir Nazik, falling nearly down to her shoulder blades.
The lake water was cold but felt nice as Nala bathed in it, letting the cold water cleanse her mind of the horrid dream she had earlier. Her mind instead turned towards the tower in the distance. She had traveled many miles from the town of Lebury to find this tower, Andale they called it. She knew not what she had hoped to find there but had wished to see what it was on her way to the city of Thrayheath that she had heard about in Lebury. Nala walked out of the lake’s water, letting the cool, morning air dry her off before she slipped on her armor. Outside of her homeland, she looked vastly different from the men and women around her who wore metal armor. She felt like an outsider and had taken to only entering villages and towns when she needed supplies.
But, Nala felt freer than she had ever been in Elir Nazik. Long had she been forced to live by the rules of the Elders, the women who had determined that war against the Tribes of the desert was better than peace. She no longer had to fear killing people who had done no wrong. Nala was free to spend her time doing whatever she wish, which often meant singing while she traveled from place to place or practicing her archery. There was no pressure to wake up early, to start her training, nor to patrol the walls and watch for hostile Tribes. She was finally free and could go anywhere she wished. Thus, she turned her eyes towards Andale Tower and packed up her supplies, slinging her wooden backpack on as she started to walk towards the tower. She knew not what she’d find there but she was certain that she’d be there after the sun was fully up.
Member
Galavani,
duskshine749,
Tyler Night