In a small town, born in poverty, there was a girl. A girl who had a dream. To achieve her dream, she would try anything in her power. Her name was Arina Estrela Caida. She was loved by her parents very much, and spent a lot of time helping them do the chores.
"Mom, I wanna set the table!"
"Okay, sweetie, but don't forget to wash your hands~"
It was an everyday life, however she noticed quickly, what dark of a place this world was outside of this town. At the time, there were many ongoing wars between nations. Even if she wasn't affected by them directly, she'd hear stories from adventures who came to the city to rest and restore their supplies. Arina was, despite living in poverty, happy with her life. She played with her friends, and even if they were bullied by aristocrats of their age from time to time, she chose to not mind it as much. Her friends just followed her positive world view and did the same. She considered herself a very lucky person, to be blessed with such a peaceful life, in such a cruel world. Although she always wished to have a sibling, her firends were like family to her, which made it quite alright.
One day, a knight came into town that told stories about an magical place that could only be found by a person of pure heroism. Arina immediately became obsessed with the idea of such a place and begged her friends to go look for it. Not wanting to crush her enthusiasm, they all agreed. They went out of town into the woods surounding the town. The deep forest would have anyone who cluelessly entered be lost in an instant, but they often sneeked out here, so they knew a few ways to keep their orientation on point. But if they just searched where they already knew the way, how could they discover a place that they've never been at? Naturally, they had to go out of their comfort zones to find anything new. But after failed attempts over days and weeks, they started losing hope. Everyone, but Arina had given up by now and only went because she kept on insisting that they would find something this time. But they never went out far, as they had to be back before night came or else their parents would be furious with them. Eventually, even Arina gave up. For now, at least. Ever since she heard of that place, she needed to be the one to find it.
Years past and she just carried on with her life. She'd occasionally train with adventurers that regularly came to visit, and it turned out she had a talent for fighting with the sword and using magic. But in town there was no one to teach her magic, so she would only train with the sword. Her parents and the adventurers told her that with her talent, she could study outside of the village in a magic school with much more resources than they could ever dream of having here. Somewhere in Lunis, she never really listened to the details though. She wasn't too convinced of leaving her family behind. So she always dismissed their wish for her to study there.
She became a very powerful swordswoman and their finished their her degree in a local school at the top of her class together with her friends when she was around seventeen years old. After that, not knowing what to do yet after finishing school, she remembered that place she used to be so obsessed with, and convinced her friends to come along one last time and search in a bigger area this time over multiple days. They were old enough now, after all.
"Let's go!"
She said enthusiastically, just like she did back then when they were children.
Leaving the town and going into the woods, no one had any high expectations. It was more like a field trip to everyone. Only Arina believed that they might actually find something. The first day, they found nothing. The second day, they didn't find anything again. They were moving farther into the woods, but they believed they could go in a little deeper still.
Suddenly, from behind them, there was a small wind wave hitting them. Like a shock wave. But it was so weak, they couldn't tell what it was. It did came out of the direction they came from. One of Arina's friends asked wondering if anyone had an idea.
"What was that?"
"I don't know. Maybe we should go back?"
Arina thought, not wanting to go back but also slowly losing hope again. They were already walking for two days and didn't have that many supplies. Their way back would take just as long as well.
"…fine."
It couldn't be helped. She had to give up on this childish dream and decide what to do with her life.
So they walked back. Two days and their supplies barely lasted for their journey back. But what they saw shocked them. The town was completely obliterated. Reduced to ashes. There was a impact crater in the middle, as if something hit it with such force that it killed everyone in the towns radius.
"What… what happened here…? Mom… dad… anyone?!"
The others were left speechless and in a state of shock and only Arina, who dropped down to her knees, crying and panicking, made any noise in the otherwise silent ruins of the once proud town.
Drowning in despair and cluelessness, her world was turned upside down. What was she supposed to do now? What happened? Could she have prevented it, if she didn't follow a baseless dream of some magical wonder? Questions in all directions, that she felt pulled her apart. She spent hours just sitting there, staring at the ashes. There was a small pillar of stones in the midst of it all, that she didn't recognize. It didn't look like it was caused through whatever impact caused this destruction. It looked almost… like someone built it after the destruction. Did that mean there where other survivors besides them? If so, they'd long be gone by now. No matter how she looked at it, it felt like they were alone. She didn't knew much about the world outside of the village. Just that some elves where relatively near by. But they didn't interact a lot. But if someone survived, maybe she should find them? But why… there was no point. Could she just move on with her life after this? But even if she couldn't, what choice did she have? She wouldn't just die sitting here, she told herself. And with all the courage she could muster, she forced a smile on her face and lead the group away, determined to find a place in this world for all of them. To save everyone.
She had made uo her mind. That would be her goal. Her life. Which made her next destination clear. She needed to become stronger. So she would do what everyone always advised her to do. She'd go to the Magic School of Lunis, and definitely become strong enough to save everyone.
"I will never lose anyone again."
A core value had taken place in her heart, where just a moment ago was only empty despair.
But life gave Arina and her friends an opportunity that day. An opportunity that would challenge the flaws of humanity and her own beliefs.
Shortly after leaving the ruins of her life behind, she began a journey far greater than the ancient magical place she once dreamed about.
"Hello, Arina…"
A female voice spoke with sympathy. When Arina turned around she already recognized the voice.
"Satomi…?"
It was Satomi, an elfen adventurer that had helped her train in the past. She seemed to be passing by, and had noticed them a while ago.
"What are you doing here?"
Arina asked, perplexed. Not expecting anyone to be here besides them.
"I could ask you the same thing… how are you unharmed?"
"We weren't in town when… 'this' happened. What about you? What are you doing here in the first place?"
"Just… checking in… I'm glad to see you. That guy was wrong after all, it seems."
Satomi seemed down, which Arina found understandable considering the situation. But the mention of a 'guy' piqued her interest.
"What guy? Why was he wrong?"
"There was this strange guy, accompanied by a really pretty woman with white hair and deep blue eyes. He claimed to have passed through this town, but only found it in its destroyed state. He said there where no survivors, but I'm glad he was wrong with that."
"Did he know or see anything about this?"
"I couldn't get anything out of him. He seemed trustworthy, and between us, I think the girl was totally in love with him."
"Uh huh… well, maybe I should find this guy and ask him myself. Do you know where he is now?"
"We parted ways at the capital, and I haven't heard of them since. But they seemed young and the woman was gifted in magic, so maybe they are on their way to the magic school in Lunis? That would be the closest one near by. It's only a guess though."
"That place, huh… you always tried to get me there… you really think they could be there?"
"It's the best guess I have for you, sorry."
"No, that's way more than I could've asked for. Thank you."
"So you guys will go there now?"
"Looks like it… We have not much else to do, y'know?"
A forced laugh made its way on Arina's face, but it wasn't as bad as it was earlier. She wasn't lost anymore. And if she was, she had a plan to find a way back on track. She'd go to Lunis and find the guy, and while she is at it she could try to qualify for the school too. It wouldn't hurt since she wanted to get stronger anyway. She wasn't going to give up. She was never as determined as now in her life. What she felt right here and then, was a dream.