As the sun's gentle rays caressed her face, she stirred from slumber, greeted by the soft glow streaming through the window. Squinting against the brightness, she shielded her eyes with her hand, taking in her surroundings—a room unknown to her. With a sense of solitude enveloping her, she gingerly slid her legs off the bed and rose swiftly to her feet, startled by the distant sound of a voice. Stealthily, she approached the door, noticing the absence of any guards stationed outside. She proceeded cautiously into the corridor, her steps hushed against the smooth flooring. A momentary pause seized her as distant laughter reached her ears—an indication of a gathering nearby, perhaps a small group engaged in mirthful conversation.
Observing from afar, she glimpsed a young woman tenderly offering a tray of nourishment to a boy, their familial bond evident in their gestures of care and support towards her. With a grateful heart, she retreated to her room, perching on the edge of the bed, anticipating building as she awaited the boy's arrival.
Moments later, he appeared with an endearing smile stretching across his face, and his voice filled with warmth as he greeted her, "Hi, my mommy made you some food."
The girl smiled, "Hello little one, much appreciated," she responded, "I am sure that it would be yummy,"
The boy watched her for a moment, " What's your name?" he asked, "my name is Elijah,"
The girl paused thinking about her answer, when she realized that she didn't recall her name. She thought, and her mind was blank when she thought about it.
" Elijah, our guest, has to be hungry," the man said, standing at the door, "Let her eat,"
"Okay, papa," Elijah said, then waved his goodbyes, " I'm going to see if Mama needs help,"
The man nodded as Elijah ran off, " I heard," he said, he sat on the chair in the corner," You don't remember your name?"
She shook her head, "I realized I can not recall anything," she said,
" Now eat up," he said. " we'll worry about it another time,"
The man headed to the door, "Thank you for what you have done for me," she said
He stopped and smiled, "It's nothing, my dear," he said
~
She couldn't sleep that night; she walked out into the kitchen when she heard stirring. Elijah was nowhere to be seen. The woman was preparing breakfast while the man worked outside.
" Good morning," the woman said, " Did you sleep well,"
" Yes, quite well," she lied, " Do you need to assist?"
Oh no, of course," she responded, " you are our guest,"
She sat down on a chair nearby in case she was needed.
" My husband tells me that you don't have any memories," the woman asked
" No, I can not recall," she said
" Then I guess you don't know why you fell from the sky," the woman replied
" From the sky?" She asked
" Yes," the woman said, " we thought you were a sign from the heavens. To help us in our time of need,"
" Maybe I ask?" She asked, "What do you need?"
The woman stopped her task; she set her spoon on the counter and then turned to her.
"I'm afraid our village is plagued with monsters," she admitted, " they have been there since the beginning. Our ancestors have been followed by them from the Old World. That's all we know,"
She looked down, "I see," she said, then looked up as if recalling something, "did I come with armor and a weapon?"
"Yes," the mother replied, " it was so big. We were surprised when you shrunk after an elder touched you,"
" I may not recall my origin," she said, " but I do know that I am not like you,"
The mother smiled, " As soon as I saw you, I knew," she said, " but you are welcome. Even if you don't help,"
~
Breakfast was a little easier for Rena, as that was the name that Elijah had given her. It was the name of his late grandmother. Rena helped Elijah set the table as a graying man entered the house, and Elijah smiled. He dropped what he was doing and ran over to him.
Elijah gave him a hug, " Grandpa," he squealed; the man scooped him up, " I missed you,"
The man pointed to his belly as Elijah giggled, " Were you a good boy?" His grandfather asked
He looked up at her, "You're awake," he said. " it's quite nice to meet you,"
Rena bowed her head, " It is a pleasure," she said, "to meet your acquaintance,"
~
Rena looked up at the gray sky as bright orange stars emerged. She frowned; everything was different.
Elijah's father, Winslow, walked beside her, " The stars are beautiful, aren't they," Winslow said, "Our legends tell of the Old World having yellow stars. What a strange world that would be?"
"All this is strange to me," Rena said, "I do recall the sky being blue and the stars a yellow or white color,"
"Hm, that sounds like the legends of the Old World," Winslow said,
"Maybe," Rena said, " I know that the sky's color isn't natural. No sky should look like the color of blood,"
"I have a lot of questions," he said, " but I know you can't answer them yet,"
~
Rena watched as the seasons passed; her memories weren't different, but her combat skills seemed natural. She knew for sure that she was a fighter.
She sat down, cleaning her blade as Elijah whipped around a wooden sword that Winslow had caved for him.
" Can you teach me?" He asked
"You can learn along with me," she responded,
" Elijah said, looking up at the sky, " I just want those monsters gone. I lost one of my best friends to them,"
" I understand, Elijah," Rena said; she hugged him, " I believe that I've lost others too,"
Elijah looked at her with tears in his hazel eyes, "I'm only eleven," he said, " we do. I have to see so much death,"
Rena heard a loud boom sound; she held her sword at the ready, and Elijah held the cloth of her tunic. She scanned as three fireballs hit the rocky layers. She scooped up Elijah and ran him into the village.
She ran toward one of the fireballs; Rena felt she had to see it. At the site, she saw a boy in a crafter; he was unconscious. She slipped down and knelt down beside him.
He had long, light gray hair and caramel-coloured skin. Rena touched him, and a green light emerged from her fingertips. She pulled back and looked at her hands.
The boy hugged her, catching her off guard, " I found you," he said
Rena pulled back, pushing him off her. He looked at him with bright green eyes.
" Who are you?" Rena asked
The boy smiled weakly, "Althea, stop joking around," he said, staring at her, "You know me,"
Rena looked away, " I do not," she said, " but I feel like I should,"
The boy looked at her with a saddened face, " We can introduce ourselves after," he said, " the others are here. Will you come with me?"
She nodded, " I shall," she said
~
Oceana glanced around, she didn't know where she was, but she knew that Althea and Salma were coming for her. She saw that she was sitting in a crater, and she saw a familiar face.
He had a bus cut, olive-coloured skin, eyes red like the sky above.
"Marcus, when did you get here?" Oceana asked
Marcus rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his muscled frame, " I sensed Althea," he said, " she was coming to you. You know how patient I am,"
"Yeah," Oceana said, then smiled when she saw Salma
Even Marcus smiled when he saw Althea, " Althea, it ages," he said
Salma shook his head, " Marcus," he said, " our leader doesn't remember us,"
"How can that be?" Oceana asked, "You're a goddess,"
Oceana scanned Althea; she looked at them differently. Her hand was pressed against her sword.
" We are but friends, Althea," Ocean replied. " You sense familiarity. Do you?"
Althea nodded, " I do," she admitted,
" We must find lodging," Marcus said as he glanced up, seeing a Malo flying by. " This world is dangerous,"
" Yes," Salma said, " I sense a village and strange creatures up ahead,"
" Those strange creatures," Althea said, " have helped me dearly. Do not speak of them in such a manner,"
" Apologizes, Althea," Salma said
" Do not call me that," she said. " I am Rena now,"
" As you wish, Rena," Oceana said, " take up to the village, my goddess,"
~
Salma prayed to his mother, Omya, but he feared she wasn't here in this Cursed realm. They had come to retrieve Althea, but she seemed to desire their safety. What was he to question a Goddess of Protection? It was in her nature to protect all living creatures.
He watched as Althea danced around the fire Marcus had created for the festival. He sensed no vegetation; how were these creatures able to survive. They were the only gods in this godforsaken realm.
They looked like Humanoid animals. They look pale, with sharper teeth than the Humans they protected in his motherland. Had they eaten animal meat after all this time?
Salma touched the rocky ground, allowing a small rose to emerge. He smiled, but the rose changed, turning into eating rose. Like it was a Venus fly trap. He uprooted it, and it was dead, withering away. He knew now nothing good could live or grow in this land. This land, these people that Althea loved so much, are Cursed.
~
Marcus glanced at the almost gray sky; it wasn't natural but cursed and filled with chaos. Usually, it would be bliss for him, but this place was different. Salma and Oceana found him sitting at one of the villagers' houses.
" You notice the strangeness as well," Marcus said when he jumped down
He straightened, "Yes," Salma said, " vegetation can't grow without turning monstrous,"
Oceana nodded, "Same with the creatures of the water," she said, "as well as the contamination of that said water,"
"This realm is what I would call a dead realm," Salma said. "Its core is unstable as well. I'm surprised these creatures haven't died out,"
" I, too, am surprised," Marcus said, " but there is no persuading our leader. The living, she will protect their life,"
" I know," Oceana said, " but we might have to see. They look like Humans and act like Humans,"
"But their Essence," Salma said, "isn't Human,"