Born in the Flame

Chapter 21

   
My eyes fluttered open at the sound of soft tinkling glass chimes. It was a gentle awakening that wove into the delicate breeze that flowed over my skin. Sitting up, I looked around me to take in the surroundings. I looked at the spring meadow before me and the tumbling drocatian mountains in the background. Small strands of gossamer spider silk floated around me. When I noticed the first strand to float past me, I noticed that the texture of all the wildflowers around me seemed to also be made of it.

    Again, I heard the sound of glass chimes dancing on the breeze. It seemed to call out to me, but I wished to stay just a moment longer. My hand grazed the small, purple flower in front of me. It was the softest thing I had ever touched. The beauty around me felt like I was in a painting. I didn't remember how I got here, but I felt that if I followed the glass chimes, I would learn.

    The chime sounded for me again. This time I followed the breeze of the wind and the silk strands, toward the tinkling glass. Spider silk danced on my face as I moved. With it brought the memories I had long forgotten. There had been a moment in time where I had learned to walk, and another where I said my first words. Moments that I couldn't remember in life, flowed to me on the breeze and silks. It was a dance of memory and life. My memory and my life. The meadow's flowers touching my calves seemed to push me onwards.

    I began to remember my whole life. From the smallest mundane occurrence to the biggest moments in my life; all of it came on the gentle spring breeze. The smell of the meadow was strong and sedating. It was the one time I felt at ease. I even felt at ease when I recalled the tragic events in my childhood. Every single memory came and I knew it was futile to stop it, but I didn't care.

    This was the freest I had ever been, or ever will be. It was as if, during life, I had grown numb to the calamity that was seeing, breathing, and feeling. Yet, there was a sensation I couldn't name that enveloped me. I pushed on through the meadow without a care in the world, following the increasing sound of glass chimes. The more I moved the more I remembered; but somewhere along the way, all the memories had come back to me. Again, the chimes sounded, but I hesitated. I now knew where I was, what happened, and why I hadn't wanted to die. Yet, the calm that had held onto me still wrapped itself around my soul. In the end, my bare feet chose to move with the grass and wildflowers in the direction of the chimes.

    I had gone far, yet walked nowhere. The scenery seemed to stay the same. The mountains remained the same distance away from me than when I had first found myself here. One thing had changed, though. In the distance, toward the sound of chimes, was a figure. They watched and waited for me to continue. My feet moved on their own as my pace quickened to walk closer to the figure.

    The closer I got, the more details about the figure became recognizable. I did, but didn't know him. He was a tall male dusk elf with white tiger-stripe-like markings over his body. His gray eyes watched me as long black hair danced in the breeze. Strands of white seemed to be painted onto the black hair in graceful brush strokes. I paused, taking in the male before me. Again, I knew who he was, but at the same time, I had never seen him before.

    "Hello, Elwin." He said with a silken voice. It seemed to glide with the gentle wind that ebbed and flowed around us.

    "I'm dead?" I felt myself say. My breath and voice weren't the same as it was in life. As impossible as it was to describe, it felt impossible to even be able to speak. Yet, I did.

    "Yes, unfortunately." He replied. I continued to watch him. Small, barely noticeable, spiders moved around us carrying the strands to unknown destinations. Questions filled my head. I knew who I spoke with, and I had so many questions to ask.

    "Did Birch die?" I asked.

    "In a way, he did. But no, he didn't die." He calmly answered, "Come, sit with me."