My father looked at me, expecting an answer. Shocked by his presence, I merely nod and brought the ferra closer to me. I numbly follow him, the ferra following me at me heels.
The shock wore off rather quickly, so I could speak. "How did I get here? What happened?" My voice leaked confusion and his laugh made me feel stupid, as if I should know already.
"You transported yourself and this beautiful beast next to you here," he said, mellowing out. "By the way, the ferra is a girl and her name is Pearl. You can ask her yourself for verification."
I looked at him like he was insane as we passed a yellow crystal patch of wall. "I'll take your word for it," I decided.
"Your choice. Now, would you like to stay for a while, or go back?"
"Stay," I said without hesitation.
He smiled lightly. "Okay, then. Well, you're going to have a few responsibilities while you're here. Namely, training."
I nod, fully aware that I did not know as much as there was to know. "Who will assist me in training?"
"That," my father mused. "That would be me and your old friend Elyon and occasionally my assistant. You'll meet her soon enough."
I smiled brightly as I sneaked a glance at my father. There were other women around, not just me. A cheerful thought.
"Don't look too smug," my father warned me as he saw my smile appear. "She is not what you're expecting." He went silent for a moment and I, no longer focusing on his words, saw where we were. There was no sun, but the area was well lit all the same. Small stones laid embedded into the structure's walls, illuminating a small courtyard with its blue and green lights. Flowers bloomed in front of me as I walked forward in awe.
As I looked around, I began to feel like a little kid again, too curious for my own good. I reached out and played with a leaf of lemstyx, a deadly berry that grew only within minimal light.
"Careful," I heard a female voice tell me from behind. "However powerful you think you are, that will still kill you." The voice was soft, echoing in my ears. I turned to see my father and someone, rather, something, approaching from behind him.
"What are you," I demand, focusing on the newcomer.
"Adèle," my father warned me menacingly.
"No, no," she hushed him. "She can learn on her own." Facing towards me, I shrank back, her red eyes boring into me, but I held her gaze. "You're stronger than we gave you credit," she praised. "I am known by the name Moeirs, Zorien for-"
"Black serpent," I interrupt her. "I know the language, so spare yourself the trouble of explaining it in the future. But that is not what I asked from you." A glare upon my face and my hands now clenched at my sides, I await a response to my real question of what.
"A murem," Moeirs replied simply, without explaining.
I turned to my father, of whom merely shrugged. "I never said she was a living, breathing person," he remarked. I rolled my eyes as I turned to face Moeirs again, of whom was nodding appreciatively.
"Well, let's get to work, shall we?" Moeirs motioned me over just as everything went dark in the courtyard. Blinking slowly, I take a step forward, away from the lemstyx plant. I felt my father's worry start to take over his emotions. I block it out. Something was wrong, but I pressed on anyway as I slunk around Moeirs, encircling her. Waving my hand things began to fall on the opposite side of the courtyard. Or so the noise seemed to make a sound like. Then, a minute later, the sound of things crashing came from behind me. As the sounds echoed, I moved carefully forward, feeling Moeirs' presence nearby.
I was on the ground, coughing, choking. My whole body was convulsing. Soon, I started coughing up blood onto the floor. It felt like someone was pulling me, trying to force me to split into a spirit. It felt like death. Looking back on it, I would have realized it should have been a warning that things were going to get worse. Way worse.
Fear took root in my mind as I clutched my stomach in pain. The pain continued to grow, until it was unbearable. There were no lights, but I could see my vision failing on me, slipping away. My hearing had long since been out of commission. My head was pulsating. I ached all over and the pain was still increasing. I clutched my stomach harder as I continuously coughed up blood.
It took several minutes after the pain dispersed until I was finally re-aware of my surroundings. Things were crazy. People were everywhere and they were fighting and I was not running or moving and...
My rambling thought halted as soon as I spied it. Him. Her. The thing seemed genderless right now to me. It, he, came towards me fearfully, its, his, fur matted and long. The animal is not an it, I thought and decided it would become he for now, until I knew the real gender. Against my better judgement, I picked him up and started petting him. A tail of fire suddenly appeared as the animal seemed to soothe, The fur was rather soft and I began to wonder, finally, how I was here. I felt like I was in a dream, but my free will remained, so that was not quite right.
It only took me a moment more to recognize the area, the people, and then I was shrouded in darkness once more. The animal, he was still in my arms, yapping loudly and fearfully. I held him closer as the wind picked up, blowing my hair into my face. Voices were screaming my name and I could not reply to them. Whoever they were. The sounds were muddled, but soon became clear as time passed on.
"The end is nigh," a voice echoed clearly in my head, piercing easily through the darkness and other sounds before a bright light appeared in front of my eyes.
