Tale of Mythralis

I - Leren of Maple Shade

*****

Leren stood in the same familiar scenery, in the same familiar hill, with two familiar children she didn't know.

Leren climbed the little hill, and what welcomed her is a captivating sunset, the most beautiful sunset she had ever seen and the most luxurious view that she was allowed to see given the status that she had.

In the top of the hill, she saw a little girl sitting and watching the gorgeous golden sun as it sets in the distant horizon. Leren approached her slowly, when suddenly a little boy came running towards the little girl while holding a cage with a small bird trapped in it.

"Look! It's a gift! I caught this for you." Said the little boy with pride evident from his face.

However, the little girl's forehead creased and snatched the cage from the little boy's hand.

"What are you doing?" She uttered with slight anger in her voice. She opened the cage and freed the bird from it.

"Birds aren't meant to be caged. They are made with wings so they can fly to the sky!" She rebuked him with her melodious but loud voice.

The boy pouted. "Sorry. I just wanted to make you happy." 

"It's okay. Everyone makes mistakes. But next time, don't do that again. Okay?" She showed a sweet smile that could light up a whole town. 

"Okay. I promise." The boy said and started running with her, away from what Leren's vision can offer.

*****

Leren opened her eyes and realized that she woke up from a dream. The same dreams that she constantly had.  It's been several years when she started dreaming about those two children.

Leren didn't know who they were but they kept on appearing in her dreams. Different settings but the same people.

"It's the same dream again. Kailan ba ako titigilan ng mga panaginip na 'to?." mahinang bulong niya sa kaniyang sarili.

She got up from her bed and looked around. She felt relieved after she saw that there wasn't anything out of place in her house. It's still the same small and slightly dirty home. The house that she managed to occupy after running thousands of errands for the elderly in her village.

Mahinang buntong hininga ang lumabas mula kay Leren nang maalala niya na kailangan na naman niyang bumangon at magtrabaho para lamang mabuhay sa araw araw. Ilang beses siyang huminga ng malalim para magising ang diwa niya.

Leren lived in a small, poor, and run down village called Maple Shade.

Leren was known in the village as an enthusiastic and positive girl. She grew up in an orphanage after a mage found her alone in the dangerous Faraday Woodsland, where Venomroot Nymphs are commonly found, when she was a baby. Venomroot Nymphs are elegant humanoid creatures with the skin color of emerald and hair that resembles vines. They were in possession of toxic plants and the capacity to control vines to trap and harm unwelcomed outsiders. They were considered as dangerous creatures especially for a helpless little newborn.

Itunuturing ng mga madre si Leren bilang isang maswerteng bata sapagkat natagpuan kaagad siya sa gitna ng mapanganib na kagubatan bago pa man may mangyaring hindi kaaya aya sa kaniya.

After the mage found her, she handed Leren over to the orphanage where she can be taken care of. 

Since then, Leren has been a very kind, approachable, and positive individual. Every nun in the orphanage adored her.

When she officially became an adult, she left the orphanage and fend for herself. On the other hand, the whole village that loved her, constantly offered her errands in exchange for money or food, and that's how she have managed to lived her life alone.