The Original Vessel

Chapter 1

He awoke in a field, gentle breezes rolled soothingly over him. His mind was as clear as the sky that day and his body relaxed in the soft grass. He thought nothing could disturb his peace until he tried to think of where he was.

Sitting up, he glanced around at his surroundings. To the north, nothing but field. To the south, a small rock formation and more field. To the west, he thought he could see, far in the distance, an outcrop of what might be a town, perhaps even a city. To the east, a small town and a farm, maybe even two. Much closer than whatever it was he saw to the west. The sooner he could get to that small town, the sooner he could get some help.

But wait, who was he? He looked down at himself, staring at his hands, the strange purple symbol that looked like it was painted on, the long black coat that was merely draped across his shoulders like a blanket around a lost child. His mind was no longer clear but now it was filled with mud and fog and questions. So many questions. Who was he? Where was he? Why was he on the ground? Why was he asleep? Did he pass out? Why couldn't he remember anything?

Only one thing came to him when he tried to think of his identity. Six glowing eyes piercing through the fog in his mind. A gentle voice resonating from all around him. It whispered so loud that he couldn't hear it. It only grew louder and more garbled the more he tried to make sense of the words it was saying until it stopped suddenly and left the man.

The voice left him rattled and it wasn't until he was lightly prodded on the shoulder that he realised there was someone trying to talk to him.

"What're you doing sitting in the grass all by yourself, Nathair?" A young woman laugh at him.

Nathair? Is that his name?

"There are better places to slack off than in a field y'know?" She laughed again.

Looking up, Nathair caught a better look at the woman's face. A kind, gentle smile and dimpled cheeks, dark eyes that shone in the light framed with blue bangs. She had dirt on her face and her hair was in pigtails under a straw hat. A farm girl if ever he saw one.

In seconds, she'd grabbed Nathair's arm and hoisted him to his feet.

"you look like you've lost your mind, Nate. What's the matter?"

Nathair awkwardly explained his situation and apologized for not recognising her. The woman's smile faded.

"you're not joking around, are you?" Nathair shook his head no. The woman gave a light laugh.

"That's okay, buddy, we'll figure this out," she spoke gently as she grabbed Nathair's hand and began guiding him towards the town. "My name's Hailie, by the way," She laughed again as she looked back at Nathair, eyes lighting up as the sun hits them, "try not to forget it again, y'hear?"

As they walked, he imagined what mysteries he might possibly uncover and solve about who he is from Hailie and the other people of this small town she was taking him to.

Knowing that so many of his questions were about to be answered filled Nathair with excitement but something in the back of his mind gave him the feeling that something big was about to happen.