The Cie, Journey to the Desert

Chapter 1- The Forest

In the deep woods of Jin-Ohi, there lived a group known as the Cie. The small group of peaceful Druids lived in harmony with each other.  The Druids could often be found using summoning magics, as the Cie were very skilled in such arts. They would take plants into their hands and rejuvenate them with their magics. However, there was a girl within this group of Cie, who was different. Vai. Vai was a blind girl, she was found in the river that ran up along the Forest, she was adopted and treated as one of the Cie since her arrival nearly twenty-two years ago. 

Vai often struggled with the magics that came natural to the other kids, as the other kids were growing trees with touch, Vai simply had to maintain hers with consent and reliable magics. She often struggled with summoning for anything larger than a small cat. She loved cats, the soft fur against her skin made her feel very  happy, more home than anything else. As she grew, she got better with her magics but never to the same level as the other kids of her age  group, even into adolescence and early adulthood. She could often be found telling stories to the young girls whose magic skills met her own. 

"I've always wondered what it's like to see the world as you children do" she would say with her soft voice.

"But we're already Cie" the children would laugh as she smiled the way she often would. 

"Yes, we are Cie,  aren't we?" Vai would respond, her smile spreading across her face as it often would when she spent time with the children. However, she wondered if it was true. 

"Vai, come home." a familiar, yet soft voice called.

"Yes father." she responded happily, standing up, and conjuring a wooden stick so she can walk with ease. She had fallen once to many times on loose branches to not have it with her. It was  her most used spell.  

"Vai, It's time I told you something that I probably should have told  you a long time ago." her father spoke somberly, almost as if saddened to finally admit what he was about to say.

"Dad, what is it? You don't sound very good... is something wrong?" she said, concerned for her fathers wellness.

Via's father put pressure over his wound where he had recently been stabbed by an unknown assassin. Cringing at the pain it caused him. "Vai, you know that you aren't like the other Cie, but listen and listen well. You aren't one. Your mother and I found you in the River Noi-Vish. It runs through the desert. Before your mother's passing, she wanted to take you there. Although you understand why that never happened. I have someone to take you. Just tell Veri; that its time for you to seek the sands. Tell him..."

"Seek the sands? Dad, I don't understand."

"Even I don't understand right now Vai, but this is your mothers dying wish. Go on now. I need to rest. I want the full story once you return." her father chuckles, Vai hears the bed creek as he lays back in it. 

"I'll be sure to tell you about whatever I find out!" Vai says excitedly, turning and walking out. Ignorant of the fact that that was the last time she'd ever speak to her father.

Vai stepped outside, the midday sunlight through the leaves of the dark-wood trees, the warmth on her back, and the idea of a new Adventure. she smiled to herself. As she walked the familiar path down to Veri's house. Veri was the local mage, all Cie had some magical abilities, but Veri was born to use Magic. His elven blood made him a natural, as he was quick to tell anyone who dared question his skill. As she approached the large tree Veri had made into his home, she waved her hand, a particular but simple spell in order to make a sound similar to knocking. She used this spell often as well, in order to save her the cruel trip both up and down the twisting stairs. Most Cie knew it was Vai when this spell was used, and would happily come out to greet her.