First Journey

Episode 1: Part I

||Episode 1 - Part I: Station of Beginning||

I remember a time when I lived in a peaceful world surrounded by a vast ocean. The wind was relaxing, and the sky so bright. My very heart thrived in the light that world gifted me.

But, then... A man came to me and asked me a strange question. No, he was no stranger. I easily recognized him as my master. His voice was difficult to forget, not that I would ever want to lose memory of it.

"Hey."

The way he called out to me was casual. His name, as strange as it might sound, escaped me. However, what child ever referred to their parent by first name?

"I hope you're ready for the next step."

Ready or not. I was willing to take the step into the unknown, just as he had asked me to.

My immediate response was to be a retort to his words. It wasn't seen as mean, because we always poked at each other. He would easily understand my meaning behind whatever was said. Understanding his intentions at this point, I did speak.

I accepted the task that was being handed to me. That pleasant world I loved so dearly was to be left behind. It might be forgotten, but I know my heart will recognize it the day I return.

間

*Dive into the Heart -Destati-* ... [Dive into the Heart]

Darkness stirred all around. I twist and turn as an unseen current drives me down, deeper into the darkness. There is nothing I can do to fight it. Rather than do just that, I allow myself to be pulled until a certain point. The current slowed, and I gradually moved downward to a circular platform awaiting my arrival. My eyes open and I can see very clearly a stationary image on the face of the platform, which was decorated with a beautiful stained glass depiction of different creatures. Pinks, reds, browns, blues, and animals to match each section of color. I was very fascinated by the peculiar design.

My feet touched down on the stable ground. The freedom to walk all over it was welcomed, but I remained at one point to admire my surroundings. There was the presence of darkness. What light there was shined from an orb floating above my head and from the glow of the platform under my feet. Nothing else was there to illuminate this dark location.

There is still time before the door is opened. Come forward... into the light.

A voice said to me as I gazed around the depths of the abyss. It demanded an action from me. Where the light shined down on the platform, I was being told to step into its wide ray. Hesitation struck me in the beginning. There was little reason for me to merely obey some random voice calling out demands. To listen to some stranger would be unlike me. This was no stranger, though. I couldn't explain why that was the case, that I could obey without too much thought. The hesitation fled away when my chest pounded calmly in a reasonable rhythm.

I walked and took as many steps necessary to get beneath the light. But it was swift to fade away when it became apparent that I was right where I needed to be. The light did appear again at three different points along the platform- to my left and right, and one in front of me. Short, trapezoidal pillars rose from the ground and took their stand around me. A trio of tools manifested above each of them, as if I was being presented with different options to select.

The power within your heart will need to be reawakened. It sleeps, waiting for the time you call out to it.

I glance around at the shield, staff, and sword. At the same time, a more internal voice beckons to my attention. 'If you give this power form... It will give you strength. Make your choice.' So I did need to make a decision about which of these weapons I wanted to use. Weapons to fight with in any given situation. Thinking of it as a test of some sort, I carefully went around to each one and considered their significance. Time to do so was on my side.