Helena Amakiir

Arrival
I woke up in the Uldarashi deserts North-East of Nearon. I do not recall how I ended up there in the first place, nor do I know anything of what was before. I do, on the other hand, remember the immense pain soaring through my body, as I could barely move a muscle when I finally woke from the slumber.

Was I perhaps in battle? No. Although I was dressed in clothing somewhat suited for combat, and even equipped with a sword, I had no external wounds. Instead, I was coughing up sand and my head was aching tremendously. I could not focus properly as my mind was clouded with confusion and pain. I was lost.

The sun was the only thing that filled the emptiness of the sand dunes stretching for miles in every direction. Truly, I was never meant to make it through. Time was running out as my body had already neglected the mind’s determination to stay alive. I vividly remember the pessimistic thoughts I had while trying to make sense of things: «Was this it? Was this the end to something that had just started? Certainly no fate could be worse than having only just begun, to so perish.» And then another thought hit me; perish from what exactly? What lays beyond the sand dunes, if anything? Are there more of me out there? More lost souls? These thoughts kept repeating themselves in my mind as I aimlessly wandered in the desert for what seemed to be no end.

Nightfall eventually came, and the moon had fully conquered the sky with its many stars. Despite the lingering pain, my determination, or perhaps stubbornness, kept me alive. I kept walking with the scarce light the moon gave me. But eventually my fragile body did give in. My mind too crumbled with it as I fell to my knees, reaching for the sword to make the inevitable come sooner.

But then, as I glanced at the sword, I spotted a cloaked figure in its reflection behind my own. Was this merely a cruel trick by exhaustion? With the darkness that filled the night, it was hard to make out the facial features of this cloaked figure too. After taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and tried to focus. Though, my hands were shaking, and I became hesitant. Even though death is inevitable, I still carried the fear for it, and struggled to do the one thing that would end my suffering.

However, from that point on in my story, everything changed. The wind grew stronger by the second, and it somehow filled the emptiness in my mind with its powerful, melodic breeze. And that is when I heard it. In a calm, soothing voice, the wind called out to me. It whispered to me; «My child… head south…beyond the sand dunes… to the city of freedom.»... And as I then opened my eyes and looked up into the starry sky, it was now filled with the many colours of the universe. Green, purple, magenta and blue, as well as many more, all combined into this beautiful chain of light.

The wind, with its gentle touch, kept circling around me until I got back on my feet. Where did this new profound strength come from? This strange event which brought comfort in my heart, challenged the agonising pain that struck through my bones. I convinced myself I could hold on a little longer. The lingering pain was eased as I no longer felt the heavy burden of being in this fragile body, but my mind was still lost. I simply kept walking. Walking with the guidance of the wind and the many colours lighting my way forward.

To be continued...