Purpose

[The Muri]

Another crappy solo.

Another night, another eight hours of pondering.

I opened the door to my room and entered. The darkness of night was met by the flicker of my candle. I walked over to a larger candle, seated on my window, and allowed the small, but violent light to start up.

After repeating the process again, I stalked over to my weapons rack and proceeded to fling my weapons on. My sword Calcator, my wooden crossbow pistol, Shok... I eventually had everything hung up. Some of these weapons I'd bought and acquired throughout time... but others I woke up to on day one.

Where did they come from?

I let out a sigh and walked over to my bed. Minus the small, purple pillow I usually woke up hugging, the bed had simple, grey sheets and two grey pillows. Despite how simple they looked, the sheets were actually comfortable. Especially comfortable for someone trying to fight sleeping problems.

As usual, I started out laying on my back. My legs, I was unable to stop them from wiggling. I was diagnosed with restless leg syndrome from the Ixian Castle medics. They said it wasn't a massive issue, it just would lead to small amounts of sleep loss.

Yeah... "small" amounts.

I sighed and went to faze two, grabbing my two grey pillows and elevating my feet under them. Somehow, elevating my legs helped. Pulling the purple pillow under my head, phase three began... warding off my thoughts.

[The Muri]

I just woke up there. On that beach. Oh, how I could remember the calm waves, the bright sky, and that suspicious feel. That feeling right there, it let me know that whatever happened before it must have been filled with terror. And yet, what did I do? I glanced out into ocean for hours.

And I still looked out. Looked out of my window, from the bed I lie in. I sighed and dared to turn over. I made sure my now slightly relaxed legs stayed up as I pulled the pillow over my head. I was exhausted, all I wanted was sleep. But my thoughts got in the way...

Who am I? Where did I come from? How did I get my weapons? How did I get that feeling? What am I? How come I'm so good at combat? Why do I love sweets so much? What's better, chocolate or-

- "I can't take it anymore!" I threw myself out of the bed. I could swear, I felt my hair standing. I was sweating from head to toe, my sticky sweat was causing much discomfort. I sighed and pulled my hands to my face, rubbing my purple eyes. I slowly sat down, trying to think up ideas on how to get my mind off myself. This was phase four.

[The Muri]

I pulled my grey jacket on and brushed my hair. Within my moments of peace, I was gentle. In even a single smidge of frustration, I brushed harshly, yanking more than just tangles out. I personally didn't mind the blond, greyed out, and multicolored stands of hair falling to the floor. I found myself chuckling though as I knew I would be caring tomorrow.

After brushing, I tossed the hairbrush on my bed and slipped my boots on. Might as well take a walk...

I stepped out the door with a candle lit for light. I kept telling myself each moment out here was a wasted moment out of bed, but I didn't listen to myself. I could hear my friend Astarelle, or Roht Mirage, tossing and turning in her own room, which was only a few doors down from mine. I scoffed, I was glad I at least didn't have sleeping issues like her's. I considered going in for a moment, but quickly moved on when I replayed the image of what a spooked Roht might look like...

Continuing down, I remembered my first day walking these halls. They were large and foreign to me back then, but now I could tell Astarelle was right; this was just a house. I walked through the halls and - suddenly found myself in the kitchen.

I decided that as long as I was here, I should get some hot tea.

[The Muri]

I was stirring my tea alone in the kitchen, which was usually loud and full of activities. This place was dark and empty now, the only light being the small candle lit on the counter. I leaned against that counter, stirring my tea. I usually went charging for coffee, but even I knew it was a bad idea right now. Coffee gave me too much energy...

I had no idea what time it was. How close was it to morning? I set the tablespoon in my hand down and clenched the warm, soothing cup of tea with it. I pulled it up to my mouth. The smell of the fresh herbs, the steam emitting from the smooth liquor, I already was feeling tired again.

I slowly sipped the tea, trying to get the mystery of my past life out of my head. It haunted me, I'll be honest, the fact that I was completely something else before the day I awoke always hung over me. I remembered that day I fought a demon tiefling in the Citadel, I remember how he taunted me. He suggested that I was just like him - a murderer. What if I was beforehand? What if I was a crook? I placed my tea down at the thought. Well, if I was a crook, wouldn't crime fighting groups like the Ixian Knights arrest me? Also, how come I always got that feeling when I realized I was talking to a criminal? That desire to stop them and take them down?

Was I really a monster? I still refused to believe so.

I shook my head and picked up the hot teacup. I sipped away at it again. If I wasn't a criminal, maybe I was the opposite? A hero maybe? Or maybe I had at least been trying to be - like I am now... I shrugged as I drank the last of the tea. I pushed myself up and went over to wash the cup and spoon. Still though, I was deep in thought...

[The Muri]

I was now back in my room, toying around with my charm bracelet - another confusing souvenir from my past life. I was tired enough that I was finally in bed, but I was sitting up in it. The candles in my room barely gave off any light. I sighed while I rubbed one charm of a key.

People often times shrugged me off as being a nuisance, I just knew it. A lot of people never took me seriously. The only person I knew who could manage hanging around the hyperactive blonde I was was Astarelle.

She had my everlasting respect for that.

I still didn't know if she knew though. If she knew how much I went through, knowing that something was buried beneath me and I have no idea what. It just kept clinging to me, making me suffer. Oh, and please don't get me wrong. I love working as a monster slayer in the ranks of the Ixian Knights, and I love the friendships I formed during that time. Oh, Miss Astarelle was like a sister to me. However, I just had to know. Oh, how I longed to know who I used to be. My heart ached, knowing it certainly lost something before now. My soul screamed for answers.

By now, I lost count of the phases of staying awake during the night. I simply felt lost.

[The Muri]

I felt a sudden burst of rage course through me that night. How come I even forgot who I was? What was I before? Not a hero, not a villain... maybe I was a failure.

A failure.

How I got here, was it by failure? Did I mess up so much that whoever I was must of been ripped right out of my hands? What if these torturous nights of wondering was some form of punishment by someone? For being a failure. Now, more questions poisoned my mind...

What did I do wrong? When did I go wrong? What did I do to have my old me stripped away?

I wanted this to end. Now. I was sick, so sick of this. For the first time ever, I tore my bracelet away from my hand. I poured everything I had, my sadness and rage, into throwing it half way across the room. "Stop it!"

The sound of a metal chain hitting a wall, then falling to the ground, caused a deep pause. I was sweating again, breathing heavily. My thoughts were gone, the sound of my bracelet falling to the ground replaying in my head.

...

[The Muri]

I pulled my hands to my head, barely controlling my shaking. "Just stop it..." I found myself moaning. What kind of punishment was this? To perhaps be thrown away? ... But then something hit me.

Maybe I threw it away myself.

Maybe, just maybe, the life I had before was too much for me to bear. Maybe I lived some kind of tragedy. Maybe I wanted it to end and dared try to. Maybe I wanted to start over, maybe I tore my own memories away to take the old me away forever.

I sighed and fell back to my pillow, the bed creaking under my weight. "Who knows?"

I let out yet another sigh. Maybe I'd never know the answers. If that was the case, why was I wondering like this? Why was I wasting my night?

Why was I wasting my life?

I had a fun and adventurous new life here. I had friends, a roof over my head, an exciting job, and a place to turn to. I had a home here. Why was I not spending the night being thankful for this instead. I decided to get comfortable, I pulled the sheets over me, elevated my legs again, and sunk my head into the pillow. My own self kept screaming at me to get my bracelet, make sure it was okay, and put it on again. I kept sushing myself.

I don't need it.

[The Muri]

I closed my eyes, attempting to fill my mind with happy things. Happy memories. Like the day Astarelle and I got into a heated argument about me calling her "Roht." It ended with us both laughing hysterically. I also remembered the day I visited a baby dragon, kept by the Ixian Knights. It was such a cute thing! It attempted to bite me with its tiny jaws full of puny teeth. I was too quick for it each and every time it tried. I remembered the moment I was accepted into the Knights by the Sei Orlouge. My jaw had been dropped, but I was bursting with pride.

Looking back, I chuckled. Moments like those made all the difference. Sure, I had something before, but it didn't mean I also had something now. I had a happy life. Why was I stuck searching for yesterday?

I opened my eyes one more time, through the heavy curtains, I saw a purple light. I scoffed, thinking that my tired eyes were playing tricks on me. I closed my eyes and finally fell asleep, smiling.

[The Muri]

Suddenly, the door burst open.

"Wake up, sleepy head! It's morning!"

My eyes shot open. WUT?

The woman who had barged into my room, a maid, sang in a high pitched voice.


"Goooooood...
Morning, good morning, good morning!
It's time to rise and shine.
Good morning, good morning, good morning!
I hope you're feeling fine.
It's time to get up, get out of bed.
It's time to wake up, you sleepy head.
The day is going just for you
And all your dreams are coming true!
Do do de do! Do do de doooo!"

I felt the bed sheets torn from me. "Good day, Kaida, I hope had a good night's sleep."

I sighed, feeling as if I was going to cry, and sat up. My eyes were still squeezed shut. Hardly...

"My dear, please move off the bed. I must make it. Then I shall dust your shelves and..."

And wake me up early... I slowly rose from the bed, taking all the time I needed. Only several seconds after I was off the bed did I slowly open my eyes.

[The Muri]

I sighed, now my room was clean. The maid was short but... overweight... She should never move on to try a singing career. She even picked up my bracelet and placed it neatly on my window sill.

She suddenly looked at me with disapproval, "Well, I did my job. Would you mind doing yours?"

I sighed and walked over to my weapons rack. I pulled off Calcator and slung it on my back. Well, wish me luck, folks. With how tired I am, this could become a really rotten day...

[The Muri]

Done.

[Quentin Boone]

Strengths:

You do a fantastic job of getting into Kaida's head and showing the reader her state of mind.
Linked to the above, your use of short, snappy sentences really helps to show the almost-madness she is experiencing.
Given the brevity of the thread, you did a great job of making it a complete whole that links to the past and leaves it open to future threads.


Weaknesses:

There is a distinct lack of setting throughout the thread. While you make mention to bedclothes and candles, the reader is still left in a void. A prime example is between Kaida leaving her bedroom and drinking the tea; it would have been nice to know what the corridors were like, or what smells were left over from the day's work in the kitchen.
Early in the thread, some of the references to the past were confusing. It's okay to add a little more detail so things have context; remember that someone shouldn't have to read a character sheet for the thread to make sense.
There are a few spelling errors that would have been easily spotted with a quick proof read.


The Muri receives:

737 EXP
100 GP


Congratulations!

[Lye]

EXP & GP Added!

The Muri Levels!