”What do you fear?” the old shaman asked.

She lay across the ground, drowned in tears and sweat.

“Useless…”

She walked upon a dirt road. As the orange sun beat down, she tossed mouthfuls of nuts in her mouth. Her thoughts were geared towards the excitement of joining Faith United. The heat beat down, but she did not care. A butterfly fluttered by as she gazed upon the flower spotted meadow. Her boots scruffled across the ground. In the mountains of Eiskalt, in a trial conducted by her neanderthal kin, she vowed never to give up hope. She vowed to be a potion of the earth, not a poison. She would bring health, joy, love, and hope to Althanas through heroics and good actions. It was her desire to help the world, even when its darkest forests threw monsters in het face.

She smirked, subconsciously holding her sword’s hilt. This girl had potential. Hopefully, in Radansanth, she would fulfil it.

”We all have monster inside us, dear. What matters is what we do with it.”

Yet, she had weaknesses to combat her strength. Anger issues, an anxiety disorder, uncontrollable powers. She was in a constant struggle for control of her own self. In the aftermath of her rage, she could be just as devastated as everything around her. Her past always hounded her steps, haunting her. She was forced to face memories she wished she could just forget. It always followed her. It was her ghost, possessing her mind until she broke.

Her own powers, which gave her even more strength, were so difficult to keep under wraps.

It seemed like she was destined to lose.

No. She refused to fall. She had already come this far. Her internal struggle was nothing she could manage. She would fight. Through blood and tears she would battle for some fleeting hope at the other side of darkness. She was sick of it. Sick of the misery. Through her wounds, however, she only grew stronger.

So she continued down the country road, carrying her weapons and alchemy kit. From a lone tree from the side of the path, the bright owl watched her with everlasting vigilance.