Leo felt cool water beneath his fingertips. His parched lips and sleep encrusted eyes parted slowly as inhaled the fresh morning air. Emerald covered bark and mist were before his eyes. He thought for a mere moment before he sat up suddenly. Forest spread in all directions in an endless abyss of foliage and greenery. A small brook lapped next to his hand bringing fresh water to him. He cupped his hand almost instinctively and took a sip. It was pure. He drank deeply of the brook and then tried to make sense of what had happened to him. His mind raced but all that could be found was a void. He knew his name, and where he grew up, and the last woman he slept with. He knew where he worked, remembered his career as a machinist, and part time programmer. Where was he now though?

He peered down at his clothing to find it in shambles. Small tears and loose threads indicated he’d been somewhere and done something out of his character. His hands were calloused as well, and small cuts and bruises dotted his feet. It must have been a long time since he’d seen civilization or whatever passed for it. He reached into his left pants pocket and felt something smooth and flat. He pulled the item out of his pocket and gazed at it. It was a metal disc. Smooth as silk on one side and on the other it was etched with glyphs and a pictogram of a hurricane encircling a sapphire.

Puzzled he traced his fingers around the disc. He felt concerned that what he was touching did not belong to him. He also felt that he should stop tracing the glyphs on it. He slipped the disc back into his pocket and thought very hard about which direction to go. Not one bit of the scenery looked familiar; nor did it offer any clue on which way was out. A brief moment of panic seemed to enter his mind. Nonchalantly he felt the emotion coming and quashed it. As if the panic never existed he thought on his next course of action. He gazed at the brook. A brief vision flashed into his mind; one of people singing and dancing. People who looked not at all like people. They were eating, drinking, and being merry though. Their eyes were gold, and their hair silver. The vision abruptly faded, and an urge to follow the brook south overtook him. He strode with a degree of certainty; and realized the people in his vision were not people. They were outlanders. Piece by piece his mind would come back he casually thought; of this he was convinced.

Rosha glanced up at the morning sun and realized she was late for her lessons. She jumped out of her night gown and dressed at a frenetic pace. Even if she was the most gifted pupil in her class she was no exception to the rules. It would be her fifth tardy and would incur four demerits if she did not arrive in time for role call. She splashed water on her face briefly and ran for the door of her small room. As she raced down the small hallway of her dwelling she recited her rotes of choice in her mind.

“Not going to eat anything are we?” her mother Kasha cautioned her.

“No time, I’m late,” Rosha said in one short breath. Without hearing her mother’s muffled response she was out the door.

Rosha sprinted to the stable and gazed at her horse Tala who was not bridled at all. Huffing angrily she decided to ride it bareback again. Despite her desire for more comfort, it would have to do. She leapt onto the horse’s back with the grace of any outlander. She whispered two words and the mare’s thoughts were linked with hers. She felt it’s heartbeat and felt it’s mind’s urge to eat more food. She quickly dismissed those notions and put the thought of her school inside of mare’s.

Hungry for oats now Tala grunted.

We’ll get you some fresh oats with honey soon after I get home. Now move. Rosha commanded.

With that the horse sped off towards her academy. She peered at the sunlight in the sky again. She must have been very late she thought as she looked around the other pathways leading out of the forest and found no other students riding towards her destination. She cursed her mother for wanting to live so far away from the academy and Alquen. After her father had perished in a siege on the city of Alquen her mother didn’t want to be anywhere near it. Paranoia seemed to envelop her mother’s thoughts these days. Yet one more reason to pay her no heed Rosha thought.

As she rounded the bend she caught view of someone who would only delay her.

“My, my, record time Rosha,” the gold-eyed boy with short hair said to her.

“I’ve no time for this right now Pasha; I’m already late. Don’t you have metallurgy class to attend?” Rosha snapped at him. How was it that he never got into any trouble these days?

“Well, I would but…lets just say I enjoy watching you run so fast,” he said lewdly. His gaze drifted to her slightly unbuttoned dress. She chastised herself for being so careless.

“Do me a favor and stable my horse if you’re not in a hurry, I’ll give you bigger eyeful later,” Rosha lied.

“Yeah, just like you gave me that free bowl of berry cream when we were eight?” Pasha snapped.

“Please Pasha?” she pleaded. Although he was her best real life friend he would not deny her. Rosha had a knack for luring those with less willpower than her to do her bidding. Of course, an ample bosom and youth helped.

“Fine, fine. Get to your class,” he chuckled, “I’ll cash in on this favor later…” he winked at her as he led the horse to the academy stables.

By that time Rosha was in a dead sprint. Her feet ached when she ran in these sandals. She would complain to her mother for pair boots. Being ladylike was the last thing on her mind on days like these. As she ran up the stairs to the front of the academy she noticed that even fewer people were in the front sections of the massive building. Twin spires jutted to the heavens, and at their base a huge domed building sat. Both spires were said to be carved from the richest ivorystone, and the dome was inlaid with etched-gold. At the tops of each of the spires were small chambers where the two headmaster’s offices. One specialized in the physical arts and the other the meta-physical. Together they sought to enrich the youth of the realm with knowledge and wisdom.

“What cow dung,” Rosha thought. The training she had been given in-class as of late was boring her to tears. The teachers hated her for being so proficient; and enjoyed relishing in her tardiness at times. It was the only visible flaw she had on an otherwise spotless school record. Regardless, Rosha had bigger plans and her self-training was going well. Despite being an accomplished elementalist, she could sing, dance, enjoyed math, and had some skill with a bow and arrow. This was all just formality until she was accepted into the Royal League of Sorcerers for advanced training and study.

Rosha’s trip up the entry stairs, into the main corridor, and into the central foyer ended abruptly with a glare from a person she did not fear. No, fear was reserved for death, or slag beasts. The emotion she felt was worse than that.

“I see you’re here today Ms. Banesworth,” the gentleman in a grey coat said. His eyes flared blue; the color of an accomplished mage. No doubt drunk on arcane powers; he spoke with impunity.

“Yes, and I’m sorry for my lateness Lord Aunoch” she bowed deeply as she said this. She bit her lower lip as she bowed.

“Hmph. Well, I suppose apology accepted. But I would like to inform you that it is Almsday. The day of rest. What would you be late to?” said the gentleman.

“I…I suppose,” Rosha stood erect and her shoulders slumped. “I suppose nothing…” she said defeated, and embarrassed.

“Haha, don’t worry, it happens to the best of us! Why not relax and enjoy a morning tea with your headmaster?” he said clasping her shoulder gently and smiling.

Blushing, Rosha nodded and smiled. She followed him towards the left spire’s entrance.