The earliest childhood memory I have is the recollection of being fished out of water off the coast of an island whose name I cannot remember. I recall the faces of the seamen, their captain, the shape of the ship. But for the life of me I cannot remember their names.
After months of voyage, we arrived at the city called Sasserine. No one knew what to do with me until Lord Knowlern offered to give me a place in his family’s plantation outside of Sasserine. My natural affinity with nature, as well as, keen senses made me a successful handler of His Lordship’s herds. Though it has been years since I last saw His Lordship, he always sent a token on the each anniversary of my arrival in Sasserine, as if that day was the day I was born. But I cannot find peace in the ideal and tranquil life on the plantation and I asked permission to go Sasserine at least once a month. To have fun, I said. It was during .one of these monthly visits that I discovered the Church of the Whirling Fury. Somehow, their teachings touched something inside my soul, resonating with the fundamental truth that this world is under siege from demonkind and that we must do what we can to stop the invasion. Thus, began my training. So did the dreams.
After my induction into the Church of Whirling Fury, I began dreaming of another ritual back in that island with no name conducted by a man who I think is my father. Strange symbols were being inscribed into my flesh. “May the gods stand with you in all the empty places you must walk.” My father intoned then an alarm could be heard.
A man appears who I think to be my elder brother his flesh also inscribed by the same strange symbols, “Quickly” he says “You must leave, we will hold them off as long as we can. Little brother, no matter what happens you must live.”
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Then, the dream shifts and we racing through the jungle, some unnamable horror hot on our heels. My father stops and I see why. We have reached the end of the race only to find that we have been herded to a cliff. The hunters, as there are now more than one, are still a few moments away. My father, clutching his spear and shield, appears to be trying to grasp the horns of a monstrous dilemma. Then, without warning, he says, “Know that you must live.” He then shoves me off the cliff. I fall then I wake up.
Years passed and though I still am a handler in Lord Knowlern’s plantation, I also am soldier in a secret war against demonkind. Gone were the feelings of wrongness. I know now what I must do.
