Our tale begins on a warm summer day at Green Scarp. Aaliyah arrives with very little on her just a few id gems, and her talisman; a fire sword named Shard who can communicate with Aaliyah telepathically. Aaliyah is a slender wizard with long light purple hair parted in the middle, yet she decided not to get the tattoo so many other female wizards get. She wears a very simple battle robe that is form fitting to make running and fighting simpler.

As she arrived she encounters a strange bird like creature in the middle of the square. He is tall with large green wings and big chicken like feet.
"A silly looking creature.", she thought to herself.
He was clutching his side and she could tell he was hungry.
"Are you ok" Aaliyah asked,"You look ill."
"Careful", Shard told Aaliyah telepathically,"We are in a strange land and we do not know what this creature is capable of".
"Forgive me kind stranger but i am in need of your assistance, I have been injured in an attack while I was hunting, and cannot muster the strength to provide for myself.", said the strange creature.
"Beware helping others Aaliyah, their co-dependence can weaken you.",Shard said sternly.
"Nonsense", Aaliyah interrupted,"We began this journey to help people and to make sure what happened to us doesn't happen to anyone else."
"Of course I will help you, I believe I saw some wild boars on the way in. Perhaps they can provide the nourishment you desire."Aaliyah said with a smile.

Aaliyah spent the next few hours hunting boars. She saw a few other people around, but no one who seemed like they were in the mood to make new friends. Her mind kept flashing back to the moment where her life changed.
"You cannot change what happened Aaliyah, all you can do is move forward", Shard said in a more caring tone then she previously used.
"Thats easy for you to say, you didn't lose the only people you cared about, your just a stupid sword, you know nothing of how I feel." Aaliyah responded, obviously angered by Shards intrusion into her thoughts.
"True Aaliyah, I have not experienced first hand what you have, but I can feel the torment, and the pain. It hurts me as much as it does you, but I will not fight with you. If you wish to spend your time pouting and brooding I will not stop you.", Shard said in a sadder tone.
Aaliyah quickly finished off the boars and returned to the bird creature.
"I hope you can make these last until you have recovered," Aaliyah said embarrassed over her earlier argument with Shard.
"My thanks to you kind girl, you have done so much for me, let me repay you. I happen to know Buddhist Novice Shan and he may have jobs for a wizard such as you.", said the bird creature.
"Certainly, I'd be more then obliged to help out where I can. My name is Aaliyah, do you have a name?" Aaliyah asked.
"My name has not been uttered in 200 years, that was when i was enslaved by the monks in this temple. I am simply called Buddhist Slave.",he replied.
"Slave?!?", Aaliyah exclaimed,"Is that how you were wounded?"
"No my dear you mis-understand me, I was rescued by one of the monks here 200 years ago, and in my culture when someone has saved your life you must enslave yourself to their word. Since my original master died many years ago I have decided that I shall enslave myself to his cause, that of stopping the evil power from escaping, its a shame the ice cube disappeared." he explained
"Its a shame you failed"Aaliyah thought to herself.

The Buddhist Slave led Aaliyah further down the square and introduced her to a short child like bald monk.
"Buddhist Novice Shan I bring before you a kind wizard named Aaliyah who helped me find this food after I was wounded.", the Buddhist Slave said.
"I'm pleased to meet you Novice Shan.",she said kindly
"It is fortunate you have arrived when you did Aaliyah we are in need of help but may I ask you some questions first."he asked glaring at Aaliyah's talisman.
"What does he want?", Shard asked suspiciously
"Sure I don't mind.", Aaliyah responded, ignoring Shards comments.
"Ive noticed something strange about the talisman you wield, have you experienced odd effects while using it?",he asked.
"Don't tell him anything, we do not know this man, we do not know what he wants.", Shard said.
"He seems well intentioned, and for some reason I can tell he is good natured.", Aaliyah said. "Well I haven't told anyone this since it has happened, and I know it sounds insane, but I can speak to my talisman with my thoughts... and it talks back to me."
"No child you are not crazy, you have bonded with that sword. Such bonds only occur in times of great joy, or great pain, I hope not the latter in your case.", Shan lamented.
"Well I have no such luck I'm afraid, but a good friend once told me that I have to move on with my life. So if you need any help now is the best time to ask.", she laughed, obviously trying to avoid more questions.
"Well child II am in need of a certain herb that grows only here in Green Scarp. Our ally Old Nemnu is in need of healing after a recent attack.", Shan said.
"Recent attack???", Aaliyah questioned, "And why do you keep calling me child, I'm obviously much older then you."
"Not all things are as they appear to be child..., and since you have gone through something so traumatic as being psychically bonded with your talisman, surely you must know what is happening throughout the lands.", Shan replied hesitantly.
"I,... have been away", Aaliyah said softly, "after what happened at Laurel I didn't spend much time asking questions, I was just trying to survive."
"Laurel?!?" the Buddhist Slave yelled, "bad things happened there."
"She is well aware of what happened there Slave, I'm sure she does not need to be reminded further, besides don't you have some boar knuckles you should be boiling???", said Shan sternly.
"Sorry Novice Shan, you are correct. Stick around Aaliyah, I make Amazing boar knuckles.", the Buddhist Slave said.
"No thanks", Aaliyah responded with a laugh, "I have decided to have some of this fruit I found while collecting those for you. Besides I really should get going."

So the 3 parted ways. Aaliyah came to a small pond near the square where she saw the herbs gathered.
"Strange they would send me over here, why not just do it themselves" She thought to herself.
"Cause their lazy and shouldn't be trusted, I'm astonished that you actually told them our secret."
"They may know how this happened to us, and how to reverse it." Aaliyah responded.
"Reverse it" Shard said with a tinge of fear in her voice, "Why would you want to reverse it?"
You actually want to be stuck like this", Aaliyah responded.
"I don't know any other state of being this is all I am.", Shard replied sadly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, its just that I'm not used to having another's thoughts in my head I feel like I'm never alone...", Aaliyah said.
Aaliyah began picking the herbs when she came across a tall blue haired tamer, with two tattoos over her eyes, who was also picking herbs.
"Hey how are you, my names Gorpi. Did Shan send you to help with the herbs.", the tamer said happily.
"Yes, he did not tell me you would be here. My names Aaliyah." she replied.
"Hey Aaliyah who's your friend?" Gorpi asked
"Pardon me"? Aaliyah replied.
"Your talisman your bonded aren't you? I can tell. Theres an aura about you. I'm bonded also!", Gorpi exclaimed.
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that", Aaliyah lamented.
"Well the way i see it you cant change the past but you can control your own present know what i mean." Gorpi said happily.
"Or so I've been told", Aaliyah said rolling her eyes.
"My name is Shard by the way.", Shard said.
"Hi Shard, my name is Onjo!", Gorpi's bow exclaimed.
"Hey I can hear what your talisman said", Aaliyah said astonished.
"Yes when they communicate we can hear them, I'm surprised Novice Shan hasn't shared any of this with you.", Gorpi replied.
"Oh well I'm afraid I just met him, we really didn't have time to talk.", said Aaliyah.
"Well then maybe I can help you too! I know it was hard for me when i was first bonded, but you seem to be handling it ok.", said Gorpi.
"Yes well these herbs aren't going to pick themselves are they?" Aaliyah said with a laugh once again, avoiding the topic.
The two worked very well together and quickly became good friends, they also quickly picked all the herbs needed for the healing potion.

As they returned Shan was with another short, young looking, bald monk.
Shan took the herbs, and whispered something to Gorpi, after which Gorpi responded, "Hey Aaliyah I'm off to help my friend in the Hidden Cave, I'll see you around ok don't be a stranger!"
"Whats that all about", Shard wondered
"We'll find out soon enough I'm sure.", Aaliyah thought.
"Aaliyah we have decided that we will train you to better control your growing powers, but we need to ask you something. How much do you know about the recent attacks plaguing our lands?", Shan asked
"Not much all I know is that I lost everyone I ever loved in the attack on Laurel Mountain, and all I want is to make sure no one has to suffer the way I have again." she answered. "Well you cannot stop what is going on in the present without knowing what happened first in the past...

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Stay tuned to our story to find out what happened to Aaliyah at Laurel Mountain, who is responsible for these attacks, and how Aaliyah and Shard became stuck with each other.