A stinging pain in my arm brought me back to the waking world. My eyes shot open as I tried to find out what was going on.

"Who… who are you?" I saw a woman with white hair and bluish-grey eyes standing over me, holding what looked like a needle in my arms.

"My name is Ewelein." The woman said softly as she directed her attention to my open eyes. She seemed slightly startled.

"What happened? How did I get here… where is here?" I sat up and looked around as she took the needle out of my arm.

"What do you remember?" Ewelein asked as she sat down onto the bed that I was laying on.

"I remember seeing mushrooms that had made the outline of a perfect circle in a clearing… then a bright light." I thought about the last thing I could remember. "Then… a woman?"

"Hmm… well, you appeared in the Crystal Room as Miiko and the other Leaders were meeting about an important issue." Ewelein started. "From what they told me, you promptly fainted as the Oracle appeared and pointed to you."

"Uh… a few questions." I frowned. Ewelein nodded in response. "What's the Crystal Room? Who's Miiko? Leaders of what? And… who's the Oracle?"

"Wait, what? How do you not know -" Ewelein started but was suddenly cut off by the sound of the nearest door opening.

"Is she awake, Ewelein?" A man with glasses, blue hair, and a horn growing out of his forehead walked into the room. "Miiko and the leaders are starting to worry that she heard something she wasn't supposed to."

"Kero, she doesn't know about anything!" Ewelein stood up. "Dear, what is your name?"

"Sera…" I frowned. It was likely not my birthname, but it was what Brandon started calling me when he found me in the forest.

"Wait, are you human?" The man – Ewelein had called him Kero – seemed to be surprised.

"Mm… maybe? I don't know, 'I'm not normal, but I look enough like normal to pass as normal.' … Brandon's words, not mine." I felt my frown deepen with every word I spoke. "Where am I?"

"You don't know? This is the Tower of El. We're in Eldarya, the world of Faeries!" Kero looked like he'd just seen a ghost.

Once again, the door opened, though this time, it was slammed. I was surprised it didn't break.

"Is she awake?" A woman that looked like she was part fox, carrying what looked like a birdcage on a stick burning with blue fire, almost sounded ready to murder.

"Yes, but she doesn't know anything… about anything." Kero looked scared.

"Wait… what did you mean when you said that you're 'not normal?'" Ewelein was still focused on me.

"Uh… I'm immune to fire. And I – uh, I can also make fire. And I have a gem that's been attached to my belly button for as long as I can remember. My eyes are naturally orange." I listed off everything I knew about my differences.

"Interesting… where are you from?" Kero seemed to focus on me once more.

"I… don't know. I can't remember anything past three years ago." I looked away. "Sera probably isn't even my birthname. I don't remember."

"Well…" Miiko seemed to think about something. "You're free to stay in the Tower of El, but only as long as you join the Guard."

"'The Guard?'" I repeated.

"The Guard of El. Our World's protectors." Ewelein said. "But, Miiko, are you sure that it's a good idea -"

"Yes. Matter of fact, she should join the Obsidian Guard. She and Valkyon might be similar species." Miiko looked me dead in my eyes as she spoke. "Kero, could you show her to her new room?"

"Uhh… huh?" I was confused, but I wasn't sure what question to start off with.

"Oh, and your bag is still in the Crystal Room. The boys freaked when the dragon crawled out of it." Miiko left the room just as quickly as she came in.

"Well… snap." I deadpanned. "Where's my dragon?"

"Come on, I'll show you your new room." Kero smiled as he helped me out of the bed. "Maybe we'll run into it on our way there."

"Do you mind checking in to me this evening before you go to sleep?" Ewelein asked. "I want to double check that everything is good health wise."

"Of course." I nodded before I went to follow Kero out of the room.

"She's joining the Guard?!" I heard a very masculine voice call out. I looked over the balcony to see that Miiko was talking to three men.

"Kero?" I quietly called. "Who are those guys?"

"Those are the other Leaders of the Guard." Kero smiled. "The one with the white hair is Valkyon, the leader of your Guard. The elf is Ezarel, leader of the Absynthe Guard - and the vampire is Nevra, leader of the Shadow Guard."

Ezarel was the one who'd I'd heard.

"She could be a spy!" The black haired one, Nevra, said as Kero led me down the stairs… my stomach was begging fate that I wouldn't have to talk to them right now.

"She got here from the human world, Nevra! She doesn't even remember anything past three years ago!" Miiko still seemed as angry as before. Maybe that was just her face?

I noticed that the third one – Kero said his name was Valkyon – was being strangely quiet, especially considering that I'm now in his Guard.

"Is there a specific reason that you put her in Obsidian without even having Kero give her the questionnaire?" Valkyon spoke – just as my mind pointed it out to me.

"Because you two might be the same species." Kero spoke, turning everyone's attention to me. I immediately felt my stomach twist. "I guess she figured it might be a good idea, since you two are the only two of your species that we've encountered."

"Look at her!" Ezarel grabbed one of my arms and started waving it around. "She's a noodle! A useless, possibly spying, NOODLE!"

"Can you not?" I felt a scowl form on my face as I jerked my arm back – something he obviously wasn't expecting, since he nearly lost his balance. I wasn't entirely sure what he meant by calling me a noodle, but I assumed it was offensive. Maybe he was calling me weak? Noodles are pretty flimsy once they're cooked, and brittle when raw.

Either way, my stomach went from twisting to trying to collapse in on itself.

"You're free to take her to the arena, see what she can do." Miiko rolled her eyes.

"Good idea!" Nevra smiled as he looked me over.

"After I show her to her room! She just woke up a few minutes ago." Kero said. "You can't just drag her from one confusion to the next!"

"Alright. This evening, after supper?" Valkyon offered.

"Perfect." Kero smiled as he started walking again. After a second, I followed… even though after a few seconds I was tackled by my dragon.

"Pan!" I laughed as she licked my face. Her tongue had a rough, sandy texture, and tended to tickle.

"See! I told you we'd run into your dragon!" Kero smiled as he helped me stand up. I clicked my tongue, letting Pan know that I wanted her to follow me as I continued to follow Kero.


Here's chapter 1 of The Eternal Flame: Reboot! I hope you guys like it! Please, tell me what you guys think of this first chapter, I'd appreciate feedback, whether it be positive/negative commentary or constructive criticism.