I lived a mere shadow of a life. I try to remember my name, but it's like remembering an echo instead of a voice. Or seeing ripples in water, but no stone. That's all my life has been: echoes and ripples. I lived only the consequences of others. But now my spirit wanders - no longer bound to a cage.
My once fragmented mind assembles before my eyes, piece by piece, memory by memory. Near the rim of consciousness, my fingers rasp stone rubble and rake grass and dirt. My vision clears and a fine-dressed woman sits horseback in a pasture nearby. Her skin is pale and she holds a glowing bow. Her eyes stay fixed on something. What is she spectating? My gaze follows hers and I survey two others in a golden field. One seems like a monstrous, black mountain and the other is a young man, fit and green. Green? Green just like - swords swinging, they lurch at one another. I hear the clashing echoes. I cannot tell if this is real or a memory or pure fantasy?
A small imp lies near me. Her hair burns orange and she cries. I know her from somewhere. I feel for her somehow. My senses are dulled, but I can feel another near. Is it him? I must thank him. I never got the chance to thank him…
No one comes to my side and I lay prostrated for hours. Time passes; and my arms tremble like branches in a squall as I rise onto my hands and knees. I hear the sound of someone approaching, they kick dirt with every step. I peek upward and see golden boots bouncing light in all directions.