Prologue

There's a chest in the main room. It's beautiful. Carved with symbols and letters I'd never seen before. I was surprised it was there. My grandparents weren't even alive when the people lived in this abandoned house, but they say the owners were meant to be heroes, the saviours of our planet. What a load of crap.

I opened the lid, only disturbing a little bit of dust. It looked like the box contained only paper, organised in a hazardous pile, written in different handwriting. Digging underneath the paper, there was more: ribbons, gloves, wolf-shaped rings, even glowing pieces of gems.

Picking up one of the those gems, which was white in colour, I lifted it slowly, until it glinted in the sunlight streaming through a window. I don't think it actually was a gem. But, it was so wonderful. I can only presume magic was involved.

Lifting the top piece of paper from the pile, I began to read the cursive handwriting.

This is going to be odd. I can tell already. I'm not even sure why I'm doing this. I suppose it will act a record to myself, just in case… well, I'm getting ahead of myself.

I suppose I should start with my name. At least, what I believe to be my name. Aerith. I do not know this for sure, but it's what the voices keep whispering to me. Voices… I fear I am mad. I do not recall, however.

I remember waking up on stones, with water lapping at my legs. There was an ugly tear in the dress I wore, above my stomach. A red mark, like a scratch, was on my skin below the tear. I next remember walking through a forest with white trees, which I stared at for a long time. I don't know why, but it felt like the forest was moving with me, responding to what I was doing.

After the white forest, the trees turned brown and green again. I saw buildings made from bones, but I don't remember much. Just a man asking how I can come out from the forest, that there's a tear at my upper back with a similar mark to my front, before ushering me into his house, giving me food, a bed, and the paper I'm writing on.

That was yesterday. Apparently, this is Bone Village, and the forest I came from is called the Sleeping Forest, which is only meant to be passable with a Lunar Harp, which was took years ago. But enough of that, that's not important. What's important is that I had a dream. But it felt so very real. Bright blue eyes looking at me, my own hands clasped together in front of me, before intense pain coursed through my body. The pain was so real, it woke me up, screaming.

I can only presume the owner of those glowing eyes caused me that pain. I can only presume that wasn't a dream, but a memory. And I can only presume that pain is what caused me to forget everything. I am frightened. I do not know anything, I'm not even sure of my own name. But I will search for those eyes. They know the answers I long for, that I need. I cannot live my life like this. I do not know where to start, but eyes like that aren't normal, I'm sure. It will not take me long.

My name is Aerith, I think. I am a woman who remembers nothing but eyes and pain. I hear voices in my head, jumbled and incoherent. I write this in case that pain is felt again, and I forget once more. This paper, and the words I will write in the future, will act as my memories.

I'm looking for a pair of eyes. How ridiculous.