A/n: I didn't realize the prologue had gotten switched with my other story that takes place after this one. So, I have re-edited it, and will be editing and redoing the other chapters as well. I had it planned out how this story would go, but changed it completely for upcoming chapters as this will now be part 1 of a kind of trilogy. Enjoy and let me know what you think!
…where am I?.. The thought seemed to echo as the man walked around the room shrouded in nothing but darkness. "Where am I?..and how did I get here? I remember a war.. Yes, the Archadian Empire invaded Nabradia in an attempt to gain control of Dalmasca. Nabradia fought back, but was it enough? I remember being there fighting against the Archadian forces, but who was I? It should be such a simple question, but the answer eludes me. I've no idea who I am or how I got from there to here, wherever here is?
Am I alive?.. I seem to be fine, I can walk and my thoughts seem to be my own although my memory that seems to be as shrouded as this dark forsaken place. What has happened to me? What manner of creature would bring me here and take my sword without killing me? I must be fine, It would seem I have no wounds, but then why does my chest ache as though I've been stabbed?..
After a few moments he gave up on trying to decipher the events that had happened to him and resigned to try to find a way out of the darkness. He walked for what seemed like days. the empty space seemed to get colder and darker with each step that he took, to the point that he could barely see but a few inches in front of him,
It had never occurred to him that silence could be deafening, but it seemed to become more and more deafening with each passing step, each breath seemed to cut the air like screams of the damned and he could hear his hear pounding like a massive drum. It seemed no matter how many steps he took there was no comfort to be found.
"Is there anyone else in here?! Anyone?!" The man yelled as he continued searching through the darkness, squinting, but seeing nothing at all. Where is everyone? Surely whatever brought me here did not just bring me alone? There must be others somewhere, but why won't they answer me!? He thought with increasing frustration. Maybe my memory eludes me because I was slain and this.. This is my hell. There is no point in going any further because who is to say that I am not simply wandering in circles and am not back to where I started? I grow tired of walking and there is no water or food anywhere to be found, although now that I think of it, I've walked for hours, maybe even a day or more, and yet I feel no hunger, nor thirst…
This place makes little sense to me! If it is truly hell, Where are the others that have been sent here, and what did I do to deserve this? Could I have really been an evil person? If so wouldn't I have dark and evil thoughts even in this place?, I don't feel like an evil person even though my memories are just out of my grasp. Maybe something happened to all of Nabradia, perhaps it was some new evil magic that cursed us all and perhaps I am only walking and searching through the darkness of my own mind? If so has anyone found my body? Will I perish if I do not waken? I only wish that something or someone was in here could that could be found that would simply give me some answers..
Walking.. Climbing….Endless walking and climbing! I can't take it anymore! I am glad that I can see now, the darkness had grown so old. I have been in this place now for what must be at least a year. I continued walking what I hoped was as straight of a line as possible, never stopping for long. Mentally, I am exhausted, but my body is the same as when I arrived I believe. After what seemed weeks or months (the time here doesn't seem to pass here the way it did in Ivalice) the cold darkness slowly faded into a faint light and I could see in the distance what appeared to be a canyon of sorts. I thought that maybe I had escaped from that miserable place into an area where I might find some form of civilization, some form of life, but I was wrong.
I had hoped this was just some dark hole in Ivalice and that I was slowly making my way out of it, but no, this place is the same as before. Only now the empty darkness has been replaced by a dull menacing sun, the once flat empty space replaced with mountains covered in sharp black rocks that have no remorse in cutting the flesh of men to the bone so that now I must tread even more carefully. The quietness that I'd grown so tired of seems to be so distant now, as the roar of earthquakes and crashing of thunder constantly fills the air. I had thought that my stay in this place would be short lived or that I might find someone that shares in my torment, but there is no comfort here to be found.
The lone man was not able to keep up with how long he had been stuck in his lonely prison but without the passing of the sun he was able to keep track only with the steps he had taken and the things he had done to occupy his time. Slowly as the time passed he gave up on seeing anything except for the barren land he had come to know. Oh how he missed the buildings he remembered, the taste of a good meal, the comfort of a soft bed. What he hated the most about this place, however, was the loneliness. He would have given anything just to have someone to talk to. He was sure he would never see anyone again. He was sure of many things, but everything changed when suddenly a bright light seemed to shine and burn its way toward him, a burning light that consumed the surroundings of that barren place and finally engulfed him in its powerful blinding gaze.
"Wake up!... Hey mister wake up!"...
"He's dead, that's why he can't hear you"…
"I don't think he's dead, I think he's just sleeping."…
"Let me poke him with this metal pointy thing I found over here. If you are right and he is sleeping this will be sure to wake him up"…."
As they continued their conversation, he began to stir. "Uhnn…wha..where am I?"
The little boy jumped up excitedly and said "You are alive! This is Warjilis. Where did you come from and who are you? Did you come from the ocean?" as he and his older sister walked in close, almost standing over him. "See Alec? I told you he wasn't dead!" she stated proudly.
The stranger struggled to stand to his feet and held his head that pounded with a great ache. "Warjilis? I've never heard of this place before. I am certain." Alec looks at him puzzlingly. Wow, you must have been in the water a long time mister, everyone knows where this is! My mom says this is one of the biggest trade cities in Ivalice." He looked at the boy as if lost in thought for a few moments. "My brother is so rude! He hasn't even introduced us yet, my name is Ellis and the stupid one is my brother Alec. We found you washed up here about an hour ago." Ellis exclaimed.
Holding on to the nearby tree for support he looked around at the land surrounding the little alcove where he was currently standing. The waves that hit the shore seemed to be coming from afar, so it must be an ocean. A city rested nearby on the very edge of the water, so that means it would have to be a city of trade, just as the boy had said, but hadn't airships taken the place of water transported trade? Up the hill from the city laid a road, a well-worn patchwork of hand-laid stones. "This place doesn't seem very different from the place I came from, mayhap I am on another land that isn't quite as advanced as Dalmasca, but how did I wash up on the shore when I have no memory of being anywhere near the water? Are there no airships that pass by?"
The children chuckled at him amusedly and said "I think you must have hit your head mister, we've never heard of Dalmasca before, and what is an airship?" This time it was the man's turn to laugh. "You mean you've never seen an airship before? Even if this place is not the same continent that I was from, surely you would have at least seen one fly by from time to time; they fly everywhere!" Alec and Ellis exchanged bewildered glances and shook their heads "The only thing we've ever seen flying are birds and sometimes those nasty monsters the soldiers keep out of the city. By the way we told you our names, but who are you? You DO have a name Don't you?" He stared at them for a moment as if looking through them "My name.. I had forgotten, but it seems more clear to me now.. My name is Rasler and I am lost.