Soemara groaned and flopped on her back next to the stonehenge. Her arms were sore and her swords battered. Worst of all she was bored. Really, really, bored.

After a few moments looking up at the sky she pulled herself to her feet and stowed her weapons. She'd have the guard's weaponsmith take a look at them later. For now she just wanted to wander around a bit. She considered calling on her magical abilities to go to the continent of Iria, but while its wide open plains were inviting, the sun would be setting soon closing the mystical gates that allowed passage over the mountains. She'd be better off waiting for the moon to rise so she could travel to another city. Maybe Port Cobh so she could get some fishing in.

She strode through the fields north of Tara towards the moongate, ignoring the dire wolves that roamed the area. She'd heard rumors that the Fomors were controlling the beasts to make life for the citizens harder, but since the only thing at the north of the city was the trading post, it didn't seem like that great a plan. For that matter even the weakest warriors could dispatch the wolves with ease. Every now and then an up and coming Milletian wiped out the lot.

As she reached the gates she saw a familiar figure in a wizard's dress waiting next to the stone portal. "Hey! Carnelia!"

Carnelia turned and smiled as Seomara waved. "Oh. Hello Seomara. Were you helping run missions for the court as well?"

Seomara grimaced and shook her head. "No. Fighting a bunch of alchemists and Golems in their fortress seemed like a bad plan for me right now. I was training against the zombies like you and Blurpleberry suggested."

Carnelia winced in remembered pain. "Ah yes. I remember doing that myself. How much progress have you made?"

"I've learned a lot actually!" Seomara smiled remembering how much further she'd gotten. She'd even managed to generate a small air pressure cut with her last strikes. "But... I'm not sure if I'm learning anything more. I may have to find stronger zombies. If there are such things."

"Ah," the wizard woman nodded sagely at that. "Yes that happens often. Especially since you're just starting to learn the combat arts. Enemies become easier fairly quickly. I might be able to help you there." Carnelia tapped her clothes. "This wizard dress isn't just for show you know. It acts a little bit like training weights when you need it to. I could let you borrow it a bit, until you finish your training. That should help you gain mastery of the skill."

Seomara stepped back waving her hands in front of her. "Um, that's really nice of you but I wouldn't want to trouble you like that. I mean I'd literally be taking the clothes off your back here."

"Eh?" Carnelia cocked her head. "Don't worry. I have other outfits I can use."

"I didn't really mean it that way," Seomara said, fiddling with her hair. She really could use the help, but she didn't want to be a burden. Especially considering that strange intuition of hers was telling her that Carnelia was far too eager to sacrifice time and money to help others. She decided to defer the issue instead. "Anyways my arms are too sore to even consider making any more runs today. I'll think about it later."

Carnelia seemed to take her excuse at face value. "I totally understand. Constant training on that might work physically for us Milletians, but it still is mentally exhausting." The wizard woman crossed her arms. "So what are you planning to do now?"

"I'm not really sure. I was considering Iria, but the mana tunnels will close soon." Seomara considered her options. What were you planning on?"

Carnelia held out a scroll. "I have another mission from the court. Taillteann's been having some problems with enemy war parties again. I was going to clear that up quickly. After that...? I heard there were some bandit problems down in Emain Macha. But I'll probably leave that up to people who actually trade and just work on my alchemy skills some more."

Seomara smiled. "Do you mind if I go with you then? It would be nice to talk with someone, even if it is just in a fight. Zombies aren't great conversationalists."

Carnelia grinned in return. "No they aren't, despite all the noise. And I'd be glad to have you along. It'll be nice to see some of the skills you've learned since our first meeting."

Emain Macha was an odd town, Seomara thought. It was a largish city, but there were less people then you would have expected. The ravages of the war had taken a toll on the population of the city. The most obvious change was the lack of ship traffic. The lake that gave the city its name was fed by a river that passed right by Tara, and it flowed into a stream that fed into Sen Mag's waterways. But there were no boats that traveled the waters. The only remaining pier had been taken over by a restaurant, and a massive bridge crossed the lake to reach the vital mining town of Bangor. Seomara wasn't sure what horrors had forced the residents to abandoned the waterways, but given how touchy everyone was on the subject, she figured it was pretty bad. Because of that the city that had apparently once been important enough to warrant a castle and a governor with a full honor guard of Paladins was possibly the quietest city on Uladh. Tara and Talliteinn were filled with the normal citizens, while Dunbarton and Tir Chonial were full of adventurers like herself.

A tug on her fishing line distracted her from her musings. She quickly began to reel in the line, while still making sure not to pull too hard on the rod. Seomara had taken to fishing like a duck to nuclear physics, but after a lot of lost bait she'd become passingly decent at it. Thirty seconds of violent effort brought her catch bursting free from the waters of the lake. A glistening shiny... pair of boots. She sighed. "Well at least I can sell them to Osla." She put them in her sack to sell for a couple of gold, and headed back into the city.

One quick stop by the blacksmith's later she wandered back to the town square's benches to continue her leisure time. Here she could relax and just enjoy the sounds of the city. The fountain in the center of town burbled happily, a pleasant sound to accompany the taste of the strawberries she'd acquired. A family bustled past where she was sitting, heading towards the puppet workshop. In the background she heard the two flower girls start hawking their wares, and she idly wondered who had drawn their attention.

It was only as her eyes started to flutter shut she recognized the strange lethargy that had consumed her. With that realization she relaxed completely and let her consciousness fade.

The hooting of owls awakened her almost immediately. She opened her eyes to find herself standing on the strange mark that was the Soul Stream, the mystical gate that allowed her and the other Milletians to enter the world of Erinn. Before her a stairway led up into the sky, while behind her another set of stairs headed down through the clouds.

The owls called out again, and a column of light appeared in the air, quickly to be replaced by a woman in a black dress with silvery white hair. She gracefully landed on the center of the seal before bowing slightly to Seomara. "It's good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too, Nao," Seomara replied.

Nao was the guardian of the Soul Stream, and thus the first person any Milletian met. The woman was also something of a quasi-divine being. Apparently the Tuatha de Dannan couldn't even see her. Beyond that little was known about her. She was kind, and helpful, but the two times Seomara tried to ask Nao about her past the woman politely declined to answer. Still Seomara owed Nao a great deal.

"I hope you're enjoying your time in Erinn," Nao said. "Do you have any questions for me?"

"Actually, now that I'm used to the process, I am a little curious at how you manage to pull me up here. And why you do it?" Seomara blinked then rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment as she realized how her words might be taken. "Um, not that I'm mad about it or anything. I'm just kinda curious is all."

Nao's eyes opened wide in surprise, then she chuckled. "No offense taken. In fact I'm a little impressed. Not many Milletians think to ask questions like that." The guardian of the soul stream smiled gently. "The how is simple. You are connected here by the Soul Stream. It's the same reason you can't be permanently killed, and why you aren't stuck in this world. As for the why," she held out a small package. "It's your twentieth birthday, I wanted to give you a present. And to offer you to opportunity to rebirth of course."

"Thank you," Seomara carefully took the item and stowed it away. She hesitated a bit before asking, "I don't suppose you can tell me any more about Tarlach or the Goddess can you?"

Nao shook her head. "I'm sorry. While the tasks my friend has given you are difficult, if you can't overcome them you can't overcome the final obstacle."

Seomara sighed, then smiled in apology. "No it's fine. I understand." She opened her mouth to ask another question, but stopped herself. Nao helped all the Milletians. Taking up her time with silly questions wouldn't be fair. "Anyway, thank you again. And I would like to rebirth. I'm not sure why but it helps me learn faster."

Nao chuckled. "One of the mysteries of the universe I guess. Perhaps you'll learn why at some point. In any case take care. And remember to have fun."

The world went white again.