Preface.

I know, in this world, there a many sorrowful things. Feelings that can't be expressed. Thoughts I can't come to understand. A new-realized promise. But despite all that, I like this world.

Standing on the plains between Iselia and the Martel temple, I looked over the hills and the ocean. The wind was rather active, playing with my hair and letting the grass dance. It was sunny, fluffy clouds traveling by up on high.

I let myself fall onto the soft grass and let out a satisfied breath. My eyes couldn't help settling on a flower that was dying, not too far away as I bit my lip.

This was why I thought, I want to protect the world. The sky, the wind, the land. And most of all...

"Hey!"

A familiar voice called out and I sat up. Lloyd stood in the distance, waving to me. Happy to see him, I called out his name. At that, he came towards me.

I stood up to greet him, and I could tell he was excited but also kind of anxious about something. His hand went deep into the pocket of his pants and held the object in his closed fist for a moment.

"Okay. Here you go, Colette. Your birthday present."

Opening up his hand, revealed a beautiful golden necklace with a hanger that held a big, shining red gem. My mouth fell open in awe as he went to step behind me and helped me to put it on. I took the moment to inspect it up close.

"Sorry. I thought it'd turn out a bit better, but..." Lloyd looked away, a bit ashamed and upset at the same time. "Even dad said that it was amateurish. 'Only about one-fourth complete.' But you know, I did my very best making that!" He exclaimed as he turned back to me.

I gave him a reassuring smile. "I can really tell. Thank you so much, Lloyd. I love it!"

He turned his face away to hide his blush. "Happy birthday, Colette."

I chuckled as he started walking and I followed behind him. I wanted to tell him, so badly. But, I didn't want him to worry...

My whole life, I had been addressed as 'the Chosen' or 'Chosen one', other than by my friends and family of course. Next to my home, I was practically raised in the temple of Martel. There, I was taught all about the world's history, the Goddess Martel and even the language of the Angels.

When I was about six years old, I learned what it really meant to be the Chosen. All people believed I was to go on a journey, the release the seals of the summon spirits, and in doing so, freeing new mana. The land was dying because of shortage, because the Desians used fast amounts of mana to run their human ranches. And I were to save it all, at the cost of my life.

That was a fact that was known to only the people that were directly and closely involved. The priests that were teaching me for example. I had come to know them well, so they told me this with pain in their heart. It was a very shocking revelation. My father and grandmother had even known from the very start.

However, I was not to tell another soul. The priests feared others would interfere; that they would try to stop me mostly, or talk me out of it. I didn't believe this would happen. Even though it was shocking, my love for the world was greater. Even though I stayed in Iselia, only to leave for the temple close by, I still appreciated all life. If they were all to be saved by the sacrifice of my own, I would gladly do it.

I actually don't really remember the first time I met Lloyd. I was told we were both very young when this happened. Dirk (Lloyd's father), had found the young boy near the cliff where upon the human ranch was, looking over our little town. The dwarf lived on his own just passed the Iselia forest and just happened to stumble across the scene. He never really went into detail, but he did mention his mother died as she begged for him to keep her son safe.

The man had taken it to heart and went to raise Lloyd on his own. One day, he brought the three-year-old child along for work. Dirk sometimes did that for Iselia; he was a very good craftsman and from time-to-time people would ask him to make something. Be it wood, gold, or any other material, Dirk was the best choice.

As he was working, Lloyd had wondered off and ran into me. We became friends in no time. So, anytime he could, he would bring Lloyd to town for the two of us to play. I was the only other kid that was his age, and Dirk figured it would be good for him.

Yes, it was rare to see a Dwarf above ground. I was told that they normally weren't found on the surface level. But as Dirk put it, he was a bit of an odd ball; he didn't like staying in those dark dwellings and just to his own people. He wanted to be one with nature and help others out. He really had a good heart.

When both me and Lloyd were a couple of years older, two new faces showed up in town. Iselia didn't really get many visitors. Most that would come, were merchants, or devoted followers of the church. Iselia was mostly known for its treaty with the human ranch (which was rare) and because it was 'the birthplace of the Chosen.' But the people mostly just stayed a few days and left.

Even more rare was the fact that they were Elven siblings. I had never seen an Elf before, neither had Lloyd, or many of the people in our village. Raine was there to study the temple, first and foremost. Her young sibling Genis, had no place to go, so we offered he could stay and play with us.

At seeing us play, her little brother having fun, Raine warmed up and took the invitation of my grandmother to stay with us for a while as she studied. When she heard there was a teacher needed at our school, she applied right away and that's how she became the professor.

Because they stayed in our house for a while, before they were eventually offered their own place, she had become particularly close with me. Of course, she knew of the Chosen journey, but it seemed sometimes she could tell me more than even the priests could! It felt like it took no time at all before she became like a mother figure. My own mother had passed away not too long after I was born, so there was only my grandmother and father.

To most, Raine seemed cold and calculating. But once you got to know her, she really was a kindhearted person, with the best interests at heart for the people close to her. She was sweet in her own way. Sometimes she could be pushy and intimidating however, and that was how she learned the full truth from one of the priests.

She was just as shocked as I was at first hearing it. Of course, she had a lot of questions, but first she looked at me with her intense, silver eyes. She did not plead for me not to go, instead she asked me, if I really was alright with all of it.

I thought about the people in my life, the beauty of the ocean, the sounds of the birds... There was so much to this world to enjoy and if I didn't do what was expected of me, it would all suffer and eventually die. I couldn't bear the thought of that. This was what I told her.

Nodding in understanding, she said she wouldn't stop me, on the condition that she would join me. We hadn't worked out those kinds of details yet and I was happy she offered. We were told someone from the church would be send to aide me, someone who would be a specialized fighter, that could protect me. But I wouldn't know that person. I'd be a lot more comfortable if someone I knew came along. And Raine was wise, resourceful and rational. She was the ideal choice, really.

When I asked if she'd rather not stay in Iselia, in their new home with Genis to teach, she took a moment. Then she let out a deep breath and said she was sure he'd be fine. My father offered to take Genis in when the day of the journey arrived so that was that.

It wasn't the danger part that I'd rather not have Genis or Lloyd join. Sure, it was a part of it, but the main reason was that if they ever learned the truth, Goddess knows they would want to stop me. I made Raine promise for that reason, to not tell anyone.

On my 16th birthday, I was to go on my journey. Finally, I was to see the world. Yes, I did realize that it would be a suffering world, not perfect at all. But that was all the more reason for me to make it all right again.