"Enjoying the festival?" asked Rand.
"Uh, sure," I said.
"Tania's gonna be the star of the procession. I'm sure this will be better than last year's festival."
"I hope so," I said. I started thiniing about last year's Spirit Festival.
I could not remember it.
I searched my memories, but I could not recall being at last year's Spirit Festival.
"Is there something wrong?" Rand asked me.
"Uh, no," I replied.
"Tania's coming out."
I looked toward the Elder's house and a little boy came out. Tanbia was following him. She was adorned in this white dress with a flower in her hair. She never looked so beautiful before. I watched as Tania and her escorts walked from the Elder's house to the Lifecod church. A few of the villagers made comments about how beautiful Tania looked.
Rand and I went into the church after Tania and company entered. The church's wooden pews were packed. There was no room for either Rand or me to sit.
The priest stood at the altar, dressed in his robe and miter.
"We, the people of Lifecod, here give thanks to God Almighty and His servant the mountain spirit, for protecting our humble village and providing us with all our needs," said the priest.
Then Tania bowed before the priest and the he placed the SpirirtCrown on his head. Everyone clapped.
"May we continue to receive His blessings. Amen."
"Amen," we all said.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed. For a minute I thought the lamplighter did not put enough oil into the church's lamps.
Then this ghostly image of a woman appeared.
She called out my name.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I know you have been to the world below," said the voice. "You must beginb your journey to find your true identity."
Then she disappeared and the lights went on again.
"What was that?" asked Rand. "anbd what did she mean about your true identity."
Everyone in the church started looking at me.
"Brother," Tania said to me. "Who was that?"
"I don't know," I replied.
"Has anything strange happen to you?" asked the Elder.
"Yes," I said. "It happened earlier today when I went to get the Spirit Crown. The sculptor wasn't home when I got to Shiena, and his daughter told me he went to the woods to the west..."
"Tell me about it in my house," said the Elder.
And so the Elder and I went to his house. I explained everything, about falling off the cliff, my experiences in that town, and looking into the Well of Dreams.
"So you have been to the phantom world," said the Elder.
"Is that what it's called?" I asked.
"I have heard rumors of a phantom world where people from here are invisible. Apparently you've been there."
"You believe me, sir?"
"If you had told me before the festival I would have thought you were joking or perhaps ate hallucinatory mushrooms. But after what happened in the church, there's probably a connection."
"I think I should go on a journey to find out more about this phantom world."
"I'm going to give you a pass," said the Elder. "It will allow you to enter the capital of Reidock- that is the kingdom that rules over this village. The capital is south of Shiena."
"Thank you, Elder," I said, taking the pass. The pass was clearly printed, and it had some sort of seal on it.
"You are a man now," said the Elder. "You must do what you feel is right. I wish you well."
"I appreciate that, sir."
I left the Elder's house. Just a few yards away, I saw Rand talking to Tania.
"I want to ask you this," said Rand. "Tania, will you marry me?"
"Rand," said Tania. "I...I'm not ready for that."
I listened more carefully.
"Tania," said Rand, "we've known each other for the longest time, and I can see you growing into a beautiful, kind-hearted woman. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"I...I can't right now. I just have to sort things out. You understand, right?"
"I guess so."
"Have a good night, Rand," she said.
Abnd then she went home.
Rand was clearly disappointed, I decided not to talk to him for the moment. I mingled among the crowd. I overheard stuff about the phantom world and about the demon king who was fighting a war with Reidock.
Finally, the festival was over as the people went to their homes to sleep. I decided to get some sleep; I would need a good rest for my trip to Reidock tomorrow morning.
oooooooooooooo
I dreamt about my life in Lifecod. I remember getting into some sort of argument with Rand. He seemed to have a problem with me living in Lifecod. When I awoke the next morning, I could still remember.
"Are you leaving today?" asked Tania as she ate breakfast.
"Yes," I said. "I'll use a wing of wyvern to go to Shiena, and then just walk to Reidock.
After breakfast, we went to the item shop to pick up a wing of wyvern. I made sure to equip a club and wayfarer's clothes.
"Take care, brother," said Tania. "Make sure to come back."
"I will," I replied. I gave my sister a hug.
I then threw the wing of wyvern into the sky, and less than a minute later, I was just outside Shiena. I walked south. Soon I came across a road sign.
Reidock - 6 miles
I continued south as I walked acorss the Reidock countryside, taking in the sights.