"Serenity, come back! It is getting dark and your sister will be home soon!" Luna cried out. Her ever-mischevious daughter had once again run off to play with the other children in the village. Since it had been several years since her eldest daughter, Raye, had joined the guild of a faraway to be a swordswoman, Serenity was the only daughter Luna had left at home. Raye had been training under another warrior, by the name of Jadeite. Jadeite had finally decided that Mina was more than capable to be on her own and no longer needed his guidance so she was on her way home. While Rei had sent letters regarding her triumphs as her prestige as an archer had increased, Luna did not miss her oldest child any less. Raye looked very different from Serenity. Raye had hair as black as night and tanned skin while Serenity with her silver hair, blue eyes, and fair skin was regarded as a boon from the spirits. Ghost villagers rarely had fair skin because of the amount of time they spent outside, but Serenity had always stayed pale, like the moon. Luna also noticed how the moonlight seemed to follow her daughter during the night, as if to protect the young woman. Children and animals flocked to her for her gentle spirit.
However, with such a gift came great danger. Several times, other men from other villages had tried to take Serenity, through force or through marriage. It was only because of the protection of her family that Serenity had managed to stay safe. Traditionally, a man and woman would only be wed if both were in mutual agreement. Because marriage is a choice of life, parents could not interfere. Of course there were unhappy marriages, but for the most part, most couples were content with their partners. Serenity wanted a marriage like her parents, one of love. But she was forbidden from leaving the small village by her parents because her family knew the dangers her beauty would lure.
While not knowing the danger she attracted, Serenity did know that she was different. At a young age, she had seen images of things no one else could see. She never told anyone because she did not want to frighten her family. About two years ago, Serenity crept out of her home without her parents' knowledge and gone to the waterfall nearby. She had found it by accident a few days ago while picking herbs for her mother. Serenity realized then that the golden flecks that had always been in her vision were actually the spirits of the dead. They were easier to see out in nature. She meditated and was eventually able to converse with the spirits, who then taught her to use nature through spirit possession. In theory, because some spirits were nature spirits, such as a tree spirit or water spirit, Serenity could become one with that spirit and use its natural abilities as her own. With practice, Serenity was able to control the elements of water and earth to a minor degree.
And so, on a night that seemed the same as any other night, Serenity snuck out again from her home. She quietly ran to her waterfall and began her nightly ritual of meditation. However, a man from a nearby village had followed her. He had heard of her beauty and wanted to court her. He was the village's strongest warrior and thought he should have only the best woman as his wife. The man, Lionus, was eager to introduce himself to the fair maiden and made a noise within the bushes to alert Serenity of his presence. As expected, she quickly turned around to look at whatever was making the noise. Seeing he had her attention, Lionus stepped out from the forest into the clearing. He bowed and said in a low timbre, "Greetings, my lady Serenity. What a fine night to be out."
Serenity looked at him puzzled. Who was this stranger disturbing her peace? Her head cocked slightly to the side, Serenity continued to look at him and said nothing.
"My fair maiden, have you no words to give to me? Isn't it rude to not answer when a suitor inquires?" Lionus attempted to guilt Serenity to speak to him. Serenity merely curtsied, then turned around to face the waterfall again. With her back turned to him, she replied quietly, "Why are you here?"
Lionus broke out into a grin, pleased he had gotten a response from her. "My lady, I only wished to meet you and, as fate would have it, I came upon you tonight. My name is Lionus and I wish to marry you."
From his view, he saw her shoulders shaking. He thought she was crying of happiness. He stepped closer to her, but Serenity sidestepped and turned to look at him. She was laughing at him.
"Lionus, was it? I am sorry, but I have no desire to court or be courted. I want to stay with my family and village a little longer. And besides, why should I consider your proposal? Many men have asked for my hand and I have not yet accepted one. Why should you be an exception?"
Lionus puffed out his chest proudly. "Because I am the best man. I am the strongest and can provide for you and our future family."
Serenity shook her head. "Ah, the male mind. How fascinating it is. How proud you are. But I reject your offer. Now please, leave me alone. I must reflect in the moonlight."
Lionus stood shocked. A second rejection. With almost no space between breaths to say his own thoughts. Lionus tried to control his temper, but it snapped out of his control. Angrily, he stomped towards her, and grabbed her arm. He forced Serenity to look at him in the face. She held an apathetic look, as if she could not see him. But he could feel her shivering slightly in fear. He growled and tightened his grip. Serenity winced, and looked at Lionus with scornful eyes.
"Unhand me. I will not ask again," she said quietly, her voice shaking with panic. There was a storm brewing in her eyes.
Lionus let out a bark of laughter. "What can you do as weak as you are? It is a good thing I prepared for this. I have heard of your stubbornness, Serenity. It is well known throughout the villages. But, I have promised my village that I will marry you and so I shall. Come, you are going with me to my village." He pulled her arm, trying to drag her with him. Serenity struggled as he dragged her to his horse.
"I said unhand me!" Serenity screamed. Fearful of the impending danger, Serenity was not able to call the spirits to her in her usual, patient manner. She instinctively possessed a nearby grass spirit, and made the grassy vines twine around the man and wrap around his entire body. Forced to let go in order to grab his weapon, Lionus struggled with the vines.
"What have you done? Are you a witch? You should be burned for this! Make the grass go away!" roared Lionus. He was frantically swinging at the grass with his axe, while trying to reach for Serenity. Serenity was trying to calm herself down, but with the man yelling at her and threatening her, she was unable to control her powers as it went berserk. She cried out as a headache erupted from all the chaotic power bursting out of her. In order to escape the grass and the pain, she ran away holding her head. Unaware of the direction she was going and half-blinded by the pain, Serenity ran too far. She fell off a cliff, straight into the river below.
"Serenity!" was the only sound that could be heard as she was carried and dragged by the current.
Darien had snuck out of the city. There was technically a curfew, but he always managed to sneak past the walls because of a crack he had found that went through to the other side. With time, he had managed to dig a tunnel large enough for him to sneak out whenever he wanted to.
As Darien was outside in the woods, he reflected on his life. Darien had his father's pitch-black hair and his mother's sapphire eyes. Unfortunately, that was the only thing he had left of his mother. She had passed away when he was about ten years old. While driving to work, a drunk man crashed his car into her mini Cooper and she was brought to the emergency room. She survived that accident, only to discover that she had a type of bone cancer when the doctors later took x-rays. It was a painful and long process for Darien and Lucas watching Gaia waste away as the cancer slowly spread to the rest of her body. It had been too late to stop the process and she died a few months after the accident. After this traumatic passing, Darien's father retreated into his study. The only time his father interacted with Darien after Gaia's death was to either conduct his monthly physical checkups on his son or occasionally beat him out of a drunken stupor. Lucas had become an alcoholic and was now slowly dying as the alcohol remained in his system, slowly shutting down his organs. Nowadays, he was either at the home unable to move or in the hospital for professional assistance. Because of this, Darien had grown up essentially alone. He avoided people out of anger and relied completely on rational thought in order to shield himself from uncertainties and his own insecurities.
In order to honor his mother, Darien had studied medicine extensively and was one of the youngest doctors in the city. This month would be his last month in his hometown before he was assigned to another hospital in another city. Darien had taken the letter of his assignment with no feeling, accepting the rational argument behind his transfer. His mentor, Helios, had been the main supporter to his transfer to go to another Metallic city, Horus. Horus was one of the biggest cities and held an enormous amount of potential for Darien. As a doctor at the main hospital, he would have access to research, technology, and medication that was not yet available at here. His father did not care what Darien did and so Darien felt he had no ties left. He would leave for Horus without a second glance in order to be a doctor his mother could be proud of.
As he walked on, he wondered to himself why he sometimes felt compelled to go out into the woods. It was dangerous and the city held specific rules and limitations about travel. But Darien felt peaceful in the quiet woods, away from the constant honking of cars and the pitter-patter of feet as people went hurriedly about their way. In the forest, Darien was, for the most part, alone. He never had to worry about anyone but himself. He could go back home whenever he wanted, but he found the quiet of the forest extremely healing for his mind. And that, was reason enough, he concluded. He looked up through the trees and saw the moon. Though it was beautiful, he still did not smile. He had not smiled in years and forgotten what it meant to smile and laugh. He looked down towards the river. Darien always made sure to pass the river whenever he was outside. For some unknown reason, he felt a pull towards the water, as if he expected something to come out. Shaking his head, he followed the river trail. As he followed his usual trail, he looked up and saw someone on the other side of the bank. It was a person who was lying face down, half of their body still in the water.
Quickly, Darien rushed over to the person and flipped them over so they could breathe. He then realized that the person was a girl. A woman in fact. She had scratches all over her body and a head wound that was extensive and deep. She was shivering because her clothes had mostly been torn away from her body, most likely from the currents. It seemed she had come down the river for a few hours, and Darien knew that up the river was a series of rapids, which most likely explained how she injured her head. He speculated that she had hit her head against the rocks coming down and he checked her pulse on her neck. It was very faint. Darien shed his jacket quickly and wrapped it around the mysterious woman. It was too big for her and went down to the middle of her thighs. He quickly zipped her up, not paying attention to her nearly nude figure. Absorbed with the task at hand to treat her, his rationality took over and he began the methodical process of tearing strips from his clothes to make bandages and temporary wraps for her head wound. Once he had made something that would stay and clot the wound temporarily, Darien scooped the woman in his arms and ran back towards the tunnel. Darien knew if she was not treated soon her body could go into shock and shut down.
Darien ran into his home and quickly took her to the bathroom. The woman was still unconscious as he removed his jacket and the wraps. He placed her carefully in the tub and began to fill it with hot water. He ran to his bedroom and grabbed his medical bag. Once he had thoroughly cleaned the wounds as much as he could, Darien once again began to treat her wounds, but with proper care and medication. After, he put one of his shirts on her and a pair of sweatpants. Both were too large for her, but he managed to tighten the pants as much as he could and he took her to his bed. He placed her under the covers and turned on the heating unit of his bed.
Finally, Darien had time to breathe and relax as he looked at the woman he had carelessly brought home. She was beautiful, even with the wounds. Her hair was silver, an odd color. Her figure slim and small, as was evident by the sheer size of his clothing on her. As he was wondering what to do with her, she groaned quietly. She began to move violently and Darien tried to hold her still so that her wounds would not reopen. He quickly turned on the soundproof walls of his room as he sensed that she was experiencing a particularly painful nightmare. Suddenly, she sat up quickly and her eyes opened. She screamed long and loud. Darien tried to block his ears, but that meant he had to let her go. Gritting his teeth against the painful echo, he quickly went behind her to surround her with his body. This would stop her from moving so much, and get him out of the direct range of her screams. After awhile, she stopped struggling and sunk back down in a slump. Darien sighed and looked down at the young woman in his arms. Whatever the nightmare was, it was gone now.
The morning sun came up and Darien awoke quickly from his slumber on the chair. He had faced it towards his bed to make sure nothing changed with his patient. He got up, stretched, and used one of his medical tools to do a scan of her body. Most of the wounds had closed quickly due to the ointments and her head injury would be fine in a few days. He did a scan on her brain, noting that a part had been damaged and it would take longer to heal. But he could not confirm what the side-effects of the damage until she woke up. And so, Darien took care of the poor woman in his room. He attached an IV to her to ensure she would have fluids and nutrients. He regularly cleaned and redressed her wounds.
Two days later, Darien was out on an errand for was not sure when the girl would wake up, but he wanted to be prepare for anything she would need. Darien had gone back to his office at the hospital and quickly filed his paperwork. He was almost off-duty at this point and only needed to come into work a few days of the week. He returned home in a disheveled state, trying to rush home to check on the girl's status again. It had been two days and she still had not woken up. He was concerned and considered taking her to the hospital. He stepped into his room and took out his scanner again. As he was about to start his regular check-up, her eyes fluttered open in a daze and he stared into the bluest eyes he had ever seen.