With a gasp she flew upright, nearly throwing the blanket off herself. Her chest and shoulders heaved and lowered as she panted, eyes wide in shock while she sought for air in panic. Her eyes showed the fear the nightmare caused, uncertain if it were memories or just her mind playing tricks on her; whatever it was, it had her heart beating ever so fast, almost painfully hammering within her chest. A hand clutched for her sweaty forehead when the world suddenly seemed to turn upside down, causing her to slump back into a soft pillow with a whimpering groan while unwillingly beginning to put the puzzle together.

Where was she?

She took in her surroundings through long trembling eyelashes, the warmth of her hand soothing the dizziness which swept over her after she abruptly awoke. She felt weak, fatigued, as if all her energy had been drained away… but by what? The shapes of wooden furniture began to dawn upon her. This was an unfamiliar place and as soon as she realized it, she wondered what exactly was familiar to her, if anything. It felt like she couldn't remember anything.

The room she was in was well-lit, the windows hidden away by large green leaves which couldn't prevent the daylight from seeping in. The smell in the air was pleasant and soothing, yet she couldn't lay a finger on what exactly the smell was. A flower? Food? Something else perhaps? Her eyes continued to wander, curious to find anything which could fill the void she felt gnawing in the back of her mind. She appeared to be completely alone within the moderate sized room; somewhere she was relieved by that. The urge to step through the archway leading outside and into the sunlight began to rise while her gazed towards it, the desire beckoning her quietly before she rose to a sitting once more, slower and more calm this time to not fall victim to vertigo again.

After her bare feet carefully touched the floor and she found her balance on the edge of the bed, she began to inspect herself. She knew something was missing, but it was a mystery to her what it could be. Was it an item? Something precious to her? The nightmarish images which plagued her and forced her to wake up were reduced to a lingering unease. Other matters were asking for her attention, especially that which laid behind those half closed curtains.

She was careful as she rose to a standing, leaving the comfort of the bed while the long skirt of her gown fell down around her legs and almost touched the floor. She felt so heavy… too heavy for her own legs to carry and yet she was determined to get towards the archway that lead outside; she needed to know where she was. She nearly fell against the wooden frame of the half circular doorway once she reached it, her fingers desperately clutching the smooth wood to remain standing. It felt like she was about to buckle and drop down to the floor, having trouble carrying her own weight though she managed. She was thankful that the room had stopped spinning at least; it made this so much easier.

She reached forth with a delicate hand to slip her long fingers in between the two leaves which hid the outside world from her while she clung onto the doorpost, cautiously drawing the green curtains apart. She could feel herself shiver in anticipation as she watched the crack grow wider until both the leaves moved aside on their own as if they obeyed her silent request. Her eyes widened, blinded by the sudden brightness but she refused to turn her gaze away while the sight was revealed to her.

The view had her in awe, her own fatigue forgotten. As if it were her very own, the horizon spread before her like an endless flag of soft blue, the tree tops reaching far like a calm sea of green. The forest which stretched out below seemed to go beyond the horizon, vast, lush and full of life. And she was in the center of it all, standing upon one of the balconies that were formed out of the bark of the largest tree imaginable. The pleasant smells were stronger out here and she was finally able to place a source to them; flowers. Herbs. Nature. How long ago was it she smelled such heavenly scents? It felt like such a long time ago.

Her lightly trembling hands touched the mossy balustrade of the balcony she wandered onto before she even knew what she was doing, her long gown draping after her while her hood billowed lightly in the warm breeze. It truly felt like she had never seen such a sight before; it caused her to be on the verge of tears, overwhelmed by the heavy impact her senses endured. Her emotions were clashing within her while a dreadful feeling continued to press on the back of her mind.

Why was it so difficult to remember anything?

She felt confusion brewing amid the wonder she felt. Her nightmare was kept at bay by the marvel that was the forest before her, but she could feel the darkness lick her heels. She still had no idea of where she was and how she ended up within this tree that was so large, it could be the peak of the world. All there was was the view, the scents and the sound of the breeze rustling the leaves around her. Nothing held an answer.

The calm was broken by a soft thud, so soft that she would have dismissed it if she weren't as tense as she was. It was a voice which steeled her against the unexpected however, no matter that the tone of it was humble," I beg your pardon, I do not mean to startle you, my lady."

She only moved her head slightly, peering past the rim of her hood to where the voice came from to catch a glimpse of the stranger… if it was a stranger. She flinched the moment their eyes met, reeling back in hesitance while pressing a hand down upon the mossy surface of the balustrade to keep herself standing. The fatigue she suffered from before and was repelled by the breathtaking view came crawling back as her gaze was locked on a small figure standing on the very same balustrade she was leaning upon. It was hard to make out his face within the shadow of the hood he wore but his eyes were striking, catching her own with ease. She wasn't sure where he came from, but she had a feeling he had been nearby for longer than that she had stood there.

He was quick to incline his head when he picked up on her unease by his sudden presence and spoke once more, sounding apologetic while he bowed in greeting and respect," I mean you no harm, Lady Alys. Please rest easy, you are safe here."

Who was this? Had she ever seen him before? She stared at the hooded figure with bewilderment before her large eyed gaze softened a little with the realization that he wasn't the stranger she should be wondering about; she was the stranger. Who was she? "Alys...?" she repeated after a moment of silence and wavered a little as she got caught in a current of confusion, much stronger than before. So many questions began to rise. Was she Alys? Was that her name? It did feel familiar... Would it be wise to trust this feeling? The more she thought about it, the more distinct it became that she had no idea what her name truly was. All she had was… Alys. Was is true then? What ever happened to her? Why couldn't she remember anything?

The averting of her gaze was enough of a hint for her visitor to understand something was amiss, yet he did not speak. Instead he observed quietly, watching how she tried to understand the disarray one single name suddenly caused within her. His voice was another distraction after she brought a hand up to her chest and lightly balled it into a fist, appearing to be lost in thought," the people of Sadida have waited for you to wake."

Sadida. She rose her gaze towards the forest before her and the balcony she stood upon, taking in the sight once more. It was another name which didn't seem to hold a place in her mind but this one had no sense of familiarity compared to the name the visitor called her by. "This is Sadida...?" she asked softly, her eyebrows furrowed in an expression of helplessness yet she gave him a small appreciative smile after turning her gaze towards the one whose intentions were still unclear to her, saying sincerely as the smile remained," it is beautiful."

"If I may, Lady Alys," the hooded figure said as he walked with perfect balance along the wooden balustrade to close the distance between them before bending down to lightly and gently take her hand into his own, not acting forceful but modest in his doing," my name is Joris. I serve the king of Bonta as his ambassador, advisor and messenger. I am a guest of the Sadida king, His Majesty Oakheart Sheran Sharm." He inclined his head for her before he released her hand in good manner and straightened himself up to look at her, seeing his timid but humble behavior flustered her a little. He was certain the mentioned names meant nothing or little to her, but he wished to introduce himself proper. He backed away, only two steps to not make her uncomfortable with his presence when he saw her small smile of apprehension, a silence following as she appeared to be processing what he shared.

"It… It is a pleasure," she eventually said with a nod of her head, not able to help but wonder why a guest from a different place would be the first one to greet her. Did it honestly matter? She didn't feel threatened by him, not in the slightest; his aura was soothing but there was a sense of mystery to him she found intriguing. She glanced around to find where he had come from when he made his presence known, but any other balcony or branches nearby were too far for someone like her to jump from. Had he been waiting...? She took note of a wooden log which stood further along the balustrade of the balcony, a heavy looking thing that was half a head shorter than the ambassador, with a single handle and decorative blue tassels. Was it his…? It looked too large for him to carry. She focused back on the one who introduced himself as Joris, feeling even more intrigued than before. He was more than he appeared to be, wasn't he?

"Please allow me to inform you that the Eliacube is safe within the Dofus chamber and under tight watch," the hooded ambassador informed her to try and ease her mind; he was aware the Eliacube was a lost relic to her people and perhaps she had been concerned about its fate. Her reaction was worrisome however…

"I am sorry, the Eliacu-?" The confused sounding question was abruptly cut off, surprising both Joris and the Eliatrope. Alys clutched for the side of her head when a flash and a mixture of voices cut through her mind like someone stabbed a hot knife into the back of her neck; it was like time sped itself forward ten fold in her head, the rapidly appearing images painful to witness. She moaned with the sudden pain, feeling extremely dizzy and grabbed for a hold onto the top of the balustrade in an attempt to keep herself standing. She slumped down nonetheless. The small master of Bonta was at her side within the blink of an eye, holding her up while she clung onto the balustrade with one shaking hand, the other pressing against her temple. It was as if the very mention of the Eliacube drained and felled her.

Joris examined her as he stood next to her, uncertain of what exactly had happened but it was all too clear that the Eliatrope was not able to stand anymore; fatigue had caught up with her faster than they both expected. Perhaps it was too soon to discuss what may have happened to her during Nox's captivity. "Let me help you," he offered and saw her nod in compliance, hearing her apologize as he took her arm and laid it over his shoulders. He was much shorter than her but he made it work with being stronger than he appeared to be. He allowed her to go slow after she brought herself back up to her feet, taking a moment of rest and respite when she needed it while he guided and supported her back into her chambers and towards the bed.

He backed away to give Alys her space the moment she sunk into the mattress and no longer carried her own weight, making certain she was faring well before he returned to the balcony to retrieve his wooden mallet. It didn't escape him that the Eliatrope felt shame for her weak state when he returned, seeing her hug herself and avert her gaze as he placed the mallet down next to the bed to sit on it. He didn't say anything at first to let Alys settle and regain herself, crossing his legs before he nodded in acceptance after hearing her quietly express her gratitude. "Make yourself comfortable," he said and motioned with an open hand to show she was free to do as she pleased or thought was best," you must rest."

"I guess that was a little too much excitement for me..." she said apologetically as if to excuse her fatigue to Joris, the headache and dizziness she suffered from slowly ebbing away; it was still pounding in her head however. She took the master's suggestion and slowly pulled her legs up to sit on the bed, pulling the blanket over them while the bed's headrest and the pillows supported her back. "I am sorry, I am not certain what happened..."

He shook his head in objection before he leaned forward and rose a hand to gain her attention, showing he was serious about what he had to say," the last thing you need to do, Lady Alys, is apologize. We knew you had gone through much when we found you. We do not expect of you to be up and fit within a day's time; we wish for you to recover fully, and if it takes time, then so it does."

"When you found me," she repeated softly and laid one hand over the other on top of the blanket before looking towards the one who was the first to meet her, asking reluctantly," where did you find me...?" Trying to recall only hurt and even if she did try and pushed past the pain, there was nothing but a dark void in her head. She couldn't even recall the images that cut through her mind a mere moment ago; it was all gone.

Joris crossed his arms over his chest while closing his eyes in thought, his fur mantle softly rustling as he somewhat rose his shoulders while quietly sighing through his long nose. He didn't wish for her to have another painful episode by mentioning the wrong thing, but she wished to know and he or someone else would have to tell her eventually; it would be him.

"A few days ago, five to be precise," he started, seeing from under the edge of his hood how Alys sat up a little to listen," Sadida was at war. The Tree of Life, the Sadida's source of life and power was under attack by a Xelor named Nox, a time mage. He wanted the Tree's Wakfu to grant him enough energy to travel back in time… but he failed and was defeated. You, Lady Alys, was found after the battle was won, hidden away in what was left of the Xelor's gigantic invention." He kept observing her, reading her expressions to make certain she was able to process what he was telling her. She seemed confused and distracted but she was listening from what he could tell. "We assume you were a prisoner," he continued, hoping to have her remember what had happened as she appeared to be struggling with recalling anything," you were found locked away within a metal container; it saved you from the Clock's destruction as it prevented you from getting crushed underneath the falling debris."

"And the Tree...?"

Joris' eyes widened a little before he blinked in surprise, the selfless question catching him off guard. He expected her to raise questions about herself and what had happened to her, but not to wonder about things which had nothing to do with her. Even in her current state she proved to have a noble heart, something which lessened any present suspicion or caution. He softly cleared his throat before he looked upwards towards the ceiling and said," the Tree of Life survived the ordeal and with it the people of Sadida prosper. We are within the Tree right now, my Lady… it is home to the royal family of Sheran Sharm and as you can see, it is faring well."

She smiled softly as she looked around the room while nodding, taking in the design which gave an earthy but serene feeling to the surroundings. She couldn't help but brood however. She was claimed to have been a prisoner but she couldn't recall anything about it. "This Xelor… this… Nox," she said slowly as if to taste the names and remember them," what did become of him?"

"He disappeared without a trace after his life was spared."

"I see..." Alys said, sounding distant as her head slowly turned away from Joris after she found herself in deep thought. Her eyes lulled to a close while trying to recall Nox the Xelor, the one who held her in his possession. She didn't know how or why, but maybe if she could remember his face it may come back to her. She tried to find an answer within the darkness of her mind, hearing her calm heartbeat but also another faint noise. Ticking. Repetitive and rhythmic ticking. First faint and lonely until it became louder the more she tried to delve into the void. It echoed, causing several different pitches to sound within her; she could feel anxiety well up as the ticking chorus became deafening and ominous in tone, unable to escape it. Her eyes snapped open with a soft gasp when the mental sounds swept away to a sudden silence just when she was about the panic, the terrifying sounds replaced by a soft knocking coming from the other side of the room.

Both Joris and Alys turned their heads abruptly when someone knocked on the door and looked on in silence. Alys felt her heart racing in her chest, frightened by the ticking noise she remembered; it was all she could place to the name Nox and it was unsettling. With a hand resting against her chest, she felt uncertain to find out who came into the room after hearing a door open and threw a glance towards Joris to see his reaction but he appeared calm... as he should be. He assured her she was safe and so she would believe him. She rose up a little in surprise when she saw two faces peek in from around the wooden divider that stood before the door, noticing how young they looked. Children?

"Ahh, she is awake!" the white dragon said as he looked up to his companion who was a head taller than him, saying with a smug grin as he made his way into the room," I told you she would be all right."

The boy who looked the most reluctant of the two brightened up when he saw Alys sitting up in bed, and smiled a toothy grin as he was pleased to see her awake and well," she seems to be all right. Hello!" He rose a hand in greeting before slowing down a little in his pace after entering the room, arching a brow at seeing Joris on the other side of the bed," Master Joris, you're here..?"

"Yugo, master Dragon," the Master of Bonta said while respectfully inclining his head to the approaching two youngsters, having noted the surprise in Yugo's voice but he didn't blame the boy for not expecting him here, of all places. Joris had a tendency to keep to himself and in the background, observing rather than participating unless his aid was needed. To find him alone in the stranger's presence only added to the mystery of who he truly was.

"What's this then...?" Her voice was sweet, though she didn't appear to be phased by witnessing a dragon standing next to her bed after she looked the boys over. Perhaps she didn't know what he was or maybe she had seen them before; it was hard to tell. She seemed to be pleased by the arrival of the children though, her brooding gone while she was curious to know why exactly two youngsters came to see her.

Yugo couldn't help but stare until the prodding of Adamaï's elbow into his side snapped him back to reality, quickly shaking his head to come back to his senses. He leaned onto the side of the bed while expressing his glee with a broad smile and large eyes, saying as he pointed to his chest with a thumb before motioning to the dragon next to him," I am Yugo and this is my brother Adamaï. We waited days for you to wake up; we're so excited to have you here. How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"

"What ever it is, we'll get it for you," Adamaï said with a firm nod after he crossed his arms over his chest, trying to act mature in the presence of the female Eliatrope. This was the first time for them to meet someone of Yugo's kind who was female and older. There was been Grougaloragran, of course, but he was a different case with being an ancient dragon before he sacrificed himself to stop Nox from stealing his Wakfu.

"That is sweet of you, thank you," Alys said, genuinely taken by the kind offer. She shook her head however," but I don't believe I am in need of anything. I am feeling much better…" Her smile faded a little after she glanced towards Joris from the corner of her eyes, feeling reluctant to introduce herself. She learned her name to be Alys not that long ago, a name given to her by someone she couldn't remember meeting before. Would she truly use it as her name? It was the only one she had... "My name is Alys," she said, sounding slightly hesitant with saying her name aloud, but it felt right," it is a pleasure meeting you both."

"Yugo and Adamaï are responsible for turning the tide in the war, Lady Alys. They are who defeated Nox, and prevented him from destroying the Tree of Life."

Alys looked to Joris in disbelief before she looked at the two children on her other side, feeling perplexed. They were so young… how did they ever manage to put a stop to a war? The ticking sound sounded in the back of her mind, painfully slow till an embarrassed chuckle coming from Yugo made it fade away. Both the dragon and Eliatrope tried to act humble but neither could help to feel boastful about what they had achieved. The look of astonishment changed back into a warm smile, the boys lifting her spirits. "You both saved me... I can't thank you enough."

The gratitude coming from the female Eliatrope flustered the brothers, their confident attitudes shrinking a little to let her honesty sink in. Praises was what they heard many times during the last few days but it sounded different this time, more personal.

"It was nothing," Yugo said timidly, needing to suppress a sense of grief after remembering how tough it was to defeat Nox and what it costed them. The death of Tristepin was still fresh on people's minds, by some more than others, but it was good to know that his death was not in vain. If only Joris or Ruel arrived sooner at the scene, if only he and Adamaï infiltrated the Clock faster, if only they had a chance to stop the Xelor's stationary portals from being built in secrecy. If only…

"We showed him not to mess with the people of Sadida, dragons or Eliatropes," the young dragon said, smoke puffing from his nostrils as he couldn't contain his pride for what he, Yugo and many others had been capable of. He didn't even notice Alys slightly tilting her head in a questioning manner at the mention of Eliatropes," and we made certain he won't dare to do it again. Isn't that right, bro?"

Alys and Joris inwardly chuckled when the boys were acting like typical boys, their excitement and energy a fresh breeze within the room. The female Eliatrope looked tired but she was at peace from what one could tell, content with her three visitors as they kept most of her brooding thoughts at bay. To think she was unconscious for who knew how long earlier this day… it was hard to believe.

Yugo and Adamaï grinned at each other, the enthusiasm they felt seeping off them like the warmth of the sun. They had waited for days to be able to talk with her and the wait was finally over. Adamaï leaned in closer towards his brother, nudging him once more with an elbow while saying hushed under his breath," ask her."

"Right…" Yugo said while scratching his cheek. He was so eager and now it all collapsed, afraid to ask the questions he was dying to ask. Maybe he should wait… should he? He noticed Alys looking at him with her eyebrows slightly raised, a look of encouragement in her eyes as she awaited what he wanted to say or ask; it was too obvious that he was eager, no matter the reluctance. He couldn't hide or pretend anymore. He pursed his lips in thought while searching for the right question before he crossed his arms upon the bed and looked at Alys from under the rim of his hat," me and Adamaï were wondering if you… Well, have you? I mean, other Eliatropes. I mean-do you know any? Were there more where you came from? Where did you come from? Do you know Grouga-"

"Yugo."

The voice coming from the darkness of Joris' hood sounded warningly and caused the young Eliatrope to straighten up a little in bewilderment after his string of questions came to an abrupt stop. He wasn't certain if he said something wrong until he saw the look on Alys' face. His heart and head sank a little after seeing the dismay in her eyes before they closed, one of her hands held up towards Joris as she softly said," it is all right, Master Joris…" She smiled wryly to Yugo and Adamaï after she opened her eyes and laid her hand back down in her lap, appearing torn about something. She had to be honest with them, no matter the disappointment it would bring. To pretend she knew would be a terrible lie she wouldn't ever forgive herself for. "Yugo, Adamaï… I am so sorry, but I don't have the answers to your questions."

Both brothers looked at her in confusion before they glanced at each other, not fully understanding what she said. How could one not have an answer of any sort? There was always an answer, positive or negative. They looked back at Alys with a glimmer of hope and plea, hoping she would give them something, anything.

"The Lady Alys suffers from amnesia, Yugo," Joris said to give the difficult answer for her after noticing the female Eliatrope was struggling with not becoming upset by the boys' disappointment and pleading looks. They didn't discuss her loss of memories beforehand, but the way she was acting and appeared uninformed was pointing to the fact she couldn't remember anything. He hoped it was temporarily, but he couldn't be certain.

"Amnesia…?"

"She doesn't remember… anything? At all?" Adamaï asked skeptically but the tone and the suspicious expression he bore dropped after seeing Alys solemnly nod in response. His face distorted in guilt when realizing he doubted her and Joris' words before he sighed and peered at Yugo from the corner of his eyes to see how he was holding up. Once more the search for knowledge about the Eliatrope people ended up like a dead end; it was frustrating. Every time they seemed close, it was only further away.

Yugo couldn't help but pout a little at the bad news. To find that the only other Eliatrope known to exist couldn't remember anything about herself or her heritage... it was disappointing. He glanced to Alys with pity. She looked sad and ashamed… for all he knew, she was lonely and without anyone else in the world. "We... could tell her what we know," he said, quiet at first as he weighed the words until his voice picked up to its usual volume," show her around. Maybe she'll regain her memories if we teach her what we know. Ad, you had Grougaloragran as your teacher and you've been teaching me about how to use my Wakfu. We can easily do this."

Adamaï took a moment to think about what his brother said, having to admit it made sense. There was no point in sulking while there was still a chance. It was a long shot, but also worth trying. If he could teach Yugo how to sense and see Wakfu within a day's time, he definitely could teach an adult Eliatrope a thing or two, and maybe with her help, Yugo will finally be able to handle the Eliacube. It wasn't so negative after all. "You're right," the dragon said and rubbed his claws together," that settles it then. We'll get you back in shape before you know it, sis, not to worry!"

"Sis?"

"Why not?" Adamaï shrugged, rebuking the confused glances that were thrown his way as he puffed up his chest and acted nonchalant," most dragons consider each other like siblings, no matter that they aren't born from the same Dofus. Why would it be different from Eliatropes? Some of you Eliatropes have a dragon brother or sister. What's the difference?"

Yugo burst out laughing when Adamaï shot him an inquisitive glare, slapping the top of the bed with an open flat hand after he buried his face away against his arm and snickered from under his hat," Ad, it doesn't work that way!" The dragon wasn't as amused like his brother, not even when he heard Alys softly laughing behind a hand, and huffed while waiting for Yugo to settle down. He didn't even flinch when the young Eliatrope pushed himself up like a bouncing spring and leaned closer to Alys," he's right though! You have us, me and Ad. We'll help you with whatever we can. I promise."

Alys laid a hand on top of Yugo's hat, smiling at him and his big brown eyes. How could she say no to such a face? Big sister, little brothers... Perhaps it was a little too soon to view each other as siblings, but it was a start. It was more than she had before, that was something she knew for certain. "Thank you," she said as she stroked the back of her fingers along Yugo's cheek before she reached out to do the same with Adamaï, causing him look away embarrassed while Yugo gloated at the appreciation they were getting with a blush and a dumb grin. "How about you tell me about yourselves?" Alys asked before she glanced to Joris to check on him, seeing he was observing the dragon and the Eliatropes getting to know one and another rather than take part in the conversation. He would keep an eye on her and be there to remind everyone to take it slow if it would get too much; she had a long way of recovery ahead of her.

"Sure!" Both Yugo and Adamaï nodded eagerly at the request before climbing onto the bed in near unison to sit at the foot, the tale they had to tell a long one. They would indulge her about where they grew up, who had cared for them, how they met and the adventures they had been on till she would be too tired to listen.

To be continued