Once upon a time there was a wizard. He traveled a lot and he came often to the Great Lake on the island of Kabu. The calm surface of the lake reflects the nearby magnificent peaks which are covered with snow during the whole year. It is a beautiful place.
He stopped there one afternoon, to rest until the dawn and swim in the crystal water. The chill wind pierced him while the still bright sun warmed his blood. He felt the peace of the place fill him and slowly fell asleep. He woke up at midnight and set up a small warm fire to cook some food.
Without any warning I came within the light of his fire. I sat nearby without a word as if it was my place. The wizard was suspicious but did not show it. Instead he simply asked:
“What is your name?”“I have none which has meaning to anyone.” I replied.
“I will call you Lalena then.” and after a brief moment added
“You can call me Séregon.”After a while I broke the silence that followed:
“Ask what you want to know.”“Tell me about yourself. Who are you?”“My spirit is bound by the will of Tempus to protect this lake for countless years. Every once in a while I’m free to walk the land in my human body. I’ll be your host tonight as my spirit has been many times during your visits to the lake.”“Maybe it is the very reason I like this place as much” replied Seregon.
We continued to talk unaware of the time until the rising sun interrupted. It was time the wizard continues his journey.
“Will you come with me if I ask you?” he said and got up.
“You will never know until you ask.” I smiled and got up as well.
“I ask you then to come with me.”In the following days we discovered the bliss of a shared glass of wine, the gorgeous color of the sun light at dusk, the intoxicating smell of the meadows in the early morning.
At the down of the sixth day I had to tell him.
“Every 100 years I can become human again for a week. Tomorrow is the last day of my week. It is my destiny and I cannot deny it.”Seregon kept silent for a while before replying:
“I like the way your long black hair falls on the sides of your round face. I love the way your chocolate shaded skin feels to the touch. Does it have to be this way?”“There were many weeks. And they always end. Yes, there is no other way.” I knew it all along yet I could not help but show my sadness with these words.
“What do you feel like doing?” he asked.
“I want to fight.” I said grabbing a sword from the wall in his house.
“Fight me then!” he smiled and began whispering foreign words.
“Gorad, do, otain!” and he became half transparent. More words and his skin looked like stone. Another triad and he began moving swiftly like a cat. I charged but he moved aside. I tried knocking him down, he simply resisted being moved.
We fought until the last drop of our strength was over. Our bodies were sweating as we tried to catch our breath.
I took care of the few bruises he had gotten. He could probably heal them with magic, but he let me do it for him. Then we let our exhaustion turn into slumber.
I got up a few hours later. Seregon was nowhere to be seen. Worried, I searched the whole house and finally entered his study. There I found his cold body at the center of the large pentagram he used for his magic. There were hundreds of small stones all over the floor forming the name “Tempus”. I cried in horror and ran out of the house. I run and run and run as long as I could. When my strength left me I fell in a puddle. The water calmed and I saw my reflection. A twisted crying face surrounded by pure white hair.
The week passed and I was still in my body. What did he do to give me this life? Why did he do it? I have no answers. I wandered in the unknown land until I found a ship to take me to the town of Benzor. I call myself with the name he gave me - Lalena, Lalena White.
I know we cannot have everything. I know that sometimes we cannot even have the single thing we want the most. But this knowledge is no good when I wake up in the night with a cry and the urge to fight takes over me. I get my sword and wander in search of a challenge. With every monster or man I defeat I grow stronger. And I need another challenge.
Tonight it will be a Hell Worm from the Planes of Rage. Let the stronger one survive.
If my strength fades
I shall not perish
If my sword falls
I would not run
My blood can spill
I shall not wither
My heart can burn
I would not die
But if you walk away in silence
I will vanish with the morning mist
