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Growth to Stage 3


Beginning of the End

(In this Serana meets a face from the past and is reminded of the reason that she is living out on the edge of Zena. Despite the temptation of living in comfort and forgetting the past she instead embraces her destiny in trying to solve her family’s corruption and from this point on will be making her move to return home and to right all their wrongs.)

You can’t do this! Father, Mother, please!

As she ran the hallway before her became an endless maze full of twists and turns. At first she had recognized it as the hallway from her home, but now it was changing into something completely different. Things that had been familiar were now dark and distant while her own footsteps seemingly slipped on ice rather than on the solid hallways of stone from before. What was this place? And why was she running in the first place? Such thoughts crossed her mind right before Serana finally found the edge of the hallway. But it was not a thing that she had been hoping for, no light shined at the end of this tunnel as instead the girl found herself staring into a deep abyss. When she tried to stop herself her whole body lurched forward and without any solid surface to cling to she found herself tumbling downwards, “Iska!”

The name slipped from her lips and the next thing she knew the young woman was back in the bed at the manor in Zena. What had woken her up was the heavy impact of a janarim body on her bed and thankfully she clinged to the familiar creature with tears in her eyes, “Oh Iska…” The worse feeling in the world was to be stuck in that dark maze and to be so helpless. She despised that feeling the most after all it was the reason she had picked up the lance in the first place. Never again would she feel so weak and defenseless. I will make a difference! She had told herself that so many times before yet she still couldn’t prevent the rare nightmares that plagued her like this. “So frustrating.” Sighing Serana wiped the tears from her eyes before glancing around, “It’s not even dawn, is it?” Frustration crossed her brow before she flung the covers from the bed and tossed her nightgown from her body in favor of her riding attire. Adding a fur cloak around her shoulders Serana reached over for her lance and with that was prepared to head out of her room.

“I hope you don’t mind an early morning run, Iska.” Serana smiled sheepishly towards her familiar before patting his neck, “I’ll give you a carrot as a reward, okay?” As they left the manor Serana made certain to stop by the kitchen so that she could leave out some breakfast prep for the family. She was certain that they would understand her disappearance for the day, but it would be nice to help out a little just before leaving.

I’m always thinking of others, aren’t I? Serana’s mouth curved up into a small smile, the first hint of a smile since her nightmare, before she headed outside and prepared Iska to ride. As she climbed on the lancer leaned forward, “Let’s go!” As she urged him on Iska started slowly and then started to run faster and faster. Serana held onto him as much as she could, trying to keep her legs tight enough against Iska that she could keep her balance, but not too tight that it would cause her to constantly jolt with each of his steps. Unlike before when she was still learning how to ride the girl actually managed to settle in the saddle and the two of them maintained a graceful balance of speed and comfort.


Snow and wind whipped through her hair, but Serana didn’t mind. In fact she was delighted by the feelings of the wind against her skin. Even if it bit it was still thrilling in the fact that she could imagine that she was flying. Perhaps if she wasn’t still in despair over her nightmare the woman would even let out a giggle of glee at the fact that they were moving so smoothly through the snowy landscape. Without rest they continued up the path and down through the mountain trail that separated the manor from the town.

When they did arrive Serana found herself simply perusing the stores. There were some items she could buy for tomorrow night’s dinner and those sweets looked awfully satisfying as did that pretty piece of material. She could always use a new dress considering how worn out her clothing was from all the training and hard work she had been putting in at the manor. I think...I will. Smiling the girl handled the smooth material before finding herself surprised by a gasp from nearby.

“Se-serana?!”

Blinking, Serana turned so that she could see whoever it was that had called out her name. Immediately as recognition flashed across her features the woman darted forward so that she could greet the younger ice woman, “Rhea!” She tucked a stray strand of hair back from the apprentice who she had known as a youngling before, “What...what are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same!” The girl’s eyes welled up with tears, “I thought you had died or something! They said you had been sent to a school but had never been heard from in so long that I didn’t know what to think and things...well things got so bad back home that I had to move out here towards the country. My mama she...she was dyin’ and we heard about a healer that lived out here and helped anyone in need. So we came and have been settled here ever since. It’s nicer here, ya know? We can work with everyone and they don’t mind if you can’t always pay right away….not that it matters here since there aren’t people taking all of our money every chance they get like back home…” Her voice stumbled to a halt as she glanced up towards Serana with a deep flush blooming across her cheeks, “Sorry, I didn’t mean…”

“It’s fine.” Serana’s gaze was thoughtful as she patted the younger girl’s shoulders, “I’m glad to see you. So your mother is doing alright now? Is there anything I can do for her?” She took a deep breath before shaking her head sadly, “I couldn’t do anything back home before so I came out this way myself until the time was right. Sounds like it wasn’t the best place when you left….” The thought made her heart shatter in her chest as old wounds of betrayal, especially that of her family, throbbed at the sight of this girl. She was a reminder of what Serana had once fought for before her exile from home. Someone I should be still fighting for. Not everyone could simply leave the village after all and nor should they! Some families had roots that spread there for generations and it was all being taken away from them because of corruption! Her fingers clenched into fists at her side, “Rhea I promise that in the near future something will give. I will make certain of it.”

“Serana...I mean…” The girl’s eyes misted as she reached out to hold Serana’s hands, “I thank ya, but I’m not unhappy here though I do miss home. It’s just...won’t it be hard and dangerous? You were always so sweet to us that I don’t like the thought of you gettin’ hurt.”

It was tempting to just stay here and live peacefully. She wouldn’t have to worry about getting harmed or have to face her family’s betrayal and the pain it caused her heart. Couldn’t she just simply let those memories fade away like Rhea wanted? Rhea and her mother had come here after all to start anew, so couldn’t she? A knot formed in her heart at the tempting thoughts, but Serana shook her head once more and squeezed the other girl’s hands, “It’s what I want to do, no I need to do this.” Her mouth curled upwards in a hopeful smile, “Just believe in me okay? I’m going to do my best from now on and remember my mission.” She had gotten comfortable living with her new family, but that didn’t stop the fact that her village was in need. Even if her own family had betrayed her she still had a family within the village. The villagers had been her family and just like Rhea she had a duty to help them out. Seeing the girl served as a reminder of who she was and of how much more she had to accomplish.


As she escorted the girl back to her small house Serana mounted Iska once more, “I suppose it was bound to happen eventually.” It had been years after all since she had been home. Years to grow stronger and to plan out her next move. The thought made her glance down to the letter that was in her hand. Good timing. The news in that meant that things were about to get a bit dangerous and while the thought did scare Serana at first she found herself looking forward to it at the same time. She was determined to make change happen and now with the help of those who were to arrive in Zena soon she could be on the move again to make things happen.

(WC - 1542)