Xsael

A dark elf awakens in a dense forest, finding himself in an unfamiliar place. Everything is foreign, including himself. He's almost forgotten everything about himself, unsure of what has happened to him. The sole memory that remains is his name, Sa'El. Bestowed upon him by an old man who had been his mentor. He embarks on a journey seeking answers. "What happened to me?", "What should I do?", "Where should I go?"

While journeying alone, he occasionally crossed paths with other travelers or traders. However, he had no inclination to seek assistance from them or even to engage in conversation. He simply continued his solitary journey. Despite having lost most of his memories, he possessed the skills to survive independently, foraging for food, finding water, and securing safe shelter.

He had just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As he looked around, his gaze was met with shacks and cabins. The air smelled of rotted wood and wet moss. He ducked and stepped into a tattered tent, illuminated by a series of candles suspended in the air. At the back of the tent, an old hag raised her head, “What brings you to this dingy town?” she began, then paused to study his face. “Ah, it’s you. I’ve been expecting you. Sit,” she gestured at a cushion. “Tell me your story."

Sa'El regarded the old hag with a mixture of surprise and intrigue. How could she have anticipated his arrival? His journey had been a solitary one, devoid of encounters that might reveal his destination.

He settled onto the cushion, his cloak enveloping him like a shadow, collecting his thoughts before speaking. "I am Sa'El," he began, his voice measured and laden with uncertainty. "I awoke in a dense forest, an unfamiliar place. I had lost nearly all memory of myself, my past, and my purpose. The only remnant was my name, bestowed upon me by an old mentor."

Sa'El's amethyst eyes locked onto the old hag's, probing for any sign of recognition or understanding. "I've been wandering, seeking answers to haunting questions: 'What happened to me?' 'What should I do?' 'Where should I go?'"

The dimly lit tent seemed to hang on his every word as he continued, "The journey has been a solitary one, and by a twist of fate, I find myself in this town. I do not understand how you expected me, but I am here now, in search of guidance or wisdom to illuminate the path I should tread."

"Sa'El, you've always walked the path of a lone wolf, achieving everything in life by your own hand, for your own sake, never for anyone else. Yet, there are moments when the weight of that solitude bears down upon you."

Sa'El's response carried a hint of introspection. "Yes, it is true. The way of the lone wolf has been my path, but even a lone wolf yearns for the company of kindred souls, for a connection that transcends solitude."

"That's it, Sa'El. You're burdened by loneliness, a consequence of your own actions. Do you truly believe that your memory loss was not of your own making? Do you lay blame on others? And how deeply have you truly connected with others?"

"Hey, I still hold the memories of that old man."

"You know he is no longer here."

Sa'El paused, contemplating. "Then what should I do?"

"Persist in your journey through life. When another crosses your path, welcome their presence. Your radiance may not blaze brightly at the initial meeting, yet every beginning shapes the culmination..., may you discover your guide."