Chapter I: Arrows of Self-Doubt

"Just as our Mother Moon has her phases, so too it is with us, her vigilant children. She taught our great forebears, the moon elves before us that in order to be full one must not be afraid to wane; in order to be whole one must not be afraid to be broken first." An ancient moon elven principle taught by the Rogu'nne to the young elves at the Nightfostre Phrontistery today.

Being a more "aged" elf, this principle is no longer new to me; though it never fails to leave me pondering in thought each time I hear it.

"... to be full one must not be afraid to wane."

Frankly, I feel as though a part of me is waning everyday, and no it cannot be about my age as I'm practically 18 (at least I appear to be hehe).

More seriously, it's like I'm stuck in an eternal juxtapose of light and dark, order and chaos, strength and weakness. Our endless war with the Blood Queen Alice has cost us our resources, our rising casualties, and the desecration of our sacred forests. But no, it cost us more than that.

For someone who was once also a moon elf, Alice sure is desperate to suck us dry. Our enmity with her is the reason for the insanity of some of our brethren, driven mad by her voice which they can't seem to erase from their minds.

Everyday, they grow weaker until they are no longer themselves. In the end, they give in to her vile influence and ultimately become Blight Elves who do nothing but do Alice's dirty work for her; all in the service of their new queen. They usually strangely disappear on the night of the transformation.

As for the rest of us, we continue to worry what our future holds. Our king has not awoken from his lengthy slumber, and, although we don't say it, we dread that our Mother Moon may have forsaken us aswell. I do my best to be a strong leader for my kin, but there are some weaknesses you just can't hide. I fear my greatest weakness is not being able to see a future beyond this suffering with which we are ensnared.

As my thoughts go deeper, I hear a faint voice calling me from a distance,

"First-bow Miya?"

Ignoring it I proceeded to recollect memories of my childhood; simpler, ephemeral times when all I ever felt was being carefree and doing all the crazy things I ever could.

The nostalgia started kicking in when I heard the voice again, stronger this time,

"First-bow Miya?"

I was about to let it pass me again but it just dominated every other thought in my mind, resounding in its every nook and cranny.

"First-bow Miya?!"

I was dragged back to reality by this more puissantly inisisting tone. I quickly realize that it was the Rogu'nne patiently calling my attention as I was the guest speaker and it was time for me to introduce the youth to their duties in becoming responsible young elves.

"Would you, our proud Commander and First-Bow, share to the youth the importance of competence in our meritocracy?" requested the Rogu'nne. To which I responded,

"It would be an honor."