For Every Beginning...

Gwen woke up slowly to warm sunlight streaming in through a window above her bedding. A young monk, perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old, sat at the far end of the room, staring.

His eyes lit up when she lifted her head.

"You are awake!" He shouted before running into the hall. "Soren, she is awake!" 

Nothing in the room was familiar. Gwen rubbed her eyes and tried to remember what happened the night before. 

'Did I drink too much?'

As she thought, she realized that she couldn't remember the day before, either. In fact, she couldn't remember anything before waking up just now.

'Am I dead?' 

Gwen held her head and desperately searched for memories, but it was as if her thoughts spiraled a giant black drain. She did not find cloudy memories, or a half-remembered childhood; there was simply nothing. A blank abyss.

○○○

Kai rushed to Soren's study and slammed open the sliding door. 

"She is up! Finally!"

It had been three days since the mysterious girl was brought down from the top of Cloud Level Peak in Soren's arms. Since then, it was Kai's duty to watch her and give her water. 

He thought he would die of boredom.

But now she was awake! 

Soren slowly closed the book he was copying and made his way to the room with Kai. Just as he had said, the girl was sitting upright and staring at the wall.

"How are you feeling? You slept for three entire days. It must have been quite the trauma you endured."

The girl said nothing, only stared.

"I will have some questions for you, in time. We are still unsure how an assassin made his way into the tower, and how he escaped so cleanly. But, in the meantime, please make yourself acquainted with the monastery. Kai will be happy to take you anywhere."

There was still no response.

"Kai, please have the girl change into the robe, and bring her to the dining hall."

Soren left, leaving the two alone. Kai dutifully instructed the strange girl to change into the clean robe next to her, and turned around politely as she did.

They both left quietly to visit the kitchens.

It was a peculiar sight for the kitchen staff - a girl in a robe. And with the mischievous Kai, no less!

The two took a seat in the dining area with a bowl of soup each.

"Do you have a name?"

"Gwen," the girl answered hesitantly. 

She ate quickly, but not sloppily. Kai wondered if she was a noble.

"I have never heard a name like that before," Kai muttered aloud. "It is pretty! I like it."

Gwen held her spoon midway to her mouth before returning it to the bowl.

"Thank you. I don't think anyone has ever told me that before." She gave a thin smile before returning to her bowl.

Kai blushed and stammered out, "How did you get here? Soren said you showed up with nothing three days ago, the same night the masters were killed." 

"I don't know." 

"Well, where are you from? It is not an easy journey to Cloud Level Peak after all."

"I don't know."

This girl was strange. 

"How can you not know where you are from? I am an orphan, and even I know I am from the Four Rivers."

The girl finished her bowl and leaned back contentedly. 

"Actually, I can't remember anything before today. I can't even be sure I was alive before this morning."

Gwen studied her hands closely. Kai could see heavy calluses and scars on them. He hadn't noticed that before.

"Well, I am sure you will remember! I heard you were there when one of the Ashen assassins killed the masters. That was surely horrifying! Perhaps it has made you forget everything."

"Thank you, Kai. You are very kind."

Kai blushed again and scratched his head. He had actually never spoken with a girl before. It was nothing like speaking with the monks!

"Soren says you will be living at the monastery from now on. You will be the first girl to ever study here in 600 years!

"Do you feel well enough for a walk? I can show you the best places in the monastery!"

Gwen nodded, and the two left the dining hall. Kai snickered to himself when he heard faint shouts from the kitchen behind them. 

"Kai! You need to clean what you use!"

He pulled Gwen along quickly out of sight down the hall.

The Cloud Level Monastery capped the peak of Cloud Level Mountain, an impressive and misty mountain with steep and dangerous cliffs. It was built over six centuries ago, during the Age of Chaos, 400 years before the reign of the Red King - the first monarch to unite Easlan under one crown.

Kai didn't dwell on the history, though. He showed Gwen the training grounds where the masters taught the pupils, the tranquil gardens, the overlook, the pupil dormitories, and finally the highest point in the entire compound - the Tower of the Flock.

"All of the strongest masters are named after birds. I do not know why, but it has always been this way," he explained.

Gwen marveled at the beauty of the place. Each building and tower followed the curve of the mountain, making the monastery feel as if the mountain itself had molded it with pride to cap its peak.

By the time they made their way back to the pupil dorms, Kai was breathless from the hours of walking and talking. 

"Remember to sleep early! We have training tomorrow," Kai reminded Gwen.

She nodded and closed the door behind him, and returned to her bedding. Her mind still felt confused and out of sorts, but that night she slept with a smile.