Memory 1: The Founding Legend

In a dark, dingy room, two children were sitting on the floor and were covered in dirt. In their malnourished bodies, with bone poking through the skin, there were pairs of eyes that glittered with life. The boy began to talk.

"Before the birth of a great nation, there were two kingdoms: Vitarae and Papaver. These were great countries that greatly expanded the continent and united all the independent groups of people.

Well kid, you always have to remember that the greater the light, the darker the shadow. Ok? That's what my dad told me (the boy sighed). These two kingdoms were always at war. There were constant battles over territory, people, and technology. Thousands died. Including innocent boys and girls-- just like you and me.

However, there was hope for peace: the Commander of Vitarae and the Princess of Papaver were deeply in love. If they were to be married, it would be possible for the two nations to formulate a ceasefire agreement!"

"But you said before that love can't solve all problems, right?" the girl said, her ruby red eyes glittering with innocence. The boy with the mint green colored hair giggled.

"That's true, but people like to think it will. Anyways, the Commander had suddenly received a notice that the princess was in danger! In order to save his love, he needed a special power from…"

"Who? Who? C'mon, tell me!" The red eyed girl bounced up and down in anticipation, her slick, grimy black hair dancing around her shoulders.

"Calm down, Banksia. Anyway, he needed the power from… the Great Dragon Aconitum! The Commander made his way to Aconitum's den and peered inside. What he saw sent shivers down his spine. The Great Dragon had trapped the Forest Spirit Queen Alyvia!"

The young boy picked up two stones from the ground and began to click them against each other to demonstrate the battle; the young girl leaned in closer with excitement.

"There was a slash here and a breath of fire there! The Commander's sword bounced off of Aconitum's scaly skin, and as he fell to the ground, the sound of cracking filled his ears with a searing pain surging through his body! As his life flashed before his eyes, the Commander thrust his sword into Aconitum's heart, and Aconitum fell to the ground.

As the Commander wheezed and gasped for air, he heard Aconitum's final words:

I curse your wretched soul,

My blood will stain your vision for all eternity!

I wish you great suffering in this life,

And redemption in the next."

"Did the Commander die then? Tell me quickly!" exclaimed the girl impatiently.

"Alright, alright Banksia. The Commander didn't die. In thanks, the Forest Spirit Alyvia healed his wounds and granted him the power of discerning the truth! Because of this, his eyes turned a deep red."

"That's just like my eyes!" the girl squealed excitedly, pointing at her face. The boy smiled. "Yes, they are just like yours, Banksia."

"With his powers, the Commander went to go see the princess, however, once he saw her, he almost keeled over in shock! Her soul was a bright red, which meant that she was lying to him! In fact, she had never loved the Commander and had only pretended to in hopes to infiltrate Vitarae! The Commander cried as he slit her throat, and he decimated the entire royal family of Papaver in his fit of rage.

Over the blood that stained both lands and ran through the Rivers, The Commander unified the kingdoms to create...Gloriosa."

"And we have to go there together? We don't have to go through this anymore if we go there?" the girl asked, with tears prickling at the edges of her eyes. The boy looked at the scars that covered their arms and legs, slightly hidden by dried blood and dirt. He tried his best to force a smile. "Yes, we should go to…!"

A man came into the desolate room with heavy steps and grabbed the boy by the shoulders harshly, the boy's tears streaming down his face. The girl held onto his leg, her nails digging into the dry flesh, screaming. Nevertheless, the boy was taken away.

The girl collapsed on the floor, sobbing until her voice turned hoarse. She then painfully whispered,

"Don't go, ____."

~~~~~~~~~~

"Ugh, shit." The rancid smell of my now drenched hair filled my nose and jolted me awake, my forehead bumping the sword I had previously been resting on.

"Hey, Swan, the old man's girl did that, not me! Want something to drink?" the man with the black teeth said to me while swinging jugs of a gelatinous substance.

"No thanks, I'm good." The dirt that lined my skin made me feel queasy-- like spiders crawling under my skin.

"You had a bad dream or somethin' Swan? You were grimacin' and writhin' like you were possessed by the River!"

I felt like I could hear my heart pounding inside my head, my brain threatening to pop out of my skull.

"I don't know about dreams, but I definitely forgot something important."