Iris Storm always wanted to do something for the village that took her in when she unknowingly lost something important. When the village is in danger, she jumps at the chance to prove her worth; however, at the same time, she realizes her own weakness as well as the realities of this world. The people that Iris meets along the way will shape her own convictions and the bonds she already had will strengthen. This journey is the beginning to an even longer one.

Winds of New Beginnings

A young girl stands on a grassy field that stretches miles without end. The sky is clear, and there is no breeze. 


She turns behind her, but there is no one behind her. The voice is more distinct, but it’s still hard to tell the gender. 


She looks back in front but still nothing. The young girl clenched her fists. 


“Who are you? You’re not my alarm clock.” 


(Danger seems to be coming. Not the one coming soon, but a bigger disaster approaches. You need to be ready.) 


“You keep telling me that, but nothing has happened. Now, who are you!” 


Small amounts of sunlight pours into the cracks of closed curtains. They do little to awaken the young girl as she covers her face with a pillow trying to go back to sleep once more. Her sleep is disturbed by a loud knock on her door. 


Iris knows the voice well. So well, she knows she has to get up. Her mind knows, yet her body disagrees. 


“Iris, you know what happens when you don’t listen, do you? Do you want the punishment?” 


The young teen knows the punishment well too. Her mind tells her body to get up, but the body says ‘screw it, and take the punishment.’ ...So she takes the punishment. 


The door is forced open. A woman with long silver hair and sapphire eyes, who looks like a child but stronger and smarter than anyone she knows, releases a small jolt of electricity onto the sleepy teen. 


Iris squeaks as the jolt awakes her completely. She is on the floor, and the sting slowly fades away. She looks up to the woman whose arms are crossed and foot tapping with impatience. 


“Morning, Elder. How’s your day going?” 


“It could be better if a certain someone would get in the morning without needing a sudden jolt to wake her up! Iris, we talked about this. You need to start waking up by yourself or else-“ 


“Or else the world will end? Yes, yes, Elder, I know my ability to wake up will affect our world’s destiny and all that.” She complains sarcastically getting up and putting on her work clothes for the day. 


“Don’t get smart with me. You’re still young, but this world can’t wait for you to grow up. You need to start thinking about the future.” 


‘If I have a future’, Iris thought as she finished putting on her work boots. 


“Not yet. He and the guard should be back late at noon.” 


“I see.” She opens the window, her eyes slightly blinded by the sun’s bright rays. A breeze comes in through the window, feeling more awake now. 


She gives a sad smile to the tiny leader. “I appreciate the concern, Elder, but I think you should focus on the future of the whole village instead of one person.” The young girl steps into the window sill. “Oh, I’ll be eating dinner at the restaurant, so no need to prepare anything. See ya!” 


Iris jumps out and runs before Elder can retort. Unfortunately, she wasn’t far away enough because she heard Elder scream: 


“You can’t run away from your problems, Iris! You need to make a decision!” 


“I understand. I completely understand that! 


But ...” Iris shakes her head and runs.


Chapter 1 Part 1