Epilogue: -The Beginning.-

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They say, everything happens for a reason and those reasons do not always show themselves to those who seek the truth.

They say one must know himself, before knowing his enemies, yet, I wonder if knowing one self would be enough.

You see, to be quite honest, I don’t remember who I am, or was, where I'm from and what my life was exactly like, before everything took a sudden turn, a turn so sharp and instant, I still, some times, could never get over the shock.

I do believe I am human, though; an average, everyday human.

But the tales I will tell you will show you, even a human can do things, he or she never knew they could.

It all began on a dark cloudy night, a darkened sky and my bare feet hitting the mud soaked ground, dashing frantically across the middle of a dying forest. The trees were tall and proud, but also dead and bare of any leaves. The rain was like needles of acid, seemingly black and sharp, hitting my cold, numbing bare skin. I was running for my life; from something or someone, I'll never know, as I held a basket in my hands, clutching it tightly.

I felt as if I were running from the past that haunted me and towards a dark, unclear future; a future I never knew awaited me.

Rain poured harder and heavier, as the wind screamed and howled in my ears, sounding loud like ghosts in the dead of night, demanding that I leave, to never return. As the black and dark grey clouds blocked the sky, shrouding me in pitcher darkness, thunder flashes, lightning struck, the sky roared mightier in a fit of rage, as the needles of rain stung my cold numb skin as I ran, as if pelting me with cold, hard stones, chasing me away.

I screamed, fear and panic overwhelming my senses, and I aimlessly ran.

'Run! Run child, don’t look back!' a voice I never before acknowledged had told me, 'Run or it will be your death!' it warned.

The clapping of thunder was the only source of light that illuminated my path, in the vast spread sky during that frightening storm. That mere second of light, was enough to redirect my frenzied escape, exiting the dead forest and towards a hill.

The hill side soaked, rain mixing with the dirt and caused mud slops to form, covering the vast lands surrounding the area. There, where there was no grass to hold the earth down, my gaze shifted upwards towards a building, that shadowed the sky as thunder flashes brightly once more. To me, it was a refuge, a shelter, and I ran to it with impatience.

The areas that were troubling were those with short grass, or where the grass was close to none, for their poor amount was unable to hold back the vigor of the raining waters, and the soil and dirt were being pushed back with the pouring rain, melting with the moist that fluffed up the dirt, shifting and moving it away. I could not run quite fast enough to avoid the slippery stones that were left bare after the rain, for I'd slip and slide, supported with a free hand, protecting me from falling right on my face, but I'd still manage a few more feet ahead, before I'd slip down again.

I refused to give up, with my heart thumping and beating wildly in my chest, I pushed forth, shoving away fear and panic, if only momentarily, keeping in mind the safety of the continents of my basket, as well as the glorious goal I wish to reach.

After what had felt like hours, I reached the top where there were ruins at the top of the hill, and they were enormous! Fear and exhaustion currently forgotten, I stood in awe, oblivious to the roaring storm, as I stared awestricken at the building before me.

Their gigantic, ashen grey and white pillars, coated with both moss and veins that had grown through their cracks. Those mighty pillars braced the sky, as the towers of a medieval structure stood with the pride of a lion! The front of the interior had statues of mythical creatures varying from gargoyles and griffins, imps and beasts that were both admirable and frightening!

There, in the middle of the front yard was a fountain, and amidst the fountain was black, iron statue!

It was a statue of a knight riding his stallion horse, both equipped for battle; with the horse standing on his hind legs, as he thrashed his forelegs, in what could be assumed the face of their enemy. The knight's armor and sword were tucked to his belt, as his arm held a protective shield; it carried a symbol that was probably the sign of his country, and though it looked strangely familiar, for the life of me, I could not remember what it was.

The statue's metallic body, in spite of its condition regarding the terrible stormy, weather was reflecting brightly against the flashing lights of thunder; shining like glass with the wetness of the rain!

The warrior's arms held a bow and arrow, which was aimed at the thundering sky, as if it were the enemy. He glared at the storm, as if it dared it to try and tear down the walls of his castle and his home. The ruins, they stood tall and proud, unshaken by the brutal winds and water, unfazed by the climate and neglect, it continued on, never bowing to the passing of age and time.

For a long moment, I stared at the knight's shadowed and hidden face, admiring his blurred features; that, of course, until another clap of lightning exploded in the sky and was quickly but the lazy yawn of the lion again; the sound of thunder, threatening to strike me if I continued to stand under its reach. With a small scream, I hurried into the dry inside of the building, shivering and shuddering, as the cold air blew against my cold, wet body.

Again, feeling a little safe, I looked around my surroundings.

The old, discolored, dirty marble floors, despite it's poor condition and shabby interior, sheltered the inside from the bad weather, barely containing it and keeping the floor relatively non slippery and dry; only the wide open windows and battered creaky doors, or lack of, were broken and fallen down, wasted by time and being constantly neglected.

The wind would gust into or through some areas, and then whistled and howled in others, blowing it's icy breath into the bare bones of the structure, whistling through the cracks and venturing uninvited into the vastly open wards and halls, howling through the rooms and screaming loudly, with what had sounded like pitch-sharp screeches and screams, through the small cracks in the walls.

Lightning struck hard, illuminating everything that was once, merely seconds ago, sinking in utter and sheer darkness.

With that quick, split second of blinding light, I rushed deeper into the sheltered ruins, feeling awkwardly insignificant under its amazingly high domed ceiling. I found myself admiring its unique beauty, even if the glass was smashes, disfiguring the lovely colored glass embedded into it, it remained breathtaking nonetheless. Whoever had worked on the ceiling had clearly put his heart and soul into it, it was very admirable!

Suddenly I sneezed, as the sound bounced off the walls and echoed, before feeling myself trembling and shuddering, my whole frame violently shook. Hearing my own teeth chatter, clearly from the bone cracking chill, I pressed forth, hoping for some sort of warmth.

I was, for quite a while, gasping for a breath, still slowly recovering from my long jog through the dead forest, before shakily striding across the empty wards and halls, looking for a place to crash for the night, before I continue on my journey, hopefully to the nearest town.

Alas, my anxiety rose again, frightened once more by the more loudly roaring rain and howling winds. It almost felt as if they were snarling, screeching and hissing at the doors and windows, like savage animals trying to break in and grab me, demanding my immediate return, and it made my heart race. But I refused to succumb to their demands and remind inside where it was safer and dryer.

I pressed forwards even more into the dryer section of the building, a place where there were no dripping waters dribbling from the cracked roof, or from either the broken windows and doors, where there was dry furniture, coated in thick sheets of dust and cobwebs, where the floor was cold and solid marble, where rats scurried in fear of my presence, squeaking and announcing the arrival of a stranger in their home.

But I paid them no mind; I kept walking towards the next corridor, almost as if I knew my way around.

There was something calling me, I could not tell what, but I followed it.

Now, angered by my actions, daring to ignore it's howls, the storm started screaming, whistling with longer and sharper blows, telling me to step out and back into their cold, wet arms, to face it's merciless rage once more, but I did my best to tune it out.

Dull, I stopped, leaning exhaustedly with my shoulder against a pillar, gasping and fighting for a clear breath. I think I'm getting sick, because my breath was getting harsher in my throat. After a moment, I smiled at the item within my arms. It was wrapped up in a weathered old red cloth, protecting it from the cold wind and chilling rain. It was tucked safely in a basket that held something very important to me, and I swore to protect it with my life.

As I aimlessly walked across the dusty floor, I stood at a corridor and at that corridor, was a huge mirror.

Curious, I ignored it's golden frame and shattered lower corner. I dare not reach for the giant cobweb that decorated it's upper corners, with it's red eyed, eight-legged owner glaring down at me with it's shadowed little body, either.

Daring to touch the dust glass with my pale, bony, thin fingered, wet free hand, I stroke it once. I watched in slow realization of what I saw. I saw the reflection of my tired, brown eyes, as the sides were darkened, from both footage and exhaustion. Another slow, gentle stroke and it showed the clash of color between my pale, ashen skin and soaked black hair, where it rest on my shoulder in a braid. My lips were wrinkly and dry, because of both hunger and thirst. A third stroke came, reflecting the image of the neck and collar of my tattered grey shirt and shawl, as the low cut sleeves barely kept my shoulders covered.

If anyone were to see my lone figure, they would have run off screaming.

I looked like a ghost.

Lightning flashed once more, and I saw the light in the reflection of the glass. Blinking once, I turned my head to gaze past the corridor behind me. There were rooms, many rooms, probably dorms of sorts, and I wondered if I had stumbled upon the guest chambers. Humbly, mirror forgotten, I walked towards them, scanning them with slow steady glances, until I chose one that was both reasonably dry and not so covered in dust, I entered it.

Suddenly, at my full stop while regarding the room, my feet were no longer able to keep me standing, they shivered and trembled badly. I pressed my back against the wall in overwhelming exhaustion. I hugged the basket closer, as I placed my free hand to my temple; 'Warm.' I thought, realizing I was indeed picking up an illness, probably a cold, or worse, a fever.

Drained and partly stripped of relief, I slipped down and sat on the closest seat, an old wooden chair. Unfortunately, seeing that it was so worn out, it crumbled under my weight, though I managed to get up and off it, before ending up falling on my rear end. Stopping for a few seconds, staring at the crumbled pile of termite-eaten wood and dust, I raised my chin.

I scanned the area for a safer place to sit, a place I could bunk in for the night. I saw a weathered old bed at the far corner of a nearby room, but it was past a strange corridor, and the gargoyle that adorned that arched entrance, that resembled nothing else I'm familiar with, looked anything but inviting. There was something disturbingly peculiar about it and it strongly perked my curiosity.

Suddenly lightning struck and in protective reflex, I hugged the basket in my arms so strongly, it almost threatened to crush it!

With quick agility I never knew I had, from both renewed fear and panic, I ran away from the blinding lightning that flashes through the window, the gargoyle statue completely forgotten, and rushed to the room opposite room, passing through an arched doorway.

Little did I know the shocking results of my impulsive actions.

I ran so quickly through the corridor, I did not notice of the strangely sparkly items that graced the walls, nor the rug under my feet. I was wet and cold, I had my eyes half closed in fatigue. I ran and my foot got caught in the rug, resulting losing balance and falling, sliding on the marble floor. I fell to my side, still aware as to not harm the object in my arms.

Adrenaline rushed through my veins, but I were so, so tired; so, so hungry, spent and tired.

I panted tiredly, completely lost to how long I have laid there, holding on to the precious item tightly, my eyes giving up on me, as I fought to stay conscious. However, before I lost the battle along with my remaining strength, I gave in to the darkness that engulfed me; thunder struck once more, clapping loudly in my ears, so I fluttered my eyes for one brief moment, only to sense something coming my way.

It was a blaze of white and tainted in blood red, but then, everything went black.

And I believe, that is how it all started.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N: Okay, while uploading this, my original last update was back in 2002-2003 I think, when I had first published the story, and had just uploaded chapter three. I have now taken down chapters two and three and they're under some major editing.

I will be rewriting the story, cause when I first posted it, because back then I was very new to the concept of creating a well rounded story, and had rushed head first without thinking out the plot, but now that I have a few years on my account, after going back to this little piece, I felt that it had been too shallow in both character and story, not to mention veryrushed, so I'm having it rewritten!