Prologue

“Come along now, sweetheart,” The elder man called, his voice as soft as the sweet smile on his lips. Silver hair framed his face and slipped over his shoulders in silky bundles. They gleamed ever-so-slightly in the soft morning light. His white robes draped over him, soft folds creasing lightly as he knelt down in the grassy green field.

“We must get you washed and fed before the sisters find out you snuck outside to play again,” he chortled. His slender hand reached out and ruffled locks of golden hair, making the owner of them giggle.

“But Father, look!” the young one exclaimed. Two small hands held up a crown crafted from flowers, each delicately entwined with the next, “The flowers are blooming early this year! Aren’t they pretty?”

The girl’s face glowed with a smile of pure, innocent happiness as she held up the beautiful thing she had crafted with her own hands. She couldn’t have helped herself. She had woken up and peered out the window to see the field in bloom – the colors of the petals calling her name. She had run out – so eager to play and frolic that she had forgotten her lessons – and picked three of each color. Their scent was enticing, drawing her to play and sing and skip along without a care in the world.

The Father did not scold her. He never did. He saw nothing wrong with a child enjoying their young years before they were forced to face life’s harsh realities. He carefully lifted the crown of flowers from her hands, letting it rest in the palm of his own. The soft petals of the plants brushed against his skin, their scent inviting him to forget his worries and play along with the child as he had on so many warm summer days.

“They are beautiful, Siearra,” he replied before placing the crown upon her golden tresses. “You made this, I take it?” He scooped her up into his arms, lifting her as easy as any man could a small child of her stature. Then again, she was always a light little thing. So weightless he feared a gust of wind would sweep her away from him.

The girl nodded enthusiastically, “I made it all by myself, yes I did!”

The Father turned and began to walk back towards the sacred temple of the Sun Goddess. His steps were careful and light, avoiding as many flowers as he could on his way back to the path. “Well, how about we take you inside, and when your classes are done, you can come back out and I’ll help you make me one.”

The child’s face lit with a smile so bright she could have been the sun itself, “Okay, okay!”

The temple grew closer and closer, and soon enough, the large doors of the temple opened to them and they entered inside.

* * *

Hours and hours later, the small child with golden tresses awoke in her bed, her white night gown ruffled from sleep. She slowly sat up to the soft knocking of her bedroom door. Moments later, her mother poked her head in. “Good morning, little sleepy head,” she called softly, “Can you get ready for school on your own?”

“I can do it, I can do it!” the child called as she climbed out of bed.

After all, she had learned how to prepare herself in her own garments in her other world.

“Well then, little Sarah, get yourself ready and I’ll make you a big yummy breakfast,” her mother said with a pleased smile.

The door closed and the young child scampered across the room, gathering her clothes for school. Already she wished the day to be done with. The only thing she wanted to do was crawl back into bed and go back to sleep.

Then she could go back to the field of flowers. Then again, the father said she would start learning new things next time.

As she dressed, she hummed a song to herself. A song she had learned in the world of her dreams.