No. I don't think I am quite dead yet.

I know my body is somewhere out there. Somewhere I could not reach. Hidden. Shielded. Preserved... Ah, I don't even want to think about it. It is this strange tugging feeling at my heart on occasion which gives me a sense of hope that I am still alive. Sometimes I feel that it's leading me towards my body; yet I have been chasing after it for so long that I have lost count of the seasons that's passed.

And, sometimes, I dream of unpleasant things. Do ghosts dream? Well, I have never heard of a ghost that dreams. What I do know is that, from time to time, I need a little rest and, during that interval of inactivity my mind would wonder off to that far off time and place when I still had control over my physical self...

*****

It was late evening when she regained consciousness... and remembered the events which took place that day. It was an assault. Definitely. And it was a miracle that she survived it. Unforeseen as it seemed. And what if someone from the Family were to know about it: her, a Shadow Weaver, caught unaware and on the brink of death!

Dazed and puzzled from what had just occurred, she laid prone amid the sad remnants of her apprentices... along with the rest of the villagers to whom she had not the chance to say more than just a neutral greeting. Their vacant eyes stared at nothing, not even a blink as flies began to settle in. She tried calling for names belonging to faces she knew, hoping for a respond, a stir, if not a reply. Nothing audible produced from scratchy throat but halting rasps.

Night had fallen, she noted. Cold, silvery rays from the rising moon provided enough light for the only survivor to make out her surroundings. Sucking in a shaky breath, mindful of her own injury, she struggled to a sitting position, and was immediately greeted with the sickening sight of crumbled farm houses, darkened from the fire. Thick, dark smoke swirled about the place, polluting the once cool woodland air; very slowly did it being dissipated by the soft night breeze. Apart from her noisy, shallow breaths, the place which she once potentially thought of calling as her new home was frightfully quiet... even for a world weary adventurer like her.

A tinge of anger set in as she resisted the tempting sensation to give in to unconsciousness, however blissful it might be. Yet, overwhelmed with the apprehension of the loss of everything she knew, it did not take long for the rage to disintegrate to grief. Helpless, she wished that she had just died like the others... or prayed that to whichever goddesses that it was a really bad dream.

*****

It is indeed a very unpleasant dream. Is that part of the events which occurred prior to the "separation"? I don't know for sure.

This smart but sometimes a feather brain come to the Enchanter's Interview in Sugartopia district.

Well, let's see what would I say first..

I was standing, in front of the Brotherhood Head Quarters. I had been waiting for this day, though!

Two weeks ago, I did manage to collect the required items to get be promoted. The jobs were quite easy, but they surely want something I can only get with all I had. Well, people said that you'll reap what you sow.. And at the same time, I fell ill, so I endured myself from getting out of my hideout until I got better. What I sow, huh?

----------------

When I held the application, I was all sweaty and nervous. The same as the way I felt by standing in front of the guild building(well, looked a bit rusty). I was always watching the building from far. But I had enough, i think.

Can I make it? Can I keep up to my pace when I meet anyone inside? Nor to protect the citizens? Oh my,..
But I won't lose!(would I?)

With that, I went inside, and smelled something rotten, yet delicious. I looked into a round brown thing, and I recognized of this small existence. Could it be... that *censor*?
The nostalgic feeling filled my own when I found the...! It had been a while since I knew this weak buddy. It's sad to see him like that. "Melon bread.. What are you doing there..," I said with exaggerated manner, in dramatical pose. Though it's already rotten, I attacked by a sudden urge in my stomach. Without giving a second thought, I gave it a bi-- I left it at its grave, safe and sound.

The next I walked in, observed through the office and met old documents. Given the interest to the history of Brotherhood, I started rummaging on few points which I hadn't known. Toothpicks, cannibalism, paper fans(oh my)... Melon bread. Wait!! The Melon pan was there! Laid on an old paper with their 2D form. I read the history with enthusiasm. Made of an enriched dough covered in a thin layer of crisp cookie dough. Their appearance resembles a melon as their name suggest, yet they are not traditionally melon flavored though. The never so-so....it's one of the BH's favourite foods!
Well, should I rejoice? I mean the Melon juicy bread! Oh yeah!!

AMARANTHIA TIMES - JANUARY - JUNE 2011

Interview with Yemite