Look up into the top left corner of your personal space. This is where your memories are kept (you can always tell when someone is airing a memory as their eyes move up and left) reach into the back and take out your oldest memory. Spend a moment with it. Let a smile play on your lips or tear fall to your cheek, whichever is most appropriate. Whenever you’re ready, put it back, take a breath and join me in my first memory.

My personal space seems to be smaller than average, perhaps because I am smaller than average or perhaps because I have repressed memories. Anyhow, see the little girl in the nightdress, casually holding a teddy bear in one hand and sucking the thumb of the other while she weaves her dark brown hair through her fingers? That’s me. I’m at least two years older than you were in your first memory. The hairless gentleman in the simple robes she is watching, patiently waiting for to finish his prayers or meditation or something (she’s too small to understand), that, is Master Togo. I think he’s about to speak. Yes, he’s opened one eye and he’s smiling.
“Hello Little One.”
The little one took a few tentative steps towards her guardian “How did you know it’s me?” she was the only “Little One” in the monastery.
Did you see that? Togo’s smile turned into a grin “Because I didn’t hear you but I felt your presence just behind me. The rest of these elephants would have little trouble waking the dead, let alone rousing me from my meditations.”
She giggled “You use some big words.”
“Yes Child, I do. And I will not insult you by using smaller ones. Now, what is it I can do for you? Did you have a bad dream?”
Her head gave the tiniest shake “I wanted a chat, I’m worried about stuff.”
He looked deep into her brown eyes and knew the little girl was telling the truth. This was a deeply troubled child. Togo pulled the girl onto his lap and nodded for her to continue.
“Lia said I’m going to grow up into a bad person because I don’t have a Mummy or a Daddy. She said Mummies make people nice people and Daddies make people clever people. So… so… I’m going to be bad and stupid when I’m big.” With that, she started to wail the way only a small child can.
Under his breath Togo said perhaps the least kind words he has ever said about anyone, but the little me heard him. “Lia Xunlai, she will grow up to be little more than a glorified cloak-room attendant like her mother before her and her mother before her.” Togo gently stroked the little girl’s hair before tucking her any that had been in her face behind her ears. When the choking sobs had subsided he wiped the tears away, gently held her chin and looked earnestly into her eyes again. “Roseanna,” he almost NEVER used my name “you would be well advised to ignore the unkind words said to you by Lia and people of her ilk. None of what she said to you is true. Every single one of us in this world has both a mother and a father. Just because you do not know your parents does not mean you do not have any. And with a little one as special as you are, you are bound to be in their thoughts every day.” He paused for a moment. “I think Headmaster Quin is one of the cleverest people I know, but her father died while her mother was still pregnant with her. If Daddies make people clever, surely she would be more lacking in her mental faculties?”
Considerably calmer, the little girl said “So I won’t grow up to be bad or stupid?”
Togo laughed “You are neither of those things now my child so I have no reason to suppose that will change. Unless you receive a blow to the head perhaps – that might knock things off centre. I think you have a great future ahead of you.”
“Me?” to say the little girl was awestruck would be an understatement.
“Yes you. One day all of Cantha will cheer your name. I am sure of it, and if your parents are still alive they will not be able to resist coming forward to meet you.”
“What will I be?” she twirled her hair around her fingers and looked thoughtful.
“My child, I cannot choose a path for you. If you had a gift bestowed on you by the Gods it would be easy to say ‘ah, yes – you will grow up to be a great elementalist’ but you do not have these gifts. That is not a bad thing, it means you are free to shape your own destiny. Study hard, meditate and pray to the five Gods every day – maybe one of them will bless you with a small measure of their talent. In time, you will know what path you will take.”
These were big answers for such a small child. “Even Grenth?” she asked “He’s scary.”
“Yes Little One, even Grenth, whether his path is right for you or not we all die one day, and when that day comes you would do well to have Grenth on your side.”

I took Togo’s words to heart. He believed in me which lead me to believe in myself a little more. Every day, I prayed to the five Gods. I studied hard, and I spoke to all of the Headmasters at the monastery. Eventually, when I was around fifteen, the dual influence of Lyssa and Headmaster Lee pulled me to the path of the assassin. I had just finished my final exam and was ready to go out into the world and start investigating the plague that had sprung up in Cantha around that time when I was approached by an ageing white-haired elementalist named Shadara Phoenix. She invited me into her new guild – Knights of Dark Renown – which had been established specifically to put an end to the plague in Cantha to begin with, after that we would spread to help those in need in Tyria and Elona.

It was not long before Shadara invited me onto her council and involved me in decisions that affected the whole guild. Before long, Shadara had to retire through ill health and she left me in charge. I now have my own council, selected for their bravery, cunning, honesty, integrity, intelligence and loyalty. As a guild, we discovered the origins of the plague in Cantha and we put an end to it. Togo was right about all of Cantha shouting my name – I only wish he had been there to see it – but no one came forward and called me Daughter. I have accomplished great deeds in Tyria and Elona. I have scraped every inch of land in search of clues. I still have no idea where I come from or who my parents were.  

--Last edited by Rose on 2007-07-23 14:35:57 --

Sweet arthur mcgree johnson wattleberry the fourth of bundlement manor!!!!! THAT WAS EXCELLENT!!!!

very nice rose, quiet nightbringer u child

BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    pure genius!!

Genius  

--Last edited by Ira Moment on 2008-03-09 09:30:29 --