Like gradually waking from a night of slumber, Zelenia's vision cleared, and she sat in a vast meadow under a sky split in two—a golden sky and the night sky sprinkled with stars. Water flowed freely over rocks in clear streams around her. The scent of earth was strong with its various floral smells and the rust of dirt. The heat of the sun pressed down on her, but a soft breeze kept her comfortable, making the flowers dance. Her neck hairs prickled at the dark power swirling through everything, but instead of frightening her, it had her excited.

The Silent Realms: where the Elements, the Sun and Moon, and the souls of the deceased rested. Movement caught her attention; translucent bubbles of spirits drifted around the flowers and softly billowed in the breeze to be taken some place else.

Just the sight of the contented souls brought a smile to her lips. Being charged with the guidance of the dying, Zelenia could sense the resentment in a mortal leaving Ethea and always feared they would never accept their fate. One death in particular still plagued her—a mother of three children, gravely injured after an attack of Fangril's demons. But seeing the souls' happiness eased the doubt haunting her. Melancholy could not be felt here, only peace.

But she wasn't brought just for a visit.

On some silent command, all the souls gathered before her, creating a wall of writhing translucent orbs. When the squirming halted and they melded together, a large reflective square hung suspended in the middle of the meadow.

Her reflection gave Zelenia a start; the reflection staring back at her looked older, more mature and breathtakingly beautiful. She herself was only thirteen, but the mirror reflected a woman, fully developed and well into her prime. No wrinkles marred her face, the face wasn't so childish and innocent looking, and her pale, blemish-free skin glowed softly like the moon.

The long silver hair matched her own—even with a mixture of light and dark blue ribbons weaved throughout it—but the reflection's hair was longer and billowed in a breeze Zelenia could not feel. Her eyes were a clearer and sharper pale blue, almost icy, but deep intelligence, wisdom, and experience flickered within that Zelenia's did not have.

The woman wore a pure white dress, smooth on her slim figure and slit at the middle so her posture could mirror Zelenia's; the rest flared out around her on the ground. She realized what all the semblances meant.

The older Zelenia smiled sweetly once the younger Zelenia realized who she looked at. The smile comforted her immediately, like a trickling stream. Zelenia returned the smile. So that's how her smile affected her patients, for when she smiled, relief washed over their pains.

My name is Mirora; I am the Moon. Her voice flowed coolly over Zelenia's skin, softer than a whisper.

The picture behind her older reflection rippled until a full moon appeared, floating in the endless starry sky. The moon highlighted a dark beach with its midnight waters rushing in and out on the sandy shore. A few dark palm trees swayed in the quiet wind.

Young Zelenia, I have given you the blessings of the Moon—Queen of the Night. Quiet and withdrawn but undoubtedly strong in spirit—Soulguide. Silent power rests within you, but you are not one to be tempted into anger—Ruler of the Tides. Gentle and soft but fiercely determined—Priestess of Air.

Yet, you are not alone, but part of a pair.

A ripple, like a single water droplet, disturbed the image of Mirora and the serene landscape behind her. The picture transformed into a bright scene of rolling plains and plentiful grasslands. White clouds of sheep and spotted cows grazed under the watchful gaze of the sun blazing overhead in the clear sky.

Helian, your twin: the Sun. You will rein in his dangerous eagerness and soothe him of his brashness. Your brother lives in Creta of the proud peoples of Dantia.

The picture rippled to show a small fishing village built over sparkling waters. More huts and homes dotted the shoreline. Children played tag on the winding piers connecting every boathouse and home while others swam in the bay. Women washed their family's clothes, gossiping and visiting with each other while men were fishing, fixing tangled lines, or either docking or undocking small boats to go out for the day's catch.

An almost transparent blue haze emerged out of the water at the base of the pier. Even though she couldn't see the person, Zelenia immediately knew what the haze represented: the Water Elemental. The fishermen on the pier hauled up a net full of flopping fish from the mist without much of a look at them. After a while, the haze melted back into the cool ocean to where it found belonging. Zelenia longed to join the spirit in its swim.

Water flows freely and contently with his own characterization of himself but represses the thought that he is something more. He soothes emotions easily. His doubts shall make him confident. Your Elemental lounges with the fishers of Kaos of Asardia.

That picture faded into another one of dark, jagged mountains obscured by mist and fog. Nothing green grew on the land, only boulders and rocks littered the craggy ground. The gray-stained sky threatened to rain.

Sickly pale people—never in contact with the light of the sun or lit by a healthy glow of the moon—drifted about gloomily. They looked like cast-out ghosts searching for a place to stay. The scene suddenly followed a winding trail toward one of the mountains. At its base stood an opening, and the picture delved into it.

Her picture emerged out of the tunnel into a massive cave, completely turned into a juxtaposed city of wooden homes and vibrant wagons. Nearly everywhere, people of all ages danced mystically to haunting tunes. Most were gypsies, while others looked to be alchemists or dealt in the black arts, and others were fortune tellers in the wagon homes.

Like before, a purple haze drew her attention, but it stayed hunkered down away from the dancing caravans. The Spirit Elemental. Loneliness emitted from the spirit and Zelenia's heart panged in grief for it.

Spirit silently longs for your arrival and waits patiently. She is the coolness to secure the bond between the Elements as she flows through each. Her loneliness shall no longer be her sole companion. The Elemental you and the Sun share meditates within the Seiran Mountains of Volentia.

The isolated lands melted into an ancient road snaking through ruins of an overgrown city, destroyed in the Selfish Wars. The dirt road stretched for thirty leagues and as the most heavily traveled path between the major cities of Laon and Glyson, a variety of people marched past each other on their journey to either city, stepping out of the way to avoid being trampled by a wagon or a cavalry of horsemen, and not bothering to glance at the large rubble around them.

A white haze drifted down the winding road beside a young man with a guitar strapped to his back. The young man walked on the passing side and even though both seemed to shy away from the passersby, Zelenia felt that he shielded the spirit from prying eyes. But he couldn't block the haze from her and she felt suppressed pride in the spirit—even though wounded.

Air roams through the lands, searching for purpose again. She is the idol many look up to and will need to breathe oxygen into again. Her fault shall make her complete. Your Elemental rests in the ruins of Euralion.

The picture faded and nothing came to replace it. It remained blank until the smooth picture unglued and the souls drifted off, but Mirora's voice still reached her.

Seek out your brother, travel to the Temple of the Sun where he will be armored and informed of the location of his Elementals, and as one, you will bring them together. You must find unity among each other by going through the Trials of the Six Temples, for many conflicts lie on your connected paths. Only then can you defeat Fangril and establish the harmony between the Elements.

In one blink, Zelenia returned to the Temple of the Moon. Her eyes went up to the crescent Moon above her, cradling the Sun in unity and protection. Unlike before, when it turned translucent and pulled her to the Silent Realms, the mural remained still. The black staff on her legs, whose runes had glowed silver, now lay cold.

Zelenia released a heavy, shaky breath. Being the personification of the Moon—a mortal charged with overseeing the world—she knew this day would come; she thought she was prepared for it. But how could one truly be ready for this magnitude of a quest? All the past Elementals had failed in killing Fangril. She wasn't a fighter; she wasn't assertive.

Her eyes traveled around the temple built to honor the Elements and the Sun and Moon. The temple consisted of the circled room she sat in and a much smaller room serving as her bedroom. Dimly lit torches, combined with the curling smoke of incense, provided the sleepy haze that settled over every visitor, transferring them to a state of calm lethargy to forget their stress and pains of the real world.

Built simply for serenity, the walls encircling Zelenia depicted the personalities of Water, Spirit, Fire, Light, Air, and Earth in a colorful panorama. Cloths representing each Element's color drifted upward to cover the enclave ceiling to the joining Moon and Sun painted into the center—directly above her.

Seeing all the Elements in cohesion with the Sun and Moon calmed her anxiety. She wasn't meant to be a fighter, the others would be. Zelenia was meant to be who she was. Gifted with the healing powers and deep insight of the Moon, she would be able to assist the others. Her strength lay in when others called out for her help—when circumstances needed her to act, she could without hesitation.

Now sure of herself, her thoughts turned to the short trip from her village of Lewana to Creta. That voyage wouldn't be taxing, but beyond...

Zelenia released another sigh before she used her staff to stand and go pack.