You are in a field of wheat, the sun is setting from the blue sky and there is a house to your right. Whilst the door opens, images flash before your eyes and suddenly you are sat at a table with a woman of golden long hair feeding a baby. Without recognising them yet, an unexplainable sensation of joy floods your heart, a sensation rather  close to the one of seeing those you love.

  Images flash again and now you find yourself at what seems to be a market, all seems extremely familiar as if you had already been here before, but, along with a chronic pain that resumes to fill your head and the sounds conflicting with what your eyes see, nausea fills your mind with uncertainty for a moment, making everything quite close of being a mere dream.

  Feeling hunger and a light difficulty to breathe, you open your eyes revealing a wooden ceiling above. A soft pain inside your chest compels you to  look down to see that you are in a bed and wearing dry, new clothes.

  Questions pop into your mind but soon are interrupted by the sound of a door opening and, whilst  you look at its direction, a woman of medium, coal-dark hair and eyes of a deep brown as sweet as chocolate, comes in bringing a glass of water.

-        You're awake!

  She exclaims in – joyful – surprise whilst moving closer and handing you the water:

-        Toma, you must be thirsty.

  You do so but without saying anything, still puzzled as to how you ended up here. She notices it, and proceeds to introduced herself in a rather suspiciously informative manner:

-        You must be confused... My name is Thaís, I'm the innkeeper here in the Cœur D'Argent village. It’s a pleasure to meet you!

-        … Last night, me, my husband and the Lord Cœur D'Argent were hunting and found you unconsciously in the middle of the road near the river, we decided to bring you here and ever since then you have been sleeping... What’s your name?

  As a lighthouse to a ship, her words help you swim through the many questions storming your mind and to focus in one point, but still, you have no memory of who you are or where do you come from.

  Panic threatens to possess your mind but the discerning memory of the voices calling for a name becomes useful:

-        I-I don't know... I think it’s... O-Orion.

-        Hmm, you had a lot of blood on your face when we found you, maybe you hit your head...

  Whilst making a brief pause, an expression of confusion takes over her face and provokes her to think out loud:

-        But strangely, you had no wounds... Hmm...

   She notices it and soon tries brushes it to the side:

-        Anyways, it's a pleasure meeting you, Orion.

  Almost immediately after she finishes her words, your stomach growls loudly, remembering you of your famish. Thaís laughs gently for a second and then gets up, moving towards the wardrobe to the left of the bed. After taking some warmer clothes, she hands them to you:

  You slept so much that you must be starving. Here, put these on and when you're ready, we'll go downstairs and I'll give you something to eat.

  She then leaves the room to wait at the hallway, giving you some privacy. Whilst changing you notice feeling a little light-headed and with some minor pain in your lungs, at first it seems odd but as soon as you're done dressing, you forget about it and head to the corridor.

  There, Thaís tells you whilst going down the stairs towards the dining hall:

-        Lord Édouard will probably want to speak with you so I'll have to find him. But don't worry, he must already be here in the tavern so I won't take long.

  Immediately after reaching the hall you notice how full the room is: There are people of all kinds sat at the tables drinking and talking; some even dance in front of – what seems to be – a stage; the air smells like delicious food; the room is both well-lit and organised. Even though it is quite full already, Thaís still manages to find you an empty table where she leaves you for a moment to head towards the bar.

  Still mesmerised by the atmosphere of this place, you begin noticing that the people that were once dancing now stop to have a seat and that some of the people who were talking, now either lower their voices or simply stop talking completely as a woman clad on a rich green dress climbs up the stage to sing.

  Her clothing is embroiled by golden accents that contrast quite well with the green; her skin is pale and full of freckles, plus her eyes are of such a vivid and intense shade of green that you cannot help it but stare at them continuously. However, even more curiously, her hair is silver with a flaming glow.

  As beautiful as it may be, it is rather strange for someone of her age to have it, but even then, nobody seems to care – or even notice it – and it is for a good reason: For her singing is simply magical. You cannot distinguish which language she is singing in but her pleasantly low and sweet voice, mixed with the emotions and melody of the song, bring you quite a melancholic inner peace.

  As you're about to lose yourself in the song, Thaís returns with a bottle of ale and a glass in her hands, also being accompanied by a man carrying a pie and a plate with some cutlery on top. After they place it all in the table before you, she announces the menu:

-        Prontinho, some ale and a lamb pie, enjoy!

-        …Ah! I also would like to introduce you to my husband, Jorge, he helps me keep this place going.

  The man is tall and of an intense reddish tanned skin. He greets you with a wide smile and a handshake that is so enthusiastic that you fear that your arm is about to be ripped off. He then welcomes you warmly:

-        So your name is Orion then? Pleased to meet you. If you need anything just talk to me or my wife, we're here to help!

  Causing Thaís to remember:

-        Oh, right then! I couldn't find Lord Édouard here, so he must be at the mansion. I'll have to go there then, but don't worry, I'll be back soon...

-        …Meanwhile, enjoy the pie. It's the house's speciality!

  With Thaís going after the lord and Jorge getting back at looking after the bar, you begin to eat.

  Indeed both the pie and the ale are quite tasty as bite after bite and sip after sip your brain begins functioning better and your hunger is sated. Thaís' and Jorge's accents are so different, to the point you can't quite decipher where they come from, however, listening to the other people around you, it becomes clear that you're not home. But even then, there's a subtle familiarity present in the architecture and the people.

  Distracted by your thoughts, you manage to finish the pie rather quickly and upon having a look at your surroundings – without much clue as to what to do –, you see Thaís talking with a man in front of the entrance and after a little while they come to you, having Thaís politely introduce him:

-        Orion, this is the Lord Édouard Cœur D'Argent, son of Lady Marie Cœur D'Argent and the current ruler of the village.

  You two greet each other with handshakes and once he has sat, Thaís asks:

-        Milord, would you like something to drink?

-        Non, merci. I'll be helping with the patrol after this.

  He wears a black coat and hat; also carrying a rifle on his back; his face accommodates a focused expression and his skin is of a colour close to beige, being also lightly burnt by the sun, quite similar to the one of foreign gypsies. As much as the clothes make it obvious, it is the stern manner he carries himself and the direct way he speaks that here, before you, is a man that mourns the death of someone that was probably quite close to him and that for some – unexplainable – reason , you have an impression that whatever knocked you out in the previous night, played a part in his sorrow.

   As Thaís leaves you two, he proceeds:

-        Orion... Your name sounds familiar, where do you come from?

-        I-I don't know...

-        Thaís told me that you probably hit  your head before we found you, do you remember anything?

  For a moment you consider telling him about the voices and having waken up at the margins of a river, but soon decide otherwise, fearing that they might see you as a lunatic:

-        No, no... I don't remember anything.

  He breathes deeply causing you to fear that he caught your lie, however, before you try to say anything else, he proceeds:

-        D'accord... I'm not going to lie. You came at a not so good time... There's a... Beast, a demon some say, that recently appeared around this region and has been terrorising our village. Me, Thaís and Jorge have been hunting it while the few remaining guards patrol the surroundings of the villa but we haven't done much progress...

-        … We have heard rumours that the Beast has been attacking merchant caravans and some travellers on the roads, so I suggest that you stay with us at least until your memories return. Thaís and Jorge are good people and they'll provide you with food and sheltering. But you need to know that because of the Beast's attacks, trading with the outside world has suffered and the village's supplies are low. All in good health are helping, so, if you choose to stay, we'll need you to help as well. Do you agree with these conditions?

-        Y-Yes, yes...

  You respond rather hesitant, feeling overwhelmed by all the information just presented.

-        Bien, demain I'll bring someone to show you around. For now let's just organise your stay.

  The two of you head to the bar where Jorge is serving some drinks whilst Thaís is writing some notes on a ledger. Soon the three begin talking until the woman that was singing comes closer and, upon stopping in front of you, a strange “presence” becomes noticeable to your senses as she, also notices your perception. So much so that she even taking a step back, staring at you with a surprised – and rather scared – expression. Yet, before any of you can say something, Lord Édouard turns her way, prompting her to call him in a serious and cold tone:

-        C'mere, we need to talk.

-        What is it?

-        … Privately.

  She adds, darting you suspicious looks. The lord notices it and follows her to beside the stage. Meanwhile, Thaís hands the ledger to Jorge, asking:

-        Amor, could you finish this for me? I'll start preparations for closing.

-        Yes yes. For you, there's nothing I wouldn't do, haha.

  Jorge responds comedienne, putting aside the towel that he was using to dry a glass and then, storing said glass away in a wall cabinet. Trying to hide her shy smile, Thaís quickly informs you as she heads towards the tables:

-        I'm just going to tell people to leave and then I'll show you your room, ok?

  Nodding in response you cannot help but notice how the Lord Édouard and the singer keep looking at you from moment to moment whilst they talk. Curious, you decide to ask Jorge:

-        Who is she?

-        She? Ah, that's Maebh, Maebh Ó'Bron... She and my wife are good friends, she was also married to Lord Jacques, Lord Édouard's brother.

  He responds whilst finishing to write on the ledger and then storing it away.

  Then Lord Édouard returns to you whilst Maebh, still beside the stage, puts on a grey cloak, preparing to leave. Jorge is about to say something but a strange weakness spreads across your whole body and you lose balance for a second, almost falling to the floor. Helping you stay up, Lord Édouard asks:

-        Are you unwell?

-        No, no, I-I just zoned off for a moment. It’s nothing…

-        Get back to resting then, tomorrow we'll talk.

-        Here, I'll help you.

  Jorge then helps you climb up the stairs leading to the first floor as the lord leaves the tavern. After leaving you in your room, Jorge goes in search of some spare clothes you could use. It does not take long and then Thaís appears with a small pile on her hands, along with a blanket:

-        These belonged to my husband but I think they'll fit you. And I also brought an extra blanket should you feel cold at night...

  As she proceeds to explain you the tavern’s layout, you find a sudden difficulty in focusing on her voice since a million questions about everything that has happened flood your mind once again. However, you try not to be rude and listen to Thaís finish gladly:

-        … Bom, I think that's all. If you need anything, we're in the last room to the right, just knock.

-        Tha-Thank you... For everything.

-        No problem! Have a good night.

-        Good night.

  Feeling too tired to even change clothes, you lie down right after Thaís leaves and then immediately fall asleep watching the snowy weather through the window.