In a moment of sheer glee, Vardinn runs through the field, laughing and crying. ‘I never thought I’d see the sun again!’ he thought as he lay in the frozen grass.

   As quickly as it came, his happiness faded. He was hit with the realization that he is now cold, hungry, and his body ached. So he picked himself up and began to search for viable food. Staying along the stone path until he finds himself at a fire.

‘Only a moment’ he thought to himself. ‘Whoever this fire belongs to, will return.’ as he stared into the fire, he felt like he was being stared back.

“Please stop staring at me.”

“Did the fire just talk?”

“Yes I did”

“No you didn’t.”

“Yes.I.did.”

In a roarous flame and heat, a woman came to form, sitting beside Vardinn. “Hello strange little man."

“Oh hello” Vardinn mutters as he readjusts to what he just saw.

"The names Saga. Child of Ruin but your people call us 'fire fae' I believe." she says as she gestures to herself then to Vardinn

“And you are…..” Saga impatiently proddes.   

“Right, sorry, my name is Loc Vardinn. I'm an elf or rather, to be specific, a high elf” He says as he extends his hand to the fire fae.

“OooOo eleven royalty! Why are you so far in the Unknown? Are ya lost? “ Saga says, stifling a laugh.

“I’m an explorer. I came to map the unknown but I underestimated this place. After I lost my guide, I’ve been placed in one impossible situation after the next. I’m afraid I'd go mad if I stopped for a second to think about it.” he says as a smile from ear to ear grows on his face. 

"It's all incredibly fascinating!" Vardinn exclaims.

“While that is a great attitude to have, you absolutely underestimated this place. It’s alive, always moving, changing. This place for instance. Notice how it's all frozen over but none of the plants seems affected? It’s because they are frozen in time.” saga tosses a pebble and it slows to a stop, mid air.

   “But that isn’t possible. If that stopped moving then we wouldn't be able to move either!” Vardinn argues

   “That’s your problem right there. Nothing here makes sense. Accept it and move on, or go mad trying to make sense of the senseless."

"What is this place?"

"I just sa…ah, you mean all of it. the Unknown itself."

 "yeah! Do you know?" 

after sitting for a good long while she says, "I don't know all of it, only what I've managed to piece together."

"And?"

"It's a sort of convergence place. a crossroads for many dimensions, many worlds." she says, scratching her head. 

"How do you know? That It's other worlds?" Vardinn says with full curiosity.

"for one, you! where I'm from, elves aren't real. Well, that isn’t exactly accurate. We have no stories or history of elves." she says while poking his chest.

"Wow. There's so much we don't know. I can't believe we ever thought we had it all figured out. it really makes you feel so…so…excited! I can't wait to see it all!." he bellows as he leaps from his seat.

"So what now, explorer?”

“If at all possible, I want to leave this place and tell everyone about this place. Tell them of the wonders I've seen. Maybe even find out who’s responsible for this place” Vardinn says

“It’s a part of you now but that’s your problem. I don’t know the quickest way out but I know a guy who might. He is really sweet. You will love him.” saga says as she stands up and extends her hand to Vardinn. “Let’s go”

taking her hand, "away to adventure!"

The duo follow the stone trail for a few hours, feeding upon small berry bushes along the way, until they come upon a forest of striped canes. As tall as houses, a spiral of glossy red and white.

“You have some balls to return to my forest after what you did, only this morning, Saga” from the top of a tall but crooked cane. 

A man in a white and red suit comes sliding down to the stone road below. He looks like he was carved from the canes surrounding them. From his clothes to his skin and hair, all are a similar red and white gloss.

“Hello Hiki. before you start, I need a favor.” Saga says as she motions to Vardinn.

“Seeing as it is for the elf and not you, I will hear you out.” Hiki says as he glares at Saga and moves closer to Vardinn. “Come my boy, what do you need from me?”

“She said that you know the quickest way out of here. Can you help me?” 

“Oh darling, that’s EASY, of course I’ll help you. I will need a favor in return before, as repayment for your actions saga!” Hiki exclaims.

“I burnt down ONE of your stupid canes. Get over it!” saga says as she steps toward Hiki. “oh I would but you see, it was also my HOUSE! Now I have to sleep in the mayor’s hall!” as they go back and forth arguing, Vardinn finally pipes up.

“ENOUGH! What is the favor?!” he yells at both of them.

“Simple darling. I need you to go to the river of memories over the hill there and retrieve one for me. It should look like a golden hair brush. Can’t miss it. Off you go now.”  he says as he disappears behind a cane.

Vardinn and Saga begin walking toward the hill and as they pass over it, the river comes into view. It’s full of junk of various sizes. Vardinn turns around and back again. 

“I can literally see where we were. Why didn’t he just get it himself?” he said as he looked back and forth.

“You’ll see. Come on” Saga says as she leads Vardinn to the edge of the river.