CHAPTER 1

Age of Solstice, 16:71

Tulasquss, Drazul's Plane

In the snowy mountains of the Mire lived a lone woman in a small cottage. What the Mire did not know was that she was dangerous but they knew well enough to leave her be. Her cottage was spotted after the great fire that occurred nine centuries previous in the forest within the mountains. Her presence has endured for so long and folk knew well enough to not ask questions or linger near.

The woman was Drazul Trisca, a witch who has lived for a little over nine centuries. How she came to live so long, however, is quite a tale.

Drazul was brought up in a small village hidden within the forest of the snowy mountains of the Mire. Her coven was an evil one, one that forced her to endure and struggle. So much so, that once she turned 20 years, she inherited telepathic and telekinetic powers. Apparently this was a rare gift among the women in her family line and she was forced to keep it hidden. If her coven had known she inherited her families powers, albeit late, she would be forced to commit evil acts on behalf of her coven. Her coven may have embraced darkness but she would not turn her back on the Mother Goddess as her brothers and sisters have.

Perhaps that is why she was gifted her ascension.

Twas the Age of Sunstar, 7:40, nine centuries ago now, when Drazul turned 27 years. The night she endured the most traumatic experience of her life. In retaliation, her power sparked a fire that started in the village, searing every single member of her coven to ashes. The fire was mirroring her anger, writhing and reaching with purpose, enacting her revenge. It was Drazul's most precious and loathed memory. Her wrath was wild, unhinged, as she was blind with pure rage, her sadness painfully pitted in her chest. The fire lapped all around her, scorching her village with ease. Her covens screamed cries of help and upon hearing them, her smile broadened wickedly, knowing their cries would go unanswered.

Their screams were almost like song, making her restless. The flames closest to her suddenly wisped into a silhouette, taking on a burning humanoid form. It had no face and stood upright, showing reverence toward Drazul, as it proffered her its burning hand. Drazul accepted and was pulled into a dance. Her partner's flames surrounded her and she was dazzled by it. Oh how perfectly it represented her infernal emotions and her unpredictable power at the time. She realized how much she was holding herself back. It was all so utterly useless to care. This was so much more satisfying and freeing. Drazul danced naked alongside the flames that night, reaching towards the Mother. She rose high into the night, letting the flames caress her skin. Her body glistened as the moonlight landed on her skin, meeting the sparks of fire and ash flying in the air. These flames became her brilliant partner across the night sky.

She was within the flames in what other's would call 'hell's embrace'. Oh to be coveted by hellfire, feeling the flames fondle her body, smothered with blood not her own, was a feeling she wish she could feel once more. The heat rose to such a peak, she could scarcely believe she was spared it's wrath. They danced beautifully as if made to become one. Drazul never felt so alive as her arms gracefully wrapped around the sky with a grace that surprised her. She is not sure how long she danced that night. Time felt as though it paused, as if it wanted her to continue on forever. She wish that were the case.

When she managed to get a moment of clarity, she saw the devastation she inflicted and laughed. Finally, she obtained freedom through the death of her entire coven. Oh to be free and alive, her revenge delicious as the smell of death permeated the air. She was drunk on the joy of their deaths, their screams and the fleeting pangs of relief as their screams fell silent. Their silence was deafening and so, so rewarding.

The flames slowly receded towards her burning partner, who suddenly began burning blue then white. It proffered her it's hand once more, Drazul more than willing to take it. Drazul then realized that it was acting on its own, that it was not a manifestation of her power but outside of it. Even so, without hesitation, she pressed her hand onto theirs, anticipating another dance but instead, it stepped towards her. Her brilliant partner seemingly kissed her hand, then pulled her hand towards their chest, wrapping it's other hand around her waist. Drazul eyed the burning face inquisitively, trying to make out any sense of it's presence.

Then it's face leaned towards hers and she surrendered. Her partner burned into her being, encasing her body in white hot flames, whipping about her as it embraced her body until it became a flaming tornado. With each passing few seconds it spun faster and faster until it ended abruptly with a sharp slice from the cold wind.

There, Drazul emerged, collapsing to her knees as she tried to regain her wits. Her hands and arms were no longer bruised and scarred but cleansed, as was the rest of her body, as if she were born anew. Her body felt stronger, feeling energy course through that she hadn't felt since she was a littlin'. She stood up, taking in her new body. She had no idea what happened but she only knew that it was a good omen. A new beginning.

However, she later came to call it a curse as she came to find out several years later that she cannot be touched by time. Her body showed no signs of aging as she remained forever 27 years. Apart from her newfound immortality, she also came to find she inherited new powers since the fire. Ones she never knew were possible for her kind, let alone at all.

She was now a dream traveler and a guardian of the universe. Although, she is not sure if that is what is asked of her. She has yet to meet another like her, to guide her through this crucial change in her eternal life. She could not find the one behind the flames, the one she believes is the benevolent one to have granted her such grace. She merely anticipated death that night after the massacre she incurred only to be surprised by this blessing. Though, now, it is hardly a blessing in her eyes.

While she has inherited great power over dreams and space-time, she is merely existing as a powerful demigod. She assumed the role of guardian as she could not think of any other reason to be granted the power to witness the universe. On top of her other powers, she dared not attempt to use them for gain, for she wanted nothing. Now that she had her revenge and is now free, she spent the following centuries traveling and learning her newly inherited powers. She had to familiarize herself with her new role and find a new purpose to live.

Despite her otherworldly abilities, she know's she is not of true divinity. She came to the conclusion that a God was behind her. Which God? She hadn't a clue. While she trusts in the Mother Goddess, she cannot rule out other Gods. This was when she decided, five centuries since her ascension, to search for this benevolent one. To search for the truth, the meaning, behind her ascension.

It was a grueling search. She could find no knowledge about her kind, or any others that may sound like her. She studied the Gods of Tulasquss, hoping to find kin among them, that seem close to her circumstances. Though, the results came up empty. The Gods worshiped by Tulasquss only sounded like fairy tales, although, looking at herself, perhaps there is some truth to them. The real question is if they even exist, just as she does. Are they perhaps like her, aimlessly wandering betwixt land and the universe?

The next five centuries since her search began slowly ate at her being. As she continued to find nothing, she in turn, felt nothing. Her apathy seemed to consume her. Even while courting men, women and those in-between during her travels brought up no emotion, no pleasure. It was as if she were a shell, a vessel, for powers she didn't covet.

Now, in the present, she merely continues her days looking for reasons to keep going. She almost never leaves her residence, her small cottage, in the Mire mountains. She cannot find joy in her once beloved hobbies and has trouble practicing them. Boredom has become her triumphant emotion, it's claws hooked so deep, she doesn't try anything anymore. She has become lost within herself. Nine centuries and she has nothing to show for it. Her efforts were in vain.

All she feels now is her untamed anger and hatred. Before her ascension, she was trapped in a cycle of abuse, unable to escape. Only to escape to touch the heavens, in which she found twas only another prison.