I guess I should start at the beginning. 

Oh god-that's really bad. Let me start again.

I'm now a really old woman, ninety-one years old. I've lived nearly an entire lifespan, seen friends die, had children, lovers too. I should start at a less confusing time, the beginning. Because who read's a book from end to beginning? 

It started when I was fifteen years old. My mother and my father had got enough money from farm working to send me on a ship to the Kingdom of Vale. Stepping off the large impossible ship to be greeted with yet another impossibly large city was breathtaking. In front of me laid...the slums, the shops, the places low-lives like me hang out. Colorful banters laid across every foundation, and I spied up the steps a large pine tree, decor'ed with the finest glowing magical fireballs, in all colors, tinsel, presents, etc. I had faintly remembered it was All God's Day. 

Interupting my thoughts however was the deep toll of the church bell. Shrugging, I made my past the plethora of shops, past the tree, and took a right. Walking just a bit longer, I entered a rusted iron courtyard, complete with it's own quaint cemetery. Two massive oaken doors where open, and already people where filing in. 

As I entered and sat down at one of the pews, I got a look at the priest. Golden blond shaggy hair, a nasty scar from the right side of his face, across his nose, and down his left cheek dominated his face. His brown eyes scanned the room waiting for the crowd to finish coming in.

"Friends! Today is a day of celebration. All God's Day, as you may all know, is a celebration of the Gods and Goddess that rule the world. We praise all five of them, for without them, our world would be not. Let us bow our head's."

I bowed my head, listening more to the priests words, they where soothing, and proved some comfort. 

"We praise our warrior God Halthorn, for his bravery in battle. We praise our creator of animals, Goddess Theai, we praise our emotional, love, and creator of elves, Goddess Laethoia. We praise our maker of darkness and shade, God Shade. And finally, we praise our evil and destrutive God Katos."

There was slight mummers among the crowd at this. I heard the priest pause, and glancing up, he met my eyes and gave me a breif smile.

"You may lift your heads. Today's sermon. . ."

The rest of his sermon was drowned out. In my mind, I was far away. Lost in his gaze and his words. I didn't even know that the sermon had ended until everybody started leaving. I sat there, unsure what to do, until I saw the priest walking down the isle toward me. 

Play cool, play cool, play cool... I thought nervously. 

The fire braizers lit as the priest waved his hand. He took a seat next to me, and smiled. "What is your name child?"

"R-R-Rose." I stammered. I nervously twisted my long brown hair with a gloved hand. 

"I see, I caught you looking at me throughout the sermon. I was wondering-"

"I-It was nothing!" I stammered quickly, ajusting my leggings. The priest's eyebrows rose, he looked almost amused. 

"My name is Priest Olaf Ulstien. I work for this church, and give sermon. Now, you are new here, correct?"

I nodded.

"Well, I shall tell you a secret. But this has to stay between us...otherwise well..I'll be the only one who knows it." The lips formed into a more sinster look, I gulped, and hastily nodded. 

He pulled back his robes on his upper chest to show a purple handprint. It looked like it had been seared on his flesh. The wound was old, so it wasn't resently put on. 

"There is this magic...enforcer's, if you will. The Cult of Burning Flame. They provide detainment to all those they deem a threat, take magical artifacts, and such...acts. I was kidnapped and trialed for using Chaotic Magic. They released me, but I got this as a warning."

I frowned, looking at him confused. "Why are you telling me all this?"

His smile never left his face. "Because, I feel you are trustworthy."

Still, in the back of my mind, I could not help but feel there was something off. "Alright...if you say so."

He stood, covering the mark. "Now, I have things to do. You woudn't want to stay at my stuffy church, would you?" 

"W-wait!" I also stood, "Where do you live?" 

He paused, "Acracia, should be only a hour's journey from the port. The lord there is named Lord Traven."

I nodded. "Thank you Priest Olaf."

He smiled his dazzling smile again, I felt the faint blush across my cheeks, and my heart flutter. "Of course Rose, may we meet again." And off he went back down the isle, robes swishing. I turned, heading for the exit, my mind buzzing.