Lilith: Hello, are you confused young one?
Nar.: The girl looked up at her with soft brown eyes.
Lilith: You don’t understand me… do you?
Nar.: The girl just watched her.
Lilith:
Girl: Name?
Nar.: Surprised, Lilith looked up at the girl.
Lilith: D,did you just say something?
Girl: Name?
Lilith:
Girl: Name?
Lilith: Yes, I’ll go do that…
Nar.: Lilith walks over to an intercom console and pushes a flashing red button. A quiet beep sounds and she starts calling Crytos and Patrick.
Meanwhile…
Meanwhile, Crytos and Patrick were working at two computers in their lab. Patrick was further studying the make up of his shapeshifting DNA and Crytos was studying the DNA make up of their latest test result.
Crytos: I think we’ve finally gotten somewhere. Her DNA is quite stable… unlike the others.
Pat: But is she a shapeshifter or other?
Crytos: It looks to be other… but she can shapeshift from what I’ve seen so far.
Nar.: They hear a soft beep and then Lilith’s voice. She sounded excited.
Lilith: Patrick! Crytos! You’ve got to see this! Quick! Get down here!
Nar.: The two of them look at each other questioningly and get up. They exit the lab and head down the hall and enter the specimen room. Lilith greets them at the door.
Lilith: Follow me this way.
Nar.: They follow her to their newest result. The girl is looking at them with curiosity.
Girl: Name?
Crytos: (surprised) She speaks?
Lilith: Yes, but that’s all she’s said so far.
Pat: Well, well, well… It finally worked.
Lilith: We’ll have to teach her if we want her to speak…
Girl: Name?
Crytos: Yes, I suppose we will… But who can we find to do that?
Pat: I know someone who can do it.
Lilith: Who?
Pat: Why, Jen, of course.
Crytos: Jen?
Pat: My telepathic shapeshifting friend.
Lilith: If you say so…
Crytos: Good, then it’s settled…
Girl: Name?
Pat: I’ll tell Jen tomorrow when I return to Cyberia…
Crytos: Do you think we should get someone from the Underworld and the Blue Ether too?
Lilith: Yes. That would probably be good…
Pat: And we can’t forget the Otherworld…
Lilith: I’ll take care of the Underworld and Otherworld…
Crytos: And I, the Ether…
Pat: Good. Now we can all return to our work…
Girl: (anxiously) Name?
Crytos:
Lilith: I’ll go get a list of names… Be right back. (leaves to get list)
Crytos: (examines girl) She’s really quite pretty…
Pat: Hey! Don’t get any ideas. She’s technically my daughter…
Lilith: (returns with list) I’ve got it. Let’s see… I’ll read it and you tell me which you like. We have Alaessi, Onirari, Alexana, Kira, Rivqah, Valeda, Aramina, Calia, Mirrim, Amalee, Leelannee, Andalanee, Kirsya, and Xahra.
Pat: Where did you get these names?
Crytos: I like Onirari or Calia.
Lilith: I, personally, like them all…
Pat: Hmmm… I like Alaessi… but Calia’s nice too…
Lilith: So we all agree on Calia then?
Crytos: I believe so…
Lilith: (looks at girl) Wait… Let’s ask her. What do you think?
Girl: Calia? Calia? Me Calia!
Pat:
Lilith: (smiles) Yes… I guess she does.
Crytos: I say we’re done here then. Lilith, since you are the only female present at the moment, you are to be her caretaker temporarily. The day after tomorrow, we’ll assemble here to start her teaching. Till then, au revoir!
Nar.: Unfortunately, when everyone got in their transporters, something went horribly wrong…
The next day…
The next day, Calia awoke in a vast field. A dark figure was standing over her. She almost screamed, but the figure covered her mouth.
Figure: Hush, child. I will not hurt you. Do you promise not to scream?
Calia: (nods)
Figure: Good. (uncovers her mouth) My name is John. What’s yours?
Calia: Calia.
John: That’s a pretty name. Where are you from?
Nar.: Calia didn’t know how to answer. She knew nothing but her name. Luckily Lilith happened to be behind her.
Lilith: She’s from the village of Clana.
John: Who are you?
Lilith: Her mother.
John: Oh… Well, I suppose I should be on my way then… Nice meeting you. Good-bye. (heads down a path to their right)
Calia: Mother?
Lilith: Yes, that’s right. Come with me.
Nar.: Lilith didn’t know how to explain to Calia that they couldn’t go back. She only knew that she had to find Crytos or Patrick.
Years pass…
Years pass, and Calia doesn’t age at all. During the fifth year in Clana, Lilith falls ill and is close to death when she calls Calia into her room.
Lilith: (hardly above a whisper) Calia… I am dying… There is something I must tell you…
Calia: (tears in her eyes) Yes, mother?
Lilith: You must find these two people… Tell them that I am gone and one of them must take care of you. They are both trapped here on this plane… but I don’t know where… They’re somewhere… Their names are Patrick and Crytos… Good-bye for the last time my dear Calia… (she dies)
Calia: Mother…? No! (starts crying) Don’t leave me here! (hugs the stiff body)
Nar.: Meanwhile…
Meanwhile, one hundred leagues from Clana, in the Black Forest, the gnome Crytos awakes for the first time in five years. He gets up and examines his surroundings. All around him, tall pines, elms, and maples obscure his vision.
Crytos: (to himself) Why do I have the feeling that is not the Ether…?
Nar.: He turns to face what he thinks is north and starts walking.
Nar.: Later that week, Crytos came across a little town named Semyr. Semyr was a town inhabited mainly by faeries, but with a small population of gnomes, shapeshifters, and pixies. He walked up to the first person he came across and asked them where he was.
Pixie: Why this is Semyr… northwest of the city Clana…
Crytos: Is there anyway I could find a house around here?
Pixie: Well, unless you feel like building one… there’s a house just outside of town that’s been vacant for years…
Crytos: I’ll take it.
Pixie: Well, um, to get ownership… you should go see Jeka…
Crytos: Where can I find her?
Pixie: She’s in that house over there.
Crytos: Thank you.
Nar.: Crytos took leave of the pixie and headed over to a large white house. He approached the door and knocked loudly. To his surprise, the door was opened by a pretty gnome. She had long curly brown hair and shining brown eyes.
Gnome: May I help you?
Crytos: Uh… yeah… I’m looking for Jeka…
Gnome: That’s me.
Crytos: I’m looking to get ownership of that house just outside of town…
Jeka: Really?
Crytos: Yes.
Jeka: Oh, please… Come in. (moves from doorway) Right this way…
