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Alone. That was often she felt as she wandered the realms, seeking something but never finding what she sought. Often she had asked for companionship. Every time it was denied her through someone's death, all for a cursed blade that enjoyed taking a life. Would she ever find comfort in friendship?

She shook her head, causing the cascade of raven curls to move like a living curtain. Her crimson eyes pierced through the horizon, her hand upon the black blade’s hilt. Why had she been stuck with this merciless killer? This demon? She was stuck with the rune sword as it was the last of her home, her lands…yet it was all a reminder of where she came from, the fate that was sealed.

All of Melnibone had been destroyed... Destroyed by Chaos’ enemy Law. Just recalling the awful memories of bloodshed and death caused tears to her eyes. Even if she wasn’t wholly accepted by the people, she still considered them family…because they were her blood. She had been pure Melnibonean before the vampire incident. Her grandfather’s slaying before her eyes, her form hidden…She kept seeing the act before her eyes no matter what she did. No matter what she did to appease it, the memory would forever haunt her.

Tears blinded her view. The light armor she wore made whipping them away a little difficult so she settled for removing them with her hands. She was young… no more then 18 years of age. She continued whipping away tears, settling for kneeling down to just cry. She didn’t care if she had found herself in the middle of a beach, kneeling so close to the waves that one or two had actually washed up to surround her. The tears left warm trails down her cheeks letting the paleness of her skin glisten.

When she could finally get to a sniffling point, something rolled to knock into her booted foot. With a sniff, she looked down near her foot, discovering what appeared to be an orb mildly drifting with the tide. There was something with it though…a message. Delicately, she lifted the orb into her fingertips, oblivious of still being in the water.

Upon hearing your troubles in the real world I have sent one of my own to watch over you, but you must take care of it in return. Enclosed in that box is a orb shaped crystal that will show you your dreams and solidify them into a guardian. I will be paying you a visit when I can, to make sure you are properly suited.

The Goblin King

Raven couldn’t believe her luck. Someone had sent this….little glistening sphere to her just to show her, her dreams? “Impossible…” The word slipped from her lips. Did she have dreams? Desire was more like it…. She had dreamed and wished for a friend…A crystal who could solidify into a guardian?

One might as well find out right? She stayed where she was, examining the little crystal, watching the swirling colors of reds and golds. There was something about it that felt alive…similar to the sword she carried. However, it wasn’t the same. This didn’t feel evil compared to the sword. Perhaps she would give it a chance and thank this goblin king personally should she ever meet him.

~~~~

After discovering the crystal, Raven had taken her shirt and dried it off, removing traces of the sea from it. It was beautiful, she thought. She certainly was grateful for the orb. Grateful someone was trusting one of their own into her care.

She had moved away from the sea, climbing higher into the main lands. It should have been interesting, seeing the elf-like female walking about the land, clothed in black, a long sword on her back and a crystal in her hand. Whatever her purpose was in life obviously had to do with this crystal…or so she thought.

She sighed a little bit. Something about the crystal was a little comforting. She thought she had a happy life… Yeah. It was as happy as it could be when the majority shunned her and the only one to care for her was her grandfather. She missed him. She missed seeing his smile, feeling his arms around her.

As though it knew what she felt, the fog in the crystal shifted a little, revealing a memory of the albino king walking along the shores of the kingdom. Beside him was a little raven haired girl who was all smiles and chattering up a storm with him. It was a sunny day it revealed. The waters were crystal clear and sparkling under the morning sun.

A small smile touched Raven’s lips before she bent to kiss the crystal. “Thank you.” She said, not entirely sure it could understand what she was saying. How did it find her? How did this King know of her? Did she stumble upon some portal and was in his realm? All these questions raced through her mind.

She would cherish this little orb. She would love it and care for it. “Usstan bel'la tau whol nindol farjali belbol dos inbal belbaunin uns'aa...” (Translation: I thank thee for this precious gift you have given me...)

She couldn’t carry the crystal in her hand forever…She looked about her person, sighing as she had nothing. It dawned on her that her cape could be used as a makeshift pouch. So she tore a strip of the fabric to fasten around her waist before she slipped her precious cargo into it…

~~~

Raven had wandered the vast land until she came into view of a tavern inn. She had little money to offer, however, she needed to rest. She was wary from the harsh traveling she had done.

Her feet ached and she was sure there were blisters on the ball of her feet. Her legs hurt so much she had wanted to cry from the pain. She was in need of a hot bath and a good night’s rest. She felt grimy and slimy and just not wanting to be touched. Maybe the crystal would like a hot bath too? she wondered.

She walked towards the tavern door, stopping just before it so she could search her pockets for anything that might be valuable enough to be accepted. She had the few pieces of gold from past travels, a jewel or two and then her grandfather’s ring. That she wouldn’t give up. Neither would she give up the hell-blade for anything, as much as she’d like to.

“I suppose I will have to settle for a gold coin to spare,” she murmured as she pushed the tavern door open. Her strange appearance caused a light stirring amongst the customers already inside and seated. She supposed it was a bit odd to find someone with long pointy ears, pale skin, black hair, crimson eyes, clad in black, carrying a hidden crystal and a long runesword.

“Oh dear,” she whispered to herself, trying not to seem too strange. The tender was nice enough to motion her forward, too which her feet moved. “I would like a room with a hot bath and a hot meal, please?” She requested slipping the gold piece forward. The tender picked the piece up and bit it to see if it was real. Satisfied, he nodded and said he’d get right on it, disappearing for a few minutes only to return with a key to her room.

She thanked him and headed towards the inn part of the tavern, unlocking the door and going in. She closed the door and looked around, glad she had gotten the place. Now she could get sleep in some comfort. The hard ground could only be good to someone for a limit time, before her hips barked in protest. She would wait for her bath to arrive…