I woke to chatter, the ringing of bells, the banging and clattering of dishes and items, and the sounds of children playing. It was no doubt a busy day, more than I expected from a tiny village. A knock came to my door, the loud thuds of fist against solid wood pushing into my ears and coiling around my mind in the form of a small pain. I rubbed my temples; the headache annoyed me as another knock rung in my ears before the door flew open.

  Before me was Iris, she wore the usual elvish robes, the ones the women wore were a bit more flowery and beautifully decorated though, complimenting their facial features. Not like I could say the same for this snobby little kid.

  "What?" I asked lazily, remembering the night prior. I stayed up nearly all night, struggling to go to sleep with overwhelming thoughts of what had happened. She held a wooden sword in one hand, and another in her other that was much dirtier. She tossed one stained with mud to me; it hit my lap as I sat on the edge of the bed. "What do you want?" I repeated more elaborately, she raised her stiff blade playfully, aiming it to my central mass.

  "I challenge thee to a duel, one to prove prowess and skill." She said eloquently, trying to make a show of it. I took the golden-brown handle in my grasp, standing.

  "Where'd you learn such big words?" I returned, playing along. She was a kid, not like I should be terrible to her.

  "From your wife, she was tortured most brutally." Clearly there was some play-lore that I was missing, though I nodded confidently.

  "You should fear me, I am a cat waiting to pounce, and you are a mere rat for me to dispose of." She giggled, running out of the house, I reluctantly followed as she swung her sword in the air.

  "Big words for a man without love and honor!" There were two kids who were playing as well, they looked over to us with a look of amusement.

  "You are adept with hate." I chuckled lightly.

  "Enough with this banter, you will face the wrath of Empress Iris!" I stifled my laugh at this terrible display, though the immediate moment I lowered my guard, she lunged forward and arched her sword diagonally for a strong swing. I leapt backwards, my body felt incredibly light. The audible swoosh of her swing sent a wave of air to my chin, stumbling backwards. I taunted with a flourish of my sword, she continued the swing with a forward step, swinging outwards in a sideways slash. I tried spinning out of the way, though the blow came to my side, leaving me to stagger.

  She grinned proudly, doing a flourish of her own as a sign of superiority. I didn't know how to swordfight, though I knew it wasn't as complex as it seemed. It took reflex and skill; there wasn't some incredible magical gap between practitioners that made it impossible for someone to win. I couldn't say the same about a world that probably had magic, though she didn't seem to have any. Besides, swords weren't incredibly heavy either, a longsword apparently only weighed a few pounds, and it was made to balance in your hand and be distributed kindly so that you wouldn't face trouble. Nonetheless this was a wooden sword, so it didn't matter.

  "Nice hit." I commented, she rushed back in, continuing an onslaught and flurry of attacks, usually left to right, swings that made quick work of defenses. I blocked quite a few, getting hit a few times. I heard the smack of the wood against my shoulder, reeling backwards I rubbed it with my offhand. "That hurt. . ." The girl was making light work of me, considering my very clear lack of reflexes. In this case, there was a significant gap.

  "Because you're horrible at this, Lord Aphen." She taunted tactlessly.

  "Son, do you still have pain?" Qorel interjected, there was a moment of silence as Iris's disappointed bubbled at the fact this would probably end for the moment.

  "Yeah, I had a bit of a headache." I admitted, disappointing Iris further. Qorel raised a hand and gave a waving motion for me to follow, not before motioning Iris over to give her a peck on her forehead.

  "Let's go then, the healer will see us." He traced the pathway along the village; we passed a large bunch of elves gathered around a sort of park with tables and seating arrangements. One of such waved to Qorel, a smaller member of the elves. Qorel returned the favor, giving a lighthearted wave and a quick point to me, the short elf nodded quickly, giving a final wave and going back to the conversation.

  In the center of the village was a well that was dug deep, on its side was a bell which was probably rung earlier. I noticed a pair of armed individuals, both donning a sort of leather and mail armoring with a surcoat that had the symbol of a spear, it had the sun as its tip, and around it was blue and a few silver dots that were presumably stars. I looked for a moment, in their hands was a spear and rectangular shields that seemed well for defense.

  "Cool guards." I commented offhandedly, leading to a nod from Qorel.

  "The Sunspear's protect us well, we are luckier than some." We made approach to a rather burly building, one that certainly wasn't cheap. The door was heavy and large, creaking when it was opened. I noticed a mutt sitting near the entry room, it barked gruffly.

  "Oh, by the High Lady, shut up!" Resounded the grating voice of a woman. Qorel walked past once the dog quieted, it heeded her command wisely, which surprised me. We stepped through a high-set doorway which led to a room full of herbs, chairs, beds, mortar and pestles, all the sorts. What piqued my interest was a jeweled staff that rested beside a bed where the woman sat on the edge of, tending to a young boy.

  "Miss Lorea." Qorel acknowledged, dipping his head slightly as a show of respect. She approached, pushing his head back to its prior position, evidently accepting his respect.

  "I see, Aphen is harmed, did he fall?" She inquired coolly, sitting me on a bed.

  "Hit his head in sword training, do you mind helping him, or is a simple herbal treat required only?" Qorel maintained his polite approach, she placed a hand on the bump which had lost some swelling, feeling around it.

  "Does that hurt?" I nodded at this.

  "Only a bit." I assured, she placed a hand on my forehead, feeling it, then the back of my head, then the top.

  "Seems to only be centered there, what are the symptoms?" She seemed rather young, though I incredibly doubted the truth behind it, she held a sort of magical grace in her words while remaining professional.

  "Well. . . It looks like he lost a bit of memory, maybe he is damaged?" Qorel questioned, half to himself. She nodded dismissively, grabbing ahold of the staff.

  "This seems to be more than a mere smack on the head, I will try to heal him." She assured dependably. I watched the staff shake slightly in her hand, a golden shine emitting from the jewel before coalescing into a sort of wave that extended into strings of light. It wrapped around my head, focused on my wound as it coiled around the bump, I felt the mild tingle that it gave off. I felt the fluids being drained magically, the bump lessened and lessened until it was nearly impossible to find beyond the redness there.

  This moment gave me a thought, did the kid in this body die? If his father knew, he'd probably cry, maybe hate me, maybe hate himself. This gave me a sickness in my stomach, an odd feeling of guilt, I was inside the child's body, he had an entire family, one who loved him. I was quick to consider that maybe he was in my old body, though this didn't do anything to soothe me either.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "Is anything coming back to you?" The healer asked patiently, I assumed honesty would be best for the moment unless I got caught again.

  "No, I don't think so." With this, she gave an exhale. There were multiple more tries before the elven woman was tired of this and simply laid me on the bed.

  "I will continue to try, though it'd seem he won't be getting much better. Perhaps you should put in some time to help him remember his memories, better than letting him be without them and hoping he'll regain them through healing. . . Which might not happen." She frowned at her finishing comment, Qorel was left a bit saddened, though he held hope.

  "Will do, Miss Lorea." I was reminded in that moment of her name once my father repeated it, Lorea, Lorea, I should probably remember everyone's name. The boy on the neighboring bed was laid down, trying to sleep even over the loud ruckus we were surely causing.

  Suddenly the ruckus was furthered once a few thundering footsteps reverberated through the household, a more defined elven male approached, his face going from a glower to a smile. He was adorned in pearly white robes, alongside him was an evidently hired individual, another elven guy with a firm expression and a hand always near the handle of his finely forged sword. A bow was strapped to him around the leather and ring mail he wore.

  "Qorel, how goes your day?" The white-robed elf lightheartedly asked, limping slightly.

  "Fine, Representative Uremel." Qorel dipped his head once more, the Representative lifted his head just the same as the healer had prior. "It is good to see you too, Ser Sylus." Sylus gave a stiff nod, Qorel looked down to Uremel's limp. "What happened, Representative?"

  "Sprained ankle, came to get it fixed. Infact, now that we're here, would you two like to go on the village hunt? The winner of best kill will get a silver." He winked to me, as if I was supposed to find this incredibly convincing. The Representative sat on the bed, Lorea dipped her head and had it lifted. "Heal me, I don't have care for pleasantries currently."

  Lorea gripped her staff, the similar swirls and threads of the golden glow wrapped around his ankle. I could visibly see it get fixed, his posture correcting and everything tightening.

  "It is finished, you're all healthy once again." Lorea smacked his ankle lightly to show. Uremel lifted his leg and wiggled his ankle, nodding with a chuckle, he seemed impressed.

  "Wonderful as always, Lorea. What'll it be?"

  "Free, for the Representative." She assured with a hand wave. I was quick to realize Qorel probably had to pay for an injury that wasn't even real, this advanced my guilt. Maintaining composure, I spoke for Qorel, now inspired by this silver.

  "I would love to join, Representative sir." Uremel eyed me with an expression of doubt, though he nodded.

  "Of course, join us on the hunt, I am sure you'll find plenty spoils." Qorel spoke after the Representative finished.

  "I will join as well, if you'll have me."

  "Good, good. You know, you'll be able to keep anything you kill, even if you don't win, you'll at least have food." The Representative assured, extending a hand to me, shaking it. "You are quite brave; I see great things in your future!" He said in an exaggerated voice, I couldn't help but smile at this attempt to uplift me.

  "Well, Rep, we should get going." Ser Sylus motioned to the door, Uremel patted my shoulder, and gave Qorel a kiss on his forehead, presumably another tradition.

  "Father. . ." I said tightly, my voice coming out a bit ruder than intended. "I wanted to ask, how old am I again?" Qorel seemed to know he couldn't change my supposed memory issues, so he conceded and told me.

  "Seventy-four."

  "How old in human years?" He glanced my way with his mouth opened, his lips were very soft looking, all of them seemed to maintain good facial care.

  "Fifteen, I believe." He nodded to himself to affirm this equivalent. "Fifteen." He placed a hand on my arm, squeezing it lightly. "You will be okay here for a few hours, yes?"

  "Yes, do you know when the hunt is?" I asked, expecting it to be rather near if this Representative was acting so pushy about it.

  "I think. . ." He let out a groan. "I'll check, don't worry. I will return in three hours, be good." He released my arm, walking out of the homely building. When I turned to face the kid on the neighboring bed, he was already looking at me.

  "You're going to the hunt?" I nodded to affirm this, he lifted himself up with a seemingly jovial expression. "I'm going too, it'll be tomorrow. My father is one of the hunters, he takes me every five years, which is when it happens." I stared at him briefly, understanding he was giving me useful information considering the presumed mishap. I smiled graciously, extending a hand for shaking.

  "Isn't that a human thing?" The boy asked, recognizing it. He outstretched his own, shaking mine loosely.

  "You should do it firmly." I critiqued; he tightened his grip which made me laugh. "Good."

  "So, are you good with bow or spear?"

  "Who says either?" I asked with exaggerated mystique, the boy found it amusing.

  "Sword then?"

  "Honestly, nothing. I'm not very good at much." The boy eyed me with disappointment. "What's your name?"

  "Jorael, it's a Stremar name." He paused for a moment, before continuing when noticing my confused expression. "Star Elves, they have beautiful purple skin and spots that look like stars across their skin, it is said that their goddess Achiose branded them from birth with the very things she created." I viewed him with wonder evident across my face, if these gods were real, that'd be really cool.

  "Good to know, Jorael. I am. . . Aphen." I embraced the name for the moment, though deep down I was Eric, I know that, yet somehow, I felt comfortable calling myself that.

  "Aphen, means wanderer, right?"

  "Think so. . ." I didn't know any of the name meanings, so I went along with it. "What does yours mean?"

  "It means bringer of justice, awesome, right?" Jorael asked me with a twinkle in his eye, he seemed pretty proud of his name, to be fair it was pretty cool.

  "Yeah, really is. You asked what I'm best at, what are you best at?"

  "By Efferel, like I'd know." He laughed, I questioned what Efferel was, though it didn't matter for the time. "Father says I can handle a bow pretty well, and an axe, which isn't very common for us."

  "Would you like to team up, maybe?" I asked, hoping this would be a quick way to victory.

  "Sure!" Jorael excitedly exclaimed. "Though, we'll need to split the reward."

  "You've got a deal, by the way how old are you?" I asked, a bit confused on the whole elven aging.

  "I'm sixty-eight, not too far from you." He didn't look it, he was a bit shorter, though he was about fourteen. I narrowed my eyes at this, sixty-eight yet he seemed so innocent, it was a bit shocking.

  The treatment was continued throughout the day, the healer Lorea tested herb after herb, though nothing helped me, in fact it may've worsened me a bit. Once noticing this, she stopped and sent me off after reaching the three-hour mark nearly. It was pretty weird with how fast they expected stuff to happen considering their age, probably a byproduct of healing magic which was excessively fast. I was received once reaching my home, Qorel was clearly exasperated, and the Areia seemed pretty worried.

  "Nephew, you should get hit less next time, I don't like the new you." The uncle, who I now knew as Ramrae, joked. The aunt, Heria came to my defense shockingly as I ate.

  "I've handled too much of your idiocy to know if you're just a moron or doing this on purpose." Ramrae did a playful scoff.

  "Ouch. . . I'm offended." I feigned being hurt, causing her to raise a hand.

  "I'll give you something to be hurt about."

  "Sorry." He meekly added, simmering down immediately. There was a moment of silence before Areia waved me off to bed, having a bedtime felt weird honestly.

  "Get some sleep, Aphen, your aunt will handle Ram." Areia assured, truthfully, I wasn't hurt, really, I was amused. Ramrae was pretty funny, I enjoyed his banter, gave me more interest than most going on here.

  Morning came quickly; I was rather tired no matter the lack of physical activity. There was a loud commotion outside, Qorel pushed open my door and motioned me over. Once exiting the home, there was a little speaking area where probably half of the village had gathered, I estimated sixty-or-so elves. The Representative stood atop a long wooden box, raising his hand to silence the crowd.

  "There will be no more chatter, allow us to get to business!" I noticed Jorael in the crowd, alongside who I assumed to be his father. Jorael waved me down, forcing me to walk over, pushing through the crowd to reach him. "Today is the half-decade ceremonial hunt as all know, no more dillydallying or lollygagging." He took a breath and continued. "Whosoever takes a trophy of the biggest game caught in this hunt will be awarded one silver coin, alongside the spoils they had retrieved. You will make your way evenly in rows into the forest, once there the hunt shall officially begin. Children, be with your fathers, and fathers be with your children, and to any women here, beat the piss out of your husbands and children alike!" There was an audible roar of laughter that resounded through the crowd. "Come now, I will lead all of you into the Nyraleth Forest!" He exclaimed.

  With this, the way was made, sixty men, women, and children made their way along the pathways in lines, following the Representative Uremel. There was discussion and bets made, alongside plenty of arguments and verbal bashing. It seemed pretty competitive, I doubted a silver coin was so much in this world, possibly it was just a really hyped event.

  I peered beside my father to take in the view, the rolling golden grass fields spanned wildly around, though across was this aforementioned Nyraleth Forest, it had reddish-orange leaves spread across the branches of the trees, making me assume it was possibly autumn, if time and seasons even worked the same here.

  "Here it comes!" Shouted Uremel, waving his spear in the air, multiple others followed this example, I was in it to win, I gripped the string of my bow, with a dagger at my waist, enveloped in a leather sheathe. Hopefully I wouldn't lose, and if I did, I do have plenty of time to learn more.