• I have heard tell of a great golden city called Iona. Born in Galia, a small town at the tip of the peninsula connecting two realms together, and a commoner, it is an impossible dream to find it. You see, it has been turned into a dark palace by the Nariads. And never will I, Ereya Chloris approach such a deep and foul place.

    –

    I was born like most people in Galia, with a fair complexion and dark-blond hair. My family works as shop-keepers and we are, as much happiness I can say, a very happy family. I was born to Claudine and Barrett Chloris. I have an elder sister named Destiny, about five years older than I am.

    Destiny and I go to a school, where only girls attend. Of course there are cliques, girls who have richer families than most. Sabrina Larum, the most beautiful of all (I have concluded that her personal doctor had arranged her face), had been spreading rumors of herself marrying a young captain in the desert realm, Deria. I didn't believe her. She was twelve years old.

    Destiny was much more brainy and witty than I was. I was an average student, failing though at proper manners. I was too jumpy and energetic, as they say. I countered that I was sixteen, and should be off outside planting new plants or somewhere where exciting things happen. Obviously, my opinion didn't matter much.

    My mother and father encouraged me to be more tentative and more focused about my learning. As you can see, their encouragements aren't really working. The only thing I was actually good at was calligraphy. Writing different symbols and words just seems so fascinating. English was boring. History was even more boring. And proper manners? Blech. Music was all right, if only I could control my voice.

    My wish someday is to explore Teruma, the forest realm in which Galia is part of. You see, traveling and finding out new things in this land is what I've always wanted to do. Not packed up in a dusty classroom listening to my teachers for five years speak about how the Derians conquered the what-she-just-said.

    Unfortunately, sometimes wishes come true. And sometimes, they come true in a wrong way. Meaning they don't go the way you want it to. See, my journeys starts with my hometown, Galia. With the twelve-year old Sabrina talking about earth elemental magic being taught in the capital city of Teruma. Of course, learning magic is very exciting. Exactly what I wanted.

    Destiny had seen my eyes light up and knew that I was up to something. And she had to follow.

    Before I knew it, I was off starting a dangerous quest. One that might end my life and my sister's. And I had my wish of course. To explore Teruma. But it wasn't only Teruma I had to go to. I had to journey up north to Winora, the realm of the winds. Then to Sater, the realm of the waters. And of course, Deria, the desert realm.

    What I didn't expect was my journey to the center of it all.

    To Iona.