sneak peek of igniting the shadows

Lian had managed to outrun the she-demon in the forest. Her clothes and hair had changed, but she was still a child. Appearing maybe ten years of age. But she felt, much, much older. Hundreds, if not thousands of years old. She wasn’t sure where she was or where her family had gone. She wasn’t sure if she was on the same planet as the she-demon or not, nor did she really care. She and her family looked very plain compared to the other people that lived in the village. An advantage that worked for them as they tried not to stand out. Not only were they welcomed with open arms, as they usually were wherever they travelled, but she was doted upon for the youth like appearance she had.

Looking around she realized she was now sitting at the centre of a village on a moderate sized water fountain made of a dense grey stone that appeared to be mottled yet was smooth and cool to the touch. She dipped her hand in the water, swirling it around. The water was crystal clear and the sunlight glistened brightly off of it. In the center was a statue of the woman whom had given birth to the village, or so the legends told. The woman had a gentle face with soft features that looked kindly upon the village.

There were several children playing around her. Girls braiding each others hair, boys chasing their various pets or playing a unique version of hopscotch. A couple of the girls had invited her to join them but she had politely declined. The girls braiding each others hair had looked longingly at her free flowing hair. Being that It was as long as they were tall. She might look like a child on the outside, but she most definitely was not. Her parents were the only people that didn’t treat her like an infant. Even the rest of her family, talked about her as if she were an invisible child with a plague like disease, avoiding her at most costs. Because of her youthful appearance, she was often left out of the family’s discussions with village elders as they travelled. Not that she minded. She had never cared for the politics involved in the ‘family business’ and she had always known that despite her capabilities, she would never follow in their footsteps. Quite the opposite in fact. But she had to bide her time before changing paths entirely. She still had a lot to learn before she could venture off on her own and she loved her parents fiercely. She wanted to stay with them as long as possible. She was also a little afraid that they wouldn’t understand her choices, or lack thereof.