Chapter 1
He wasn't sure what it was that he was seeing. Mika had known before hand that the cave was dangerous and that was why the villagers avoided it but the place where he stood. The little opening in the cave with the small pond and a single tree growing towards the center didn't even seem real to him. A blue glow emanated around the cave and little balls of light floated above the water moving around as if alive. Mika held firmly to the hilt of his sword having never actually used it before it still made him feel better. It was a small comfort before he summoned up the courage to walk into the water. It came up just past his knees and he slow tread brought up dirt and mud making it the water cloudy as he made his way to the tree at the center. He put his hand to the tree feeling oddly compelled to do so and a blinding light forced him to close his eyes. Suddenly his memories or rather his life even the parts he didn't remember played in his mind all at once. Every second of all of his 14 years seemed to happen again all at once. He came back to his senses and the tree knocked him backwards. He landed back in the water his head going under for just a moment as hit butt hit the bottom. He got back to his feet quickly both angry and scared. Mika did quickly notice that the water was higher than before coming up to his chest now. The blue glow seemed to get brighter as Mika slowly walked over and touched the tree again this time no light blinded him and no memories flashed to him. The tree seemed to give off an odd aura that made Mika feel warm and protected. A voice warm and motherly entered his mind. "Greetings Mika of Stoutbow. It is rare that people from that village even come close to the cave. Why are you here?" Mika looked around unsure if he should think his answer or speak out loud. After a few moments of silence he decided to speak aloud. "I have come because.. I heard that something powerful was here. Something that could help me. Or more likely hurt me." Moments of silence passed but just before Mika was about to speak again the warm motherly voice was in his mind again. "Power.. Is a means to an end. Many humans seek it but few truly need help. Why do you seek power young Mika?" Mika was much quicker to reply this time. "A darkness has come to the land it.. My village was destroyed. I want...I mean I want to stop it. Please if you can help please help me!" The silence before the motherly voice returned was much shorter but every second felt of torture to the now anxious Mika. "You wish revenge? Or do you wish to save others from the same fate?" Mika tensed at the question. "Both?" The voice became slightly harsher in its next reply. "I see. Perhaps I am willing to help someone as desperate as you young Mika. Though I offer no gift but rather a test. One that is not to be failed. Do you wish to attempt?" "Yes I will do anything please just help me." The blue light around cave began to glow brightly and Mika lost his ability to see again as the voice entered his mind one last time. "You offer more than you think. Thus is youth. I do hope I do not become a target of your revenge as you realize the cost." With that Mika lost consciousness.
***
Mika woke up some time later with a massive head ache. A quick scan of their surroundings and they noted that they where in a forest one they hadn't been in before. They groggily put a hand to their head as they struggled to their feet. They noticed that their hair was longer as they did as it draped over their hand. They pulled their hair up looking at its strands confused. As their eyes went down the strands of hairs they noticed that they where naked and all their equipment was gone. But they also noticed that they where now a woman or at least the mind crossed their mind. It didn't really process and they just kept staring at their naked form confused before stumbling over to a near by stream they had heard to look at their reflection. They leaned down to over look their new face in confusion. She slowly stood up and the warm motherly voice once again filled her mind "Mika daughter of the earth. It is time you learned to look with new eyes." Mika looked around still confused and trying to focus through their headache. "What.. I asked for power so you turned me into a woman? That doesn't make any.. Is this the test?" Mika could of sworn that he heard the warm motherly voice chuckle at that. "It is and it isn't. Your people have forgotten me along with many of the old gods. But I am or was rather once known as the earth mother. I give life and was worshiped during futility festivals. Only a woman can benefit from my power. As is as it has always been. You said you where willing to do anything for this. I have turned you into the first instrument of my will in the last thousand years. I will lead you to rid the land of the darkness. If you accept me fully. That is the test." Mika just sat down beside the water putting her feet in the running water closing her eyes trying to fully take in what she was being told along with trying to not focus on her headache. The voice didn't speak again and Mika got up looking around. She sighed heavily and sat beside the water again just watching it flow downstream until she gently fell asleep to tired to think to do anything else.
