I opened my eyes to see I was amidst an infinite, dark void. I would have thought I was floating, had I not looked down to see the black marble surface I was standing on. The surface blended in with the background, naturally, but I could see the flecks of white in the marble, almost like stars in the sky. I turned around to look at my surroundings. Black, as far the eye could see. All except a throne some distance behind me, made from the same black marble as the floor. on it sat a girl, lazily sleeping. Her hair was long and white, and she wore a deep blue dress, embroidered gold at the hems. It was at this point I realized this place, wherever I was, had no light to speak of. No sun, no fire and no torches, magical or otherwise. And yet I could see everything just fine. The floor, the girl and even my hands. It was like being in a painting without shadows.

  In the midst of me trying to comprehend such an incomprehensible place, the girl stirred. "Huh, who are you?" She asked, failing to stifle a yawn.

  "I am Sorace." I answered, trying to keep down the mountain of questions I had. But there was one I could not help but ask. "Where are we?"

  She shrugged. "I don't know. I just woke up here."

  "And before that?" I pressed. I myself remembered being in my home before waking up.

  She shrugged again.

  "Is there anything you know?"

  "Just that I'm a person called Eeuna. Beyond that, I don't have any memories at all, now that I think about." She said.

  "But how can you not have memories? There must surely be something you remember before now." I stated.

  "Nope, not a thing. But I think talking to you is jogging my memory a little." She then sat upright, getting out of her lazy position. "You are what is known as a mage, are you not?"

  Ignoring how she arrived to that conclusion, I answered her. "Apprentice mage, more like. I only know a few spells."

  Hearing this, Eeuna sat up, clearly excited. "Yes, magic, I can do magic!"

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  I on the other hand was less than skeptical. "An amnesiac doing magic is rather unlikely..." And if they can, the result can be quite dangerous.

  "No, no, just watch me. I shall conjure a great lightning storm!" Eeuna clapped her hands together, trying to concentrate.

  We stood there for a good minute as she futilely tried to cast a spell. "This is getting us nowhere. Are you sure you can use magic?" I asked.

  "Uh huh, I can feel it coming!" Eeuna almost squealed, clearly excited. I could see sparks flying off her body, which now seemed to glow a shade brighter than it was. I felt a tingle exuding from, a sign that mana was pooling in her body. She was so happy about the prospect of using magic that she jumped up, causing her to stub her toe on the throne. The moment she felt the pain, a colossal spark of lightning shot pierced the surrounding blackness, filling my vision with white before I lost consciousness.

  . . .

  But I had not consciousness, I had regained it. I had awakened in a small, lightly furnished bedroom. Closet, bed, desk. Everything I needed and nothing more.

  As a thin ray of sunlight filtered through the closed curtains opposite my bed, memories of a dream I just had. If it could even be called one. That I could remember each detail so vividly meant it had to be more than a simple dream... right? I remained still, trying to piece it together until there was a knock on the door. I threw off my covers and sat upright, but I guess it was a little slow for some people. The door opened, revealing a man in black robes, outlined in silver. His hair, the colour of lilacs, woven into a pony tail that rested on his shoulder.

  "Morning, father." I stifled a yawn before saying.

  The man I called father walked over to open the curtain, flooding my eyes with light "Good morning, Sorace. Or perhaps it is better to happy birthday?" He stated.

  I rubbed my eyes, mind still groggy. Though perhaps my mind was simply still focused on that dream. "Oh, ok." I uttered.

  "Don't sound too excited now." My father said jokingly.

  "Why should I be? Today's a day, like any other." I replied calmly as I climbed out of bed.

  My father looked at me wryly. "Your mother said that on her 18th summer as well."

  "Is that a bad thing?"

  "Not at all. That kind of pragmatism is a fine quality for a mage. But it is good to have an interest in frivolous things too." He was silent for an almost awkward amount of time, before producing a set of neatly folded clothing out of thin air, and handing it to me. "Ah but look at me, lecturing you before you've even been dressed. I think you'll find these fit better than your current attire."

  I looked down at the brown shirt and trousers I'd worn. "These fit me fine, don't they?" I said, looking over the clothes. That was when I saw they were nothing like I'd worn before. It was a robe, similar to what my father had on, but grey.

  He'd left the room before I could say anything more. Being given such a thing could mean only one thing. I needed only to hear it from his lips. But for the time being, I only smiled.