Character History Memories of the past are like a glass full of water. As more water is poured into the glass, some is lost. The same goes for the mind and its content, as more memories are made and knowledge is learned. Stuff of the past is lost to time never to be remembered again. Living for over five hundred years, a lot of memories are lost to time. Especially those of earlier life, the pre-nuit life. Nal’reim’s earlier life as a child seems like a dream to the nuit. Born to a Suva military family along the southern border with Ahalea the only thing that was known to young boy was as soon as he was of age, he would enlist and follow in his father’s footsteps as one of the Suvan magi. Much more about his parents has been forgotten, from his mother’s profession, to what his parents even looked like, and even the exact date of his birth has been lost throughout the years. But a few memories of his pre-nuit life remain, it could be said that these memories of events shaped his life to point that they lead to his current life, thus very important to him.
The earliest memory that he can remember is a very short one. It is him and his younger sister playing in the stream that was just a half mile walk from their home in the town. Swimming and jumping into the water from a large rock. Sadly his sisters face isn’t clear enough to even tell what she looked like.
The next memories that has remained in the glass is the day the Nal’reim volunteered for the Suvan military and was accepted into the magical training academy, like his father and grandfather before him. Along with a few different days including his induction into reimancy, his assignment to the summoning division after his application testing and scoring high in the required disciplines that make a good summoner such as a calmer temperament, negotiation skills, speaking skills, etc. And lastly graduating the academy and assignment near his home town.
Within the confines of the minds glass, a lot of space is fought and maintained for a certain person. Struggling to keep as many of the memories of him with her or about her as possible. Her name was Anna Goldys, the fiery redhead of the Alahea town across the border. Nal’reim first laid his eyes on her shortly after returning to his hometown after graduating the academy. On a patrol to the border, she was across the way in a field picking flowers with another young woman. Flowers were one of her favorite things in the world. Her favorite were white daisies that grew close to her home… Straight thoughts. Upon first laying eyes on her, Nal’reim knew he needed her in his life some how.
On his next day off duty a week or so later, Nal’reim made the three mile walk to the border and again seen her in the distance picking flowers once more. Slowly approaching the field through the treeline that lined it. Keeping to the shadows the young Suvan was able to watch the woman who should have been his enemy, but he felt nothing close to hatred or the want to hurt her for her nationality. After watching her for some time she left, never to noticing the man in the woods. Many more times would pass over the next few weeks where the young male would watch the young female as she picked the flowers, laid in grass to watch the clouds, and other actions that have slip from the glass.
The first time he met the girl showed that she was not unobservant as she seemed. This time instead of stalking her through the forest. He just continued down the road and eventually passed into the field. Nervousness passed over the Suvan as he struck a conversation. Over something that has long since been forgotten. But he will never forget her reply “It took you long enough to finally get the courage to come and speak to me. What kind of man are you that you're afraid of a woman.” This statement made him fall her even more than he had by just watching her. From this point on as the saying goes ‘the rest is history’.
Months passed and every time that Nal’reim had a free day with time to himself, he would make his way across the border under the premise of trade or seeking a certain herb or game for dinner. He would spend his time with the young redhead. Doing everything from talking about their lives, helping her pick flowers, which he learned were for her mother who was in bad health, and just sitting together. Time passed until the day, where he followed her to the town of her birth.
The memories of his first journey to the town are not as sharp as they used to be. Liked by her family would not the correct wording, maybe accepted is a better word. Skimming on the details of his origin, Anna’s father the local blacksmith never showed any trust. Other details of the day escape the mind, just as the water escapes the glass.
Soon after the trip to the Ahaleaian town, Nal’reim brought up the idea of taking Anna as his wife. Something to which she was elated to hear but fought against at first. It would be too dangerous. a Suvan battlemage and a Alahea girl would never work. If either of the origins were found out by one of the other’s home nation, it would end badly. But after many months of talk and promises and plan making, Anna finally agreed. And the plan to take her further into the heart of Ahalea where they would be less likely to be discovered was set. They were to leave in three months time, long enough to get the items they wished to keep and money saved away.
Sadly the plan was pushed forward by almost two months, when another war broke out between the two rival empires. Shortly after receiving the order to marshal, Nal’reim gathered his belongs and fled his post, fled his family, fled his home, and fled his country all in the name of a woman who had captured his heart, soul, and mind. A woman he would do anything for. A woman who loved him as much as he loved her. Arriving on the outskirts of her town, hours after the orders were given. He made his way to her home and got her to come out, in a way Nal’reim no longer remembers. Telling her to gather what items she needed, they left the town. Seeking safety deeper in the empire.
Memories are a funny thing. The ones you want to keep. The happy, joyful, and loving memories, those slip away. But the painful, dark, and sad memories, those stay within your mind. Driving a person insane with same memory over and over. No matter how hard a person attempts to rid themselves of a painful memory. It always remains…
The memory of Anna falling ill, after they had made it to safety from the war. After they had started a life together. After everything. She fell ill. With a fever, the chills, and everything else. The healers and doctors, truly unsure of what is wrong. Some whispered of darker magic or even divine influence. But who would target sweet and caring Anna? Who knows. With her laying there as she got ill. Spending time researching and seeking answer to save his only love brought him to a project that had been set up to do the unthinkable. The ARMED project they called it, led by one of the most powerful wizards in the land, who had made himself immortal somehow or so the rumors say. This knowledge he would need to know. Upon leaving his sick wife within the care of a neighbor they had befriended in their year within the city. Nal’reim set out to volunteer.
Accepted into the project by proving his magical and researching skills, Nal’reim made the first step to saving his wife. Upon entering the program, he was assigned under Mizelio Takk, chief summoner of the project.
Funny thing about memories, ones you think would keep do not seem to stay. Nal’reim can not recall the process to which he was granted immortally. Only knows the process was done by the Archwizard himself. After the process was complete, Nal’reim began his work and as well requested to have his precious Anna brought and saved. But she was rejected for acceptance due to lack of skills needed for the project. Nal’reim requested many more time and with each time he was rejected to the point that be had been gone almost a three months from his wife. A man of that lived by his promises, Nal’reim was able to get time away from the island to say ‘goodbye’ to his wife. But that wasn’t his only goal.
Arriving to his precious Anna, who had slipped even further closer to the domain of Dira. Speaking to his lover and telling her what happened to him and how he could save her. At first she was disgusted by his choice. But upon him stating the claims to why he signed up for the project besides saving her. He would be able to do what he loved and for the greater good of their new home.
The darkest memory the nuit was forced to keep within his glass. Three days have had passed since Nal’reim’s returned to his loving wife. She had fallen closer to the veil and the wizard knew it was time. Cutting his hand he pour some of the golden ichor into a glass for her to drink. As he helped her pick up the glass to drink, he looked at him with her deep green eyes she spoke. “Promise me my love. Promise me if this does not work that you will not give up. Promise me that you will continue to live. To do the things you love and if it the moment were to come to love another. Promise me.” To this request Nal’reim agreed and hurried helped her drink. Hours later, the process had failed and his wife and love of his life laid dead in their bed. True to his word the distressed nuit, gather his belonging shortly after the funeral of his love and returned to Sahova, his new home.
A few years after the death of his wife the announcement of the wedding was announced of his new queen and his former emperor. It was to happen, peace between the empires. But that all went downhill from what rumors have reached the island over the years. After the event of the Valterrian, none of the memories have happened that are worth remembering. Continuing his research and learning under the Master Takk and offering his support when ever it was needed. But ever faithful to his promise to his wife, he has remained doing what he loves and keeping on living. This promise and his promise to the ARMED Project are his motivation, maybe something else will come up that will allow new memories to occur and forced the bad memories out of the the mind’s glass. |