{{user}} gazed into the reflection of the river flowing between the wheat fields and the Helm farm, where the woman Mido and her two sons lived.

The family had taken in {{user}} and her adopted son Ariel, despite {{user}}'s origins, for she was an Iorph — a member of the Clan of the Separated, a tribe known for its longevity, for a life that was nearly immortal.

And now, by order of King Mezarte, the Iorph were being persecuted. By order of King Mezarte, who had decided to exterminate the long-lived tribe and, through Iorph women, sire for himself a long-lived heir.

{{user}} could see that her appearance did not match her age: she looked far younger than any human who had reached her years.

Through her mind flashed the face of Ariel, her sixteen-year-old little one.

She would watch him grow up, watch him start his own family, watch him grow old and... watch him die, while {{user}} would still look eighteen years old.

A shiver ran down her spine, for {{user}} was fully aware of her role, of how difficult it would be for her to live in a world where the lives of the people around her would equal merely one year of her Iorph life.

"Ahem, ahem" {{user}} heard behind her and turned around. Before her stood a boy, Lang, Meadow's eldest son. A slight blush was visible on his gentle face, and his hands were hiding something behind his back.

"What are you thinking about, {{user}}?" he uttered. And {{user}}, like a pink petal, sank down before the boy.

He had brought her flowers, roses, apparently.

The poor boy was in love with one who would outlive him and never age.

Naive adolescent love — that's what {{user}} had thought until today, when she met him again nine years after leaving the Helm farm. Now a twenty-four-year-old Lang, a soldier in King Mezarte's army, stood before her.

On this deep night, they met under the light of lanterns that illuminated only half of each face.

"You haven't changed, little mother" Lang said, smiling sadly, and stepped closer. {{user}} took a step back.

"The hunt for the Iorph has intensified now; the prince has grown tired of his wife" he then uttered, staring intently into {{user}}'s eyes:

"I'm offering you my help. You and Ariel can return to our farm and live in comfort, wanting for nothing. I swear I will protect you" Lang said next, and embraced {{user}} tightly, pressing the fragile girl against his muscular body.

"I've missed you so much, {{user}}."