Kelethia sighed and rubbed her eyes. She had been reading for nearly an hour, but it felt much longer than that. The tome in front of her had been a gift from Sister Anetta. "Study it well," she had said, "for it contains important lessons you will need to learn if you are to become a priestess." Kelethia had started reading it right away, for her greatest dream was to become a priestess. Ever since coming to the abbey three years ago, after her parents died during a Horde raid on Southshore, she had been in awe of the men and women who worked at the Abbey. They had miraculous powers, and everyone admired them. Kelethia wanted to be powerful and admired, too - and when she turned twenty-one next month, she intended to be ready to join the priesthood.
But this text was as dull and dry as anything she had ever read. To make things worse, the room was unbearably hot and stuffy. There weren't enough windows in the abbey to stave off the heat of midsummer. She longed to take off her robe, but the sisters would never allow that. "It is not proper to reveal flesh," they said, "for it may distract people away from spiritual enlightenment." Kelethia didn't feel very enlightened, though, sweltering and perspiring under her thick garments.
Perhaps a walk outside would help. Kelethia closed her book and left the room, slipping deftly through the corridors of the abbey to avoid being spotted by Sister Anetta or anyone else who might frown upon her for shirking her studies. She felt better the moment she left the Abbbey, as a welcome breeze swept through her wavy blonde hair. She strolled off into the woods, clearing her mind of dreary books and smothering rules.
The forest was quiet; the lumberjacks had no doubt gone down to Goldshire for their mid-day meal. Kelethia listened to the pleasant chirping of birds and insects, and smiled to herself as she drifted through the trees. It felt as though the world was at peace, until she heard a strange sound from the woods up ahead.
Kelethia froze. It sounded as though a woman was moaning in pain! Should she run back to the abbey for help? That would take time. Besides, if she was going to become a mighty priestess, she had to learn how to help others on her own, and this might be an opportunity for her to prove herself. With that thought in mind, she marched determinedly toward the trees.