At morning's first light, Calistria had planned on leaving Cedarbrook Village before anyone had even begun to stir from their nightly slumber. She had everything packed, ready to leave before the chickens began their morning screaming. However, she underestimated one person and their determination not to allow her to travel on her own. She hadn't realized that Daewyn, her childhood friend, would refuse her travels regardless of her ability to defend herself and her knowledge of medicinal herbs. 

Her morning had not gone as it had planned. 

Regardless, both Calistria an Daewyn left embarking down the dirt path out of Cedarbrook Village. By sundown, they found themselves in one of the most dangerous cities nestled within their beloved kingdom: 

Vatik. 

Pickpockets, scammers, swindlers and murderers, they all somehow managed to find their way into Vatik. Despite how hard the local authorities tried to keep the peace, they always found themselves biting off far more than they could chew.

It was here that Calistria stared down at Daewyn, lying flat on his back on the grimey stones making up Vatik's streets. It hadn't yet registered it was her shrieking in blood curdling horror. All she could see was Daewyn before her and a pool of crimson spreading out around him from his injury. The thrust of a dagger going deep stealing his life from him. Both Calistria and Daewyn appeared terrified of the situation they had stumbled unceremoniously into.  

"Where's the damned doctor!?"

The local sheriff of Vatik called out, barking orders left and right as quickly as he possibly could. 

Calistria snapped from her terror bound state and blinked her golden eyes as if she was just returning to her body. 

Dropping to her knees at Daewyn's side, Calistria's hands immediately flew to the satchel that hung at her side. She hoped with everything she was that she had packed something within her little bag of traveling tricks that could save her friend's life. Callistria wasn't going to lose him, not yet she wasn't. 

Daewyn had been her rock, her saviour and guiding light since they were very little.  He had been her voice of reason on more than one occasion throughout their childhood. If not for Daewyn being there, things could have turned out very different for Calistria. 

"Hey, hey. . . stop that." 

Weakly, Daewyn reached out and dropped his hand overtop Calistria's, stopping her search for a remedy that could help stop his bleeding. 

Golden eyes shot up from the satchel, once more finding themselves looking into that of tired and gentle violet ones. The peace that had nestled itself into Daewyn's gaze scared Calistria, tying a knot in her stomach so tight she thought she was going to be sick. She didn't understand how he could be so calm when his life was seeping out of him faster than anyone could stop it. 

"No-" 

Calistria breathed pulling her hand free from Daewyn's. She wasn't going to let him resign himself to death's ice cold grip, carried on the breath of angel wings from the world they both should be walking. 

"-I'm not going to let you die here." 

She protested against the saddened look her best friend was giving her, the pain stabbing Calistria like the sharp blade that had impaled Daewyn. She was forced to look away to avoid breaking down completely, it helped her get back into the mindset of a doctor. As terrified as she was, she needed to work through the sickness rising within her. The dark fear that was taking hold of her, trying to clench its icy claws around her throat and choke her, something she refused to let happen. 

Calistria moved his hand to rest on his seeping wound, pressing down on it with little pressure. The hiss of pain coming from her friend pained her just as much as it did him.

"Put pressure right here, as much as you can and stay awake with me." 

"Cali-" 

"Quiet, let me work." 

Calistria quickly silenced her best friend. 

The color was already leaving Daewyn's face, his normally sun kissed complexion a pale white. It was like looking at a ghost, an unfinished painting that seemed to stare right into her own soul with a desperate plea to just leave them to wither. A plea that she could never, nor would she ever, comply with. 

Reaching back, Calistria grabbed the bottom hem of her rose red cloak that she wore, putting a section within her teeth and pulling as hard as she could. The sound of the fabric tearing was like music to her ears, at the same time, it was like a graveyard hymn knowing her friend was dying before her. 

Reaching over and beginning to clean the wound, Calistria soaked up the blood surrounding the wound. However, Daewyn kept getting her in way, grabbing her wrist in a weak embrace and stopping her from continuing with her task.

"Cali, we both know it's futile to try and save me." 

A sputtering of coughs and wheezing broke free from Daewyn, spattering of crimson droplets unleashing a gentle raining torrent from his lips. His glassed over violet gaze on Calistria, her golden eyes locked on his, tears bubbling within her lashes. 

"I. . . I wasn't meant to b. . . be on the journey with you for long. You m. . . must let me go and continue your travels without me. Make your dre. . . dream come true, for me, for the both of us." 

Daewyn breathed, it becoming harder and harder to try and take in a breath to keep it safely within his lungs. Instead, it felt more like someone was trying to pull each breath he took from him and steal more than he was willing to give.

"No, I wo-" 

"Please." 

In that last whispered breath, Daewyn's grasp on her wrist loosened and she watched the light fade from his violet eyes.

Calistria let out a scream, an agonizing cry mingling with the sobs rattling her body. Her hands shook her friend vigorously as onlookers walked by, some standing to stare and take in the scene. To the people of Vatik, it was nothing more than a normal day. To Calistria, this was the most heart shattering moment in her life. She had lost her best friend because someone got offended Daewyn wouldn't allow them to take her away to some dark corner of the city. She knew what that man had wanted and she wouldn't have allowed him to take it either regardless. 

"Come back. . . please! Come back!" 

She leaned forward, resting her head upon his chest allowing her teardrops to fall upon his crimson stained tunic.  

Suddenly as if under a trance, Calistria reached up and gently closed those once vibrant violet orbs. She gathered up her supplies and stuffed them back into her bag. She stopped only when a rounded object in her satchel caught her attention. 

Curious, she pulled the round object from her bag and turned it around in her hands with such a delicate grasp. 

A golden glow emitted from a glass containment, some sort of metal cap shaped like the rest of the orb covering the top. A single star icon rested on the front of the metal cap, its golden glow causing her own eyes to glow in the darkening light of the city in saddened wonderment. 

'Calistria~'

Jumping at the sound of someone saying her name, her eyes shot upwards and quickly looked around her surrounding area. However, all she saw was people dispersing with pitiful looks on their faces.

"Who's there?" 

She questioned, wanting to know who called to her. 

'So you acknowledge me.' 

Calistria's golden orbs dropped to the orb in her hands, the light brightening and emitting this warming light. It caused her heart to flutter and breath to catch. 

'You see me now, wonderful.' 

"You're in the orb?" 

'Yes, I am in the orb. I've been trapped here, bought by your friend from the old hermit that put me in here.' 

Calistria frowned when an old hermit was mentioned. The only hermit she could remember was the creepy old man that followed them right up to Vatik's gates and then left them.

'I'm no more than a simple wishmaker, though I have gone by many names. Now, where is my Master?' 

Stomach knotting at the question, Calistria lowered her gaze to the ground. She held back another round of sobs trying to break free from her. 

"He was murdered. . ." 

Calistria muttered, but the words that the golden glow had spoken had her head snapping upright in a matter of seconds. Her eyes widening at the implications of what the creature's species meant. 

"You said you were a wishmaker, right?" 

'I did.' 

Excitement and hope rushed through Calistria like a lightning bolt that has struck the ground. 

"Bring him back." 

'Excuse me?'

The little golden glow sounded offended and confused when Calistria made her demands. 

"I wish for you to bring him back from the dead." 

'I thought that's what you said, however, I cannot complete a wish unless set free.' 

"I can do that." 

The little spark went quiet and Calistria was certain that she saw him frowning from within the glass.

'Then smash my prison and I shall grant you this single wish, but remember. . . every wish comes with its own payment.' 

"Of course, I understand." 

'Break my prison then.' 

Without hesitation, Calistria got to her feet and raised the glass orb above her head. She hesitated for but a moment, looking towards Daewyn as he lay motionless on the ground. She chewed her lower lip, the nervousness beginning to take root within her as she wondered if she was doing the right thing.

Shaking the thoughts from her mind, Calistria tossed the glass orb down with all her might and watched as the glass shattered in every direction. The metal topping bounced and clattered across the stone at her feet before coming to a stationary spin. The glowing sprite flew to the sky, stopping long enough to look down at the people below it. 

'Your wish is granted, but be warned. . . the price for a life is another life. I will be back to collect.' 

The sprite vanished in explosive sparkles that shimmered down onto Calistria and Daewyn. 

Before Calistria could call out to the sprite, a gasp escaped from Daewyn and he began to sit up shakily. 

"What's going on, where am I? Why am I covered in blood?" 

Calistrias eyes were wide, tears forming within them. She rushed forward and tackled Daewyn hugging onto him. She could care less if the blood got all over her, clothes could be replaced, but her friend could not. 

"You're alive." 

"Uh. . . yes, I am. Who are you?" 

Freezing in place, her arms remaining around Daewyn, her mind rushed to what had been said. He didn't remember her, that much was clear and his body language said as much. Stiff as a board and he wasn't returning the hug he would have gladly given her in a time of need. 

Pulling back from Daewyn and chuckling sheepishly, she tried to push back the pain that had a vice grip on her heart.

"I'm sorry, you just look like someone I know. . . knew. I guess you weren't him." 

"No, no I'm not. I'm sorry I'm not the friend you thought I was and I hope you find him." 

Calistria shrugged a bit and sat back on her knees, hands resting on her lap as she grasped the fabric of her traveling dress.

"It's okay, he's been gone for awhile now I doubt I'll ever find him. Anyway, I'm Calistria, let me help you up." 

Standing from where she sat, she put a friendly smile upon her lips thrusting out a hand to help her once friend up. Now there really was nothing left for her back in Cedarbrook Village, nothing but memories that will forever haunt her if she were to ever return.