The Magic Incident

Baby Maya was born in the middle of the night in a sleepy hamlet far from other villages or towns. She cried and cried until her mother held her gently and lovingly. Maya quieted down immediately and soon fell asleep. Her mother sang to her softly until dawn broke and a ray of light shone in through the window. As soon as the first of the sun's rays hit baby Maya's face, she giggled and smiled in happiness. Maya grew up healthy and lively, and had a burning curiosity for the world around her. She was often seen following her mother around and asking questions about everything in sight. Luckily for Maya, her mother was patient and caring, and would explain about anything Maya happened to be curious of. Her greatest wonder was the village itself, which was comprised almost entirely of women. Nearly all the children born in the hamlet were girls, and men were scarce, travelers or otherwise. Maya's own father had died when she was six months old, so she had no memories of him. By the time Maya reached five years, she had made a few friends. They liked to play a little too much and often got into trouble, but it was never anything truly serious and would be resolved by some scolding. One day, Maya and her friends decided to experiment with magic they had read in a book. Whether the circle was improperly drawn or the ingredients used were wrong, nobody could say for sure, but the experiment went haywire and disaster struck. Maya was the first to leap into action, pushing her friends out of the way. Thus, she was the only one affected. A week later, Maya woke up to her mother's tears. She reached out and comforted the most important person in her life. Once Maya could move properly, her mother had guided her to a mirror. No longer did Maya have sleek, black hair and rosy skin. She was pale with hair whiter than milk that glowed softly. Luckily, there were no real adverse effects, other than Maya no longer being able to properly manipulate magic. Her future as a mage or wizard was dashed then and there. Still, she was happy. As long as Maya had her mother and her friends, she would always be happy.

The Harsh Truth

Maya grew and grew. By the time she was twelve, she was nearly as tall as her mother. Her energy hadn't diminished one bit, and Maya loved to stay active and learn new things. Unable to properly use magic, Maya had instead been receiving training from the more physically oriented ladies of the hamlet. Alas, while she could move her body effectively, she could not do the same with weapons. Maya soon learned she had no real talent for the sword, the hammer, the bow... Basically anything other than her fist. Determined not to let this bring her down, Maya trained and trained until she finally became somewhat proficient with a staff. She would spend her days in the nearby forest, gathering knowledge on survival and fighting the simple, yet easy to kill beasts. Perhaps the hamlet was too small for Maya. Perhaps the people were tired of the exuberant girl making merry a little too often. Or maybe, her mother simply wanted her to get some real world experience. At the age of fourteen, Maya was sent to the closest settlement to learn and grow. Thus, Maya became an adventurer. While Maya's enthusiasm was potent, her skill was still a little lacking. Maya went from group to group, never quite settling in with the others. She wasn't up to the level others wanted to be, and quickly was left to the wayside. Eventually, Maya had found a team of girls around her skill level, and they slowly trained and got better over time. Maya herself was smitten with a member of her team, a lovely brunette by the name of Farnea. Having grown up in a village of mostly women, it was normal for Maya to seek comfort and love in other females, and she didn't understand what was normal for society. Gathering her courage, Maya confessed to Farnea, only to be coldly rejected. Heartbroken and embarrassed, Maya left her team and traveled on her own. She would often get hit on by sleazy men, sometimes even attacked. Time passed and Maya slowly lost her exuberance and innocence. She became less and less happy, and more and more jaded and emotionless with the world. Women didn't want her love, and men only wanted her body for its increasing beauty. Having learned the cold truth of the world, Maya was changed forevermore.

A Positive Change... A New Direction

Three years of learning about society... Three years of ineffective training and failed relationships... Three years of solitude. Maya became cold on the inside. The only person in the world she loved besides herself was her mother. She had friends back home, but when she visited, they had all moved on to start their own adventures. Maya felt alone and uncomfortable. In an effort to cheer up her daughter, Maya's mother gifted her an engraved silver pendant. It was simple, if not slightly expensive, but it was enough for Maya to regain a bit of her spirits. She spent a few months at home before leaving once more. Unable to quench the thirst for adventure slumbering deep within her, Maya tried once more to grow in skill. While she generally disliked men, Maya went against her better judgement and decided to team up with a few to take down a beast in order to earn some coin. Alas, she was betrayed and set upon by the very allies she had entrusted to watch her back. They pushed her down and decided they were going to have their way with her body. Screaming and thrashing, Maya desperately cried for help out in the wilderness. Just before she was about to lose her purity, a foot came in from the side and cruelly smacked into the head above her. Freed from the clutches of the vile men, Maya scrambled to safety a short ways away and watched in fascination. A person with a shaved head dressed in a simple sleeveless garment used not weapons of metal or bone, but rather ones of flesh to destroy her former allies. Maya watched on as punches were thrown and kicks were swung about until the men lay unconscious upon the soil. She had been saved by a man. At first she was distrustful, but the man's gentle demeanor slowly lowered her guard. It was then Maya knew she had found her true calling, and begged the man to train her. Thus, Maya was reborn. Her sharp and cold face turned into one that looked rather sleepy. Her eyes sharpened and her willpower grew. Deep down, Maya still yearned for love and companionship. She still is attracted to women, but uses her training as a way to conquer her worldly desires. She still distrusts most men, but respects and looks favorably upon those that are pure of intent. Finally, Maya's basic training was complete. She set out alone at the behest of her first master to learn more about what the world was REALLY like from a neutral perspective. "Always watch, always observe take everything in from a truly neutral stance, and you will see the world without bias. I believe in you my pupil. I look forward to seeing what you become one day." With the words of her master in her heart, Maya looked at the silver ring pendant her mother gave her and softly smiled. "To my daughter that is as bright as the sun: Stay safe, and always remember, there is a home for you. Mommy loves you." Maya tucked the pendant in her clothes and moved forward, never once looking back. "Yes Mommy," she said in happiness. "I won't let you down." At the age of 17, the mommy loving Maya took her first step to true enlightenment.