Chapter Text
Once upon a time, in a world awash with light, there stood a gleaming tower made of crystal. Its spires reached high into the sky, its origin unknown to all but a few of the realm's inhabitants.
The people of this world lived without hope. For over one hundred years the land had been broken, the peace of night stolen. Under the blistering light of eternal day, monstrous creatures roamed the land. Those unfortunate souls who crossed their paths withered away, turning into mindless abominations to join the hoard.
Yet amidst scant settlements of people struggling to meet the morrow, the Crystal Tower persisted. At its base gathered the most ardent proponents of hope, those who labored ceaselessly for a future, and so the Crystarium was created.
All the while, the world trudged on.
Many years later, though time has lost meaning, a child was born in a nearby village. Her parents but humble farmers, she grew to be an able scavenger and hunter both, eager for anything to supplement their meager rations.
The wanderer, as she came to be known, mapped every ilm of Lakeland. She had a gift in avoiding the monstrosities which plagued their land. Unlike her peers who warily avoided the wilderness, she walked free in the forest.
And she continued to walk under the shades of lilac trees, until tragedy struck one day.