Welcome Hone

"I… love you… Elowyn..."

Wait, why does this voice sound so familiar? And why does it also sound so sad? As I try to focus, I can faintly see the silhouette of someone reaching out to me. Just who are you? I try to reach out to them, but then I hear a faint ringing that begins to build until it's almost deafening and then everything goes white.

I jolt up and take a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. What in the world was that? I have never had such a strange dream before. Can I even call it a dream? There is a dull pain in my head and my mind is still foggy. I gently shake my head and try to clear my thoughts when I suddenly hear a… train whistle? I look around and realize I'm in a private train cabin. What is even weirder is that I don't remember ever getting on a train at all. How long have I been here and where is this train even going? I glance around the cabin I'm in and don't see any luggage. The cabin itself is pretty simple with oak wood furnishings, velvet seating, and turquoise and gold accents. Then I search my clothes but I don't find a ticket. So, I'm on a mysterious train with no idea how I got here, no idea on where it's going, or if it's even going to stop for that matter, and I don't even have any luggage or a ticket. Is this some sort of trick?

"I can assure you that this isn't a trick."

I yelp in fright as I turn to see who said that and was greeted by who appeared to be the conductor of the train.

"Haven't you ever heard of knocking!"

"My deepest apologies miss Elowyn. I didn't mean to startle you."

"Who are you and how do you know my name?"

A small smile appeared on the man's face. "You may call me The Conductor and I know many things about you Elowyn. But rest assured I mean you no harm." Despite how sincere he seemed, I still kept my guard up.

"Are you the one who brought me here?"

"No, you arrived here off your own accord."

"If that's the case, then I'm going to leave of my own accord." I quickly chanted a teleportation spell… but nothing happened. I did it again and when I got the same result, I began to panic a little. Why is my magic not working!?

"I'm afraid your magic won't work here." The Conductor said as if he could read my mind.

"And where exactly is here?" I asked hesitantly.

"Why don't you see for yourself?"

He pointed at the window and I cautiously walked over to it. When I raised the blinds, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Outside was an endless abyss of swirling colors and shapes that had an eerie, otherworldly beauty to it. Okay… I think I finally lost it.

"Where in the world am I and how do I get off this train!?"

"I'm afraid I can't answer that question." You will have to find that out for yourself."

"And how exactly do I do that?"

"The train has the answers you seek. Once you make it to the end, everything will be made clear."

The train has the answers you seek? This man is not making any sense. But right now, I don't have a lot of options so I will have to trust him. The Conductor steps aside as I walk out of the cabin and look at the door leading to the next car. So I just have to make it to the end? Sounds a little too easy. But I need to figure out why I'm here and get off this train. I slowly make my way to the door and turn to look at The Conductor once more before I open it and walk through.

"Good luck Miss Elowyn. And may you find what you're searching for."

As I walked through the door into the first car, I immediately noticed something was off. Instead of being in the second train car, I was in a house? How did I get here? And why does this place seem familiar…? Upon looking closer, I realized that this just wasn't any house, it was my old childhood home. It's just how I remember it. With plants and medicinal herbs that I helped plant and several research books scattered everywhere, you would think it was more of a pharmacy than a home. But I still loved it all the same. I became so lost in my thoughts that I didn't hear the hustle behind me and suddenly felt a weird, tingling sensation as something, no someone, passed through me! I look at myself and realize that I've become semi transparent, like an apparition of sorts. Huh!? Then glance up to see who had passed through me and saw it was a little girl. Wait a moment, that's me! But how is that…? Then it hit me. I had somehow stepped into one of my memories. And guessing from her appearance, this is me when I was about six years old. Which means…

"Elowyn, lunch is ready."

"Coming Mommy!"

It can't be… I watch my younger self rush into the kitchen and I follow her. When I turn the corner, I feel like I'm going to faint. Standing by the dining table is the one person I never thought I'd see again.

"Mother!?"

I know she can't see or hear me, but I still can't help but call out to her. I had almost forgotten how beautiful she was. With long, dark hair, ivory skin, and hazel eyes, she was like an angel. And she had a kind heart to match.

"Look at you! You're all dirty. Come on, let's get you washed up."

"Yes, Mommy."

I chuckled lightly to myself. I can't believe I used to be such a mess when I was a child. When they disappear into the washroom, I hear someone else come inside the house. Large footsteps approach the kitchen and when the person turns the corner, I am once more in disbelief. Father! It has been so long since I've seen him looking so healthy, so… happy. He was a handsome man with curly brown hair, a slim, but muscular build, and eyes full of intelligence and curiosity.

"Sylvia! Winnie! I'm home!"

"Daddy!" I watch my younger self run out of the washroom with traces of soap still in her hair as she leaps into father's arms. I remember that he used to always smell of old books and pine.

"Welcome home dear. You're just in time for lunch."

I watch Mother as she gives Dad a quick kiss on the cheek before she goes off to finish setting up the table for lunch. Then they all sit down and chat about their day as they eat. I had forgotten what it was like to be together with my parents like this.

And as much as it pains me to leave, I have to push forward. I turn around and see the door that leads to the next car. Before I go through the door, I look back at my parents and me laughing and eating together. A tear slides down my cheek when I see how happy they are, knowing it won't stay this way forever. I shake my head to regain focus and walk on to the next car.

The next few cars were like a pleasant trip down memory lane as I relived some of my nicest childhood memories. Helping Mother out with the garden and looking at the stars with Father. Learning my first spell and summoning my familiar jasmine, a nightingale with the cutest voice. I had so much fun with my family and I wish I had cherished it even more if I knew what was coming. As I enter the next car, I can tell something is wrong. The atmosphere in the house has grown somber and quiet. I see the village doctor's hat and cloak sitting in a chair and I hear coughing from upstairs. I instantly want to turn around. No… not that night. Please don't make me see this again. I slowly walk upstairs and toward my parents' room. As I peer in, I am struck with a sight that makes my heart drop into my stomach. My mother's small and frail body lays in bed with a wet washcloth on her brow as she sweats and gasps for air. Her skin is ghostly pale and her once lovely face had become grim and haggard. My father is sitting beside the bed as he gently holds her hand like it's made of glass and I stand behind him shaking with silent tears. The doctor uses an appraisal spell to check her vitals and gives my father a grim look.

"She doesn't have much time. I'm sorry, but there isn't much I can do."

He stands up to leave and reaches out his hand and my father shakes it with his free one.

"Thank you for coming regardless. It means a lot to us."

The doctor gives him a sad smile and bows before leaving. I step aside and let him pass even though I know he would just walk right through me. It just seemed the right thing to do. Our attention is turned back to my mother as she has another fit of coughing and her body shakes violently. My father grabs a glass of water from the nightstand and gives my mother a few sips. For years, we had no idea Mom was ill until it was too late. She had been afflicted by a mysterious sickness that had no known cure. She did her best to hide it by making her own medicine to keep it at bay. She was the village herbalist and knew everything about medicinal plants and made remedies for the locals that could cure anything from chicken pox to the flu. But even her medicine only managed to work for so long until the disease eventually became too great. Now it was only a matter of minutes before the sickness overcame her.

I step out from behind my father and approach the other side of the bed. My mother turns her head towards me as she slowly places her hand over mine.

"My little swan, I'm sorry I won't be able to stay by your side anymore. But you have to promise to be strong for Mommy."

I was only eleven at the time and didn't fully understand what she meant.

"I promise. But, what do you mean Mommy? Where are you going? Please take me with you!" I said between sobs. She raised her hand and placed it on my cheek.

"I'm sorry my love, but I can't take you where I'm going. But know that I will always be with you no matter how far I am and that I will always love you." And with that, she breathed one final time and her hand fell to her side.

"Mommy!? Mommy! Please wake up!" I began to sob uncontrollably and I buried my face in the blanket. Father began to cry as well as he raised the blanket over Mother's face. He rose from the chair and picked me up despite how much I kicked and screamed, refusing to leave Mother's side. He closes the door behind them and I'm left alone as I stare at my mother. I watched this all unfold in a corner of the room with tears of hurt as the pain and heartbreak I felt back then all came rushing to the surface again. Why? Why did it happen to her?

Losing my mother was like losing a small part of self. I was never the same after that day. I don't know if I can take any more of this. If this is what I have to go through to get off this crazy train, then maybe I don't want to leave.

No, I know that my parents wouldn't want me to give up. And deep down, I don't want to give up either. I have to keep going. I have to keep my promise. I take deep breaths to calm myself and once I get myself together, I open the door and move on to the next car.

The next set of cars I pass through aren't easy to handle either. I watched as my father did his best to raise me with my mother now gone. But soon, his grief gets the better of him as he starts to fall deeper into his work and begins to put all his time and effort into finding a cure to the illness that took Mom so others wouldn't have to deal with the loss we have. My father was actually the royal sorcerer and one of the most powerful sorcerers in the kingdom. The king himself gave him the task of finding the cure because if anyone could find it, it was my father. But as time went by, the burden of this task began to take its toll on my father. He got very little sleep and would often forget to eat regularly so I would bring him meals and force him to take some time to eat and rest. I ended up having to be the one taking care of him while raising myself. I had inherited my dad's affinity for magic and taught myself as much as I could along with my mom's knowledge of medicine and heading. I spent hours pouring over her journals hoping I could help my father find the cure. And once I turned sixteen, I had applied to enter Linowa Magic Academy, the most prestigious school in the kingdom, so I could learn to hone my skills and become a great sorcerer like my dad. I was thrilled when I got accepted, but that moment was short lived. When I arrived home later that day, excited to tell my father the great news, that excitement instantly turned to fear. The house that I spent my entire childhood in and was full of so many memories was burning right before my eyes.

"Father!"

I ran towards the house, but I couldn't get inside because the flames had grown too big. I tried to use water magic to put out the fire, but I couldn't focus because of how much I was shaking and crying. I ran back into the village as fast as I could and called for help. Some of the neighbors and fellow sorcerers came over as quickly as they could. After what seemed like forever, we finally managed to put the fire out. But...we were too late. The house was burned beyond repair and everything was gone. Once it was safe, the villagers entered the rubble to look for anything that might have survived. All I could do was sit on the ground and cry as some of the women tried to comfort me. I heard a familiar chirping and looked up to see my familiar Ember flying towards me. Thank goodness she seemed to have escaped in time. I held out my hands and hugged her to my chest. I don't know what I would've done if I lost her too. First my mom, and now my father and my home. Why was everything I love being taken from me? Did I do something to incur the goddess's anger? After further investigation, the fire appeared to be caused by a freak magic accident. It seems my father was so exhausted and weak that one of his experiments went wrong. And now, years of my father's research and hard work are gone. Well… that isn't entirely true. I managed to study and remember most of it. So at that moment, I made a promise that I wouldn't let his efforts go to waste. I would find the cure.

The memories I went through after that were a bit of a blur. Once I entered the academy, I put my all into my studies and passed all of my courses at the top of the class. A lot of the students and even some of the teachers admired how bright and talented I was. Soon, I was the most popular student at school and everyone wanted to be my friend. But I didn't have time for friends. I was determined to fulfill my promise and couldn't let any distractions get in my way. But during my junior year at the academy, everything changed when I met Maron.

He was one of my upperclassmen, and was also very popular, especially above the female students. We would often run into each in the library, but I never really noticed him. Then one day as I was heading back to the dorms after class, I noticed Maron leaving one of the classrooms. He must have had cleaning duty today. What was of though was that it looked like he was the only there, which would explain why he was still here so late in the afternoon. I myself had caught up studying again and had lost track of time. I simply kept and prayed that he wouldn't notice. Unfortunately, luck never seemed to be in my favor.

"Hey Elowyn! Wait up." He jogged down the hall to catch up with me and gave me a goofy grin.

"Why don't we walk back to the dorms together?"

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm fine waking back alone."

"Oh come on. Why do you always give people the cold shoulder? And besides, you shouldn't go outside alone at this hour. You never what might me be lurking in the dark, waiting to pounce on such a fair maiden as yourself," he said jokingly.

I rolled my eyes at him. I didn't mean to be rude to people. The truth is, I'm just scared of getting close to someone only to end up losing them like I lost my parents.

I looked up at Maron, who was giving me his best puppy dog eyes. I sighed, knowing he would keep pestering until I caved in.

"Fine, I suppose you can tag along." He pumped his fist in the air for his small victory and flashed a smile that made my heart skip a beat. Now I can see why all the girls fawn over him. Oh no you don't! Snap out of it Elowyn. I quickly brought myself back to my senses and gently punched his arm in return.

"Shall we get going then?"

From that moment on, Maron and I started spending more and more time together. I soon found out that he was studying to become a combat sorcerer and wanted to become leader of the royal army whereas I wanted to pursue heading magic and medicine. And the more we learned about each other, the deeper our relationship grew. He was smart, funny, and cute and despite how much I tried, I couldn't help but fall for him. Time flew and eventually Maron graduated from the academy with me not too far behind. He went off to the castle to continue his training while I traveled across the kingdom researching medical techniques. We still kept in touch and after a couple of years we decided to meet up and I finally confessed my feelings. It turned out Maron had felt the same way and the next we knew we were dating. Maron helped me with my work and after three more years, we finally discovered the cure. The entire kingdom was thrilled and the king appointed me the new royal sorcerer in honor of my achievement and Maron the general of the royal army. I couldn't believe I had finally completed the promise I made seven years ago. And things just kept getting better because not long after the ceremony, Maron proposed to me! And of course I said yes. A year later, we were married and I felt so lucky to have such an amazing person like Maron in my life. I had forgotten what it was like to be this happy and I couldn't be more thankful to him for always being by my side and helping me put my broken heart back together, piece by piece. But sadly, even that happiness didn't last long. The next memory I walked into was the one I had dreaded seeing the most. When I stepped through the door, I had walked right into a massacre. Demons had invaded the kingdom which resulted in a full on war, with Maron and me right in the middle of it. I provided defense and medical support while Maron fought in the frontlines. We did our best to push them back, but the demons' numbers kept growing. During the battle, we had somehow gotten separated.

Damn it, I need to find Maron. I frantically began searching for him while dodging and killing demons. Demons and soldiers were being slaughtered left and right, but all I cared about right then and there was finding Maron. I kept searching until I finally found him in a clearing surrounded by powerful looking demons. But Maron was the best combat sorcerer in the kingdom and was able to fight them off. I gasped with relief and ran forward to help him. But I didn't notice the demon that was flying above him and started diving at him with its talons extended. When I saw it, my blood froze.

"Maron, look out!"

I screamed as loud as I could and he turned just as the demon pierced his chest with its claws.

"Nooooo!"

I reached Maron's side as he collapsed and I held his head in my lap. I could feel hot tears of sadness and anger fall down my face as I repeatedly told him it was going to be okay. But when I saw how mortally injured he was, I knew that there was no saving him.

"Maron, please don't leave me! I love you so much and my heart can't handle losing anyone else important to me." I closed my eyes and continued to cry when I suddenly felt a hand on my face as it wiped away my tears. I opened my eyes and saw Maron gazing at me with a living expression on his face despite the pain he must be in.

"Please don't cry, my love. I don't want your sad face to be the last thing I see. Give me a smile." I hiccuped a little as I managed a weak smile.

"There we are. You were always so beautiful when you smiled." He paused as he struggled to breathe. With what little strength he had, he pulled my face to his and gave me a kiss on my cheek before he shuddered slightly and went still. I just sat there for a moment, not being able to process that he was really gone. Then I gently laid his head on the ground and stood up, my surrounding sorry coming back into focus as the battle waged. I was suddenly overcome by a wave of hurt and rage. Why does everything I love keep dying!? Am I just not meant to be happy? If not, then at least I can make sure everyone else can be happy. With that thought blazing in my head, I stand before the battle and raise my hands as I begin to chant the most powerful spell known to mankind. A spell that will put an end to the war, but at the cost of my life. As I finished chanting the spell, I could feel my body disintegrate from its power. And just before I completely disappeared, I turned to Maron and reached out to him. Goodbye my love. And then everything went black.

I woke up on the floor of the train with a start as realization hit me. So I died. And the dream I had before I arrived on the train was actually the last I remembered before dying.

"Welcome back, Miss Elowyn."

I look up to see The Conductor with his hand outstretched to me. I take it and he helps me to my feet and hand me a handkerchief with a TC embroidered on it

"I think you may need this."

"Thank you," I say as I politely take the handkerchief and use it to wipe my tears and blow my nose.

"So, am I really…?"

"Yes, I'm afraid you are."

"But if I'm dead, then where exactly am I?"

"You are in the Void of Souls. This is where lost souls such as yourself come to find your place in the afterlife. This train is your manifestation of the journey to your afterlife and I am what you may call a ferryman of sorts. I guide the souls to where they need to be. And I believe your journey is nearing its end."

Behind me is the door leading to the caboose. To the end. I finally made it. And… did I at least save everyone before I died?"

"Yes. Your sacrifice saved the kingdom and the people have put up a memorial in honor of everything you have done for them."

"Yet I couldn't even save the people I care about the most!" What good does it do to have accomplished so much and not even have anyone to share it with." I could feel myself start to cry again. The Conductor placed a hand on my shoulder with a caring look on his face.

"Your parents would be so proud of the amazing person you grew up to be. And I believe you will find what you're looking for behind that door." He turned me to face the door and as I reached for the handle, I wondered if I really would find what I have been looking for. I steeled myself as I slowly turned the knob.

As I opened the door and stepped onto the back of the caboose, I was graced by the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. The Void of Souls was gone and before me laid a vast meadow of flowers with a bright blue sky that went on forever. My eyes began to well with tears from the breathtaking view and from knowing that my journey was finally over. As I wiped away my tears, I felt the presence of the conductor behind me and I turned to him with a look of hopefulness and content.

"I believe this is your stop," he said warmly as he gestured toward the stairs.

I nodded slightly as I placed my trembling hand on the railing and slowly descended the stairs. Once I made it down, I turned back to the conductor and waved goodbye.

"Thank you so much for everything." His smile grew and he waved back at me before turning around to signal the train that it was time to leave. I continued to wave as the train gave one final whistle before it slowly disappeared from view.

"Elowyn!?"

I froze when I heard a familiar voice calling my name and when I turned around to see who it was, I suddenly lost my breath.

"Mom? Dad!?" I gasped as I could feel myself start to cry again. My mind was flooded with so many emotions that I started trembling and fell to my knees.

"I missed you both so much! And I'm sorry that I wasn't able to help you."

"You don't need to apologize for anything, my little swan," my mother said as she knelt down to hug me. "You did everything you could and we couldn't be more proud of you." It felt so good to be in my mother's warm embrace again as I inhaled her familiar scent of honey and rosewater.

"We should be the ones to apologize for leaving you alone all this time," my father said as he walked over and hugged me as well. "I'm sorry for letting my work consume me and not being the father you needed me to be." I gently placed my hand on my father's face and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"I know that was just your way of grieving and you were trying to save other families from having a similar fate. You don't need to apologize for that."

A single tear slid down his face as he and mom gave me one last squeeze before standing up.

"Is it finally my turn now?"

I gasped again as I looked up and saw Maron looking down at me with the goofy expression I loved so much.

I stood up and embraced him in the tightest hug I could muster and started crying again.

"I'm so, so sorry. I blame myself so much for not being able to protect you."

He placed his hand under my chin and lifted my gaze to his. "My love, I have no regrets dying the way I did because I died with honor. And I don't want you to have any regrets either." He said as he wiped away my tears and gave me a soft kiss.

"I love you so much Maron."

"I love you too Wynnie."

I chuckled as he called me by the nickname he gave me when we were kids. It used to be so annoying but now, I never thought I'd be so happy to hear it again. I pulled him into another high and my parents joined in as they all said the words I've wanted to hear for so long.

"Welcome home Elowyn."