Aura - The Pure Truth: The Song of Mana [1]
Feb 14 14:14:11 2005

When Aura opened her eyes again, the site that greeted her was by
far the most awe-inspiring she'd ever come to. If she thought of
the village and surrounding forest behind her as beautiful, the
land laid out before her would have to be considered 'majestic'.
Various plants of any and all kinds lay out as far as the eye
could see in an immense jungle-like visage, formatted against a
cloud-slathered backdrop. While the atmosphere was quite suitable
for one with breathing needs, she couldn't help but wonder if she
was even in the same dimension any longer.

So this is it... the birthplace of all things created from the
power of mana. But I still don't understand what finding my
mother has to do with anything...

Once or twice, she thought she heard a tiny voice speaking out
for something in front of her, but when she glanced in that
direction, she saw nothing. The whole region was rather still, as
though it hadn't be disturbed physically for the longest of times.
Above any other observation at that point in time, she suddenly
wondered if her being here really was such a good idea. This
thought, however, was dashed as a lilting female voice rose above
the serene generality of the Holyland.

"Bearer of the song... what business do you have in the land of
birth?"

The voice was all-too-familiar; Aura felt as though she'd heard
it so many times before in the past, but for the life of herself,
couldn't figure out why or where.

"I was informed that this would be the place I would find my
mother. Do you know where she is?"

The silence that resulted from her query was almost defeaning. For
the longest moment, she wondered if she had been hearing things,
to be talking to herself. Seeming to have been from deliberation,
the voice finally responded.

"Use your voice, child. The gift of song shall be your
compass, for they know the voice of one with the right to be
here in the land of mana's grace."

Before Aura could even protest, a dryad burst into existence
directly in front of her with the same green-tinted pretense. With
her, a dim red light alongside formed the flaming vision of a
salamander, and beyond -that-, a blue corona manifested into a
sparkling blue undine. The three mana spirits looked upon her
interestedly, but remained silent, hovering and bobbing mutely in
the air.

"... What does that mean? I don't know any--"

A flash of all three colors interrupted her, as the three spirits
vanished from sight.

"You know song! You sing for us!"

"Maybe shy? Girl of mana, no need!"

"Here, we help! Listen, then sing!"