Her memory was clouded with thoughts of old and new friends, exploits of recent and distant battles, and most of all her future. She had come from a meager existence, but had apparently been destined to assist in the struggles of this fair land Dereth. She had never truly questioned why she was chosen to live this life of constant strife, but she now questioned her future and where it would lead her. Dired knew her time in this land was short, and she contemplated whether her existence here had added any value or assisted in the never-ending cleansing of this wilderness. She had never been a specialized warrior....more of a "Jane of all trades" when it came to her talents. She had always been sub-par of the typical warrior or mage classes of this world. She had realized shortly after entering this world that her talents were more honed towards relationships, not necessarily a particular form of battle. She had done well in her training...she had even flourished as of late, but she realized in the not so distant past that her time was coming to an end.

She had been elated, yet fraught with worry, when she had heard the news that her nephews had somehow been pulled into this world of both wonders and danger. Dearg Bella had always been the bull headed type. It was no wonder that his chosen path would lead him to one of toe to toe battle with the denizens of Dereth. From recent news though, it seems his bloodthirst had been quenched somewhat because of a Garu beauty. She chuckled to herself when thinking of the hard headed young man being stricken with the most fatal of diseases...love. Dearg War was another matter all together. He had always been scholarly type. Constantly reading, asking questions, studying things....everything. He was destined to be a Mage. He had chosen the path of a Battle Mage, which had not given her a warm and fuzzy feeling at all. It was a profession of great power and danger too. His training would take a great deal time and
work for him to become proficient. If she knew him like she thought she did though, he would flourish. And lastly, but not leastly, there was Dearg Pa. She had heard he had taken the path of the bow. A very powerful warrior he would be with his training leading him into the very dangerous "tank" roll he was following. He was a sturdy young man and would do well in his chosen path. She worried about all three of the young men. They were strong in muscle, mind, and will...but she knew this world could and had broken strong men before...and women. She knew her long time friends would watch over her young nephews...just as many had watched over her. She felt a warm tingle all over her body at the thought of all the friends she had made in her time.

She thought of all these wonderful people that had helped develop her into the women she was today. Individuals like Varchild, Moby Dick, Mythtar, Davik, Cornhusker, Neeja Halcyon, and many others from the Astral Vanguard. She remembered that breakup of her original allegiance also. She had been young then, and not totally understood the reasons for the split, but she had sworn to a great man and teacher's, Haruka Ikegama, vassal Emerald Artemis and she would follow Haruka and Emerald in their decision. The split was harsh to many within the allegiance. Varchild built a new allegiance, Order of the Silver Phoenix. We became strong again and she had made many knew friends...such as Schuby, a dear friend she had not heard from in sometime. Her wonderful memories were tempered with the knowledge she would never see these friends again very shortly here in the future. She allowed herself to drift back into the comforting thoughts of her friends. She remembered when Haruka retired and Tetsuo Ikegama, relation of some sort..how she did not know, had risen as a great Mage and leader. Tetsuo had wanted to try being a Monarch of an allegiance himself and finally made the move. He broke from Varchild's allegiance, not
because of mis-content or bad feelings, he just needed to grow. Being a Monarch has done just that. Tetsuo had become a great leader and an even greater friend. She would miss him terribly......

She had been so lucky in the friends she had met. Emerald Artemis...Dired had not thought she could feel as close to another woman as she had with her sister long ago, but Emerald had always been there. She had helped Dired in so many ways. She had introduced her to people such as President Clinton, she always was puzzled at the origins of that name, Richard Incant, Deathshot, Miranda Deathbringer, and many others. Richard Incant was an honorable man and one she hoped her nephews would emulate in their growth. Emerald was a mentor and a dear friend and it saddened her to think she would never lay her eyes on the young lady again.

She thought of her old and missing friend Kyra Ikegama. She wished she could have seen her before her departure. Kyra had become a dear friend and a wonderful hunting partner. They had laughed, cryed, hunted, and killed together a lot. She would miss Kyra more than she could put into words.

There were so many individuals she was thinking of....Jeyung, Akichi, Iceprincess, Mortog III, Blaster X, Wulfric the Pagan, ....the list of people kept going thru her mind....it was almost endless. These thoughts eased her pain. She remembered them all with fond memories. These memories would carry her into the next realm encased within a strong but pleasant aura. She had become a better person in her time within this world called Dereth. It was not because of anything she had accomplished, learned, seen. It was solely because of the individuals she had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with. These same individuals had helped shape her both as a warrior and a person too.

The pain was dissipating...she knew not where it went, not did she care. The memories had fully encased her now in a warm and pleasant place. Farewell to
you brave warriors and mages. Farewell to my dear friends, I have loved each and every one of you...thank you all...so much.

Farewell Dereth.....although I despise what you have done to us all, I thank you for doing it.

As her last breath drew near, her face softened with the thoughts racing through her mind's eye. This would be her last adventure, her last quest......her last battle. Although she was no more, she had won, she had been victorious......