She was there, near the bonfire.

She was watching intensely the starry sky with her lovely, pure, gentle face lit up by moon beams; I didn't know her name but I felt something really strange, inexplicable when I saw her eyes; she was gazing at me, and, in the same time, she was playing half-heartedly with a necklace of pearls.

The young girl began to smile at me, and she got near me moving away from the bonfire and her family. When she was in front of me I heard her voice, like a sweet melody.

" Nice to meet you; I'm Marian, what's your name?"

" ?! My name is Templeton".

We talked for five, ten minutes, then she invited me to dance around the bonfire with the other couples and, even if I wasn't engaged to her, I was very happy to share one of that lively musics with that mysterious girl.

That was the first day (or night?!) I saw and met Marian, and I hadn't my problems with fire yet.

My memories of that beautiful past life stopped when an old map maker of Highland woke me up.

" Good morning boy!"

I began to open my eyes slowly…

" Where am I?"

" You're in L' Renouille, the capital of Highland's empire."

I looked through the windows: a cloudy sky.

" Now you're safe!! You were in a hopeless state and your wounds were really deep, but you're very lucky, right boy?"

"Stop calling me boy, I have a name and it is Templeton!"

" Yes, Templeton, the intruder!"

Suddenly I felt like in danger becoming completely pale and restless.

" How could.. how could you know that.. that.."

" Calm down, please, I don't wanna kill or unmasked you, first of all I'd like to show you something maybe it's better to say someone!"

" Who?"

" You'll see.."

That old map maker brought me to an huge room, and, I remember clearly, I began to watch the vaulted ceiling, entirely made of mirrors.

" Wait here, please. I've to advise that someone of your arrival. Don't try to escape from here, there are a lot of guards and soldiers around here, some of them are Prince Luca Blight's men: it's no use to say that they are very powerful!"

" I don't understand why I must see that person, I don't understand if you're a friend or an enemy, I don't understand why you saved me, and besides… "

" Stop talking, young boy."

That strange man left me in that labyrinth of mirrors; all of them were reflecting my shocked face, my frighten eyes, but also my feelings and my worries; all that air of tension was suppressing me like a gigantic rock, then I looked myself in one of that innumerable mirrors: I was so small, I seemed like a mouse in a trap, but I was a mouse with an important mission, so I had to pluck up courage and continue my journey.

In that moment that old map maker arrived.

" Are you ready?"

" Of course!"

" Could you please take your hat off?"

" ?! Oh!! Yes, excuse me."

The door opened.

Golden hair like thunders in the sky, blue eyes like the immense heaven, her smile, her voice.

" Nice to meet you, I'm Marian. What's your name?"

My dreams, my poems, they are called Marian.

" Hi, boy! Could I help you? It seems you have some problems… mmm.. Mr. Shaw, tell me, are you sure he is okay? I think he's not completely recovered!"

" What are you saying?" I shouted " Are you completely crazy? Have you forgotten my name, or you're simply joking?"

" He's raving." She replied.

" !!! Marian, it's me, me, Templeton, or like you called me, Temply, but surely this is one of your stupid jokes! Ah! Ah! It's very funny!"

" Mr. Shaw, take him away; that's enough!"

That wasn't a joke.

" That's impossible! Marian, why are wearing that white armor?"

" She's an official, Templeton." The old map maker replied.

" A.. An official? I can't believe it, you hated swords and weapons! You're not Marian!"

I ran to my room and, in front of the door, I fell to the ground and began to cry.

That was the worse of the punishments.

In that moment I couldn't back my sobs which were becoming hysteric and unceasing.

" She was your Marian, Templeton, bout she lost her memory and she's reborn as official Rea Isherlain. You still want to fight against L' Renouille and king Agares? You'll be forced to fight against Rea too. Do you desire her death?"

I wasn't able to answer.

" There's only a solution! If you became a real map maker of this glorious empire, you would be able to see Rea every day! You'll be a perfect couple!"

" What are you blathering about? My life with Rea would be completely empty an false. I don't want on my side Rea Isherlain, but simply Marian, the lover, the dreamer, the angel."

"You should be satisfied. After all Rea is still alive, and, if you want, you could live a cheerful life with her!"

" How can you say such an horrible things?? What are you feelings for Marian?"

" They are the same of yours, there are no differences, believe me; I really love her as that blonde hair girl is my granddaughter."

I hadn't enough power to reply; everything surrounding me was false: people, facts, life; they were like ghosts of my past existence. In that moment my soul was completely empty, my eyes, closed, were searching light and hope; I seemed half asleep, and so, that old strange map maker thought to bring me to my bedroom, where I would able to rest, but when he lifted me up, I asked him what was his name.

" My name is Greg. I hope you'll enjoy here!"

" I didn't say I want to stay in L' Renouille…"

" You're very stubborn, boy. My little Rea will appreciate your behavior; she likes strong men with strong characters."

" Stop calling Marian with that name!"

I slammed the door of my room and fall myself to the bed.

Thirty or fourty minutes goes y and my body was still on that huge purple bed; slowly I began t move my arms and I decided to undress myself hoping to rest better than before. While I was taking off my hat and m clothes, a voice came from outside.

" What? That boy wants to get away from here? Don't worry grandpa, I'll speak with him and I'll change his mind!"

Suddenly Marian opened the door and came into the room; when she saw me half undressed, she blushed and turned away, apologizing for her bad manners and impetuosity; in that moment I was able to perceive in her gentle face my dear Marian.

There were four or five seconds of silence and 'ice', then I began to talk:

" Please, come in. Did you want tell me something?"

Marian entered, she was without her white armor, and strangely, she was wearing along blue skirt.

" Greg told me you're a good ma maker even if you're still young. Can I look some of your maps, please?"

I toke some of my best maps from my little bag, and I showed them to Marian, who chose the bigger one.

" What is it? It's huge!!"

" It's a world map; this is why it's so big! Do you like it?"

Marian' s eyes became dark.

" Y.. Yeah."

And then, whispering:

" Maps are so cold.. so.. sad.. so boring.."

I smiled to her and she returned.

" I'll stay here, don't worry. If you like, I could become the map maker of your troop!"

" This is a good novelty! Welcome to Highland's capital, L' Renouille. From now you're an Highlander!"

" Thanks a lot, Ma.. I mean.. Rea!"