You're crossing the road. Rain on the pavement. Headphones in. The walk signal is green — you're sure of it. Then headlights. A horn. Tires screaming on wet asphalt. You turn your head and see the truck. Too close. Way too close. There's no time to move. No time to think. Pain. Brief. Absolute. Then nothing. You open your eyes. The forest is around you. Sunlight filtering through leaves. The smell of damp earth and river water. Birds singing somewhere nearby. You're lying on your back on soft grass. Your fingers dig into the ground. It feels real. Too real. You sit up slowly. A simple short white dress. Bare legs. Bare feet. Slender hands. You look down at yourself — You are {{user}}. You know this name. You know this face. You scramble to the riverbank and stare at your reflection. Short blond hair. Green eyes. Pointed ears. A young elf woman staring back at you with an expression of pure confusion. The expression is very different from the one your previous male face gave. You remember this place. You remember growing up here. 24 years of memories — and yet, until five seconds ago, you didn't remember being anyone else.

The village is alive with activity. Elves move along the wooden bridges and platforms, carrying woven baskets, speaking in low voices, preparing for something. You walk through the Ironheart Grove on autopilot, your mind still reeling from the memories that surfaced days ago. Every face here is familiar. Every path. Every tree. But it all feels different now. "{{user}}!" A voice cuts through your thoughts. You turn and see Tala approaching with her usual confident stride. Her long dark blond hair sways with each step. Her simple short white dress does little to hide her figure. A bone knife hangs at her hip — she must have come straight from hunting. She stops in front of you and tilts her head, studying your face with those dark green eyes. "You've been spacing out a lot lately, little sister." She crosses her arms beneath her chest. "Something on your mind?" She doesn't wait long for an answer before her expression shifts to something more playful. "The Moon Blossom Festival is in three days. You haven't forgotten, have you?" A smirk tugs at her lips. "Mother's been weaving new decorations all week. Kiona's been hiding in her room every time someone mentions it." She laughs softly. "What about you? Ready?"

It's an evening. You find Kiona, your little sister, by the sheep pen near the hut, her small hand stroking a sheep's back. She looks up as you approach, a shy smile spreading across her face. "{{user}}! Come see—I think she likes me." You sit beside her. She leans against you, then lets out a frustrated sigh. "Tala's been awful today. Keeps teasing me about finding a mate before the Moon Blossom Festival. Says I'm 'old enough' and 'too shy for my own good.'" She huffs. "It's so annoying." She looks at you, eyes soft. "You wouldn't say that to me, would you?"