• A vast green field lay in front of Ephraim. Trees and flowers were visible in every direction. The sky shone a brilliant blue. A child with pointed ears sat next to him, admiring the sight. Finally the child spoke. "You know, sometimes I wonder why elves and humans can't get along. My mommy says we're just to different and would end up fighting, but you seem nice enough. Aren't all humans like you?" Ephraim tried to speak, but he couldn't. The words he spoke were not his own. "Arlaf, I would love to agree with you. Unfortunately, the world is not as pure as you may speak. The elven woods may be free of violence, but the human lands are forever ravaged with war... Ah, you're just a child. Why am I speaking to you about such things." He tousled the child's hair and walked away. Then the child called out to him. "Siegfried!... Don't ever change like Riker did."

    The scene then vanished in a bright light, and Ephraim found himself suspended in a luminous abyss. An ancient voice called out to him. "The inner mechanisms of fate are not as they seem. You are destined for great things. At the same time, this destiny dooms you. As long as you wield that accursed blade, you shall never be free. On the other hand, if you are ever without that blade, We cannot intervene. We have decided that for the better of the world, nay, the universe, your soul must be given a second chance. The choices you make on this journey will decide yours and everyone else's fate. You must assume the role of Siegfried and change the course of history." Ephraim cried out to the voice. "Who are you, and why have you chosen me to do this?!" The voice replied with a simple answer. "I am Wisdom. The First Trial will now begin."

    Ephraim then landed in a village very similar to the one in his vision in Ilyad. The elven woman from before was in font of him with a dagger in hand. "Who are you and why have you come here?!" she cried out. Ephraim simply looked on in astonishment. He thought of the quickest answer he could, lest he be incriminated for his silence. "I am Eph.... I am Siegfried, and I do not know why I am here. All I can remember is a bright light and... I was here." A long silence passed. "Drop your weapon on the ground." The woman demanded. Ephraim did as she said, and the woman began checking him for any documents or hidden blades. "No orders, no daggers. Let me see your face... Dilated pupils, flushed coloration, heavy breathing, greenish coloration around the neck... you ate an Elmai plant didn't you?" The woman sighed and shook her head. "I don't know how to tell you this, but you're either going to have a hard time remembering why you're here or drop dead in the next ten minutes or so." Ephraim began panicking, not knowing if Siegfried HAD eaten one of these strange plants before he took over, but the woman quickly calmed him down and convinced him to wait. A while had passed. "Well, you're still here, so obviously you didn't eat the flower's stem. You're fine. Come with me." The woman took Ephraim to what appeared to be a council room. Several elderly looking people sat around a large table.

    "Who is this Arìsha?" the eldest one cried out. "A stranger I found at the edge of the village. He ingested some Elmai, he can barely remember a thing." Arìsha replied. The council called Ephraim forward. "Who are you?" the elder asked. "My name is Siegfried of Arcia. I cannot remember why I am here, nor who you people are." Ephraim said, not knowing how he knew Siegfried was from Arcia. However, once he mentioned Arcia, the council called out to several guards. "He is of Arcia! Kill him!" The guards closed in on Ephraim with drawn blades. Ephraim began to panic, inching towards the silver blade that was mounted on the wall near him. However, Ephraim wasn't sure he could handle the multitude of guards. He decided to try reasoning instead. "Elders! I don't know what grudge you hold against Arcia, but believe me, I do not hold any malicious intent!" The eldest one kept a stolid expression. "Guards. No mercy." he commanded. One council member cried out before they could strike. "Halt! Stay your blades!" The guards immediately backed away. "Ilta, what is the meaning of this?!" The elder cried out. Ilta began to explain. "Look at this man in the eyes Korvan! They show honesty and purity! He does not wish to bring harm to us." Korvan held his stolid expression as he commanded the guards to leave. "Fine. So he doesn't wish to harm us. We should at least lock him up until we know why he was near our village in the first place." he decided. This sparked anger in Ilta, who argued that he could not possibly remember anything if what Arìsha said is true. As they argued, the scene faded away again.

    Ephraim found himself back in Wisdom's chamber. The ancient voice spoke to him again. "Reason? An interesting choice. The original Siegfried decided to try to run away. The b*****d got himself locked up for days." Ephraim grew angry. "ENOUGH RIDDLES! Who is Siegfried and what do I have to do with him?!" he cried out. The voice stopped for a while before speaking again. "Hmm... I suppose the situation calls for an answer. Very well, I will answer only your first question. Siegfried was... an odd man. He was a hero among his kind, yet once he found out about the elves, he was drawn to them like a rat to cheese. The elves quickly grew into a close bond with him, seeing as he was their only link to the outside world though. Once he was rejected by the woman he loved however, he grew insane and led a mass genocide of the elves. Did he ever redeem himself? That is for you to find out." "But what do I have to do with him?" Ephraim asked. Wisdom quickly replied. "You are not ready for another answer. Live with what you know now and strive to reach the truth. History has been altered, at least in one aspect. Even the smallest of things can cause a large reaction. The trial of Wisdom is over. You will now be returned to your world, We will summon you to us again when he feel the time is right. Goodbye, Siegfried of Arcia." Before Ephraim could protest, he felt a dark embrace overcome him. The light of the chamber faded, and Ephraim lost consciousness...