My gift is gone.

I awoke today and felt the silence. It was like a heavy blanket over my body. I arose and began to travel around the Trodden Village -- I could hear the sound my footsteps made on the dirt, and I could hear the sound of my sword tapping against my side -- but I couldn't hear them. I thought that maybe they weren't speaking, but the more time that passed without a sound, the more I came to the realization that my gift -- the one that Vardian had somehow blessed me with -- was gone.

So it was with little joy that I responded to the Crier's call for help at the castle of the Iron Knights, swinging at nasty demons whose breath seemed more vile than usual. I stopped by the Dundee Inn but it was empty. And now I am here in the Ogre Temple feeling a bit depressed and not in the least bit excited about training.

I am hopeful that I will pull out of my dark cloud soon and return to a more positive state of mind. But for now, I am all raindrops and puddles.