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I was only a child when I first had my encounter with the shifting creature. But I remember it vividly, all these years later...

Only five years of age at most, I was in the woods playing, as I often did. Alone. I found comfort in my time spent wandering the meadows that peaked through tree lines. I spent much of my time imagining scenarios and friends that would accompany me on my journeys, as I climbed over the rocks in heroic conquests, or slayed beasts with the legendary blades forged by the Guardian's themselves.

One day, however...I found that I wasn't entirely alone. Someone - or perhaps, something - was out here. Waiting.

I remember it clearly: I had just found the lair of the feared dragon whom I had promised the King I would slay. It was a small cave, hidden by the overgrowth of vines and vegetation from the forest. I approached the cave, nervously...but I knew this was my duty.

I made my way inside, and to my relief, there was nothing but an empty space. Water dripped from the rock walls, and the only creature inside was a small rodent. I remember smiling softly, approaching to offer it my knightly assistance. To my horror, I watched as the small creature glanced up at me; limbs growing from its body, disfigured, distorted - it had an almost oozing presence as the form changed. In seconds, what was once a small and fragile little animal was now an eerily large and gruesome creature. Eyes plastered its entire body, shifting around on its skin every time they shut. Its head was split into multiple sections, with jaws that had rows of the sharpest teeth I had ever seen. The body itself was changing in color almost as constantly as the whole form itself was morphing.

In my horror, I dropped my weapon and ran. I ran as fast as I could, desperate to leave - to flee, to go anywhere. Anywhere but here!

I glanced back, hopeful I was not followed. But that was not the case. The creature began to change once more - no longer a large, mangled mass of shimmering ooze, but rather now a form that was more familiar to me. A deer? It caught up to me, running at my side. It seemed...almost curious of me.

I paused, wondering if perhaps...I was quick to judge this creature. It stopped as well, looking at me with beady eyes. I reached my hand out, patting it on the snout. It stood in silence for a moment, studying me. I felt...a sense of ease come over me. Perhaps I had just imagined everything. Perhaps I had overreacted. Perhaps I--and then, blackness.

The snout of the creature morphed, encasing my hand in the odd substance, traveling rapidly up my limb. Within seconds, I was fully engulfed in it. Yelling. Screaming. Desperate. Oh, how desperate I was to escape. For someone to rescue me, the brave knight who was sent to slay the beast for the kingdom.

But no help came.

Yes, I was only a child when I had my encounter with the shifting creature. And I stayed that child for many years. I went to the markets. I went to school. I played with other children. But no one ever knew what happened to me that day. No one ever knew who I actually was.

I was a child. I was a bird. I was the teacher; the clerk at the market; the dog that slept at your feet.

I was Myraj.

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