章節 2: 2 — Nightfall
The fine golden threads of the sun began to descend in the west of Valoran, bathing the Argent Mountains and the small town located to the south. Trevale is a small cluster of coastal settlements and farming communities, with many villages clinging to the mountainside that protected them from raids or attacks. Unfortunately, being a not very extensive group, the number of common services for the villagers was minimal. In many cases, they did not receive enough funds from the empire to sustain themselves, so they barely managed to stay afloat. This increased the price of medicine and treatments to an exorbitant level for most; the only ones who could afford them were the soldiers and their families, or perhaps the more successful and intelligent farmers who amassed fortunes to afford services without their wallets trembling.
A girl with pink hair walked through the alleys of the town where she was currently staying, one of the many that made up Trevale. Her steps were erratic, and it seemed she could collapse at any moment, but she did not. Somehow, she seemed to hold herself together to avoid falling into unconsciousness, using her small arms to hold a bundle against her chest with such tenacity that even death itself would hesitate to separate them. Her breathing was labored, stopping every few minutes to catch her breath. Her face had loose, unkempt hair stuck to it, the pink tone replaced by dark red hues, dried blood from an open wound on her forehead.
As you might guess, this girl is Elowen, one of the many people and children who, unfortunately, found their homes among the streets, alleys, and waste, living among rats and diseases, surviving by stealing, killing, or begging. This was the reality for these people, at least those who had not yet given up and strived to survive day by day. Elowen was no different. Even though she was not blessed with a powerful physique like many, a prodigious mind, or magical talents, she made an effort not to perish. She had something much more powerful within her than all of the above.
An unparalleled determination.
The most powerful weapon of the human being, the reason they exist to this day, determination. Determination to survive, determination not to be killed, determination to prosper, determination to move forward, determination not to stop. No matter how horrible the situation is, things like these have brought humanity to its current state. In this world, people with little determination would be easily devoured, leaving nothing but bones. In this place, you cannot falter even a little, and Elowen understood this perfectly at a young age. Coming from a family of soldiers, she was educated for a short period to be resilient no matter what, all with the aim of surviving, for herself and her little brother, being the only anchor that tied her to this world and the only thing she had left. She would give everything she had, flesh, organs, even bones if necessary, for the child in her arms to live. That was her determination, her goal, and her philosophy.
—"It's cold, isn't it, Kingsley? "— Her voice came out in a weak and brittle tone, speaking to the child in her arms as if he could understand her.
Her gaze lowered for a moment to the bundle in her arms, seeing the child with his eyes fixed on her. He then raised his short, chubby arm and touched her nose, causing an unconscious smile to form on the girl's face, a loving and childish smile. Using one of her hands, she touched the baby's nose in a playful manner. Even if her whole body hurt like hell, it did not stop her from wanting to play a little with her brother. As she gazed at the sky, she saw the evening fall. It would soon be night and surely bring cold to the coast. Fortunately, they were still in summer, so the cold would not kill them even if they were exposed, but it was obviously not pleasant. So, with the aim of finding a place to rest fully and shelter from the cold, she changed her course.
[Pov: Kingsley]
After the previous events, I watch as this girl struggles to walk while occasionally glancing at me. I can see how her already dirty face has worsened. After that idiot with the shit-eating grin... was his name Siria? made her hit her head on the floor, a wound opened on her small face, causing a river of blood that mixed with sweat and dirt. As the blood flowed over her right eye, she used the edge of her shirt sleeve to gradually clean it, and it seemed to be bleeding less each time.
— (How much have you had to endure? Any other child would be fainting by now) — My thoughts were interrupted when her gentle gaze turned to me. Seeing that fine, bloodied face ruined by some bullies made my blood boil with rage. Even if I don't know her, no one with a functioning brain would feel indifferent to this scene. I would love to speak right now, but all that comes out of my throat are babbles and stupid sounds. This being a baby thing is really annoying...
After Elowen, that seems to be her name, spoke to me and I teased her by touching her nose, she took a new direction, watching the sky turn orange, showing that evening was falling. I still don't know where I am. I haven't had any information to give me a clue, and that bothers me. Even with a bit of information, I'm sure I could do something, unless this is some nameless medieval world with a Demon King or something like that. So far, the only unreal thing I've seen is that monster. The guy next to us called it a Basilisk, but the figure of the Basilisk is so different in each universe that it's impossible to recognize which one I'm in; it could be any of them.
For now, I'll have to put my hope in this girl to survive, at least until I can talk and walk without problems. Damn, why couldn't I appear in some noble or rich family like in most of those novels I used to read? That would be so convenient.
*Yawn~*
It seems this body can't stay awake much longer. I feel my consciousness slowly fading. Elowen, please, stay strong...
[End Pov]
[Pov: Elowen]
My feet burn; walking barefoot on dirt roads is not pleasant. I don't know how dogs run around here. I feel blood running down my face again. I need to cover the wound soon, or we'll be in trouble. Even if my whole body feels like it wants to give up, I need to reach our destination. Only then can Kingsley rest fully, and I can recover from these wounds... If only Sirius hadn't appeared at that moment... Why can't we have a break, even for a moment, destiny? We haven't done anything wrong; I'm just trying to keep us alive. There's no need to be cruel to us. Please, let us reach the asylum in peace. I'm exhausted...
As I talk to myself as if something up there would listen, time passes. My lungs burn, even though I'm not doing anything too extreme like running. Sometimes I hate this body. I was born weaker than others, not just weaker than boys, but also weaker than the girls around me. Running for a few minutes leaves me breathless and would probably make me faint. It had happened more than once when I was younger and played with Mom. Back then, I didn't have to worry about things like this. I want to go back to the past and get a goodnight kiss from her or hear her voice singing before bed. Remembering those things always makes me happy. They are memories I cherish with all my being and wouldn't trade for anything.
—"Are you sleeping again? Geez~ you look like a little bunny~ "— My gaze met Kingsley's face. I could see how he rested calmly against my chest. Seeing his small face so relaxed reminds me of the bunnies Mom used to care for. When they slept, they slightly moved their noses up and down, similar to what Kingsley does. Seeing him like this makes me want to laugh, but it hurts to breathe, so I prefer to stay calm.
The streets grew darker. The sunlight had practically vanished, giving way to the moon to adorn the sky with its soft, cold light. But that didn't matter since it seemed I had finally reached my destination. In front of me was a large house, although it looked run-down, it had lanterns illuminating the entrance with a door at the top of a few steps. Not too many steps, so it wasn't very elevated. Even though my leg hurt, I started to climb the steps, trying not to wake little Kingsley from his sleep. I stood in front of the main door shortly after, deciding to knock with some anxiety in my heart. I felt a deep fear starting to take root in my heart, so I began to pray internally to anything up there with its eyes fixed on me, just to be able to rest for today.
*Knock, Knock, Knock*
I removed my hand from the door, waiting for someone to open it. But maybe due to the time, everyone was already in bed, so I started to think about leaving. After waiting a few minutes, I understood no one was coming to the door, so with sadness, I began to turn around to change course, hoping to find some loose wooden crates to shelter us from the wind. But I stopped my movements the second I heard soft steps approaching the door from the other side. With the creak of the wood and the poorly maintained hinges, the door opened slightly. A dark-haired woman with a ponytail peeked through the opening, looking for the apparent intruder. Perhaps due to my height, she seemed to ignore me, looking around for who knocked, not realizing I was there. So, I had to call out myself.
—"Excuse me... "— I raised my arm a bit to catch her attention, and she finally looked down, seeming surprised. Though I don't know if it was from noticing me or something else.
—"By Nasus... What happened to you, dear? "— The woman seemed to whisper something about Nasus, though I don't know what that is. She looked worried about me, gazing at me with pity and concern.
The bronzed-skinned woman, dressed in red and black robes, gave off an intimidating aura in this area. But her soft voice, sweet eyes, and caring gestures immediately dispelled any hostility. The woman knelt in front of me and gently touched my cheek with her palm. But due to my bruises, this only caused a whimper to escape me, so she quickly withdrew her hand.
—"I'm sorry! That wasn't my intention. Are you okay? "— Her voice rose slightly, while I shook my head to let her know to forget it. Her gaze passed over my entire body, and I saw her face twist slightly in shock.
—"We... just need a place to sleep, please... After that, we won't bother you anymore "— I felt my voice struggle to come out. My lungs were killing me, so speaking was a titanic effort for me. With that effort, I hoped she understood and gave us shelter, even if just for today.
[End Pov]
Even though it was hard for the woman to hear the girl's voice, she understood what she meant. She gently stroked her hair, looked back down a dark hallway dimly lit by a few candles, and finally, her expression turned resolute. She took the girl's hand and smiled kindly, trying to be as comforting as possible.
—"Alright, leave it to me. We'll find you a place to sleep. "—
Elowen held her hand, and as she listened to her words, the sparkle in her eyes returned. With hope, she moved forward with the woman, who closed the door behind them. She then picked up an oil lamp with her free hand to better illuminate their path. The night had just fallen, so there were still some sounds of people and children in the area, though very few.
As they walked down the hallway, Elowen peeked into the open doors, seeing people resting in beds. Some looked in poor condition, while others were simply sleeping. The rooms were large with four bunk beds each, filled with children and adults alike. She could see many sickly people with unhealthy skin, and occasionally a rat scurried through the hallway corners. Their walk continued through several turns until they reached a set of descending steps. Despite the pain, Elowen carefully made her way down the stairs, taking care not to stumble with her erratic steps. Finally, at the bottom of the stairs, they reached a wooden door that appeared in better condition than the rest, at least compared to most of the building. The woman who received Elowen opened the door quietly, looking back to ensure no one had heard. A drop of sweat fell down her cheek, showing her nervousness. She softly touched Elowen's shoulder, being mindful of her wounds. Without wasting much time, the little girl's body moved, understanding she was meant to go forward, struggling a bit due to the dim light of the room, but managing to move ahead by the light of the oil lamp.
After a few seconds, her eyes began to adjust to the darkness that enveloped them, allowing her to see the shapes of cabinets and shelves, along with box-like shapes, as they moved through narrow passages lined with shelves that acted as walls. Finally, they reached a corner where her feet touched a different texture from the previous stone, more like wood, and from the hollow sound it made, it could be assumed it was empty inside.
—"This is good. "— The woman stopped, making Elowen stop as well, her face showing confusion.
Gently pulling the girl closer to her, she moved her off the wooden plank, then knelt down and grabbed a metal handle on the plank, pulling it up with some effort. The wooden plank opened, revealing it wasn't a plank but a hatch, which creaked, showing its age. Like the hinges on the outer door, these squeaked loudly. She leaned her torso into the hatch, appearing to move things around inside. It wasn't deep, a bit over a meter high. She took the lamp resting on the floor beside her, stood up, and turned to look at the girl.
—"All set! Sorry it isn't a real room; I can't offer much more... "— The woman looked at Elowen with pity and sadness in her eyes. Her words came out in a soft, quick tone, trying to make as little noise as possible for some reason.
Elowen nodded after a moment of processing. This was much better than nothing! Compared to the places she had slept before, this could be considered a real alcove: no cold, no rats, no dogs or cats, no strange people walking around at night, and no worries about being kidnapped or things like that! It would be foolish for her to refuse such a place if offered.
—"Thank you so much, Miss...? "— She stopped her words for a moment, realizing she hadn't learned the name of this kind woman. Her gaze brought back the warmth she had lost in the past, and her voice was as soothing as a lullaby before bed. She was sure that if she lay down while listening to her speak, she would quickly fall into a deep sleep.
The woman knelt again to her height, reaching out her hand to Elowen's head with an open palm. Instinctively, Elowen closed her eyes tightly and turned her head, thinking she had said something wrong, until she felt that gentle touch again, as the woman stroked her hair, adjusting it and moving the strands stuck to her face with her index finger.
—"I completely forgot, my name is "—
—"SIVA!! "—
A powerful shout echoed through the hallways, accompanied by the sound of heavy footsteps descending the stairs to this storage room. This caused the now-named Siva to react instantly. She picked up the girl by her armpits and lifted her into the hatch. Elowen stifled a groan from the still-present pain of her bruises and sat on the straw inside the hatch, then looked up through the opening at Siva.
—"Stay in there, don't come out until I come for you, and for heaven's sake, don't make a sound. I'll bring you something in a few minutes. "— she whispered hurriedly, making a gesture with her index finger over her lips to signal silence. With that rushed whisper, she quickly closed the hatch without giving any explanations or reasons.
A loud bang was heard from the entrance as the door slammed against the wall. The footsteps grew closer to Siva's position, who had moved away from Elowen's hiding spot but not far enough that the little girl couldn't hear their voices.
—"How many times do I have to tell you to watch the kids? What will you do if one escapes? Will you be responsible for them? Huh?! "— The grating voice of a woman yelling filled the storage room.
The short, stout figure stood in front of Siva, who looked down into the eyes of the person yelling at her. With a monotonous expression, she made a deep bow, lowering her head to the height of the other woman's head while placing both hands on her belly in a formal pose.
—"Forgive me, madame. I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just checking to make sure everything was in order for tomorrow's meal "—
The woman in front of Siva raised her hand with an open palm to deliver a hard slap to her head. Siva didn't flinch from the blow, seeming used to such treatment.
—"You're a slave. Since when do you have the right to decide things for yourself?! I gave you an order, and that's all that should matter to you! "— As she said this, she reached for Siva's neck, grabbing a chain attached to a metal collar, pulling it down to make Siva bow even lower.
—"I'm very sorry. It won't happen again. Please forgive me. "—
—"Tch! Well, it's not like it matters. Tomorrow, soldiers from the capital are coming to take the kids. We don't need to feed them anymore. "— After saying this, the woman, with poor makeup, wrinkled and sallow skin, and a grotesque nose, took a drag from the pipe in her mouth, grabbed Siva's hair, and forced her to look up, then blew the smoke into her face.
—"Listen well, brat. If you try something like last month again, I'll personally send you to the gallows. Do you think it's hard for me to get another slave? "—
Siva looked into the woman's eyes for a few seconds without saying anything, while the flame of the oil lamp on a nearby box was the only sound in the room. After an apparent staring battle, Siva closed her eyes and looked down again.
—"I understand. "—
Without another word, the woman clicked her tongue, took the lamp from beside Siva, and left the way she came, muttering unintelligible things. After another loud door slam, Siva's gaze shifted to the hatch several meters away. Maintaining her formal position, she walked away from the storage room towards the exit door, disappearing up the stairs while the door closed behind her, leaving bright blue eyes shining in the darkness alone.
Elowen witnessed the entire scene through the wooden gaps of the hatch. Though small, they allowed her to see what was happening outside. She didn't like the fat woman who treated the other woman, apparently named Siva, poorly. She just hoped she was okay.
Looking behind her, she could see some boxes on the straw scattered all over the floor. Due to her height, she could stand in the space without problems, so she walked a bit to move away from the wooden hatch, approaching where she saw a thick cloth over a box. She then picked up a loose potato sack from the floor, which seemed filled with something soft. She adjusted her body and rested her head on the sack, using the cloth to cover herself and the baby in her arms. Looking at Kingsley for a few moments, she smiled. It seemed someone had listened to her after all, and she could rest a bit.
— (It seems not everyone is bad after all). —were her last thoughts before she instantly fell into a deep sleep, remembering the face and voice of the woman who helped her. Her smile widened, she hugged the bundle in her arms tightly, and a small tear rolled down her cheek.
[Pov: Kingsley?]
—"Aahh~ everything is spinning... "— His eyes widened, and he touched his throat instantly, noticing that a voice came out. It was his voice! Not the stupid babbling of a baby!
—"Does that mean! "— Was it all a dream? Maybe one of those lucid dreams where you control everything or something? But how was that possible?!
Looking around, he was instantly confused. Everything around him was nothing but a dense and expansive forest full of plants and flowers with a captivating glow under the moonlight. But that didn't solve the growing mystery within him. This whole situation was increasingly confusing for him. He was moving from place to place, and it was too much to review in his mind.
He was sure he hadn't been drinking before all this, so it was impossible that he was stranded in a place like this. This only raised more questions in his mind. Looking at his hands for a moment, he realized something: the colors and almost the entire structure of his body had changed. Now, he was a translucent blue that blended with a beautiful violet, occasionally shifting positions and running through his entire figure. It was strange; even looking like this, he felt good... correction, he felt incredible!
—"What is this? Why is every new situation I find myself in stranger... how I miss my bed. "— An imaginary tear ran down his face.
—"No! No time for regrets! I need to figure out how to get out of here, maybe find someone who can help me. "— although... seeing the sky and how dark everything was, he doubted it.
With his hands on his hips, he let out a sigh. Determined to get out of here, he started looking for something or someone to help him escape. Maybe this journey would end up being beneficial for him; who knows.
———————————————————
Finally! Where could Kingsley have gone?
Do you have any idea? Leave it in a comment if so!
Questions?
Advice?
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票