章節 1: Waiting for the Full Moon
"Three more days until the Full Moon."
A girl in her late teens with ankle-length white hair in a single braid looked out through the small ventilation hole with a blank stare.
Her ignorance of what would happen when the Full Moon arrived made the girl's shoulders stiffen when she saw the Moon, which was almost in a perfect circle.
"If that monstrous creature hadn't come and destroyed everything... Maybe I wouldn't be here... Father, Mother... Elder Brother." The girl raised her hand as if she was trying to reach something that was in her shadow. And unconsciously, tears flowed down her cheeks and seemed to sparkle when the moonlight illuminated her face.
*Tang* *Tang*
A pounding on the metal door broke the girl's daydream and was followed by a fierce adult male voice yelling at her.
"Hey, little girl! Here's today's meal... Hey...! Huff... are you daydreaming again?" The guard's voice sounded annoyed when his question went unanswered.
"..." Despite hearing the guard's words from outside the iron door, the girl chose to remain silent and didn't answer. The iron door only has a small hole at the bottom that serves as a food supply for the people inside. So people from outside won't see what she's doing.
"Soon, your happy day will come... You should be happy and cheerful. If all the girls were given a choice to be you, then they would definitely be scrambling to replace you." The guard pushed the food tray through the small hole under the metal door, and it slid down to touch the girl's feet.
She couldn't remember how many times she'd heard that nonsense from every guard who brought her food. She didn't know if this was a gift or a curse she had to face.
They always say she was lucky because she have become the Chosen One and will get happiness. However, neither of them told what would happen to the Chosen One when the Full Moon arrived.
If a few days ago, she hadn't heard the guards talk about the Hereditary Tradition of the Holy Kingdom... The tradition that would sacrifice a beautiful girl for the Evil Dragon would perhaps she have believed that nonsense and would feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
However, when she saw the state of her being locked up in a small dark room without any facilities, she believed that she would be sacrificed was right. "What kind of stupid human wants being sacrificed!?"
She still remembers that 2 months ago, she was still with her family in her small house, warm clothes, and abundant food. She would never even feel cold because, at her home, there was always a bonfire burning, and there was her mother, who always hugged her when the air got chilly.
But, sadly, those happy days didn't last long. The village Alicia lives in is suddenly attacked by a bloodthirsty creature hiding in the dark.
She was deeply traumatized when she saw her parents being killed by a vicious creature with glowing red eyes in front of her eyes. No one survived the incident that happened 2 months ago, except for Alicia and her elder brother.
She didn't know what had happened to her brother, but when she woke up from sleep, she had been rescued by a Priest in High-Level Bishop's Attire and took her straight to the Holy Kingdom.
Arriving at the Holy Kingdom, she was not treated as a victim of war. However, she was immediately taken into a small room. Her clothes changed to the loose and torn cloth used by prisoners. Alicia was imprisoned.
*Growl*
Again, a loud sound came out of her stomach. I don't know how many times her stomach kept ringing. But she didn't really care.
Since the full Moon will arrive, the number of servings of food given continues to decrease. And at this time, she was only given one meal a day.
Even though her stomach continued to growl, she didn't have the slightest intention of touching the food. The food on the tray was not luxury food given to a princess who was on a diet. The food given to her was only a glass of water and a piece of dry bread, which did not make her tasteful to eat. She would rather starve to death than be sacrificed.
Alicia just stared blankly at the incoming tray that was touching the handcuffs at her feet. The seventh tray of her adds to the collection of her trays that line the corner of her room.
Even though she hasn't eaten for a few days, she still looks beautiful without looking skinny at all. It was as if her body had adapted to the conditions without even eating or drinking.
"Supposedly, humans will die without food or drink for 4 days... But it's been almost 7 days. Why am I still alive?!" The loss of her parents and the severe trauma she experienced made her want to end her life, which had no purpose.
Alicia cried while looking back at the Moon while hugging her knees. It seems that there is no more zest for life in her eyes.
Just as she had calmed down and had stopped crying, someone unlocked the metal door.
*click*
An old priest in all-white clothes like those used by High-Level Bishops appeared behind the iron door with 3 guards. It was the old man who had brought her to this place. "Miss Alicia... How are you?"
"..." With a blank stare, Alicia continued to stare at the Moon and ignored the old priest's words.
The old priest was mesmerized when she saw the grace of Alicia's face, which glistened in the moonlight. "As I thought you were the Chosen One... Usually, the girls wouldn't be able to last more than 5 days with this food, and they would faint or even... Ahem... I mean, you're amazing. You didn't even touch your 7 servings of food. But, I remind you that you should keep eating so you don't get sick during the Holy Ceremony in 3 days. Gods will definitely be angry if you get sick." The priest coaxed Alicia gently like he was telling a toddler to eat.
"..." After learning the truth of the Sacred Ceremonies, Alicia still wouldn't speak to anyone, not even her savior. No, maybe the priest would be better called a kidnapper.
"Hey! Are you mute?!" Seeing Alicia's indifferent behavior when the priest spoke made one of the guards behind the priest angry and was about to hit her.
"Don't you dare touch that girl! She is a precious holy maiden... I won't forgive anyone who hurts her!" Only slightly high-pitched, Old Priest instantly stopped the movement of the furious guards.
The guard trembled after being directly yelled at by the priest. He immediately pulled his hand and stopped his intention. "I'm sorry, Sir Cassius." He bowed apologized to the old priest.
"Forgive us, Miss Alicia. I hope you will forgive my impudent bodyguard. Hope you don't get sick and stay beautiful like this until your big day arrives." The priest bowed apologetically and quickly left, leaving Alicia alone again in the dark night.
*Bam-Click*
Even though Alicia knew that she was saved by Sir Cassius but, in her mind, she didn't feel saved. Being locked up in a dark prison alone, without anyone with whom she could share the sadness that had overflowed in her heart, had shattered her mentality entirely.
She, who had given up on her future, finally fell asleep after she vented her sorrow by crying again.
___
The moonlight was once again covered by the clouds, and darkened the night inside the prison. But right at midnight, a shadow darker than night was seen sneaking through the forest.
"Captain, we lost him!" Several people in armor with white coats were running after something on the mountainside.
"Don't let him go any further! It's going to be difficult if we don't find him now, hurry up and keep looking!" Someone who was bigger looked annoyed and asked his subordinates to continue searching for their target in the dark forest.
"Well!" The warriors immediately dispersed in all different directions.
"I won't let you act on your own." The big man clenched his fist and determined to catch or kill his target.
As the cloud-covered moon began to shine again, the tiny shadow hiding behind the tree shadows immediately drifted away from the warriors and continued down the hill. The shadow continued to move until it reached an empty house that was right below the mountainside and immediately pierced through it.
___
The sun rose, and its light came in through the vent and illuminated Alicia's sleeping face.
She blocked the dazzling sunlight with her palm before opening her eyes. Her vision was a little blurry when she saw the sun was shining brightly. However, there is one thing that makes she feel interested when she finds something in her prison.
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