Morning sunbeams filtered through the small attic hole, bathing the room in a warm glow. Rushia's eyes fluttered open as she awoke from dreams of grand quests (not exactly). Her simple bedchamber bore traces of a young (play-acting) knight in training. In a corner, a wooden stick and a (poorly carved) wooden shield leaned against the wall. On the walls, drawings of dragons (not even close) and castles (maybe a little) were pinned up.
From outside her room, her mother's voice rang up the narrow staircase. "Rise and shine, brave knight!"
Rushia burrowed deeper into her straw-filled mattress. "Five more minutes, your majesty Mom..." she murmured.
"If you don't get out now, I'll turn that stick of yours into firewood!" Aria yelled from downstairs.
That got Rushia moving. She jumped out of bed, seizing her newest blade—the wooden stick found at the forest's edge, which she had mentally dubbed Murakan. It was a proud name she had decided on after much thought (all her sticks held that name).
She rushed down the creaky wooden steps from the attic loft into the simple cottage below. Aria stood waiting, hands on her hips, surrounded by empty gathering baskets. Rushia dreamed of glorious quests, and today's quest was simple: provisioning the day's food.
"Another Murakan?" Aria asked wryly, eyeing the stick in Rushia's hand.
"It is a noble name—passed down through generations!" Rushia declared proudly.
Aria gave a small chuckle and brushed back Rushia's messy brown hair. "Come on, Sir Rushia, we must provision the royal kitchens!"
Rushia beamed and followed her mother out the door. Another day of adventure awaited!
***
Aria, Rushia's only family, was a poor commoner. Despite their struggle, she deeply cherished their playful banter.
They lived in a small border town, and without an actual stable job, Aria had to venture into the nearby forest to gather the provisions they needed to survive.
At first, Aria went alone, but she soon started bringing little Rushia along, anxious about leaving her home unattended—especially after seeing what her daughter did when unsupervised.
Though initially reluctant, Rushia eagerly joined her mother after hearing Aria's dramatic tales of gallant knights protecting common folk in the woods.
Most children her age would see through such a crude ploy, especially after it was so overused, but Rushia's pure innocence and obsession with knighthood made her endlessly gullible to Aria's little fibs.
This made Aria worry that her daughter's blind faith and boundless trust in knighthood might lead her astray someday.
But still, for now, Aria could exploit this (shamelessly), since Rushia would do anything if Aria framed it with a little heroism or knighthood.
Aria could claim that the valiant knights of the Round Table themselves finished their vegetables, and Rushia would eagerly gobble down her meal without complaint—though her expression usually said otherwise.
If Aria said honorable knights made their beds each morning, Rushia would rush to tidy her room immediately.
Rushia's gullibility concerning knights was absurd, but dangerously effective. Despite her worries, Aria still needed this exploit because it made managing her daughter's behavior as easy as saying, "Sir Galahad washed the dishes."
***
Aria led the way along the winding path deep into the shady forest, Rushia skipping behind with her latest 'sword' in hand. Trees towered overhead, sunlight filtering down in dappled patches. Birds chirped and fluttered among the branches.
"Keep your eyes peeled for mushrooms and berries, Sir Rushia," Aria reminded.
"Yes, m'lady! I shall protect you while we quest for provisions!" Rushia declared, waving her stick dramatically.
Aria smiled in amusement. In Rushia's mind, she was a gallant protector accompanying a royal lady on a dangerous forest expedition. To Aria, her daughter simply looked adorable, swishing her little sword at imaginary threats.
When a crow cawed loudly overhead, Rushia let out a fierce battle cry and brandished her stick at the treetops. "Back, vile creature! You shall not harm the queen!"
Biting back laughter, Aria played along. "My brave champion, you have vanquished the foul beast! The kingdom is safer thanks to your valiant efforts."
Rushia beamed with pride and continued scampering about, vigilantly guarding her mother from non-existent enemies. She battled twigs and branches, defended against the occasional chirping bird, and watched for wicked sorcerers behind every tree trunk.
To Aria, it was all an amusing game of make-believe. To Rushia, she was living out a thrilling tale of heroism, protecting the weak and innocent just like the knights from stories. Aria enjoyed this, watching her daughter immersed in a world of boundless imagination, which made the dire reality of their struggling, poor life easier to bear.
***
The deeper forest path grew gloomier as Aria and Rushia walked under the lower sunlight. Aria stayed guarded, watching the forest closely as they entered the more dangerous area.
Foraging in the forest, even though it looked simple, wasn't something town citizens usually did. And for good reason. Much of the forest teemed with vile creatures that hunted silently, and even lethal plants that could swallow anyone unwary whole.
Only one group dared venture into this forest daily: the hunters. They studied the ecosystem and its inhabitants in detail, giving them an edge in navigating the woods.
In fact, even a knight could struggle here—many creatures could easily kill a seasoned knight without prior knowledge.
In this forest, it's not strength that matters; it's knowledge and experience.
As Aria walked deeper, she grabbed Rushia's arms tightly. She also watched carefully for wood carvings and labels on the trees.
These labels were made by the hunters to mark safe and dangerous spots for each other. However, these carvings weren't in the local town's language, but in the internationally recognized Lua language.
Still, for Aria, Speaking, reading, and writing in Lua wasn't a challenge. Plus, she'd taught Rushia Lua, using old knighthood storybooks.
And that wasn't the only way Aria taught her.
As they walked the darkened path, Aria stopped by a large oak. "Time for a Lua lesson, my little knight!"
Rushia skipped over eagerly, wooden stick in hand. "I'm ready!"
Aria pointed to some symbols in the bark. "Sound this out for me."
Rushia squinted. "Ummm... B-A-R-R-I-E-S?"
"Not quite, try again."
"B-E-R-R-Y-S!" Rushia yelled triumphantly.
Aria chuckled. "You're getting there! Now this one."
Rushia's face scrunched in concentration. "D...A-N-G...E-R-R-R?"
"Close enough!" Aria pulled out a berry for a reward. "Here you go!"
"Yay, berry!" Rushia immediately stuffed it in her mouth. Learning was tiring for her, but snacks made it worthwhile.
***
In a specific safe region of the forest, Aria and Rushia gathered acorns and berries.
"Look at this huge acorn!" Rushia cried from a distance, holding it up in delight.
Aria smiled warmly. "Well done, Sir Rushia!" Aria said, slightly raising her voice to reach her daughter.
Rushia's giggles echoed between the mighty trees as she imagined legendary knights gathering forest delicacies just like them—something her mother once told her. Aria's heart swelled, watching her daughter enjoy herself.
But then, out of nowhere, bloodcurdling shouts shattered the idyllic calm. Three strangers burst onto the path in a frenzied panic—two men and an injured woman—rushing past the uninformed Aria and Rushia.
Heedless of the danger, Rushia charged forward, putting herself in front of the retreating figures, her wooden stick aloft. "Have no fear! I shall save thee!" she yelled, her imagination gripped by thoughts of valor.
"Rushia, stop!" Aria pleaded, but her voice was lost amidst the chaos.
The cause of the group's terror soon appeared—a hulking bear-like beast with glowing red eyes and gnashing teeth—charging from a distance. It roared deafeningly, the sound reverberating through the endless woods.
Aria's blood turned to ice as the monster barreled straight toward Rushia's tiny form. She ran in panic, clutching her full baskets.
Rushia stood brave as the beast barreled towards her. In her imagination, this was the moment of a grand battle. She would defeat the vile beast with her Murakan, just like the gallant knights from her mother's tales.
In her head, Rushia saw an epic duel unfold, nimbly dodging attacks while landing devastating blows one after another. Finally, with one last mighty swing, her Murakan would fell the beast in a spectacular finish.
But as Rushia glanced around, she realized the surrounding trees and brush would hinder such a dashing display of swordsmanship. She decided a change of venue was needed to properly stage her heroic battles.
Spying a small rock, she hurled it, trying to redirect the beast's attention. Of course, the tiny stone didn't even reach the approaching creature. But unexpectedly, the beast's red eyes turned and began focusing on Rushia.
Rushia began dashing with her small feet toward the other edge of the forest, the beast now following her.
Aria watched helplessly as her daughter ran further into the woods, dashing at a faster pace now, having already thrown the baskets in her hands.
***
Drias, Rey, and Lea crashed desperately through the brush, the monstrous beast in pursuit. Veteran hunter Drias wore faded leathers, his garb well-worn from time in the woods. In his arms, fellow hunter Lea cried out in sheer agony, her forest attire soaked crimson from the gruesome wound on her mangled arm.
Only cowardly fear drove them now, courage lost. Lea's broken arm flopped limply as Drias carried her, blood dripping down her leathers. Then Rushia's shout pierced the air. All of them froze in place. At Rushia's shout, Drias turned to see the tiny girl facing the creature, wooden stick raised.
To Drias, she looked like a hero come to life - a new legend about to be born. Shame burned through him that a child showed the chivalry he had lost. The young man Rey felt that same shame. Though gifted in the arcane arts, denoted by his mystic robes, he too was being saved by Rushia's courage.
As Rushia turned to run, drawing the monster away, Drias was jolted from his reverie. Consumed by regret, he passed Lea to Rey, "Get her help! Go!"
Rey nodded, his robes swirling as he took Lea's bloodied form. Her face had gone deathly pale from the pain and severe blood loss of the injury.
Gripping his spear, determination flowed through Drias. He would stand and fight, reclaiming the honor Rushia's selflessness showed them. The shadows closed in as he raced to defend her courage from the vile beast.
Adjusting his mystic attire, Rey hurried to get Lea to the hospital, shame, and regret weighing heavily. Grim silence fell across the blood-speckled path as he ran, praying it was not too late.
***
Rushia's tiny feet pounded the earth as she fled through the woods, the lumbering beast close behind. Spotting a clearing ahead, she made for a rocky outcropping overlooking a steep cliff.
Reaching the precipice edge, Rushia turned to face the oncoming creature. A smile spread across her innocent face and she took up a gallant pose, wooden stick pointed to the sky. In her fanciful mind, mystic energies began swirling around the humble blade, building power for a legendary attack.
But the harsh reality was that Rushia was just a malnourished child - weaker than most her age, without a scrap of magic to her name. The monsters and mysteries she imagined existed only in her head.
The brute closed the gap, its thunderous steps shaking loose stones over the cliff side. Rushia stood firm, not a hint of fear in her brown eyes. In her mind, this was a fated duel like the epics her mother would tell.
But something unexpected happens. When the beast was nearly upon her, the ground beneath them shuddered and gave way. With nothing to grasp, both tumbled over the crumbling precipice.
Rushia felt weightless, the air rushing past her. She didn't understand what was happening as the towering pines blurred by. Her mind still saw grand adventures, oblivious to the rapidly approaching reality below.
It seemed an eternity before she hit the raging river, ending her fall in an explosion of frigid water. The raging currents quickly swept both Rushia and the creature away, leaving only turbulence and debris.
The glory of legends was hers, if only in a mind that never grasped the tragedy of that final plunge.
***
Drias stood motionless, having witnessed the entire horrific scene unfold. Guilt and grief consumed him that he had not been able to save the courageous child. Her selfless bravery had shamed him, yet he repaid it by letting her fall.
In his heart, Drias knew the child could have grown to be someone great, a true hero. But his inaction had led a little girl to sacrifice herself for their sake. Sorrow weighed heavily on his shoulders.
Aria's panicked shouts echoed through the trees as she finally caught up. Taking in the crumbled precipice edge, she instantly understood what had transpired. Unfathomable horror gripped her, imagining her beloved daughter's fate.
Without thinking, Aria ran for the cliff, desperate to chase after Rushia. But Drias held her back with a firm grip, knowing the earth would only collapse further. He could not allow this grieving mother to throw her own life away.
"Rushia! Rushia!" Aria screamed in anguish, struggling against him. Tears streamed down her face as the reality of her loss took hold. Her legs gave out and she sank to the ground, mind flooded with pain and regret.
Drias kept a solemn vigil beside the distraught mother. His own guilt was dwarfed by the visceral agony etched on Aria's face. Her world had been shattered in an instant.
The shadows of the forest closed in around them like a funeral veil. All wildlife had gone silent as if the woods themselves mourned this tragedy. Drias bowed his head, the image of a tiny girl standing so bravely against the beast now seared into his memory forever.