[Voice of a young girl]
— Grandma… why am I hated?
[Voice of an old woman]
— Who hates you, my dear?
[Girl]
— Everyone… even my father and mother… they never loved me. I've never seen them. You're the only one who ever did.
[Grandma]
— No, child… they love you. But their work keeps them away for now.
(Inner monologue – the girl)
I know she's lying… They don't want to see me. They don't love me.
I'm a hybrid—half demon, half Dark Elf.
I only saw their faces once, when I was a baby… even their features have faded from my memory.
I know I'm hated.
My existence is a burden to Grandma.
Sometimes, I wish I'd never been born… or that my life had ended before it began.
I lived with her on the outskirts of the Dark Elf village.
She was one of them, but never let me mingle with the villagers, never let me make friends.
Whenever guards passed by, she would hide me—wrapping my head in a cloak to conceal my hair and horns.
I never understood why, except for her words:
"They don't appreciate beauty… and they might get jealous."
Days went by, and my only comfort was staying by her side—playing with twigs and listening to her warm voice.
---
Then, that day came.
[Sound of loud knocking on the door]
— We know you're in there, old woman! We've found out about the girl! The village elder himself exposed you… You deserve punishment!
Grandma froze, bolted the door shut with planks.
She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the cellar in a hurry.
[Grandma]
— Stay here. No matter what you hear, don't come out until they're gone.
[Girl]
— Grandma! What do they want? Do they want me? Please, don't hurt yourself!
[Grandma]
— Shhh… Don't be afraid… nothing will happen.
She covered the cellar with a rug, but the sound of splintering wood grew closer.
[Men shouting]
— Old woman, our patience is over! Where is she, before we kill you?
[Grandma]
— I don't know what you're talking about! No one's here but me!
[Man]
— Don't lie! The hunters saw her yesterday—a child with horns, deformed! Isn't she here?
[Grandma]
— Perhaps you were seeing things…
A loud crash. A cry of pain.
— If you don't talk, I'll draw my sword now!
I couldn't bear it… I opened the cellar door and cried out:
— Please! Don't hurt my grandma! I'm here… take me instead!
[Grandma, sobbing]
— Nooo! Why did you come out?!
[Guards]
— So this is the daughter of Mari and that demon… deformed and ugly! Kill her on the spot!
Grandma didn't let them. She unleashed wind magic, shattering the house walls, throwing me far away.
[Grandma]
— Run! I'll hold them off!
[Girl]
— No! What about you?!
[Grandma]
— Don't worry… I've done my duty. Go!
But before I could move, I saw something I'll never forget…
A sword plunged into her stomach… blood spilling endlessly… her pale face falling lifeless.
I collapsed to my knees, frozen.
— Did she die because of me? Because I'm half demon? Because I'm a monster?
The guards approached, sneering:
— Wow… you made our job easier! Thanks for not fighting back. If only your parents were like you. We got tired killing them. We thought you'd died when we burned the house… but you survived.
I whispered, broken:
— So… my father and mother… died because of me? Yes… I deserve to die…
The guard raised his sword—stabbed my back.
I didn't scream. I was ready for the end.
But suddenly, my body began to glow, my wounds closing.
One shouted:
— Damn it! She's regenerating! Kill her!
The blades rained down on my back, one after another. I lost count.
Another yelled:
— Burn her alive!
Then—crashing trees, a hellish roar. A massive beast tore into them.
They tried magic, but it was useless.
I tried to crawl away—pain gnawing at my body, blood blinding my sight.
The beast drew closer. I thought it would devour me, but then—
A pillar of fire struck it.
A voice I knew:
— Run! Now!
I froze.
— G… Grandma?! You're alive?!
— No time to talk! Run… live… That's what your parents wanted.
Someday, you'll find those who love and accept you… When that day comes, protect them.
The God of Freedom watches over you, and will always bless you…
Those were her last words—before the beast pounced and tore her apart.
I ran… tears burning my face… my back marked forever by blood and scars.
All I had left were her words, carved into my heart.
---
Days later—cold, hunger eating me alive…
I whispered as I shivered:
— Please, God… have mercy on me… forgive me for my ugliness… for being a hybrid… Everyone died because of me…
After a long, blurry walk, I found a cave.
I went in seeking warmth—but instead, I found three girls… my age, or slightly younger.
That was the moment… everything changed.
---
A soft place. Not cold.
What? Where am I?
A voice called my name:
— Aisha… Aisha, wake up. Are you going to slack off on your first day of training?
A warm, strong voice.
Whenever he calls me, I feel safe.
Who is it?
Oh… it's Father. That's right—Aisha, the name he gave me.
I opened my eyes, the nightmares still clinging to me as if they happened yesterday.
---
Everyone was starting to wake. My heart pounded fast.
Father looked at me, noticing my tense breathing and trembling hands.
— Aisha, are you sick? We've worked hard fixing up the house lately.
— It's fine if you're tired.
— No… today, I want to learn swordplay.
— Alright, after breakfast and a short rest.
---
While changing out of my sleepwear, I thought:
Why is Father so kind to us?
We've done nothing to deserve his love.
He even risked his life to save me from that beast.
How can he see us as his daughters when we're so different?
I'm a hybrid—no one ever loved me but Grandma.
Everyone who saw me wanted me dead.
They called me ugly, deformed.
But he… he's the only one—this stranger—who called me beautiful, who accepted me despite my weakness.
He made me his daughter, healed my wounds, gave me shelter, never once asking who I really was.
…Do I even deserve that?
---
I washed my face and joined the table.
Donna was helping Father, breaking plates now and then.
But he didn't get angry—he just laughed, his heart open to us.
He finished breakfast, sat with us, his words and warmth making the small cabin feel like the safest place in the world.
---
But I caught his gaze on me. He spoke softly:
— Aisha, you don't look well. Better take a rest today.
How can he tell?
— No… I want to train with you today.
— Alright. But if you feel tired, we'll stop.
---
After breakfast, I told him I was ready.
He brought out the wooden sword he'd bought for me.
— Let's begin.
We stepped into the small clearing before the cabin.
Dry leaves covered the ground, sunlight filtering through the branches, morning chill clinging to my skin.
My sisters watched from the side, eyes bright with excitement.
Father held his wooden sword with a smile—half challenge, half warmth.
— Come at me!
I dashed forward.
— Haaah!
I swung my sword down, but he blocked it with ease, stepping back with a calm smile.
I attacked again, strike after strike, but he was faster—dodging with flawless footwork, as if dancing with the wind.
Soon, fatigue sank its claws into me—my breath ragged, my hands trembling.
— You've got strength, but you lack focus and tactics. You seem distracted.
Of course he knew my heart was weighed down with grief and fear.
— No… I just—
— You don't need to push yourself. We learn because we want to, not because we have to.
I suddenly shouted, losing control:
— I… I want to protect you all! Protect you! I don't care how tired or hurt I get!
I want strength!
I don't want to watch someone die for me ever again!
I don't want to stand there, helpless, unable to protect those I love!
Please… make me stronger!
I lowered my sword, my hands aching from the bruises.
He knelt beside me, took my scarred hands gently.
— I know you've had a sad past… But I'm here now. I want to understand you and protect you.
I'm here to teach you.
If your mind is clouded, you can't focus on swordplay. You need a clear head.
— …Yes.
— Good. Then let's rest. We'll continue tomorrow when you've calmed down.
---
On the way back, Kathy grinned:
— Wow, sis, you're amazing!
Donna chimed in:
— You really are strong, sis!
Anastasia, shyly:
— You just need more training. If I were your instructor, you might even surpass him.
I smiled despite my weakness.
— Thanks, all of you.
---
Then—rustling from the forest. Something big moving.
A woman's voice, mocking:
— Well, well… what do we have here?
I thought some lowlifes killed you and took the cabin… but instead, you built an extension.
I thought you had no shame… but now I see you've abducted four little girls of different races, all calling you "Father."
Has loneliness driven you this far?
She was breathtakingly beautiful—long dark-green hair like forest leaves, green eyes, a lithe figure, floating off the ground like a pale ghost.
Father sighed:
— What do you know about children? I thought your travels might've improved that sharp tongue of yours, but you've only gotten worse.
She laughed strangely:
— Kukuku… So, who are these lovely girls?
— Allow me to introduce the foulest mouth in existence: "Amber," a spirit.
---
What will happen after their meeting?