The question echoed in my mind as I left the wooden box and crossed the room slowly. Reaching the door, it opened slowly with a loud creak. Looking outside, I searched for anyone, but the hallway was empty. My feet moved slowly, pressing against the cold floor. The wooden boards below me squeaked with each step. My heart raced as the distance to my room shortened. After a few more steps, I was only one room away, but while passing the last door, the noise from inside caused me to freeze.
On the inside, people were yelling, and there was a lot of movement. My eyes darted between my room and the door in front of me, but in the end, slowly, I grabbed onto the door's handle and opened it slightly, looking through the small crack. The sight was terrible. Inside were multiple people surrounding a bed; in it lay a pretty woman with blonde hair, white skin, and beautiful blue eyes. Even with her helmet off, I could tell who it was, the lieutenant.
Her body was broken and bloody, blood-soaked the white sheet covering the bed, turning it a dark red. Below the bed, a pool of blood formed on the wooden floor. Around her, the many apprentices worked tirelessly to stitch up and then bandage her wounds. Nearest to her was Lady Liora, who had her arms out and eyes closed. Her mouth moved, speaking words that I could not hear, but as she finished, her palms began to glow golden. From them, tiny golden strands appeared before gliding elegantly into the lieutenant's body.
When they entered her, she began to glow, a golden aura forming around her body. As the light dissipated, many of the lieutenant's smaller wounds disappeared. The many apprentices sighed in relief as the blood stopped leaking from her body. Lady Liora breathed heavily, shallowly; blood dripped from her nose, and her body seemed to tremble.
I got closer to the door as the apprentice Kayla approached her.
"My lady, are you alright?"
"Yes, yes... Just tired, that's all." Lady Liora replied.
The apprentices looked at her with worry on all their faces. One of them turned away from Lady Liora and walked up to the apprentice, checking the woman's vitals. The apprentices face scrunched in surprise as they do this.
"My lady, her pulse is too slow." The apprentice said.
Lady Liora moved quickly, forcing her body to stop trembling. Pushing aside the apprentice, she placed her fingers on the lieutenant's wrist. Her face contorted in horror as she felt the lieutenant's heartbeat. As Lady Liora took her hand off the lieutenant's wrist, his face showed fear.
"We are losing her!" Lady Liora shouted.
As soon as she said this, the lieutenant's body began to convulse, and blood began to spew rapidly out of her mouth.
"Turn her on her side! Don't let her choke," Lady Liora shouted.
The apprentices moved fast, flipping the lieutenant onto her side, causing the blood in her mouth to flow out onto the ground. The sound of liquid hitting a hard surface filled the room, like a crimson waterfall. The blood continued to flow; the lieutenant's skin began to turn pale. Lady Liora stood back and raised her hands again. Kayla saw her do this and screamed at her.
"My lady! You can't! You'll kill yourself!"
Lady Liora did not stop; her mouth opened as she began to chant.
"Oh, holy Mother, hear my prayer. Threads of life, knit and bind, restore this child of yours."
As she stopped chanting, the golden threads left her hands once more; they entered the lieutenant's body once again, halting the bleeding slightly. Lady Liora fell to her knees in a coughing fit. The lieutenant's body stopped suddenly, and blood dripped from her mouth. Kayla put her head against her chest.
"No pulse! Starting compressions!" She yelled aloud.
The apprentices flipped the lieutenant, and Kayla straddled her. Pushing down on her chest, she began to pump up and down at a steady pace. Lady Liora looked at the scene in horror. Slowly, she raised her hands, but as soon as her mouth opened and she began to chant, she coughed blood violently. She fell to the floor, blood dripping down her chin. A nearby apprentice reached her quickly, bringing her to her feet before checking her condition. Kayla looked at her master in horror.
The apprentice helping Lady Liora noticed Kayla.
"She's alright, Kayla! Just mana exhaustion." The apprentice shouted before starting to pull Lady Liora away.
Kayla, hearing those words, looked back at the lieutenant, continuing to work to keep her alive. After five minutes of constant compression, sweat dripped down Kayla's face, and her arms were throbbing. A nearby apprentice tapped her on the shoulder, and with this signal, Kayla screamed. Tears ran down her face, she stopped working, and her hands trembled.
"She's gone..."
With those words, the room went silent. Lady Liora sobbed in the corner, and the room was filled with grief. One by one, each apprentice tapped Kayla on the shoulder, telling her that she did everything she could have done. Kayla, looking at Lady Liora, fell to her knees sobbing. Lady Liora, still wobbling, ran to her, embracing her. She patted the girl on the head before whispering something into her ear.
After a few minutes of silence, the first apprentices began to move towards the door. As they did, my eyes widened, and my feet moved to run, but the fur sheet tangled me and sent me falling. The loud bang my body made startled the people in the room, prompting a male apprentice to rush out. At the sight of me, he yelled.
"What are you doing?"
Seeing me on the ground, my face shrouded in fear. His anger lessened, and he crouched down and offered his hand.
"I'm sorry for yelling. Are you alright?"
Nodding, I took it, and he pulled me up.
Behind him stood a few more apprentices who did not look very happy.
"Did you see all of that?" he asked.
Nodding, I looked away for a moment, the gazes of the apprentices making me uncomfortable.
"I see... a kid your age shouldn't have to see something like that. I'm truly sorry."
Giving me a small smile, he spoke again.
"Let's get you back to your room, but promise me that you'll stay in there for now."
Nodding, while slowly following him back towards my room.
As we entered, I sat down on my bed. Looking at me with pity, the man turned around, closing the door and leaving. On the other side of the door, I heard the sound of metal clinking, followed by a loud click.
Alone once again, my eyes wandered across the room, and I explored some more. Grabbing the door, realizing it had been locked. Sighing, I turned away and went to the window once again. The ball in the sky was gone, covered by grey shapes. The world looked gloomy, my head pressed against the cold window, and as it did, the sky began to sob. Small droplets of water fell from it, splashing against the buildings and ground. The water hit the window, sending small vibrations that tickled my brain. My eyes watched as the droplets raced down the glass before disappearing off the bottom. This truly was a sad day; the world itself was crying.
Looking out the window, it seemed as if time passed in an instant. Trees swayed in the wind, water fell and formed puddles, and lights began to appear in the houses. From above, a huge streak of light appeared in the sky, turning the whole world white. After a few moments, a roar followed, causing my heart to race. Searching the sky, another bolt of light appeared, and with it, an even louder boom. Smiling, my hand felt up against the window; the droplets were so peaceful, while the roars were so chaotic. Taking my leave, I sat down on the bed, admiring the pieces of linen that were on my body again.
Feeling the warm piece, my head fell onto the soft bed. Relaxing for a moment, my thoughts began to drift. I thought about the cave, the monsters, my siblings, the ocean, death, the bear, and then the lieutenant. The world truly was cruel...
Pulling the fur sheet closer to me, my knees bent, and I rolled into a ball. The world is full of terrible things, but... It's also full of good things, too. The image of Lady Liora, Kayla, Matt, and all the other apprentices flashed through my head. I thought of the commander and how he risked everything to kill that bear. I thought of the countless warriors who died trying. They were brave; they fought while I ran. Shame ate away at me.
My hands shook; I clenched them into fists. I remembered how the commander fought. I want... I want to be able to fight like that one day. I want to be strong enough so that monsters will run from me and strong enough so people can rely on me, the same way they relied on the commander.
Throwing myself out of bed, I ran to a nearby wall. With all my might, I punched it; my fist bled, but it was worth it, as a small fish shape imprint was left in the hardwood. Smiling, I punched again, leaving another fist imprint in the wall. About to throw another punch, the sound of yelling stopped me. On the other side of the wall, a man yelled. He seemed to be in distress.
"W-What do you mean she's gone!" He screamed.
It was the voice of the commander! Pressing my head against the wall, listening to the conversation.
Lady Liora's voice responded to the man's questions.
"Roderic... Bell is gone. We did everything we could have."
A moment of silence filled the room before a loud bang sounded against the wall, sending me tumbling back. As words began to be spoken again, I quickly ran back up to the wall and pressed my ear against it.
"Bullshit!" the commander yelled.
"You're saying that my... that my daughter is dead?"
"N-no... No! I don't believe it." The man began to sob, his harsh cries filling the room.
"Roderic, I'm truly sorry... she was like a daughter to me, too," Liora said.
"She was my daughter Liora! She was everything to me! She was all I had left. "The commander shouted.
"How did she die? It should have been me; I couldn't protect her. I should have been stronger. Why did I allow her to come... It's all my fault." The man broke down even more.
"Roderic, it's not your fault! She was of age, and it was her choice to go; there was nothing you could have done!" Lady Liora shouted.
The room went silent; the only sound was the man's sobs.
"Get out... Get out, Liora! I need space, please."
"I-I understand... If you need me, ask any of my apprentices. " Lady Liora said, the sound of sadness filled her voice. The next second, the door slammed in the other room, and the sound of footsteps filled the hallway before disappearing.
The commander's sobs and curses could be heard. Taking my head off the wall, I walked away, sitting down on the bed.
A few hours passed, and the water that fell outside only worsened, and the loud booms appeared more frequently. The commander had stopped his crying, but now and then, a curse word would echo from his room. My hands rubbed against my face as my head throbbed from all the stress. Sighing, I took a lap around the room, trying to tire myself out. Sweat dripped down my face after running for around 10 minutes, and finally, I stopped at the window once again.
The tapping of a branch that hit the window, the pattering of small droplets, and the sound of roaring in the sky. It was so peaceful. Staring at the stone road, a knock came from my door, causing my head to twist in that direction.
After a moment, the door clicked, and Lady Liora walked in, followed by Matt.
"Hello," she waved at me, a small smile forming on her lips.
"Hi..." I waved back.
Lady Liora walked to the bed and took a seat. She patted next to her. "Come, sit."
Slowly walking over to her, I took a seat, sitting as far away as possible.
"So, I heard that you saw what happened earlier... I'm sorry about that."
Nodding, my mouth opened.
"It's alright. I'm the one who snuck out." My voice echoed through the room.
She smiled at me, and with it, she continued talking.
"Have you remembered anything yet?"
Thinking about the question for a moment before responding.
"No..."
"I see, well, I need to tell you something."
"This is a medical center, and I have many more patients who need this room. And body-wise, you are completely healthy, no injuries."
Hearing her words, I nodded in agreement as my body felt completely fine.
"The problem is, there's nowhere for you to stay."
My eyes widened in surprise, darting from her to Matt. Making eye contact with the man, whose head tilted down, hiding his gaze from me. What will they do with me then? Throw me back into the forest, ship me off. What can I do?
"But... we do have one option. Matt can take you out tomorrow and ask around the village for someone to take you in."
Signing, she continued.
"If no one does, we'll have to send you somewhere else. I'm sorry."
My eyes watered slightly, but I took a deep breath and responded.
"I understand."
Nodding silently, Lady Liora stood up.
"Matt will take you at first light; rest up until then."
With that, they took their leave, locking the door behind them. Left alone in the silence, my mind went rampant. I know I can't survive out there on my own. I was lucky these people showed up when they did, or I would have died at the hands of that bear. I'm not strong enough right now. I need someone to help me train, because right now I have no idea what to do.
Sighing, I lay on the bed, looking at the roof as time passed. The roars from outside caused the whole building to shake, and the water seemed to pour even harder. The world was weeping. Hours seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, and with it, the light outside the window vanished. Darkness engulfed the village for a few moments until suddenly the lanterns began to glow. All at once, they shone to life, including the one inside my room. They lit up the darkness, and the light reflected off the puddles lining the stone path. The light warmed me slightly, and its warmth seemed to spread throughout the rest of the village.
Getting out of bed, I stumbled over to the window, resting my head against it. Examining its frame, I noticed a tiny piece that I had not seen before. It was some latch; moving my hand towards it, I flipped it, causing the window to loosen slightly. Pushing on the window, it crept open slowly. My hair danced as the wind hit it, and the water fell upon my body, causing me to shiver. I reach my arm out, feeling the small droplets fall upon me. Retracting it, realizing my linen sleeve was drenched.
Looking out the window, another flash of light soared through the sky. The sight was truly mesmerizing. Looking back at the room, I was about to turn around until I heard a cough come from outside the window. Peeking my head out the window and running my hands through my hair, the sight I saw surprised me.
On my left, another window was open, and the person who leaned out of it was the commander! His eyes were slightly puffy, and I could see marks from where he had been crying. He wore the same type of linen pieces that I did. In his hand was some object. It seemed to be a round mix of herbs. He mumbled some words under his breath, and the object ignited on the edge. The leaves crackled while he brought them to his mouth. Bitter smoke curled into the night air as another roar echoed through the world.
Holding onto the object with his mouth, his remaining hand tapped on the wood. Taking the object out of his mouth, he let out a puff of smoke and began to hum a lovely melody, which kept getting interrupted for him to breathe out more smoke.
Hmmm — hm hm — hmmm…Hmmm — hm hm — hmmm…Hm hm hm — hmmm — hm…Hmmm — hm hm — hmmm…
Smiling, I looked at the man. listening to the mix of song and water. With a final note, the man stopped.
"So how long do you plan to watch me, kid?" He directed the words towards me without actually turning his head.
My eyes widened, and while panicking, I blurted out.
"N-no, I wasn't watching you! I was just curious!" My hands created a big X spontaneously.
He chuckled, a chuckle filled with some pain.
"You're that same girl from that night. How did you end up in the forest anyway?" He coughed it out, using his rough voice.
Looking down at the street, my heart ached.
"I'm not sure; I don't remember much," I said while lying through my teeth. But I wasn't just going to tell him that I'm a demon who has almost died multiple times, who stumbled upon a big cave in a world that I'm pretty sure is not this one, and was transported through a rainbow tunnel, ending up falling 100 meters into said forest.
The man hummed again.
"So you don't remember anything?"
"Not anything before that bear attack."
"I see... so, kid, what's your deal? Tell me about yourself, well, at least as much as you can remember."
Thinking about it, what is my deal? Who am I? What should I even tell him?
"Well, I'm just a girl who's trying to survive, I guess... I want to grow stronger so that I don't have to be scared anymore; I want to be able to protect myself and everyone close to me."
The man looked at me, and something that I could read was behind his eyes.
"Well, that's a damn good goal, you should be proud of yourself, kid."
Hearing the man's words, my chest ached, and tears ran down my face, leaving me confused.
"Why am I crying?" I asked aloud while slightly laughing.
"You've been through it, kiddo. Sometimes... It's good to let it out."
The man's words cut through me, tears beginning to flow nonstop. My hands wiped at my eyes as I sobbed, and my knees seemed to wobble. I cried for what felt like an eternity, screaming into the darkness of the night. My eyes were red and puffy, and my nose was sniffling. My tears had mixed with the rain, but their saltiness allowed them to stand out. With a final sob, my mind felt lighter. Looking at the man with admiration, I smiled.
"You were right!" I laughed.
The man chuckled as well. He puffed out smoke once more before covering the burning side with his thumb and tossing it down into the abyss below.
"I'm sorry about your daughter..." I said.
The man looked down, tears forming at the sides of his eyes. His mouth trembled, and his hand seemed to shake slightly. Quickly, he wiped his eyes before looking at me.
"Thanks, kid, I appreciate that."
My hand clenched the wood, looking at where my tears had fallen.
"Sometimes... It's good to let it out," I told the man.
He smiled at me. "I already did; I've already cried too much for one lifetime."
He looked up at the sky, letting water droplets fall upon his wrinkled and scarred face.
"So kiddo, do you have a name?"