That night, the wind blew gently, bringing with it an unnatural silence. The small village, usually peaceful, had turned dark. The scent of the countryside and the faint aroma of warm home cooking had been replaced by a heavy metallic smell in the air. Slowly, the cries of the villagers began to be heard from all directions.
Footsteps echoed in the distance.
Regular, firm, and foreign to the tranquility of the village.
"Quick! Don't let a single one escape!"
The command broke the night, followed by the clatter of horses and the sound of weapons clashing.
In a remote house, far from the commotion, the cry of a baby breaks the silence. A baby boy has just been born.
"Look at him..." The mother's voice trembles weakly but warmly.
"Our child..."
The father lifts the baby carefully, as if holding his entire world.
Both felt the joy of becoming parents for the first time.
"Honey, don't lift him too high."
He laughed softly. "Yes. Okay, what should we name him?"
The mother looked at the baby gently. "I want a name that brings light to his life."
"Well then, I'll take my leave. Congratulations on the birth of your son."
"Thank you so much, Grandma Yumi. I'll walk you to the front."
"Ututu, my little baby."
The mother gently stroked the baby's nose. Her happy smile hid the fatigue she felt.
Outside the house, a soldier who was combing the village noticed the old woman in front of the house.
"One more found," his tone was cold and condescending.
He stepped closer.
"Really, thank you very much," said the father, bowing his head.
His polite and respectful attitude made the old woman smile slightly.
What a good father.
"Don't worry about it—"
The sincere words that were about to come out of his mouth stopped.
In an instant, a sword pierced his body.
The atmosphere became silent.
"What are you doing!"
The father was stunned. His face was pale. He grabbed the sword near the door and attacked reflexively.
He realized that something bad had begun.
His face tensed.
"My wife!"
Inside the house, the mother turned around anxiously.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't come here! Stay inside!"
He closed the door. He hurriedly approached his wife.
"We have to leave now."
"But—"
"There's no time."
A loud crash shook the front door.
Holding his wife's shoulders, he said.
"You have to go. Now," his words were soft but firm.
For a moment, they just stared at each other. No grand promises. No heroic words.
Only fear... And love.
"Please come get us."
"I will..."
Doubt. Hope. Mixed in their words.
He pressed his forehead against his wife's. His hands trembled as he caressed their baby.
"Hurry."
The mother ran through the back door. She hugged her little baby tightly. Tears fell silently as she left the man she loved.
Her sadness was evident in every step she took.
I am grateful to have met someone like you.
You may not be a nobleman or a wealthy man,
But that is enough.
Enough to fill our daily lives with warmth, happiness, and joy.
I love that you always pay attention to me, always love me for who I am.
A few memories of the past flashed through her mind. It made her cry, but she remained strong.
She whispered in her heart,
"Pick us up safely..."
Meanwhile, the father stood facing those who had come.
He knew the chances of survival were almost impossible. But his resolve did not waver.
He fought not to win, but for time.
The sound of swords clashing.
Their movements were limited, and I would take advantage of that. One fell, leaving only one more.
"Die!"
Stabbing the soldier in the chest and pushing him out of the house, he saw the dire situation around him.
The faint screams were now loud and clear.
The sight of the troops slaughtering everyone—children, women, and the elderly.
Why were they attacking this village?
Why now?
He was confused.
His feelings were mixed. But once again, he was determined.
From the side, a soldier shouted as he attacked his silent father. The shout brought him to his senses, and his father dodged, but the blow struck his left arm.
The longer the fight went on, the more sweat began to flow, not as a sign of enthusiasm, but as a light rain that blurred his vision.
His breathing was no longer regular, heavy with every breath.
His arm, which had been swinging the sword, trembled slightly, then more noticeably. His grip weakened, his fingers stiffened, his steps changed. His eyes were half open.
But he remained standing.
His body seemed to be screaming, but his mind and spirit continued to burn, and the light in his eyes did not fade.
Then the sound of horse hooves and snorting broke the atmosphere of the battle.
"Move aside!"
"Yes, commander. He is one of the rats who managed to defeat our soldiers."
In such a condition, you are still able to stand. Interesting. The wounds he received were not few, nor was the number of my troops he managed to defeat, which was quite a lot for a man of his size.
The knight commander then dismounted from his horse.
"Join my army. Your talent will be wasted if it ends here. I will provide for all your needs, including women."
An unexpected offer, tempting and hard to ignore.
"Disgusting!" the shout echoed firmly.
"Is that your answer? I'll finish you off right now."
Not much happened; the difference in ability and physical condition was the main reason.
Several attacks landed, but they were shallow and meant nothing to the knight commander.
With one final movement, the sword finally pierced the man's chest.
Ah, I remember the smell of this soil...
At that time, I had just moved to this village.
The people were very kind and friendly. I was accepted and given a place to stay. I helped the village, hunted with the residents, patrolled the village at night, and in my spare time, I tended the gardens and fields.
That was when I first met you, wasn't it?
He stared at her a little longer than he should have. Her beauty was calm, her face soft without being contrived.
Her clear eyes held warmth for anyone who looked into them.
Her smile was not flashy, but that was precisely her charm—sincere, simple, and unforgettable.
You are so beautiful, my wife...
The knight commander stared at her body lying on the ground, accompanied by a slight feeling of disappointment.
It's a pity, if only you had listened to me, it wouldn't have ended like this.
He imagined the expression on the face of the man he had killed, eyes that seemed to be giving everything to protect something.
He was curious and approached the man's house.
"A comfortable house, for a man who lives alone?"
Looking around the house, he went to the back room and observed every corner of the place.
"Could it be that he doesn't live alone?" she thought with a serious and slightly suspicious look on her face.
Does the knight commander know that the man doesn't live alone?
In the darkness of the forest night.
With her breath almost gone and tears flowing silently, a new mother forced herself to keep running through the forest with her baby.
Silent, calming, but also dangerous with the inhabitants that lived in the forest.
Please, I have to go further.
I hope you're okay... My husband.
A slightly hopeful statement.
Her strength was almost gone, but her love for her child refused to give up.
In those unsteady steps, a silent truth was revealed.
Parents will sacrifice everything, even when fate does not go as expected.
She groaned in pain.
Accompanied by a loud thud, followed by the baby's cries.
"No, Ututu, my child, don't cry, mommy is here."
Her leg was badly sprained, her thigh pierced by a sharp branch.
As she fell, she held her child tightly, enduring the pain that spread throughout her body.
"Forgive me, my child. Your first day in this world has been so difficult."
With faltering movements, she crawled on her lower body, dragging her nearly exhausted strength.
Her breathing was heavy, but her hands never let go of the baby.
I have to fight.
I have to survive.
I have to...
Her sobs broke softly.
She could no longer hold back these suffocating feelings.
The silent forest bore witness to the struggle of a young mother, fragile in body but steadfast in love.
The wind blew softly, the leaves rustling as if carrying traces of her presence.
In the ruined village, the final order was given without emotion.
"Search the entire area."
A man was dragged forward, his face covered in wounds, his body weak. He was thrown down in front of the commander.
"Why did you attack this village? What did we do wrong?"
"How rude. Use proper language."
One of the subordinates kicked the village chief in the face.
"P-please sir, let my wife and children go safely, sir."
He stared coldly at the village chief.
His last plea changed nothing. In one swift movement, everything ended.
The remaining family members witnessed the event. Tears flowed, but no one could stop what was happening.
"Leave no one behind."
Panic and chaos enveloped the night.
The once peaceful village was now submerged in fear.
The women became victims of unspeakable cruelty, regardless of age.
They dragged a girl away, her eyes vacant as if her world had shattered.
Her skin was pale and cold.
There was an odd silence around her legs. Not because it didn't hurt, but because her body had numbed some sensations to survive.
Time felt slow, almost frozen. All that remained was a sense of resignation amid the pain.
Not long.
The woman's vision was upside down and blurry, slowly darkening like the end of a dream.
Around her, many other women suffered the same fate, old and young alike, facing a night filled with humiliation and endless tears.
The night was long... Too long.
For those who experienced it, time seemed to stand still, leaving invisible wounds that would always be remembered.