This is draining.
'Survive the Valley of Shadows and make your way to the Academy.' Gustov grumbled as carried Yaagnar up the hill. 'He said that as if it was the easiest of task as if it would be a walk in the park.
I don't know how much time has passed since the train but what I know is that I am incredibly farmished. But I have not seen anything worth eating all through my time here. If I had I would have rushed to it without a second thought.
I does not help that I met the weirdest of all people, a grey-haired young man! I noticed it while carrying him as the lady carried him by the hands in front of me letting me get a good view of him. He had a very handsome face, slim and long nose, small cat eyes, long lashes and thin chapped lips. It made you wonder why did he have grey hair with all this youthful properties.'
Gustov sighed for the umpteenth time unable to catch his breath and stared at Febronia 's thick curls. He would do anything at this point to ignore the pain his body screamed.
He would have loved to indulge in a hearty conversation but he was to tired to come up with anything and out of breath to mutter any coherent words.
He was surprised when Febronia came to a sudden stop and noticed that they had reached the top of the hill. Out of excitement he dropped Yaagnar's legs from a noteable height and walked around the top of the hill taking big breaths and kicked his feet against the sand.
Febronia threw him a dirty look when he dropped Yaagnar's legs without warning. She gently sat down and folded her legs placing Yaagnar's head on her lap and gently strokes his head.
She silently stroke his hair as she stared at his facial features. And his unique grey hair, it was grey from the roots. While running her hand through his hair, she noticed his ear.
There was no big deal about as the ear was a great distinctive feature but it just looked normal. One could just help but notice how big was, it would have been hard for only her to carry.
She let out a long sigh of relief as she stared at the sunset. It had been a long day. The sky was dark orange a shade away from red. It may be due to the amount of lives lost in this area.
Gustov walked back to Febronia and stood over her with his hands over his waist. "What's your name? We have not being properly introduced." He said as he looked over her, glancing at Yaagnar.
Febronia stared at him, still unable to blink, before looking down at the steep valley below them. If she had to go down this hill, Yaagnar needed to be awake but how would she wake him up when this pester hovered around like a fly around a corpse and she had not been able to get what she wanted from Yaagnar.
"I see." Gustov said as he kissed his teeth looking at the valley. Faint lights could be seen after steep decline. The night lights from the area made it look closer than it was but he knew better than that. "How far are we from the academy? I am asking this on the assumption that you are an Entity so you'll know this area as you would have spent a long time here."
Febronia silently stared at the bright lights that came from the academy. It was still a long journey from where they were. This would be the most dangerous part of the journey except a sacrifice was made, then the Entities of the Forest would grant you safe passage. Either way, blood had to be shed whether yours or another.
There are myths we have heard from time to time, when going through some areas. One has to appease the spirits that reside in that area whether you wanted or not. That is why it would be wise to go with some type of sacrifice to appease them.
You'll hear that when passing some places, you'll throw some food or pour water on the ground as you say some greetings.
This is what Febronia planned on doing as she would not want to pay with her own blood. She has suffered enough as it is.
"If you are not going to be of help to me, I'll help myself." Gustov said as he stared at the steep slope. "I can't last long without food or shelter. This is the most extreme condition I have been exposed to."
"Then you should get something for protection." Febronia said in a low sweet voice which took Gustov aback because of her unresponsive behavior. He looked at her suspicion written over his face.
"I know runes." She added as if that would convince him.
Gustov stared at the bright lights coming from the academy. "How long would it take?" He asked.
Febronia gestures him to come closer and he knelt down bringing out his arm as she gestured.
Her hands slides against his arm acquiring his dagger in a blink of an eye but he did not move as the dagger was already piercing his skin drawing blood. She drew some symbols with the blood over his arm and dropped his dagger on the sand.
He picked it up and put in it the sheath around his waist.
He expected some magic to happen and the wound she created to be healed but it just bled. He let out a frustrated sigh as he began his descent.
"That is what I get for trusting a random person I met in a valley." He murmured aloud on his way down.
Febronia saw him slowly disappear and looked at Yaagnar on her lap. There was no way of knowing if he would have consented to what she wanted to do to him. If he would forgive her for what she had already done.
Knocking him out and making him stay in a state of perpetual dreams. Searching his mind, assessing his memories without his consent. Bargaining for control over his body without his approval as if he were some mobile slab of meat. And the atrocity she was about to commit.
"There would be nothing to hold against me if he does not know." The Entity that possessed Febronia thought aloud.
NOTE:
After the fall, Febronia had entered into a coma and an Entity willingly possessed her. Taking over her body and trying to bring to get her to the academy to have another chance at life. So the actions carried out by Febronia since they met after the fall was not her but the Entity that possessed her.