Sunlight filtered gently through the branches of the trees, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. The warmth of the sun was a welcome respite from the cold winds that swept through Ulrik.
Aria closed her eyes for a moment, soaking in the light. It felt like an eternity since she had last seen the sun.
This winter had been particularly harsh, forcing her to stay confined in her hut for most of the season. The snow had piled up high, blanketing the ground.
"Kuhuuu!"
Aria's face brightened as a small bird flitted down from a branch and landed on her shoulder. She smiled at the creature.
"Era niya royema renin lan su wuya sa bhe." (Let's find something for you to eat as well.)
With that, she resumed her walk, the bamboo basket at her side clinking softly with every step. She had come out to collect firewood, enough to keep her warm and cook her meals over the next few days. Winter meant that the vegetables she had stored wouldn't spoil, but she still needed to prepare them.
Aria remembered her grandmother's strict warnings about the dangers of venturing outside daily. Back then, she only had to brave the hills twice a month for supplies. Her grandmother rarely allowed her to leave the hut. But since her grandmother's passing three months ago, everything had changed.
The memory of her grandmother hit her like a cold wave, and she blinked back tears.
Aria had never truly experienced solitude until now. The absence of her grandmother's comforting presence felt like a gaping void in her heart. At night, the silence often turned oppressive, and she would curl up in her bed, stifling her sobs, wishing for the warmth of her embrace.
"Kuhuuuuuu!"
The little bird on her shoulder chirped loudly, as if sensing her melancholy. It took flight, circling her in joyous loops, and Aria couldn't help but chuckle at its antics. For a brief moment, she was able to push aside her sadness.
"Lu Kanta Nemi Pur Urusa Noni Yukl Ro Pur Bhe." (Yes, we can't stay sad; otherwise, grandma will be sad too.)
The bird tweeted again, as if it agreed with her sentiment.
Aria found some seeds to feed her feathered friend. As it pecked eagerly at the food, she took her axe from the basket and made her way toward a sturdy tree. But just as she stepped forward, her foot slipped on an uneven patch of ground, and she stumbled.
"Ah!" she gasped, reaching out instinctively.
Her finger pointed toward a nearby tree, and in that moment, a vine uncoiled itself from the trunk, wrapping around her wrist and feet, stabilizing her.
After a brief moment of panic, Aria regained her balance. She sighed in relief, shaking her hand free of the vine, which recoiled back to its resting position.
Frowning, she glanced down at the ground, covered in a layer of leaves and branches. She had expected the hill to be uneven, but something about this patch felt different. Curiosity mingled with apprehension as she bent down to clear away the debris.
As she moved the leaves aside, her breath caught in her throat. A glint of metal caught her eye, and as she uncovered it further, the sight of blood sent chills down her spine. The sharp edge was caked in dark, congealed blood, and panic surged within her.
Aria had rarely seen blood in her life. A few times when she got injured and a few other times before her grandmother's dearth when she had started coughing up blood. Her grandmother would try to conceal it but the poor state of her body had left her unable to wash her clothes and eventually Aria came to see it. With trembling hands and red eyes, she would wash those clothes wishing for her grandmother's illness to go away just like the blood would leave those clothes.
But she had been too hopeful. Her grandmother's illness only worsened just like how the blood coloured clothes made the water darker day by day.
Perhaps that's why blood had always unnerved her.
But how did this blood and this unique metal come inside her territory? The question confused Aria.
To find the answers, she continued her work of clearing the ground. When a human leg covered in muddy clothes came into her sight, Aria stiffened visibly.
It was a human being…like her.
Aria knew she should have run away. If her grandmother was there, the old lady would have shown a disapproving look and without any hesitation, Aria would have been taken away.
But Aria couldn't do that. With her clenched fists, she swallowed and continued again.
Unbeknownst to her, her eyes were filled with hope.
Now, as she dug deeper, an inexplicable eagerness surged through her. Her movements quickened, driven by an instinct she couldn't quite articulate. Finally, she pulled away the last layer of mud stained leaves, and her breath caught in her throat.
Before her lay a young man, his features striking even in this dire state. A sharp chin and slender nose, coupled with lips that had turned dry and cracked, gave him an almost ethereal beauty. Aria stared in disbelief, her heart racing as she took in the sight.
Then, reality struck her with a harsh reminder.
He was injured. Her eyes widened in horror as she noticed the jagged metal protruding from his chest, soaking through his clothing with blood. Mud caked around the wound, but the injury was clearly serious.
Disappointment and dread washed over her.
Could she possibly save him?
Or would the water be darker than the last time?