For a little more understanding... I'd like you to read the Author's thoughts first, although it's alright if you don't.
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The figure lay motionless in the grass that was burried under the snow, a dark stain spreading beneath them, seeping into the earth like ink on parchment.
'… It hurts."
'It's cold… To think he will be the one to kill me, but after all these years… finally...'
In the distance, a village stood, its silhouette barely visible as the sun sank lower, dragging the sky into darkness. Time moved too fast. Too fast for a body that was slowing down.
'It's cold'
A breath, shallow. Another, weaker then before.
'Who's crying..? It's not me... who is..?'
A shadow slouched above them. Blurred at the edges, unsteady, yet strangely familiar. If only they could focus, just for a second longer…
The stranger knelt, his presence solid yet quiet. His breathing wavered at the end—like someone holding back a storm. Then, a voice that was low, almost steady
"Why must it be you… out of everyone, Qínglù..."
He cradled their head against his chest, his hand trembling as it rested on the side of their face, fingers gently brushing the dampness of their skin.
Their breath hitched.
The stranger inhaled—slowly—but the exhale betrayed him, it was unsteady, breaking at the end. His grip on them remained firm
"…Hah…" The breath left his mouth sharp. He paused, as if he was trying to steady himself for what he was about to do soon, his words that followed were barely a murmur,
"Don't Forgive me..." He swallowed, the sound too faint to catch, and with an almost forced calm, added "I had failed to come in time, too late to help you..."
'...Liánshēng...'
"Will you accept me as your groom, Qínglù… even now, when it's too late?"
But there was no answer. Their breath, weaker than before. Their eyes drifting closed as the finality of death took hold, before they could even give a proper answer to his proposal,
The body, once full of life and warmth, now lay still in his arms. His chest tightened, but no words came out, he regreted everything...
Their final breath—a quiet exhale, was the only response given
he had failed to come in time... arrived too late, he couldn't even stop them
"You can rest now..," he said. "Just for a while." A tear ran down his cheeks
He sat there, quiet, longer then he thought—he held his tongue. Maybe minutes. Maybe more. The snow kept falling.
Then slowly, he leaned back. His fingers dragged the fabric down over the left side of his chest, where the blade would go.
His hand hovered over her chest which was now still and quiet. He inhaled, one that was shallow and sharp, then reached for the blade that was attached to his hips,
The Blade's cold steel met his flesh. A single cut on his chest—he made sure not to cut his own heart—clean and deliberate. No flinching.
Then their's
He moved with care and not haste. Every motion was precise, his hands slick with blood—both his and their's, breath uneven but focused.
When it was done, he leaned over them, heart in hand—his heart—as it trembled between fingers that no longer felt like his own.
He placed it in their chest.
His power surged, just enough to make it hold, to make his heart reach their veins
He didn't know how it worked but it did. He didn't care
Their body didn't stir, no... not yet.
"Even if I die and live again… I'll still carry this. The weight of what I've done to you—what I made you become."
He leaned down, his eyes full of guilt. Then, so gently, he pressed a final kiss to her forehead.
"I'm sorry, Qínglù"
he whispered against her skin, he sobbed"I should've let you rest, but I couldn't. I'm sorry… for choosing what I wanted... Don't forgive me"
For being selfish
***
The air was soft, the scent of ripened fruit and berries, the coloured leaves and the grasses danced gently in the early morning breeze. On the edge of a clearing, three women crouched, beneath a heavy-laden berry bush, their baskets almost full, yet there were space for a few more berries
"Oh, We'll need more than this if the boys are eating like they did last week," said Denna, brushing her hair back with a juice-stained hand.
"They're growing," replied Elara who was more concerned with picking than talking. "And they're bored. Hungry and bored is a dangerous mix." A sigh left her lips,
Old Marelle chuckled, from where she sat on a flat stone, she paused and lowered her hand from the bush "Let them eat. Better that than them sneaking off to the cliffs again."
A bird startled from a nearby tree, and for a moment they all looked up, quiet. But it was just the wind,
"haah... I really thought it was a Verdgloom for a second, I keep on forgetting that the soldiers had wiped it clean from danger years back..."
[Verdgloom is a monster of the Nature type.
It manifests as a hulking, hollow creature formed from deadwood and tangled roots, its body crawling with insects and serpents. A cloud of stinging swarms surrounds it constantly, hiding its form in a living haze of wings and venom. In simpler words, It has a body made of twisted wood and vines, filled with crawling bugs and snakes. A thick swarm of insects always surrounds it.]
"Denna... And, anyone barely sees any monsters or demons whatever they call it" She continued "I've never seen one in my entire life. I'm starting to think they don't even exist..." Elara shook her head with a sigh leaving her mouth, picking her final berry before her basket was full
"...They do exist. But between the Sentinels and the soldiers, most people never get close enough to see one. That's kind of the point." Old Marelle mumbled, standing up with the count of three.
"Oh, you're heading back already?"
"Yes, I have to go, my grandson has been having a cold, I'm worried it might get worse"
"Ah... I see... Well" Dena continued "should we go as well?"
Before she replied to the question, she glanced down at the basket resting on her lap—full with ripened fruits and berries—and then looked back at Denna "Yes we should." She nodded,
A smile on her face as she thought about the reactions her sons will give her when she brings in the fruits,
Old marelle tugged a smile on her lips, taking one small berry from the top and chewing on it
The berry was sweet—melting in her mouth in just a second—too sweet, really. It made old Marelle shake her head. "Come on, we're going then."
They walked along the forest path, one step at a time. Above them were small lamps hung from the branches, their glass covers, cloudy with soot. The flames inside had gone out long ago, but the covers were still there—to keep the trees safe if they were ever lit again.
The forest slowly thinned as they walked at a natural pace. The air grew lighter, and the sounds of people replaced the quiet hums of the leaves. At the end of the path, the trees opened up to the edge of the market square. Stalls, carts, and soft voices filled the space ahead.
There, at the edge, they said goodbye to old Marelle, parting away from the two younger ladies,
"We'll come visit when we're done with cooking."
"We'll meet again"
Old Marelle paused and nodded, waving at them before she continued to walk. Soon, she was out of sight
"Elara, what will you be making for your sons? As lunch, I heard your eldest has the dream of becoming a soldier." She chuckled, softly. Even her son has the dream of becoming one
"Mhm, he has the passion, now, even I'm rooting that he'd become one... Encouraging him would be better now, he's old enough to make his own decisions..."
"Aw, you've finally realised it's best for him to follow his dreams?" A teasing smile creeped up on her face as she glanced at Elara, walking down the road side by side.
But before Elara could say something
Someone bumped into Elara's shoulder—tall, at least a head above her.
She stumbled slightly, steadying herself as a few berries tumbled from her basket and rolled across the path. "What a man..." she mumbled annoyed under her breath,
The man didn't stop. No glance, no word. Just walked on, a dark cloak swaying around their knees, hood pulled low enough that their face stayed hidden in shadow.
Denna narrowed her eyes and took a step forward, "Ugh, This bastard-" She was ready to grab his arm and make him acknowledge her—but a hand suddenly reached out in front of her, stopping her in place.
It was Elara's brother. A horse with a cart attached behind him.
"Don't," he said quietly, eyes still on the figure. "he's armed with a sword. Didn't look like the friendly kind as well."
She hesitated, watching the cloaked figure disappear into the crowd. Then she let out a breath and knelt down to gather the berries, brushing them off one by one.
"What's with people these days..! Just because they're armed doesn't give them rights to act so arrogant..." She huffed "I hate these type of people..."
"Haah.., it's alright Denna, maybe he was in a rush."
Elara's brother, Ferran, exhaled a quiet and sharp one. He sounded slightly frustrated, he seems to agree with his younger sister's friend.
He opened his mouth to speak, glancing back before that
"You should think before you act, Denna." he continued "Come on, I'll drop you two halfway, even I got to go somewhere."
Denna hesitated, glancing between the two siblings. She pressed her lips into a thin line, but didn't argue. Slowly standing up with the berries in her hand, dusting off the dirt on the berries before putting them pack on Elara's basket carefully,
making sure not to drop a single one since, as said, her basket was already full of diffrent varieties of berries and fruits
"Are you two coming or not?" Ferran Asked, hopping on the horse, steading the reins with one hand, the other gently petting the horse
"Huh? Oh right, we are." Elara nodded, patting Denna on her back before she took her hand and sat on the edge of the cart
wooden cart behind him rattled slightly as the wheels of his cart rolled over the uneven path. It was piled with crates, tied down with rough rope— some labeled, others unmarked. He hadn't said where he was headed, only that he had somewhere to be.
After a while of walking, he stopped the cart "Off you two go, and don't stir up trouble. I'm heading off." He nodded, heading off to his own destination without even waiting for the two to even say 'bye' to him,
The evening had come already, the sun was already dipping low as Denna and Elara strolled through the familiar streets of their neighborhood. The sun hung low—hiding behind mountains,
In the sky, there were Two moons, one bigger than the other, casting din light over the lively scene as children's laughter echoed from open yards. Lanters hung down the roof of houses and shops,
But Denna's mood hadn't eased one bit. She kicked a loose pebble as they walked, scowlin, she rolled her eyes. Tossing a blueberry inside her mouth,
"Ugh..! The next time I see that man who bumped into you..." she muttered, tightening her fists, "I'll crush his head."
Elara glanced sideways at her, lips tugging into the faintest of smiles, though her expression held more weariness than amusement. Without a word, she reached out and placed a gentle hand on Denna's shoulder, grounding her.
"It's alright," she said softly, her voice cutting through the lingering frustration.
Denna huffed but didn't argue with Elara. Their steps slowed as they reached the corner where their paths split, the comfort of home waiting on either side.
"See you tomorrow?" Denna asked, her tone lighter now.
Elara nodded, "Yeah, goodnight Denna." She offering a small wave as they parted ways, each disappearing into the glow of their separate homes,
where their families awaited for their return, sons, daughters, husband...