volume 2 - Chapter 147 (1/2)

Chapter 147 – Warm words of hope (9)

The night sky of Senia’s village was quiet and peaceful. Bright stars filled the cloudless sky like paint on an empty canvas with an aurora highlighting it. The forest was quiet enough for one to appreciate the majestic painting.

The village had once again went back to its peaceful self after the quarrels in the Longhouse ended. But at the darker corners of the courtyard which was lit up by the campfire, a small shadow quietly slipped into a warehouse located at the village’s edge.

Sifrid was quietly taking in breaths as she looked carefully to her left and right. Her green eyes were dyed with anxiety as she slowly pushed against the building’s door with her tiny hands. She successfully infiltrated the building and closed it gently from the inside.

The interior was pitch-black, save for the sky-window located at the top which cast a tiny beam of moonlight onto the ground.

However, the buried bloodlines of the Lycanthropes within the Senia’s citizens would awaken in the dark. Her pupils expanded and captured every detail in the dark.

Sifrid took a moment before she found what she came for. She moved towards a vase which contained water and stood on her tiptoes to fill her waterbag. Once she was done she stashed it away and surveyed her surroundings again.

In the end there was no resolution to the quarrels earlier, but Sifrid had made up her mind and decided to travel alone to the Baron.

[The adults said I can save everyone if I present myself before the Lord Baron. If I do so, Father and Grandfather wouldn’t need to fight with them anymore.]

She prayed for everyone to live on properly and not end up like her mother who left her behind for all eternity.

“Mother…..”

Sifrid sniffled and stopped herself from having her tears from falling. She knew that she would never see her father and grandfather and everyone else ever again if she left.

(Sifrid, you should quickly grow up and stop crying. You’re a citizen of the forest, a true Senia— Mother told me this all the time.)

She wiped her eyes and felt she needed to become strong. But when she thought of her mother’s final moments covered in blood and smiling warmly at her, her tears still fell down like a stream of stars.

“Sifrid, you idiot…..” She rubbed her eyes angrily and bit her lips as she whispered.

After taking a short moment to recompose herself, she went before the storage boxes stored with the clothes worn only at festivals.

She rummaged through the boxes before she found her red dress and leather shoes, She held them up and twirled around, almost in a little dance. She loved their designs and the feel of the material and started to wear them with rapid heartbeats. She was unsure what she was about to meet but she still wanted to fulfill her selfish little wish at this final moment—

She thought that the others would not blame for her wearing the clothes. But even if they did, she was going to do so anyway. She grinned with slight glee at the thought of her little mischief; her earlier tears glittering because her eyes were narrowed with mirth.

[What else have I forgotten? Ah, Mother’s flute.]

The little girl paused for a slight moment before she reluctantly took it down from her neck. She stared it over and over again, rubbing against the wooden grains with her fingertips, before she finally set it aside gently.

“I’ll leave this behind for father,” She muttered: “So Father will remember Mother and me.”

She blinked a few times and parted ways with it. As she walked away, the turned around a few times and looked back at it, before she finally clenched her tiny fists and ran to the door, stopping there. She made sure she did not forget anything before she pushed the door slightly open, peeking outside to ensure no one was there.

Once outside, she started to move towards the village’s entrance. However, after taking a few steps, the little girl felt something cold pressing on her right arm.

She trembled.

She turned around like a small frightened animal, her wide green eyes catching the glimpse of a silver sheathe. She raised her head and saw a familiar pair of warm eyes along with a confident smile.

“Ah……Brother…… Bre—” She said and carefully took a step back.

It was Brendel.

“If you’re heading out, you need to remember to bring something to defend yourself with.” He said with an encouraging voice.

He slowly walked over and knelt down before her. He raised her right hand and pressed the short sword he was carrying onto her palms, before closing her fingers.

Sifrid looked at him in confusion.

“In the end, you decided to go to the Baron by yourself?” He said.

The little girl lowered her head and did not reply. He nodded in response and took a long breath.

“Lady Sifrid, will you allow this knight to accompany you on your journey?” Brendel lowered his head and placed his fist across his heart.

Sifrid’s head rose up in surprise and stared at him. Perhaps he was escorting her to keep her safe along the journey? In the end, she blushed and extended her other empty hand before him. Brendel grasped her hand firmly and stood up.

“Well then, let us take a look what kind of man Lord Baron is.” He said, his soft voice belied the threat behind his words.

She looked at him in confusion once again before comprehension dawned on her.

“But Brother Brendel, y-you will be killed!” She stammered.