Chapter 5 - Events Of The Past Coinciding With The Present 1/2 (1/2)

-Time at 500 years ago-

”Be careful, there's a village ahead.” Versailles and her group walked around the villagers carrying crops in their arms, turning in home after the long day's work.

Little boys and girls ran around, happily laughing as they chased each other among the crowd of adults.

Moving to the side, they took a turn on the fork of the road, their destination the woods beyond the village hill.

Once they left the village vicinity, they quickened their pace, taking another turn that led them directly into the dense woods.

Under the cover of the trees, they slowly trotted on their Wains until the light disappeared.

Soon, darkness set in, and the moon made its ascent high in the sky, illuminating their path as they weaved through the lush green trees and wild vegetation.

As the bright radiance of the moon shined upon the branches and leaves of the trees, their silvery emerald and dark hues heightened the ethereal beauty of the dark woods.

They ventured deeper into the woods, their journey becoming more difficult as the path turned from clear and smooth to rocky and treacherous.

Around her, rabbits and squirrels panickily scurried about, sensing the approaching troop.

As the Wains crushed the dead leaves and twigs under their spiky hoofs, crackling sounds reverberated in the silent night.

Careful of traps, Versailles made her way towards the south of the woods, where there were signs of human treks.

Within a few heartbeats, the sight of the stone cave she had been dwelling in the past few weeks appeared.

Feeling despondent on recalling her time spent in the wilds, she silently strode ahead, her troop closely following behind.

The soft evening breeze caressed her cheeks as silent tears rolled down her face.

Her life so far had been one full of loneliness and pain. The love and nurture that others kids her age took for granted, she could not receive it even if she begged for it.

Because to the people she called family, she was either a pawn to be used or an enemy to be eliminated.

Today was her eighteenth birthday. She should have been celebrating it with her loved ones like any other eighteen-year-old kid. But because of her family background and family relations, she was all alone.

She could not even recall if there was ever a day in her life where she had laid her head on her mother's lap and slept without a care in the world.

Her world was broken, that much she knew. The cracked shreds fell looser the older she grew.

Now, there was only an empty shell, waiting for the next great storm to hit and crush it beyond repair.

”Are you tired? Don't worry, this place is secluded and we can rest for awhile.” The reassuring voice came for her left, but she had no intention of responding to it.

Tired? That was a word used by those not used to struggling every day to survive and stay alive.

For her, however, the struggle for survival was an old matter. So old in fact, that ensuring her survival became a second nature.

She worked hard every day to stay alive, but what was the point of living such a life where she did not even know what she was living for?

Maybe if she no longer fought, everything could be over. Maybe what she needed was an end. An end to all this and her life. At least then, her fight would be over.

At the thought, a bitter smile rose to her delicate lips, filled with unbearable loneliness and deep sadness.

'Is death even an option for me?'

She dejectedly gazed at the bright moon in the sky, wishing there was someone who could answer her question.

There were still people out there excitedly anticipating her return, and giving up halfway would not be fair to them.

Those who believed in her, gave her shelter and warmth while placing the burden of their trust on her frail shoulders.

Either way, as far as she knew, there was no stopping now.

Oh, but she felt so drained and empty...

Versailles chuckled, the sound more painful to the ear then anything else. But since it was her first laugh after the departure from the temple, the troop only lowered their voices before slowly turning silent upon sensing her dark mood.

”I am fine. The lot of you go in and get settled down. I want to go for a ride.” Feeling their secretive glances, she immediately excused herself once arriving at the cave entrance.

It was best for her to take a breather before she snapped at them.