Shrouded By The River
Stories similar to this that you might like too.
The river was a deep, dark blue in the moonlight. It flowed through an expanse of forest and grasslands before flowing into the sea at a small town called Siltvelt City on its way to becoming part of the ocean itself.
There were many villages along this stretch of water that had been built by people from all over E-Rantel who wanted to live near it for their own reasons—some because they loved fishing or hunting; others simply enjoyed being close enough to enjoy the scenery. And there were also those who came here seeking adventure, hoping to find some treasure hidden away somewhere within these lands.
There weren’t any monsters around right now, but if one happened upon them while exploring the area alone… Well, let’s just say that would be bad news indeed. That was why adventurers always traveled with companions when venturing out onto such dangerous terrain.
But even so, not everyone could afford to hire a group of skilled fighters as their bodyguards every time they went adventuring. For most commoners like myself, we didn’t have much choice other than taking our chances traveling solo. I’d heard stories about how someone might come across a monster and end up getting killed during an encounter without anyone else nearby to help.
If you got attacked by something strong enough to kill you, then your only hope was surviving long enough until somebody found you again.
I wasn’t too worried though since I knew my magic skills well enough to survive anything short of a dragon attack. Even if I did get caught off guard somehow, I still had plenty of potions stored inside my Item Box to keep me alive.
As far as weapons go, I carried two swords strapped to either side of my waist: A sword made from black ironwood, which was said to be able to cut through almost any material known to man, and another blade crafted from steel that was infused with holy energy.
Both were enchanted items given to me by the church after I became a priestess. They both served different purposes depending on what kind of situation I ended up facing.
But despite knowing all this, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should’ve brought more equipment with me tonight. After all, I hadn’t expected to run into any trouble while walking down the road alone. This place was supposed to be safe! Why am I even thinking about bringing extra weapons? What is wrong with me?!
“Augh!” My thoughts suddenly stopped as a sharp pain ran through my head. “Ow…” I groaned quietly, rubbing my forehead where I felt a lump forming. When I looked back up toward the sky, I saw stars twinkling above me. I realized I must’ve fallen asleep standing up against a tree trunk.
Now that I thought about it, I remembered passing out shortly after leaving Rulitora behind. He probably left me here to rest while he continued his patrol. At least I hoped that’s what happened. Otherwise, I’m sure I wouldn’t wake up anytime soon.
As I sat there trying to catch my breath, I noticed movement coming from the direction of the village ahead. I squinted in order to see better, and when I finally managed to make things out, I gasped loudly. Standing next to a large boulder was a young girl wearing a white dress.
She appeared to be no older than ten years old, and she seemed awfully familiar. Her hair was tied back tightly, revealing her delicate face. Although I couldn’t tell exactly how tall she was, judging from how high up the ground she stood, I guessed that she was roughly five feet tall.
She wore a pair of thin silver bracelets wrapped around each wrist, and several necklaces hung loosely between her collarbones. On top of that, she held a staff taller than herself in front of her chest, making it look like she was holding a spear instead.
In fact, it reminded me of the weapon I used to carry. However, hers was clearly meant for combat. Its tip glowed brightly, illuminating the surrounding darkness. From what I could see, it was carved from metal and shaped like a cross.
What are you doing out here all alone? Are you lost? I wondered aloud. Then, I quickly added, Is everything okay? You don’t seem hurt. Did something happen to your family?
After waiting patiently for a response, I started to feel impatient. So I decided to try asking once more. Hey, do you need help?
Still nothing. Just silence.
Then, I spotted a few people running past us heading toward the village. I followed their movements closely, wondering if maybe they were searching for the little girl. Maybe they’ll know where she lives. Or perhaps they can take care of whatever problem she has.
Just then, I heard footsteps approaching from behind. The sound grew louder, and before I knew it, I turned around to find three men carrying torches at the ready. One of them was dressed in leather armor, and the others were covered in fur cloaks.
All of them stared directly at me, looking rather intimidating. Their eyes gleamed red under the light of their torch flames. It took me a moment to realize that these guys weren’t human. No, wait—they’re demons!
The first one stepped forward, raising his hand. His long fingernails extended beyond his fingertips, giving him an eerie appearance. He pointed straight at me, but not because he wanted to speak. Instead, he opened his mouth wide, showing off rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth. That’s right… These aren’t normal humans. They’re monsters!
My mind raced frantically, desperately trying to figure out what to do. Should I fight or flee? If I tried to escape, would they chase me? Would they kill me? And if so, why? What have I done to deserve such treatment?
All sorts of questions popped into my head, causing my heart rate to skyrocket. But just as I began to panic, I felt someone grab hold of my arm. Startled, I spun around to find myself staring into the deep blue eyes of a beautiful woman.
“It’s alright,” she whispered softly, placing her hands gently on my shoulders. “They won’t harm you.”
Her words calmed me instantly, and I let out a sigh of relief. I didn’t understand who she was, nor did I recognize her voice. Still, I had never seen anyone quite like her before. She was short, only reaching my shoulder height, yet somehow still possessed a regal air about her.
There wasn’t a single strand of hair out of place, and although she wore simple clothing, it fit perfectly over her body without being too tight. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, which made it difficult to determine whether or not she was actually female. Yet regardless of those details, I found myself captivated by her beauty.
I looked down at the strange creature gripping my arm. At this point, I realized that it was indeed a monster. A demon, specifically. As far as I knew, they were known for possessing magical powers, and since I’d been attacked by one earlier today, I assumed that must be true.
Even though it was terrifying to think about, I also thought that having magic might come in handy. After all, I needed some way to defend myself against the other creatures roaming the forest.
But even with all that said, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that we shouldn’t trust this mysterious woman. Not after what happened to me. I mean, I’m pretty sure that she helped me get away from the dragon, but I’ve got no idea who she is, and I certainly wouldn’t want to go anywhere near her home.
Plus, she doesn’t appear to be injured whatsoever. In fact, she seems completely fine despite the fact that she was nearly eaten alive.
And now, she wants to bring me somewhere else?! How am I supposed to react to that?
As I stood there pondering my options, the woman spoke again. “You should follow me. We will make our way back to the village together.”
With that, she released me from her grasp and continued walking ahead. I watched as she walked through the dark woods, leading me along. My legs trembled slightly beneath me, unsure if I really wanted to continue following her. But when she stopped suddenly and turned around, I finally understood that I had no choice.
She smiled warmly at me, making me feel much better than I had moments ago. With a nod, she motioned for me to join her. Reluctantly, I obeyed, taking a step closer to her side. Once I reached her, however, she grabbed my wrist tightly and pulled me close. Before I could say anything, she placed her lips against mine. Instinctively, I recoiled from her touch.
Immediately, she drew back and apologized profusely. “Oh, I’m sorry!” she exclaimed. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you how to greet people?”
I shook my head slowly. “No…”
“Well, never fear! I’ll show you,” she replied cheerfully. Then, with another smile, she leaned in once more. This time, I closed my eyes and waited for her kiss. When it arrived, it was gentle and soft, unlike any kind of greeting I’d experienced before.
For several seconds, I remained frozen stiff, unable to move a muscle. However, eventually, I relaxed enough to open my eyes. The moment I did, I saw something unexpected: a pair of bright green eyes looking directly into mine.
For a brief second, everything seemed to slow down. It was as if every sense within me was heightened, allowing me to take in each detail of the world around me. All of a sudden, I noticed the small insects crawling across the ground, their tiny bodies glistening under the moonlight.
I heard the wind rustling through the trees, carrying with it the faint sounds of night birds chirping in harmony. And most importantly, I smelled the sweet scent of flowers wafting through the air, filling my nose with an intoxicating aroma.
The sensation lasted mere minutes, but it was long enough for me to realize exactly why the woman had kissed me. Just as she promised, her actions allowed me to experience a new level of awareness. Everything became so vivid; colors appeared brighter, smells stronger, and sounds louder. I could see the entire landscape surrounding us, rather than merely glimpsing its edges.
In fact, I felt like I was seeing things for the very first time.
After that, the woman led me deeper into the woods until we came upon a large clearing. Although it was surrounded on three sides by tall pine trees, the fourth side opened up to reveal a breathtaking view of the sky above. From where I stood, I could easily spot the stars shining brightly overhead.
They twinkled in such a beautiful manner, reminding me of countless diamonds scattered throughout the heavens.
It was then that I realized just how lucky I truly was. To have survived the attack of the dragon only to end up here…it almost didn’t seem real.
At last, the woman let out a sigh and sat down next to me. She pointed toward the sky. “Look closely,” she whispered softly. “Do you notice anything different about them?”
I stared intently at the stars, trying to find something that would stand out among the rest. That’s when I spotted it—a single star that shone brighter than the others. Unlike all the other constellations, which were arranged neatly in a straight line, this particular star moved erratically, darting between one constellation and the next.
“That is Sirius,” the woman explained. “One of the brightest stars in the night sky. You can also call him the Dog Star because he appears to be chasing the tail of Canis Major, the Great Dog.”
I nodded silently, not quite understanding what she meant. After a few seconds, though, I looked back at the star again. Suddenly, it made perfect sense. As far as I knew, dogs weren’t known for having tails. So, perhaps the woman wasn’t referring to a dog after all. Instead, maybe she was talking about some sort of creature called a wolf. In that case, the name certainly fits.
Either way, I couldn’t help but admire the brilliance of the star. Its light illuminated the darkness, illuminating the forest below. If nothing else, it gave me hope. Perhaps someday, I too might become a beacon of light for those who needed guidance.
Once the woman finished explaining Sirius’ significance, she began speaking again. “Now, do you understand why I kissed you?”
My heart skipped a beat. What does she mean? Did she really want to know whether or not I understood her intentions? Or did she simply wish to make sure I wouldn’t tell anyone about our encounter? Either way, I wanted to answer truthfully. But before I could speak, the woman suddenly turned away from me and started walking off into the distance.
Confused, I followed behind her. Soon enough, we found ourselves standing atop a hill overlooking an enormous valley filled with lush greenery. There, I finally got my first glimpse of the village hidden deep inside the forest.
As I watched, dozens of people emerged from the shadows, appearing out of nowhere. Some carried torches while others held pitchforks and shovels. Others still wore crude wooden masks over their faces, giving them the appearance of hideous monsters. Yet despite their grotesque appearances, they all shared two common traits: Their skin was covered in red welts, and they were all holding knives in their hands.
Without warning, the villagers descended upon us like a pack of wild animals. The moment I saw them, I instinctively took cover beneath a nearby tree. My instincts proved correct, however, since none of the villagers bothered to look up. Instead, they continued advancing forward, moving in unison toward the woman.
She remained calm, even as the men closed in on her. At first, I thought she planned on fighting them herself. However, instead of drawing a knife, she reached out and grabbed hold of one of the nearest man’s arms. Then, without any hesitation whatsoever, she pulled his arm backward, causing him to stumble back onto the ground.
A second later, another villager joined the fray, grabbing the same woman by the wrist. He tried pulling her hand free, but once more, she refused to budge. Instead, she leaned forward and planted a kiss right on top of the man’s forehead. Instantly, both the woman and the villager disappeared from sight. Moments later, the remaining villagers stopped attacking altogether.
Then, just as quickly, the woman reappeared beside me. Her eyes glowed bright white, and she smiled warmly at me. “You see now, don’t you?” she asked. “The power of love.”
Suddenly, the entire world seemed to come crashing down around me. All the pain and suffering I’d experienced during my life flashed through my mind. It had been so long since I felt happiness, yet somehow, the woman managed to bring joy back into my heart. For the first time ever, I actually believed there was a chance for me to live happily ever after.
The End