Back in Wisteria Town, five days have already passed since the incident and the little girl still refused to speak. The leader's wife claimed the main guardianship role over the little girl since her husband was their source of income. To the outside world many known him as a skilled blacksmith and not the leader of a secret organization.
His wife Trinity was a beautiful woman with fair skin, long blonde hair that was as soft as silk, and green eyes that shine like an emerald jewel when she smiled. She was an average height of five feet and four inches tall with a decent body shape. Not too big and not too skinny. Not being able to have children of her own caused a surge of emotions within her when her husband brought the little one home.
That day the little girl stood a little over three feet tall next to her husband. The top of her head reached a little passed her husband's elbow. She looked to be about five or six years old. Her untidy long silver hair was tied up in a ponytail which was one of her most unique features. It was the first time Trinity had seen such a hair color.
Her skin was also peculiar. A much darker tone than she had seen before. It was darker than a walnut, yet lighter than grounded cinnamon. Looking at her facial features she had swollen blue eyes, that were clouded making them a couple shades darker. The look of despair weighed heavily on her little round face. Even her clothes went through a horrific ordeal. Her longed sleeve plain white dress with brown capris underneath were ruined from the obsessive amount of dirt on it.
Even after being fawned over those passed five days the little girl remained silent. She would only nod or shake her head if she liked or disliked something. Her previous expression even rooted itself in as the look of despair dawn on her face refused to disappear.
Trinity's heart ached every time she would look into her lifeless eyes. She wanted to comfort her, but she was not sure how. Even though her husband was a hunter she never had actually been in a situation where she encountered a demon herself.
As she watched the speechless little girl, staring out of the living room window, she made a vow in her heart to bring back this little one's smile. She calmed her emotions before taking a step forward towards the little one to deliver her a snack. She sat a plate of freshly cut apples down on the table beside her with a gentle smile.
"Little one you should eat something. You didn't eat much this morning," Trinity suggested while gently petting her head.
The little girl turned towards the apples on the plate. She titled her head first looking at the plate of apple slices observing their appearance. 'They do look delicious,' she thought before nodding in agreement.
She picked up an apples slice from the plate to eat. The snack before her had a moist and juicy sensation when she bit into it. It had the texture and appeal of a pear but looked and tasted different. Also, it was a lot sweeter than a pear which was to her liking. As she was eating the last apple slices her stomach started growling. Embarrassed she clammed up looking down while fidgeting with her hands in her lap while turning her foot inwards.
Trinity tried her best not the laughed at the adorable little one in front of her. Since the tragic event scared her mute, she was not sure what this little one preference were. So far, this little one only seems to eat the fruits she would bring her. "Would you like a fruit salad? It's a dish that has multiple kind of fruits within it," suggested Trinity.
The little girl looked at her with a confused expression. This was the first time she ever heard of such a thing. She thought for a minute then nodded her head in agreeance to the idea.
Trinity's face flourished with joy creating a brilliant smile across her face. She headed towards the kitchen leaving the little girl to finish her last apple slice. After some time passed, Trinity return, to the little one waiting patiently in the corner, with a bowl in her hands. It had blueberries, raspberries, grapes, kiwi, and oranges cover with honey mixed together.
The little girl stared at the bowl with delight looking at the different color fruits as if she was looking at a rainbow in the sky. Her once clouded eyes now were as clear as the blue sky letting its true beauty shine. The little girl never seen such an array in colors before. In her village they only had access to some berries, even the apple she ate earlier was a new fruit to her. Holding the bowl, she looked up and gave Trinity the best smile she could muster as a show of thanks.
Trinity was overflowed with emotions when she saw that this simple bowl of fruit ignited a spark within this little one. "Your welcome sweetie. Enjoy," she said with a loving smile.
As the little girl ate her rainbow colored dish, Trinity was relaxing in her favorite wooden chair, that was specially made with a feather cushion, sewing a dress when the front door was pushed open. Trinity's hand stopped mid-stitch as a smile full of affection cross her face when she saw the man entering.
"How's our new family addition? Has she said anything yet?" he asked his wife looking over at the little girl in the corner as he walked into the living room.
"She's doing better. I gave her a bowl of fruit and she seems pleased with it. She even smiled at me. I think it's still to early for her to want to speak though," Trinity said pulling the needle through to continue sewing.
"Hmmm….I see." He mumbled caressing his beard as he rested his left arm against his chest to support the arm that was gripping at his beard to observed her.
The little girl felt a gaze on her as she was eating the last pieces of fruits in her bowl. She looked up meekly at the man before her. She knew that she was safe from harm, but being around this man made her slightly uncomfortable, resulting in her mute state.
The man before her looked to be in his late thirties with brown hair and brown eyes. He had a heavy built ripped with muscles and a cooper-like body tone. By observing him she could tell he was of a different nationality from herself and his wife. His face now has less facial hair on his chin then when she first met him.
Even though this man named Vincent is now her adopted father she couldn't help having a slimmer of fear in her heart. So, she would sometimes stare blankly up towards him to mask her fear.
"Artemis….," he finally spoke again with a stern authority before falling silent again.
"Artemis?" his wife asked with a curious tone.
"Yes. Since she still refused to speak. I think we should just give her a new name. So, little one from here on you are Artemis the daughter of a blacksmith and a head hunter," announced Vincent with a gallant smile and a firm stance.