Two days ago, a caravan traveling headed to the western desert makes a quick stop at Lorrie Village. The chief escort of this caravan jumps off from his beast and talk to the guard on duty in front of the town's Eastern gate.
"Good afternoon! We are a passerby, a caravan from Coles' Kingdom. I would like to request to speak to your village chieftain." politely, the man speaks out.
"What do you want from him? If you have a message, you can relay the words to me." a man in his 40's replied.
"Can I know who you are, mister?"
"I am the head watcher of this gate."
"Then, can you escorted me to him, instead?" the caravan Chief escort requested.
The head watcher took to silence and weigh a few things. Keenly, he studied the rest of the caravan before he decided.
"All right. But I want the rest of your company to stay here in the front gate, and I will speak to the chieftain on your behalf," he offers.
"That is fine for me. We are on a schedule, I cannot waste time."
"Then, follow me."
Riding their beasts, the head watcher brought the man to this town's Hall. Outside a room, he waited patiently.
A loud creak on the wooden floor upon the head guard's footsteps approaching from behind that door. He stood on his feet upon seeing the eastern gate head watcher step out of the room, curious for a reply he carries.
"The chieftain has called Baba Lucia to see the girl. We can wait for her arrival, then we can go back to the gate."
The caravan chief escort nodded. Not long after, an old woman arrives.
"Baba Lucia, forgive us to interrupt your prayers."
"Hmm... if it is urgent and a request by the chieftain, it is fine." Baba Lucia replied. She glances at a stranger man who gestures a greeting to her.
They brought Baba Lucia to the eastern gate to see the girl. Said that this girl was found by the travelers on their way back to Western borders.
Baba Lucia climbed up in the carriage to examine the girl. After performing the checkup, she peeks behind the curtain.
"She only lost consciousness, and it seems she has no wounds, there is nothing to worry about. But I am uncertain of the reason she lost consciousness."
"We meet a huge storm." the chief escort replied. "Never in my life, I saw one before. When we resume our journey, we found her. However, we cannot bring her with us, and so, I requested the chieftain if we can leave her here. Could you watch her and help her go back home when she woke up?"
"How kind of you, gentleman," Baba Lucia complimented him.
"I cannot imagine my sister would fall to dangerous people, apart from that, I am certain that her family searching for her by now. Please, this is not much but hopefully, it could help."
"There is no need. You can buy a present for your sister instead. Don't you think?" Baba Lucia refuses to accept the few silver coins the guy giving her.
"I will shelter the girl, you can assure." Baba Lucia announced.
"Oh, thank you very much!" the man's face actually lighten up, as a weight taken away from her shoulder.
That afternoon, the caravan resumes their journey toward the Western Kingdom after they found a place for the girl to stays safely.
"Who is she, grannie?" a teenage girl enters the room.
"Senya, why don't you get a bucket of hot water and a clean towel? And then, prepare clean clothes for our guest."
"Okay, Grannie!" cheerfully, Senya goes back to her way out.
Before evening, Baba Lucia cleans the girl and changes her clothes. Senya is blushing while helping Baba Lucia.
"Why is your face gotten flustered?"
"Do you think, she is from a rich family, granny? Perhaps, a princess!"
"And how could you tell?" Baba Lucia glares at her granddaughter.
She knew her granddaughter observing a lot to all the guests that stay in this town.
Mostly, a caravan would stay for a night before they resume their journey during the day.
"Look, granny! Her skin is so smooth, and like a milky complexion, unlike me!" she stretches her arms, showing to her grandma. "I am just ordinary, a poor girl." she frowned.
"Huh! You are actually fortunate more than anyone from this village! And why are you lamenting? You prefer to remain outdoors, the reason your skin burns!"
"Hey, granny! You should be happy about it, instead!
"I do, as long as you finish the house chores before you snuck out!"
"Eh? I finished my chores! Stop scolding me!" Senya pouted.
"Then do your job! Give me that blanket!"
Senya picks up the red blanket and handed it to Baba Lucia. "Anyway, grandma… how old do you believe she is?"
"Hmm… She's probably 18 years old."
"She's three years older than me, then."
"She appears to be. I am certain also, that she is mature and does not act childish."
"How could you say that to me!" she complains again. Senya blurted out and give reasons to all scolding Baba Lucia throw at her.
* * *
Now, it has been three days since then…
Baba Lucia still wonder if who could be this beautiful girl. It seems she possesses something. She could sense warm energy from her, but she cannot feel anything at all that determines if she holds power.
"Why she can bring back the life of a withering flower?" she mumbles.
"What are you talking about, grandma? Is it, the Great King could give life to the whole land? Father said that the deserts are full of various flowers and trees. Lakes could found anywhere. Now, it is just empty but treacherous land."
"That's impossible. I never heard that the firstborn is a woman. All the great king's bloodline, blessed with a son's as the eldest child."
"For three thousand years, all the heirs of the throne are the first-born son." Baba Lucia added.
"So? Who is she? You know grandma, I heard in the tavern that even the powerful shamans cannot restore a dead tree."
"Wait, a minute. Have you visiting that store full of drunkards bastards?"
"I did not! I just heard it when I pass the store." Senya reasons turn her head but smirking.
Baba Lucia sighed. This granddaughter of her is such a trouble.
"But you know, grandma. I read a book about the power of the Goddess Athene. Isn't she's the one who builds the Great Kingdom?"
"And why are you brought up this?"
"Nothing. I am just thinking, you know. Only the Great King and the goddess could turn a desert into a lake or a field of flowers."
"Is it relevant to our guest? Is that what you think?"
Senya keeps silent. Baba Lucia actually discerns about it as well. Now that her granddaughter mentions this, she might also begin believing as well that this girl holds an important role.
Why does she could bring life?
"I have been praying to heaven, granny. That the Great Land has to go back to its peaceful--"
Senya pauses, peering behind at Baba Lucia.