It was nightfall. The rest of the villagers had already retreated to their houses; tired from working and training all day long. Astraea was sitting by the coast as usual, deep in her thoughts; her auburn hair dancing with the wind. More than six months had passed since the travellers landed on Deria but the memories of what happened are still new to her as if the events were of yesterday. She could not forget; and there was something that had plagued her since that fateful night.
She remembered losing her consciousness almost immediately after the battle had ceased. When she woke up the next day, the village was still trying to get back to normal. Most of the people were still shaken, while others did a good job setting things aside. It was an appalling occurrence in their lives and she was glad that the people were trying to forget.
But what bothered her the most was the thing that had first attacked her perpetrators. Livaeus said that after she collapsed, they went back to the forest to retrieve the bodies and bury it. To their surprise, they discovered mutilated and dismembered bodies; something that none of them had committed. There were severed heads, limbs, and other parts and organs scattered all over the place. The trees were painted with blood, the ground muddy with it. The bodies were already decomposing, as though they had died over a week ago, and the place was fetid.
As for Theodore, Livaeus said that his body was never found.
She didn't mind those at first, but things started to change after that. Animals started to die; killed in the same manner as the travellers, the crops withered away and black birds would be frequently seen among every house in the village. The people started to get anxious, but her father dismissed them saying this might just be another natural phenomena.
Astraea couldn't help but think that these were connected to the arrival of the travellers, their deaths, and the creature with the red eyes that she saw earlier that day. She couldn't shake her mind off of it; and its connection with its subsequent events.
"Why are you here all by yourself?" It was her father, Ragan. Unlike her, Ragan had dark hair and brown eyes while her mother had dark hair and dark eyes like the rest of the villagers. This often makes Astraea feel and look odd. She asked her mother about this once, but she only said that she inherited her features from her grandparents.
"The ocean calms me," Astraea said, "It makes me forget the unfortunate occasions."
Ragan smiled and sat beside her. "Why do you think it's unfortunate?"
"Because it did nothing good. I should've stopped you from welcoming them."
"So, you think your father made a wrong decision?"
Astraea sighed. She respects her father so much, but she couldn't help but feel that his decision was poorly handled. "I don't know. Maybe, yes. I was nearly kidnapped and some of us nearly died."
"I made that decision out of goodwill. I saw strangers in need of help. We took care of them, gave them food and shelter, and treated their wounds. Yet they tried to take my only child away and almost killed me. The fault wasn't in me, it was with them."
"But, still. We could've avoided disaster if we just drove them off."
"But that doesn't guarantee our safety. They could 've come back at us for not welcoming them." Ragan paused for a while as Astraea weighed in her words. "We never know what will or could've happened. There are things that we cannot control. The only thing we can do is to be kind, Astraea. Never regret being a good person because of bad people."
Her father stood up and motioned for her to follow, "I'll stay here for a while. I'll follow soon." As soon as she said this, Ragan turned his back and walked away, but no sooner had he took a couple steps, he said once more, "Astraea, the world is full of secrets and revelations. We can never change the past, but we can still do something to save tomorrow. You cannot know what awaits you and what is truly for you." Ragan smiled, "Be brave, and follow your heart."
Astraea wanted to ask more questions, but her father already left. She didn't understand his final words. The only world they know is Deria, and it's the farthest they can go. She found her father's words odd and eerie; as though it warns her of something. But somehow she finds it comforting; knowing that she can rely on someone.
She sighed. It was getting darker and the way home will be harder to find. For some reason, the village is located somewhere in the middle of the woods. The stars and moon had brightened the night sky. Somehow, she finds it comforting.
She reached their hut at once. Unlike the other huts which was made out of woods and palm leaves, their hut was made out of bamboo with a roof of nipa leaves. This was intentionally made to distinguish the chief's house from the others.
She entered her room and threw herself onto the bed. Her window was open and the cold breeze of the night blew softly. She sat on her bed, contemplated for a while, before realizing that she never opened her window.
She quickly stood up and examined her surroundings. Everyone in the household knew that she didn't want anyone entering her room and the windows to be open. She didn't know why, but something about it makes her terrified.
At first glance, no one would think that her room was invaded. There were no footprints and everything was neat. Fortunately, she sensed no one in her room except for herself. Astraea quickly closed and locked her bedroom window. She didn't even throw a glance at the darkness outside because she already felt a pair of eyes staring at her.
She never told anyone, but since that night, she'd always felt like she was being watched; every second, every minute, every day - for the past six months. Occasionally, too, she would be plague by visions. There were nights that she would wake up screaming to something or someone, only to forget everything after.
She sighed. Maybe she was just hallucinating. She wanted to think it was that. Astraea knew she had to convince herself.
Something, however, caught her attention. It wasn't something that shouts danger. It was sitting at the table beside her bed. She moved closer and saw that it was a cloak. An old one, but the cloak was neat and clean as though someone had taken care of it. She unwrapped and saw that there was embroidery of an eagle whose wings were unfolded with the moon above it. At the bottom of it, was her name embroidered in golden stitches.
She smiled. It was probably her mother or father who left it. As for the window, it didn't matter. She thought of going to her parents' quarters to ask about the veil, but decided it would be better to ask them tomorrow. She tucked herself to bed, embracing the cloak. The feeling of it in her arms gives her a familiar feeling of warmth and comfort. With a final glance at it, she drifted to sleep.
If only Astraea knew that last night would be the last time she would ever be able to sleep peacefully, she would've taken advantage of the previous nights that had come by.
Because now, she found herself running deeper and deeper within the woods with Ragan and Genaine as they were chased by several unknown men. She and her father were both holding their swords, she alongside the cloak. Their village were burned down, and the men had already killed several of them; men, women, and children.