"The noon melted into night, her hair grew grey. The wolf staggered, as the waning moon doth turn. To swift decay, and…"
Aesther's eyes softly blinked at the faintly familiar song. The voice was thick with a charming accent and clear like the sun rays shining through the spring.
"...burn her fire away."
As the solemn music faded into the air, Aesther gradually became aware of herself. She blinked the haze from her gaze, but as she regained consciousness, her heart became heavy with frosty ache.
Wasn't she dead?
She jolted upright in a panic.
Her body was very light, there were no signs of injury or any wounds. The bed beneath her was not the one she remembered either.
It was simple but carried a dizzying scent of flowery perfume and some oils.
The slightly worn-off quilt was light and cheap but embroidered with bright threads of gold and crimson―of blossoming flowers and flamingos.
Aesther averted her gaze towards the crystal curtains, the ornate vials on a bedside table, and the discarded night robe.
These kinds of things were found in pleasure houses.
"..."
She was stiff for a moment.
A distant rustle from the end of the room made her gaze narrow. Aesther carefully stepped down from the bed and curled her fingers around the short lamp. It lightly rattled but her feet made no sound as she crossed the room.
The shadow turned when Aesther had raised the lamp right over his head. He flinched and she froze when their eyes met.
He was a young man, with refined features. A seemingly noble lord one wouldn't expect to find in such a place.
Aesther's face bore no expressions as she lowered the lamp but her heart was in turmoil. After staring at his fair―nearly pale― face for a while she realized he was Neil or was it, Nigel?
It didn't matter what his name was but the young man was the illegitimate son of a noble lady. In the years to come, he has become the heir of the Alpha and taken his seat.
He died on the very night of his inauguration.
But as Aesther recalled the deeds he had done before his rather tragic yet amusing death, a slight smile curved on the edge of her lips.
He was the reason she became an outcast.
Nigel sparked the fire.
"You are awake," he smiled innocently but it didn't quite reach his eyes, "Did you have a nightmare?"
She died, how about that for a nightmare?
Aesther watched him without blinking. She slowly took in the familiar face, not caring about how a flicker of unease appeared over Nigel's eyes. He always liked to dress in fine clothes, but those became more gilded and expensive after he met Aesther.
There were rings of gem and silver on his finger, a thin chain of gold that vanished under his white shirt with an open collar.
"I will bring something to eat," Nigel awkwardly offered and left the room.
A bitter taste lingered inside of her as Aesther realized how much she had done for a worthless man.
Lots of thoughts invaded her mind upon seeing him.
The memories of the past wore her down, but in the end, they weren't supposed to be anything more than a shadow―soon to be lost.
However, nothing in the Lands of Rah was a mere coincidence. It was a place of strangeness and magic.
Aesther couldn't be too sure.
To verify her doubts, she found a bronze mirror.
On the dim yellow thing, she could see her face in a blur.
Aesther was in her late twenties at the time of her death but the reflection that looked back was the face of a young lady. It was very delicate, immature, and a face fairly pleasing to look at.
Neither too plain nor very beautiful.
Besides her eyes, they appeared domineering over such gentle features. The molten hazel was like a burning cinder. But she was still a young girl with a delicate body.
However, inside Aesther's mind, there was a long silence.
The crystal curtains swayed a little with the breeze. Her expressions remained as blank as her heart.
And as the realisation finally dawned upon her, Aesther had only one thing to say.
"...fuck."
The doors opened again and Nigel arrived with two goblets of wine. Aesther didn't glance back as he said something, her mind was a little dizzy trying to comprehend the sudden change.
She also had to fight the strong urge to shove the boy out of her room because she needed some time alone to get her thoughts straight.
But in the past, Aesther was a naive and gentle-hearted maiden.
She had not yet become a warrior and taken the sword. The townsmen might feel like the luna needs asylum if she suddenly changes her demeanour.
"I thought you would be asleep," Nigel says as he placed the tray down and offered her the goblet of wine. He asked curiously.
"You were very sleepy during our meal, Aesther. What happened all of sudden?"
She gazed at the wine for a long moment, as more and more memories of the past came back in waves of remembrance.
The wine reminded her of blood.
Aesther lifted her gaze, staring back at Nigel who tried to maintain his deceptively charming smile.
This same small gesture had once made her heart flutter. But now, Aesther felt a strong urge to wipe that smile off his face.
She still remembered how sincere and sad Nigel had appeared when they first met.
He was the best disciple in the Alkazar, the pride of the reigning Alpha while she was the scar―a crippled Luna who was not even strong enough to shift into her wolf.
Nigel's friendship had meant a lot to Aesther in her earlier days at Alkazar.
Then one day, he convinced her to dine out with him. He took her to 'The House of Wine' a place for all sorts of pleasure and he drugged her before leaving her in an empty room of the house.
The luna who was supposed to be sacred and pious was found in the dishevelled bed of a pleasure house.
Aesther's face turned black as she recalled what happened after that.