Red looked up, expecting to see the familiar dark sky, and the endless shining lights that littered the black abyss. She always did like looking up at the starry nights of Lucifica, gazing up into the moons that the Sky Beyond held tightly, as its rightful owner.
It calmed her, to some extents, reminding her of the beautiful days and wonderful tales that Grandmother would tell her.
Her favorite, in particular, was the Lady of Forgotten Dreams.
They say that the world only exists because the Lady of Forgotten Dreams sleeps, and therefore imagines and dreams of the world as it is constantly. Grandmother also told her, that if the Lady ever awakens from her endless slumber, that the world would cease to exist as we know it, forgotten and lost; just like a dream.
"Why, then, do we dream?" She muttered to nobody in particular, her voice carried by the winds to who knows where, as well as the thought and deep melancholy behind it.
If she was just a dream, if everything she is, was, and ever will be was just somebody else's imagination and unconscious thought…
Then why even try to live in the first place?
This was the question that bothered her ever since her meeting with the god of death, the one being that confirmed her deep-rooted fear and anxiety, her insecurities and deep thoughts, as well as her lonely melancholy. He was, in a way, her most trusted confidant.
He had told her of the truth of the world, what it contained, and how it can be resolved. Everything just needed to go right.
Which it did not, unsurprisingly. It was actually even ironic.
"Haha." A chuckle escaped her mouth as she flexed her fingers as if holding something big and firm, almost wooden, in fact.
The sensation of unforgettable death was still present in the young girl's mind, like a disgusting stain on a beautiful dress, defiling it permanently. Unless, of course, one simply buys another beautiful dress. Sadly, this was not a method available to her.
At least, not yet.
"Ylfa! Where in all nine hells are you?!" A shouting voice full of disdain and criticism came beckoned her to look to the side begrudgingly.
A mature woman wearing a black and white maid's garments that revealed her ample bosom and belly, as well as her thick thighs trudged out from behind a wall of tall, lush vegetation. She had sewn, cut, and made this outfit for herself, hoping to attract the attention of a certain someone by revealing as much skin as she possibly could, ignoring all the other stares that various people regarded her with, only caring about one. Her hand was glowing with a mystical aura as she parted it just enough for her to pass through.
'Druidcraft.' Red immediately recognized the source of the mystical aura, having familiarized herself with the alleged magic of the forest greatly, even creating a couple of spells based around it.
She stood up politely and put her hands in front of her, plastering a fake smile on her face, as well as the mask of innocence that she always wore.
"What might it be, Hana? Did Master Bravefeather need something from me?" She asked in her meek tone and soft voice, making herself sound as small as possible.
Hana looked around first, as if looking for somebody before adressing her. She jabbed her finger at Red's forehead with a scowl.
"Shut up, you impudent brat. Lord Bryne would NEVER need anything of you, NEVER! He need only me and me alone. It was but a fluke that somebody as worthless and pathetic as yourself was even chosen by the Lord himself as his personal handmaiden. A fluke! You hear me…?! Not only am I far more suited for the job, I am also far more beautiful, skilled, and experienced. I have been in service of Lord Bryne for longer than you've been alive, little girl. Don't even think having cocky, huh?! You're just a toy. He'll get tired of you eventually, just like all the others! And when he does I—we'll… heh… ehehe…"
As the lustful and envious woman lost herself in her own reverie, Red simply remained still and silent, her face lowered as if she was on the verge of tears.
Ever since the bandits' attack, Hana would 'request' personal meetings with her in some secluded part of the enchanter forest and vent all of her frustrations on her.
After she was done, she would always get lost in her own world, even doing… activities that no child her age should ever witness, a if she was not even there. The woman seemed to regard Red as no different than air, invisible and practically nonexistent.
Meanwhile, Red stayed still as a statue, biding her time. It was not time yet, things were not ready yet. She still needed time to understand her own abilities and skills, taking great care to learn and master them. And for that, even the mad woman in front of her was necessary. Not crucially so, but still otherwise necessary.
After fifteen minutes or so, and she finally lifter her head, watching the mad woman panting heavily as she reveled in her own fantasies. It was time to leave.
Using her refined silence and familiarity of the woods, Red walked away stealthily, her footsteps hidden behind the faint sounds of rustling leaves and whistling winds.
With a light wave, she disabled the druidcraft magic that had been cast on the vines and leaves, letting it close in on itself once again, separating her from the mad woman. She would get told off for this later, if she even remembered Red in the first place—which, in most cases, was highly unlikely.
'She always did like to think of herself first. I'm pretty sure that the only reason she wants to get close to Master Bravefeather is because of his connection to the Grand House of Cry, the noble house governing over most of Hamaha, just a level below royalty itself. If she ever found a much better suitor, I bet that she would switch targets in a heartbeat.'
Red was fairly certain of this, even going as far as saying that it was almost a Prophecy made by a Seer. While she was young, she was fairly knowledgeable about such surreptitious plots between noble houses and servants. Though much was still left to be desired.
"…Huh?" Red looked to the side, noticing another rustling of leaves and bushes just over yonder.
Her other visitor had arrived, one she was much more fond of.
"Oh, there you are. Hey, Red. Can you help me with something?"
The boy with a crutch beckoned his innocently, an excited smile on his face.
"What is it this time?"
For some reason, her heart pounded loudly in her chest. She had butterflies in her stomach, and her legs felt somewhat like jelly. She barely kept her emotions intact, letting her bare thoughts out and about. To her surprise, however, the boy did not particularly care, instead acting supportive about her true personality.
'He's so weird… heh.'
She always felt safe around the boy, his mere presence enveloping her with the confidence she needed for what felt like years.
"Oh, you know, I just need your help practicing to walk properly. I really just need somebody to watch me in case I fall down… and stuff."
She smiled in return.
'He needs me…'
"Of course… whatever you say. Just say the word and I'll do it."
A seed was sown in the maiden's heart, marking the start of a disaster that nobody could have ever expected.