[Silvia]
On a cold winter evening, a 5-year-old girl, Silvia, took a moment to observe the darkening surroundings of their new place. The sun had already set, and the last rays of light were fading away on the horizon, casting long shadows on the snow-covered forest floor. The crisp, cool air brushed against her delicate face, adding color to her round cheeks, only to be chased away by the gentle heat radiating from the campfire nearby.
Thankfully, the weather was much more pleasant compared to the fierce snowstorm that had raged yesterday. Though it was still incredibly cold, so after a whole day of walking, the young girl and her mother, Nivalis, had made a humble shelter out of sticks, blankets, pine needles, and whatever materials they could find around here to keep themselves warm. It nestled beside a tall pine tree, with walls of compacted snow surrounding the sides, offering additional protection from the biting winds and prying eyes.
Above them, a dark blue and purple sky stretched out, with a handful of stars that had just begun to twinkle. Silvia, a short girl, even for her age, cradled her baby brother in her tiny hands as they sat around the campfire, which crackled and flickered, casting a warm glow on their tired faces. They were both cold and hungry.
Their mother, Nivalis, diligently tended to the campfire, occasionally stirring the embers with a long stick and adding more wood to keep the flames alive. "Mommy?" Silvia's soft voice called out, breaking the silence.
Nivalis turned her attention away from the flickering flames to her daughter, who was seated across from her, eyes reflecting the dancing flames. "Yes, my dear?" she asked, her voice warm and gentle.
— "Can you teach me how to cook, please?" Silvia asked, rocking her baby brother from side to side, occasionally huffing on his face to warm him up a bit.
Nivalis tilted her head, her brows furrowing ever so slightly. "Cook?" she asked, confused by her daughter's sudden interest. "Are you sure?"
Silvia nodded eagerly, chirping a confident "Yep" in her childish, high-pitched voice. "You've been pulling the sled all day... and, well... I want to help. Even if it's just a little bit."
Nivalis gave her a tender smile. "I see. That's a wonderful idea, sweetie. But are you sure? You always said you didn't like it. I don't mind cooking for my sweet girl, you know," she added, trying to ease her daughter's concern.
The little girl shook her head, her long silvery-white hair fluttering in the breeze. Glancing up at her mother with wide, hopeful eyes, she pleaded in a high-pitched voice, "Please, Mommy. I really want to learn. I promise I will try my best. "
Letting out a soft sigh, Nivalis looked between her children with a smile that seemed to be warmer than the fire itself. "Oh, my sweet," she said tenderly, patting the ground beside her. "Come here, love. I suppose I can teach you a thing or two."
A glowing smile spread across Silvia's pale face, and she eagerly rushed to her mother's side, her small feet crunching on the snow as she did so. "Thank you, Mommy!" she said excitedly, bouncing on the softness of her little butt.
Nivalis chuckled, a warm and joyful sound that seemed to chase away the chill in the air. She wrapped an arm around her daughter and pulled her close, then reached out to take the baby from her arms, carefully cradling the bundle of blankets. "I will take care of the little one," she whispered, looking down at her little boy.
Aster squinted his beautiful, golden eyes at her and cooed, revealing his toothless gums. With a tender motion, Nivalis slowly opened her coat, revealing the delicate porcelain-white skin of her chest. She then placed her son inside her coat, his tiny body fitting perfectly within her bosom. She kept adjusting him inside until his mouth found her nipple and began suckling on it.
Nivalis let out a satisfied sigh and turned her attention to her daughter, who had been patiently waiting for this whole time. "I was just about to start making dinner for us, a soup. Would you like to help me?" Nivalis asked, adding in a whisper, "It's not too difficult, I promise."
— "Okay," Silvia nodded, looking up at her mother with big, curious eyes.
"Perfect. Come with me, sweetie. Let's see what we have here," Nivalis said, standing up and gesturing for her daughter to follow her. One hand never left her bosom, supporting the hungry boy who kept suckling on her pink nipple.
Without saying a word, Silvia followed her mother, stepping outside of their shelter and towards their sled. For the next few minutes, they rummaged through their supplies, gathering dried herbs, vegetables, and some dried mushrooms that Nivalis had prepared beforehand.
Once they had gathered everything they needed, they returned to the campfire and settled back beside the blazing flames. Even though the trip was quite short, the girl still found her tiny hands going numb. "Okay, the first thing we need is water," Nivalis explained, grabbing an empty pot. "Could you scoop some snow into the pot, sweetie? Try to fill it up."
Eager to help, Silvia quickly grabbed the pot from her mother's grasp. She then rushed to the nearest pile and scooped the fluffy, white snow into the pot. "Like this, Mommy?" she asked, looking up at her mother for approval.
"Perfect, my dear. Keep going until it's full," Nivalis encouraged her, giving her daughter an approving nod. Once the pot was filled to the brim, Nivalis gestured for her to bring it to the fire. "Now, let's place it above the fire and wait for the snow to melt and boil," Nivalis said, carefully placing the pot above the crackling flames.
Hissing sounds filled the air as the snow started to melt inside the metal pot. "While we wait, let's wash and cut our veggies. Could you grab the knife for me, please?" Nivalis asked, pointing to the small knife they had brought from the sled, peeking out from a bag.
— "O-okay," Silvia nodded nervously, reaching for the bag near her. Her small fingers wrapped around the blade's wooden hilt. It felt heavy in her delicate hand, even though it was the smallest knife they owned. "Here," she muttered, handing it to her mom.
Nivalis accepted the knife with a soft smile. "Thank you. Now, watch me closely, okay?" she instructed, guiding her daughter's gaze to the blade in her hand. Slowly, at first, Nivalis began slicing the vegetables on a wooden cutting board with ease, leaving behind clean, uniform cuts. It looked so easy.
"Now, your turn, my dear. I'll help you, okay?" Nivalis guided her daughter's hands gently, placing the knife firmly in her grasp. "Hold it like this, and be careful," she whispered, positioning her fingers on the handle.
With a nod, Silvia focused on the vegetable before her, her eyes narrowing, her little brow furrowing. She moved the blade slowly and carefully, trying to mimic her mother's movements, all while trying not to hurt herself. "That's great, my love. Very good. Keep going," Nivalis encouraged, guiding her small hand with her own.
Silvia licked her lips nervously and continued to slice the vegetables. Her movements were clumsy, and her cuts were uneven and haphazard, but with her mother's guidance, she slowly improved, her cuts growing steadier and more confident. "You're doing great, sweetie," Nivalis praised, removing her hand from Silvia's and allowing her to try on her own.
And she tried, but it was hard. After a few minutes, the knife fell from her hand, and her shoulders sagged with exhaustion. Nivalis took the knife and gently squeezed her daughter's hand. "You're doing a great job, my sweet. Don't worry. Practice will make you even better," Nivalis assured her, kissing her forehead. "I'm proud of you. You did very well, sweetie."
Silvia forced a smile on her face. "Thanks," she muttered shyly, knowing it was quite terrible. Yet it felt good to hear the opposite.
After several minutes, the water in the pot began to boil, and Nivalis had finished preparing everything they needed for the soup. Once the water began to boil, Nivalis instructed her daughter to place the chopped vegetables into the pot. "Be careful, okay?" she warned.
Without hesitation, Silvia eagerly obeyed and began to drop the colorful vegetables into the hot liquid one by one, careful not to burn herself. Instead of taking the wooden board, she did countless back-and-forth trips to the pot. Yet, her mother didn't say anything about it, letting her do things in her own way.
"Now, we need some herbs to make it taste better," Nivalis whispered after all the ingredients were inside the boiling water. She tossed in a handful of herbs she'd got from the sled earlier and began to stir the soup.
With wide, curious eyes, Silvia watched; her little nose began to wiggle cutely as she sniffed the aroma of the soup that was now wafting through the air. "Mmm, smells yummy," she said, smiling.
"Of course. It smells good because my little girl worked hard on it." Nivalis smiled, looking at the pot and then back at her daughter. It made Silvia's cheeks blush. "You did great, and I mean it. When I was your age, I was nowhere near as good as you are. Mommy was a bit of a clutz," she added, chuckling. "Who knows, maybe one day you'll become a famous cook."
— "Do you really think so?" Silvia asked, her gaze searching her mother's. "I don't think I was that good."
Nivalis just nodded. "I do. And I'm very proud of you. You did an amazing job." A moment later, she scooped a bit of soup and brought the spoon to her daughter's lips. "Here, dear. Taste and see yourself. Tell me what you think."
Silvia nodded, blowing on the spoon before tasting the broth, but it was still too hot for her. "Hot! Hot!" she hissed, sticking out her tongue.
Nivalis chuckled at that, blowing on her little, slippery tongue to ease the pain. "Be more careful, okay?" she warned her and kept gently blowing. Her lips almost touched the tender flesh.
— "Sorry, Mommy," Silvia apologized, her face scrunched with discomfort and shame. Once the pain was gone, the girl retreated her tongue back into her mouth and tried the soup again, blowing more carefully on the spoon. This time, the soup was cooled down enough for her to taste. "It's very tasty," she smiled, smacking her lips joyfully.
Nivalis couldn't help but smile back. "Good. Now, let's just let it simmer for a while, and it will be done." Then she added, "We can also add some meat to it, but I think we should save that for later," she decided, hoping to stretch out their meat as long as possible. Who knows when they will be able to get more?
— "Okay," Silvia nodded, not even questioning why. If her mommy said so, it's probably the right choice not to eat meat today.
Nivalis reached out and brushed away a lock of silvery-white hair that had fallen on Silvia's face, tucking it behind her ear. "You want to play a game while we wait?" she asked quietly, looking at her daughter tenderly. "It will take quite a while."
The little girl's eyes lit up. "A game? Yay! Which one, Mommy?" she exclaimed, bouncing on her butt once again.
Letting out a sigh, Nivalis opened her coat and took a look at her son. He was asleep, enjoying the warmth of his mother. "Be a little bit quieter, my dear," Nivalis gently scolded. "Your brother just fell asleep."
Silvia slapped her hands on her mouth and nodded. "Sorry," she apologized, words muffled by her palms.
Nivalis smiled at her and closed the coat back around her son. "It's okay. But be more careful. So... how about a guessing game?"
Silvia nodded, pressing her petite body closer to her mother, and they started to play, exchanging clues and whispers.
...
The next hour flew by, filled with laughter, giggles, and fun until Nivalis's gentle voice interrupted their game. "I think it's done, sweetie," she whispered, looking at the soup, which had turned a rich, golden color. "Yeah, it looks good," she said, removing the pot from the fire.
Nivalis took two bowls from their belongings and filled them with the steaming hot liquid. She offered one to her daughter, whose eyes shone brightly with anticipation. "Here you go, my love. Enjoy," Nivalis said with a warm smile.
Silvia eagerly accepted the bowl, thanking her mother with a bright grin. Wrapping her tiny hands around the bowl, she started to eat, taking small bites of her food, chewing carefully, savoring the taste of every single spoonful. Nivalis followed suit, sitting down beside her daughter, sipping from her own bowl, enjoying the warmth and taste of their meal.
Between bites, Silvia paused to express her gratitude. "Thank you for the food, Mommy. It's very yummy," she said, licking her spoon.
"You're very welcome, my dear. I had a great assistant that helped me. We make a good team," Nivalis smiled, ruffling her daughter's hair affectionately.
Silvia giggled at that, blushing slightly. "Yeah, we sure do," she said, her face beaming with happiness. "And thank you for teaching me. It was very fun. I don't know why I even disliked it... I guess I thought it was too difficult," she added, her voice trailing.
Nivalis leaned forward and planted a loving kiss on Silvia's forehead, brushing her hair with her fingers. "I'm glad you liked it. When your brother grows up a little, we'll cook for him together, okay?" she whispered warmly.
Silvia couldn't help but grin at the thought. "Yes! I'd like that very much," she replied, already imagining her baby brother sitting at the table, patiently waiting for his food, and her and her mom working together to prepare a delicious meal for him, with aprons and all.
The next hour passed in comfortable silence as they enjoyed their hearty meal. The only sounds were their occasional chewing and gulping, the crackling of the campfire, and the soft breathing of the sleeping baby boy, who was snuggled safely in his mother's bosom. His mouth kept moving against the nipple, even in his sleep.
Then suddenly, a loud rustling sound came from the bushes, breaking the silence and startling both girls. Nivalis' blue eyes widened in alarm as she tried to understand what was happening. But before she could react, a blunt force struck the back of her head, causing her to cry out in pain and lose her balance. She collapsed to the ground, her son slipping from her coat and landing on the snowy ground with a thud. The impact caused him to start crying loudly. Everything went black for Nivalis, and she collapsed unconscious, lying beside her crying son.
Silvia stood there, frozen in fear, her bowl of soup still clutched in her trembling hands. She stared in horror at her mother, lying motionless on the ground, and then turned her head to see two men standing, their figures illuminated by the flickering flames of the fire. A heartbeat later, the little girl dropped the bowl she had been holding and let out a blood-curdling scream that echoed throughout the night air.
— "S-stay back!" Silvia screamed in a panic, standing between the two men and her unconscious mother. Her voice trembled heavily, and her eyes filled with tears, giving away her fear.
The two men, however, exchanged glances and shrugged indifferently, approaching her without a hint of urgency or concern in their behavior. The girl made a few steps back, her knees shaking and her feet threatening to give way beneath her.
One of the men, the taller one, reached into his backpack and pulled out a rope, tossing it to the other. "Here. Just... don't hurt her," he said, and his partner caught it in mid-air, not breaking his gaze on Silvia, mumbled a quiet, "Sure."
Silence hung in the air, and the only sound was the crackling of the campfire and the frightened, ragged breaths of the small child. "Mommy, please, wake up," Silvia cried out, glancing behind her at her mother's motionless body, making more steps backward. Her eyes darted between the two men and her mother, panic, and fear etched on her delicate face. "MOMMY! P-PLEASE... WAKE UP!" she yelled again.
As if the shout had awakened something deep within her, Nivalis's body shook, and her eyes snapped open, her vision blurry. She blinked repeatedly, struggling to focus, but it barely helped. She slowly rolled to her side, trying to lift herself off the ground, but found it difficult. She felt dizzy, and her head hurt, her ears ringing loudly.
But she had to try.
With the last remnants of her consciousness, Nivalis attempted to crawl towards her children, her heart pounding in her chest with a mix of desperation and determination. However, before she could even reach them, the man who caught the rope earlier reacted quickly and kicked her in the stomach with his leather boot. Her body crumpled in pain, and she cried out, tears streaming down her face as she clutched at her abdomen. She could barely breathe, feeling herself slipping away into darkness again. "Tie her up," he ordered his friend.
The other guy hesitated, his gaze shifting between the helpless mother and his angry-looking friend. "I..." he mumbled, unsure of what to do. The sound of the crying children, a mother desperately trying to protect them... it was all too much for whoever it was.
However, the angry voice came again. "I'll keep kicking her to the ground until you do."
"A-alright, alright..." the young man replied, his voice trembling nervously. "I'll do it," he muttered, kneeling in front of the woman with a second rope in his hands, his expression twisted with guilt and shame.
The cold, piercing gaze of Nivalis's light-blue eyes locked on him, her expression hardening. She knew she couldn't just give up, not when her children's lives were at stake. Gathering her strength, Nivalis swiftly delivered a blow to the man's face. Her fist struck him square in the nose, causing it to gush blood. The perfectly white snow beneath them was stained red in mere seconds.
"You fuckin' bitch!" his friend hissed, rushing to his aid. The sight of blood pouring from his nose fueled his anger. The man, who was now on the ground, clutching his bleeding nose, looked up at Nivalis with a mix of shock, anger, and pain on his face.
Wasting no time, the taller man delivered a swift kick to Nivalis's abdomen once again. The hit was significantly more powerful than before, causing her to tumble over and land flat on her back, her hair sprawling on the white, snowy ground. She barely took a breath when she felt the man straddling her hips, holding her wrists firmly in place. She felt helpless, unable to move under his weight.
The man leaned forward until his face was just above hers, his expression filled with hatred. "Listen, you damn elf, listen very closely, you hear me? If you don't want to get hurt more, then you'd better start behaving yourself and do what you're told," he growled at her, his breath warm against her skin.
— "Go... go fuck yourself," she spat back at him, her face contorting with defiance and fear.
The man grinned, a sadistic gleam in his eyes. He drew back his hand and, with a swift motion, slapped her across the face with such force that the sound echoed through the forest. Nivalis winced in pain, tears streaming down her cheeks as she clenched her teeth.
"Argo," he said to his partner, glancing at him. "Get the fucking rope and tie her up. Now," he barked, his command leaving no room for hesitation.
Startled by his partner's tone, Argo flinched, his body trembling with nerves and fear. He nodded, paying no mind to the blood flowing from his nose. The young man cautiously approached Nivalis, his hands tightly gripping the rope. He began to bind her hands, the rough fibers digging into her soft, delicate flesh, causing grimaces of pain as she squirmed beneath the man's weight. She desperately tried to break free, but the weight of the other man kept her firmly pinned to the ground.
"P-please..." he whispered apologetically, "Please... don't resist... it'll just make things worse. We don't want to hurt you," he tried to reason with her, but his partner interrupted him harshly.
"Shut your mouth, for fuck's sake!" he barked, his voice laced with anger and impatience. "Just hurry up and finish tying her up already," he commanded.
"I'm trying, okay? It's not easy!" Argo defensively replied, his hands trembling as he continued tying her up.
"Oh, quit being such a pussy and—" Odar started to scold him, but before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his throat, unlike any other he had experienced before.
Silvia, a shy and innocent 5-year-old girl, had been entirely forgotten by these two men as if she didn't exist. With tear-stained, glistened cheeks, she found the courage to pick up a small knife, the very same one she used for chopping vegetables, and quietly approached the angry-looking man, trying to save her mom. With trembling hands, she closed her eyes and struck, sinking the blade into the side of his neck, hearing a sickening, squelching noise. Blood spurted out in every direction, covering her tiny, pale hands and her mother's face and chest with a red liquid.
Confusion flickered across the man's face as he instinctively brought his hand up to his neck. His fingers felt the wetness and warmth of his blood, the metallic taste of it filling his mouth. As the realization hit him, his eyes widened, and he stumbled backward, away from that damn elven woman. He glanced at the little girl, who stood nearby, her tiny hands squeezing the embarrassingly small yet deadly kitchen knife.
He tried to say something, but all that came out was a wet, gargled cough, blood flowing from his mouth like water from a waterfall. On his knees, he tried to get away, to get help, anything, but his legs failed him. He collapsed on the snow, and his eyes shifted to Argo, his partner, who stood there, petrified by what had just happened. His lips moved, mouthing the words, "H-help... me."
Nivalis stared at the man dying before her, her eyes widening in shock at what had happened, but she quickly understood that this was her only chance. With his moment of distraction, she lifted her body just enough to reach the other one, Argo, who was still kneeling beside her. Her body screamed in pain, but she ignored it.
Using her bound hands, she grabbed onto his head, forcefully pulling him closer to her. With the only weapon available to her, Nivalis sank her teeth into his neck, her jaw clenched tight against his skin. Her legs wrapped around his body, tightening like a vice.
He punched her ribs violently, desperately trying to get her off, but she clung to his neck with all her strength.
"Get off me! GET OFF ME!" The man screamed in agony, his voice hoarse, hands trembling as he attempted to push her away. But it was no use.
A loud crunching noise came from his neck, and Nivalis bit down harder, her face distorted with fury only a mother protecting her child could have. He began to punch her ribs again and again, desperate to break free. He even lifted her and dropped back to the ground, hoping it would help. It didn't. Nivalis continued to bite him, her teeth sinking deeper and deeper into his neck, his screams echoing through the otherwise quiet forest. The metallic tang of his blood filled her mouth as she tore away his flesh.
Like an animal, she kept biting him, tearing away more flesh with each passing second. Argo felt himself getting weaker, his body shaking violently, but still, he tried to escape. Until the very last minute, he tried, even mumbling how sorry he was for everything, that it was a mistake. "Please... s-stop..." he pleaded weakly, his voice barely above a whisper.
The world around him began to fade away, replaced by cold, endless darkness. He went limp in her arms, and his screams died away, along with his life. Nivalis pulled herself off him once she was sure he was no longer moving, her entire face and coat stained with blood. With wild, wide eyes, Nivalis stared at the young adventurer's corpse, her chest heaving with each breath.
Quickly turning her head, she looked at the other man, who lay on the ground as well, with a rapidly growing pool of blood beneath him. She crawled closer to him to check his pulse, just to be sure he was gone as well, and he was. He was dead.
She took a shaky breath and turned to her daughter, Silvia. The girl was sobbing uncontrollably, holding her baby brother in her blood-stained arms, with a tiny knife still in one hand. Her youthful face was streaked with tears and snot, mixing with the blood that had splattered onto her when she had stabbed that man in the neck. She held the baby close to her chest, her small body shaking.
Nivalis, her hands still bound tightly together, wrapped her arms around her daughter's small frame and held her close. The girl did the same, finally dropping the small knife and throwing one arm around her mother. It fell to the ground, the metal blade stained with the blood.
"It's okay, baby. It's okay. Don't cry, my love. Everything's going to be fine," Nivalis whispered to her daughter against that little, half-elven ear. The tremble of her small body against her own was heartbreaking to feel, no matter how tightly she held her. "You were so brave, my sweet," she whispered in a shaky voice. She pulled away from the embrace to look at her daughter, looking for wounds that weren't there. She wiped the tears and blood from her daughter's face with her fingers, though it only made things messier than before. "You saved us..."
Silvia shook her head, sniffling loudly. "No, mommy. I was afraid. I... I..." her voice trailed off, her sobs taking over her words.
Nivalis pulled her into another embrace, her arms holding her close. "Shh..." Nivalis hushed ever so quietly. "Don't worry, sweetie. It's over now. It's all over," she murmured, rocking her back and forth. Quiet sobs came from the little boy, tightly pressed between the two girls. His golden, teary eyes were filled with confusion and fear. "It's alright, baby. You did nothing wrong, do you hear me? You did nothing wrong," the mother kept repeating, trying to calm her daughter down.
The forest grew silent except for the gentle crackle of the campfire. The small family of three remained that way for a long while, the girl crying her eyes out while her mother tried to calm her down, whispering quiet words of comfort. It would take a long, long time for either of them to forget about the horrors of this night. Two young adventurers lay dead, their bodies motionless on the white snow, staring at the night sky with their empty, lifeless eyes.