Flashback 7 years ago
"Listen to me Eustia." My brother held my shoulders gently.
I watched him in horror frozen as the halls behind my chamber were filled with multiple heavy steps.
His face was pale and his breathing was heavy... in the corner of my heart, I only know that what mother foresaw is now coming to reality.
"Run away following the moon and the sun. It will lead you to the Callua Empire."
"The Callua..?" My voice trailed off. "They are our enemies brother!"
"and if you travel towards that path, they will not... no one will hurt you there. They protect their people."
"You're asking me to turn back to our kingdom?" I almost pleaded.
If I were to die... I'd rather perish with him, mother, and our people.
"As long as one of us is alive Eustia, the kingdom is not completely fallen." Kaureus tapped my shoulder again.
Small light-like fireflies flew out of his palms.
"Hide with this for now."
I know this spell...
Kaureus used to do this whenever we tried to sneak off downtown.
"Exit the castle using the secret hallways."
"Will we see each other again?" My hands trembled as I reached for his palms.
I didn't even get to see mother one last time..
"We'll always be with you Eustia." Brother Kaureus hugged me. It was a hug conveying that I must not be afraid, but it was also a hug that was giving me all the love he had. As if it was the last. "Always."
I did as my brother told.
Remembering his words that if one of us lives, the Linellis Kingdom is not completely fallen.
Please.. let me live Lord.
How long was I transversing the path that my brother told me to follow the sun and moon?
I kept walking and walking.
Intently praying that I will live.
I will live and we will still meet one day.
They will always be with me.
*****
"Search the surroundings!!" I woke up at the sound of a knight screaming. "We should find the Linellis princess! She couldn't have been far off!"
My heart was filled with fear.
I just rested for a bit... since my body cannot handle the walk anymore.
I do not even know how many days or nights it's been.
And when I tried to follow a river, my body instantly fell tired.
I hid behind the tree trying to hear more of their footsteps.
Unlike my brother who was gifted with magic... I.. I am so useless.
Listening to his words to live... what could I possibly do?
But I don't want to give up.
Because I promised him.
The footsteps were once again nearing me. I looked around.
There was nothing but the trees and the end of the river.
If I ran towards the forest, the soldiers would find me and I would have failed our bloodline.
But if I... at least run with the water.
My lips trembled at the thought that ran through my head.
I couldn't possibly.
There must be another way...
"There are tattered clothes here Sire!!" Shouted one soldier from the nearby bushes.
My heart skipped a bit.
The least I could do...
I need to live.
Without having no more second thoughts, I jumped with all my might.
I felt more fearful and yet my mind was blank.
What if I hit the rocks?
What if I die?
Lots of what-ifs and yet all I can do is close my eyes.
My body hit the water, and it submerged gently.. but all my strength was lost.
Really, did I really fail my family this time?
It was almost such a meaningless existence.
*****
"Urrph!!!" Water flowed down my mouth while my chest tightened. "Huff!"
"Are you alright?" A voice asked me.
My body immediately went into flight mode, jumping away and then feeling my legs lose their power.
"Don't stand up quickly, miss. You almost drowned, and your body is tired." At the gentle and calming voice, my heartbeat began to slow down. "I will not do anything that the lady doesn't want.."
*****
I remember spending the last few days quiet and staring off into space.
It looks like I was already at what my brother called the 'Callua Empire' since the days had been peacefully passing by and the soldiers seemed to not catch after me.
Even when knowing I was safe, my heart was still tumultuous.
On the first days I was awake, I was so furious that my body just immediately shook at the thought of Callua.
My mind kept ruminating about having performed revenge but how could I with how powerless I am? And would it really make a change when all the people of our kingdom were dead already? Would they happily look down at me from heaven??
But how could I even think about that when I in fact know nothing about this world?
"Lady." The man who helped me called.
He was odd. He kept calling me 'Lady', 'Lady' even when I don't answer him.
"I caught a rabbit today." He happily showed me his catch.
I paled.
I never saw such a gruesome... thing.
"Oh! Are you afraid??" He stepped back, hiding the rabbit behind his back as if that made a change.
I already saw it...
"U-Uhm! Don't worry! I'll make a good dinner for us later!" He cheered himself with his two arms--still carrying the rabbit.
Seeing that my eyes fell on the rabbit, the poor dead body swayed behind him again.
The man left awkwardly, utterly defeated.
*****
When midnight hits, the man puts firewood at the fireplace.
"I don't usually use firewood so I don't know how they will last but I hope lady wakes me up when they're out." He talks with me again as he puts more fuel to the fire. "Today... I'm glad that you seem okay."
I just stared at him. He was pouring a cup of tea while he sat beside me in front of the fire.
"I was really afraid since you don't even move in the first days. I thought... you were badly hurt. I don't have money to go to the doctor so... I can't help if it was that severe."
"But you understand me right?"
"How about this? You nod your head up and down like this..." He bobbed his head up and down like a little kid. "If you want to say yes. Or... do this if..." He shook his head gently. "If you want to say no or if you don't like something."
"U-Uhm, do you understand me?" He carefully asked.
Really...
I didn't trust him at first, knowing that he was from the Callua Empire.
But... someone being kind to someone whom they can't gain anything from is the purest form of humanity.
I somehow feel bad that I left him for days leaving to talk to himself, and not being bothered to help around the house.
I nodded my head.
"R-Really?" He suddenly seemed flustered.
Was it because he knew that I understood him?
Well, he did say some pretty embarrassing stuff.
Like whispering unto himself if his breath stinks and even making it a reason why I don't talk to him so he bought a toothbrush---I can't believe someone can live without brushing their teeth.
Or when he whispers that I am really pretty in Calluan language.
I'm lucky I learned Calluan before.
Or might be so fearful of not having to understand it at all.
"Ah really. This is a great day. I'm glad that the lady is getting better." He celebrated happily. "I'll try fetching some fruit tomorrow, do you know cherries and blueberries? The forest is filled with them." He happily chatted away.
I drank some of the tea while listening to his never ending stories.
I'm glad I took that leap.
"Eustia."
"Huh?" The man suddenly stopped from speaking. His lively blue eyes looked even livelier as it almost fell from it's sockets.
"My name is Eustia."