Cristina Karzak, Heir of the Noble House of Valenwood
Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 4, Day 3
City of Valenwood, North of the Imperial Territory, Personal Dormitory
My whole body aches. I can't even move a finger, let alone take care of my own needs. It's worse than hell. I've thought about it many times: if hell exists, it's definitely being confined to this bed, smelling my own flesh rotting away, or worse, being surrounded by my own excrement. It's horrible. I abhor every part of this damned room, I hate it from the depths of my heart. It only brings back memories of this cursed hell I'm going through. Damn my condition, damn everything.
Day after day, night after night, all I see are the same four walls. Day after day, night after night, I always hear my own moans of pain, even screams. Truly, feeling your flesh peeling away from your body is a horrific and terrifying sensation. Listening to those useless priests every day is very annoying. They don't help at all. Get out of here already! I hate everything right now, myself for having this disease, and everyone else. It's childish to hate others who are not at fault, but why can they live while I am dying in this damned bed?
I was supposed to be great, but my path is becoming increasingly narrow, and it has even disappeared. There is no way to walk. When one is already dead, as I am, the pain is unbearable. Sometimes I prefer to be dead; it would be the easiest and least painful solution. In fact, it's very tempting for me. I've thought about it, but I don't do it for one simple reason: my father promised me with all his strength that he would embark on an expedition into the Riverland Mountains. It might be a false hope, I don't care, or he might even die in that place, and thus, I would follow him to the grave. There are no other options for me at this moment.
I'm not sure if my father will arrive in time. According to the priests, I only have a few days to live... it's disheartening, to say the least. I am young, 15 years old, a very beautiful woman. I have confidence in myself. My beautiful silver-white hair complements my navy blue eyes, and my figure isn't bad either. Even a loser from the empire wanted to make me his concubine. Damn bastard. Who does he think he is to deserve my body? I will decide who I marry.
Closing my eyes, I think... or imagine. Either way, it's not like I can do much more than think.
The Northern Academy, I wanted to go there, really. It's where the children of all the important figures gather to learn "together". Sure, some go there to make connections, it's a good opportunity. The northern churches are also in that country, it's much bigger than the city I live in. Many opportunities. The Northern Academy is undoubtedly the best place for young people like me to train, or at least that's what I thought.
-...-
Closing my eyes... I think.
There are different places where you can... You know what? It doesn't matter, I don't know how many times I've imagined the same scenario, but unless I see it with my own eyes, there's no point in daydreaming.
Right now, I'm alone. The room is so big, but to my eyes, it's so small. After all, this could be my own tomb.
-...-
Closing my eyes... I think.
No one has visited since this morning, and it's better that way. Even though I'm bored, I don't like unnecessary noise. But still, it's very quiet down here. However, I can feel a small agitation downstairs. It's none of my business... I will die so young. Isn't destiny too cruel to me? And I won't have an honorable death, it will be a miserable and pathetic death.
-Daughter!
A loud noise resonated in the silent room, startling me a bit. I was thinking of sleeping a little.
Opening my eyes...
It was my father. His expression was pale, but he had a big smile on his face. In his hands was a vial with a red liquid. The fibers of my body trembled. I tried to open my mouth, but not a single word came out; I had forgotten that my tongue had fallen off in pieces a few days ago...
-...-
He approached, and my heart pounded fiercely. I was nervous, I had hope.
My father knelt and, without saying a word, placed the red substance on my lips. Opening my mouth with difficulty, the warm red liquid flowed down my throat, and my body quickly heated up. Clenching my teeth, the pain flooded my mind. A black putrid substance began to ooze from my body. I could clearly feel my exhausted vitality filling every vein and muscle of my body. The terrible pain of my decaying flesh was disappearing. It felt like I had been reborn in seconds. Opening my eyes, I looked at my own hands. I had fingers, ten of them. Before, I had none; they had all fallen to the floor. Looking at my abdomen, it was smooth with soft, white skin. The horrible hole from which a yellow substance had been oozing was gone. My flesh had returned to how it was before.
I was completely healed. I am not dead. I am back to life. Those were my first thoughts. I am alive. What a relief, what joy. I am alive. Just seconds ago, I was on the brink of death.
Looking at my father, he was crying with happiness, his head bowed, smiling like a child. I didn't know what to say. There were so many things, but they just wouldn't come out of my mouth. I was shocked, in disbelief. He had returned from that hellish place, bringing back the plant. He had made it back... Looking at my hands again, touching my body... tears were streaming from my eyes. I was crying. The room no longer seemed so small; it was enormous.
And I saw him, a young man, with black hair and deep black eyes watching me intently. I hadn't noticed his presence, but there he was, observing silently. The darkness of the room seemed to gather around him. It was strange, yet oddly captivating.
-Who are you?
Those were the first words I managed to utter without screaming in agony. They weren't words of thanks to my father, nor cries of joy. They were words of inquiry directed at the young man in my room.