The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silver veil over the quiet camp. Ronan, though still awake, remained silent, sensing that something important was about to unfold. Aria and Lisa sat by the dim glow of the fire, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames. Risa, exhausted from the day's events, was fast asleep under a makeshift blanket.
Aria took a deep breath, her eyes filled with unspoken emotion. "Lisa, can I ask you something?"
Lisa looked up from the embers, her gaze steady but weary. "Of course, Aria. What's on your mind?"
Aria hesitated, glancing over at Risa's sleeping form before returning her focus to Lisa. "I know it's not easy, but I need to understand more about your past. How did things end up the way they did?"
Lisa's eyes clouded with sadness, and she took a moment to gather her thoughts. "Our father... he was a great man. He died before Risa was born, trying to protect our tribe from a monsters wave. It was a desperate fight, and he fought to buy us time to evacuate."
Aria nodded solemnly, urging her to continue. "And what happened after that?"
Lisa's voice trembled as she continued. "After our father died, we settled close to the mountains. We were safe for a while, and life was good. But when Risa turned eight, a band of slave hunters found our settlement. They came at night, burning everything to the ground."
Aria's eyes widened with shock. "How did you and Risa survive?"
Lisa wiped away a tear, her voice breaking. "We didn't have the strength to fight back. Most of our fighters had already fallen during previous monster waves. The bandits killed everyone they could find—men, women, the elderly. Our mother... she tried to buy us time. She sacrificed her life so that Risa and I could escape."
Aria reached out, placing a comforting hand on Lisa's shoulder. "That's so much to bear. How did you two manage to survive after that?"
Lisa swallowed hard, her voice a whisper. "We ran into the woods, trying to hide from the bandits. We survived for two weeks, living off what little we could find. But they eventually caught us."
Aria's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry, Lisa. You and Risa have been through so much."
Lisa nodded, her expression a mix of pain and resilience. "It was a long struggle. But we're still here, still fighting. It's what our parents would have wanted."
Ronan, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "Your strength is incredible, Lisa. And it's clear that you and Risa have endured more than anyone should. If there's anything I can do to help, you only need to ask."
Lisa managed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Ronan. That means a lot."
The three sat in silence, the fire crackling softly as they each grappled with the weight of Lisa's story. The night deepened around them, but in that quiet moment, they found solace in their shared understanding and the bond that had formed between them.