Beauty is a mystery that evokes curiosity and wonder.
In the forest, a girl stood in front of a corpse. Her hair and eyes were silver, shimmering in the dim light. She wore a flowing white winter coat and a short white dress with black stripes that contrasted sharply. Her black leather boots pressed into the damp ground, while a red ribbon was neatly tied around her right arm, adding a striking splash of color.
"Snow is falling heavily today, making it quite difficult for me to breathe."
Today should have been a peaceful day, where I would stay at home, sitting by the fireplace while reading a book. But here I am, in an empty village in the middle of the forest. Red blood stains the white snow. A human corpse—no longer able to be called human because its face and body are almost unrecognizable and covered in colorful flowers.
The creature I killed earlier was merely a monster without reason, driven only by the desire to consume humans.
I sigh and gaze at the sky, though all I see is a dark sky with heavy snow falling. Because of the extremely cold air, my breath releases white vapor.
I close my eyes and remember the events of three days ago.
When that person—my grandfather—was on his deathbed, he told me to go to the capital and meet an old friend of his in the Eden organization. He left behind an identification badge and a letter for me to give to that person.
Perhaps he wanted that person to take care of me after he was gone.
Well, never mind. For now, let's take the crystal from this monster's eye and hand it over to the Auftraggeber.
I crouch down on one knee and pry the small crystal from its eye socket.
It's quite disgusting, yes, certainly disgusting to pry a crystal from someone's eye. But once I take the crystal, the corpse instantly turns to dust and is swept away by the wind. Even the blood that was once spilled leaves no trace at all.
"Yosh, finally done."
I stretch my arms and begin to walk back to the town.
I love winter, but I hate it when the snow falls heavily. The footpath in the forest is filled with piled-up snow, making it hard to walk. When it's difficult to walk, I have to exert extra energy to get through, and I dislike that.
After more than an two hour of walking while wrestling with my thoughts, the view of the town comes into sight.
The city of Luzern, a small town located on the northern outskirts of the kingdom of Aetheria. Surrounded by pine forests and snow-capped mountains, the town is renowned for its natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere.
Most of the inhabitants are hunters and craftsmen who uphold tradition, and they often hold lively winter festivals. In the center of the town, there is a small square featuring an ancient statue believed to be the protector of the town. Although small, Luzern has a strong trade network with other towns in Aetheria, particularly for goods such as warm textiles and food supplies.
The atmosphere of the town is filled with the aroma of burning wood and home-cooked meals, making it a cozy place to live.
I have lived here since I was seven years old. At that time, my grandfather saved me and brought me here. Although we have no blood ties, he cared for me wholeheartedly. The person I am now is thanks to my grandfather.
After walking across the bridge, I finally arrived in the city and headed to meet the Auftraggeber at the Starlit bar.
As I opened the bar door, the smell of alcohol immediately hit my nose. The large, scarred men who had been enjoying their drinks turned to look at me with intimidating glares.
"Oh, isn't this little Eira? How are you doing, little miss?"
"I'm doing well. Where's Uncle Gord? I've completed my mission."
"Great as always, huh?"
"Kahaha!"
They praised me with wide smiles and laughter.
"You've arrived."
Uncle Gord, a task giver or what is commonly referred to as an Auftraggeber, is a large man with a scar on his left eye and a thick beard on his chin.
"Here it is."
I handed the core crystal from the monster to Uncle Gord. The crystal I had taken earlier was known as the Ethereal Seed and was used as an enhancement for weapons.
He examined the crystal carefully and nodded.
"This is the Dandelion Prism. Great job, Eira. Here's your payment."
Uncle Gord gave me a pouch of money, and I quickly tucked it into my coat pocket.
"Thank you. Well then, I'll head home."
"Are you really going to the capital, Eira?"
Just as I was about to open the door, Uncle Gord asked me. I turned to look at him and nodded.
"Yes. Grandpa Gorath asked me to go there."
"Is that so? When will you leave?"
"In three days."
"Stop by here before you go."
"Alright."
I exited the bar and headed to the market. The sky was getting darker, and the snow was falling heavier than before.
"It looks like a snowstorm is coming," I murmured.
I hurried to the market to buy groceries and bread, then quickly made my way home.
Once I arrived home, I placed the groceries and bread on the kitchen table, changed my clothes, and lit the fireplace. The warm air from the fireplace spread through the room immediately.
"How warm~"
Growl.
My stomach was already growling for food.
Setting aside my desire to relax, I headed to the kitchen to start cooking.
Since it was very cold today, I decided to make creamy mushroom soup and roast beef.
While waiting for the soup and meat to cook, I sliced some baguette for accompaniment and prepared a salad.
Once everything was ready, I arranged it neatly on the table.
"Done."
I smiled happily and began to eat.
The soup warmed my body that had been freezing from being outside. The combination of the baguette with the creamy mushroom soup was truly delicious. The meat was juicy and tender as well.
"How wonderful~"
There was nothing more delightful than enjoying good food after working hard.
After eating, I sat in the chair by the fireplace, wrapped in a blanket, and read a book.