Ashe's POV
"I love you, Ashe." were the last words from my mother before she pushed me away from her, leading me to wherever I was going. The last memory that I saw with my mother was her being killed by my so-called aunties. Funny how much I loved and adored them. But who would've thought that those you trust, would be the ones that would betray you.
"Mommy! Mommy!" I desperately screamed, until my eyes opened widely, gasping for air. My hands were trying to reach something… Trying to reach my mother… But all I could feel was the air. I sat up straight from my bed, recalling the nightmares of my mother's death.
I exhaled, shaking off my head to wake myself up. It's just a nightmare, I told myself. Looking out the window, the sun is high in the sky. Birds were already singing on the trees while the village was already noisy, doing their usual routine. I stood up and walked outside, and I was greeted by an old lady's gentle voice.
"Good morning, Ashe!" Lady Lumana said with a smile on her face. She was carrying a basket full of fruits. I immediately helped her carry the basket without asking permission.
"Good morning, Lady Lumana. I'm sorry if I overslept." I said.
"You are fine, dear. Teenage girls like you deserve a good and long sleep so you can grow!" Lady Lumana teasingly said and I rolled my eyes.
"I am not a young child anymore, Lady Lumana. Besides, I am strong and healthy. What else do I need to grow?"
"True, but you can still grow more. Who knows what else you need to improve on. Oh! Have you eaten breakfast yet?" Lady Lumana offered me an apple and I accepted it.
"Thank you." I said.
We continued to walk and talked on the way until we reached a city where we traded our goods in exchange for gold, clothes, or materials that we need in our daily lives. There, I helped her trade her fruits in exchange for coals. It is getting colder and we need coals to heat up the furnace. It took us almost the whole day trading, and when we ran out of fruits, we went back to the village.
The sun was still up, so I decided to check my farm. Yes, I am a farmer. Well, just for fun. Also, I do it to live. It is a good occupation too if you want to be physically fit and healthy. That explains my muscle definitions. Being in the farm and carrying heavy tools for farming made me look like a soldier or an athlete.
After my mother pushed me away, I was found by these people from this small village. I remember they told me that a bright light appeared in the forest, and they heard a little girl crying. There, they investigated and found me all messed up. No one knew where I came from, and I was glad because if they found out, who knows what they would do to me. However, I was wrong about them. These people… took care of me. They treated me with kindness and as if I was one of them. Especially Lady Lumana. She was the one who helped me adjust the most to these people. She taught me all sorts of things and gave me advice that I would need in life. She is a kind and loving elder. Not only her, but everyone in this village.
This village that I am living now is just a small one, with a population of fifty to sixty people. I don't know where this village is located, but I assume we are somewhere far from a civilization. Probably in the middle of the outskirts? I don't mind though.
"Dear, you are walking too hard. Tell me, what made you into farming?" Lady Lumana asked.
"Well… I like it because it helps me grow strong physically." I replied.
Lady Lumana chuckled and she gave me a smile. "Don't overwork yourself, dear."
The rest of the day, I spent my time farming and trading what I have reaped. When night comes, I wait until everyone is asleep. Then I sneak out to the forest to train.
The rest of the night until midnight, I train in martial arts. While I train, I replay the scene of my mother's death. Lady Lumana asked me why I chose farming. Well, I told her half the truth. But in reality, even when I farm, as I move my tools, striking it on the ground, I also train secretly under the sun. I kept replaying it. The image of my mother's death. Her last words to me. Everything down to the small details. Especially… their faces. Their smiling ugly faces. Vivian, Cecilia, Nashia, and Alexis… My mother's best friends. Best friends who betrayed her.
I lost track of the time. I lost track of where I was. I looked back, and all I saw was destruction from behind.
Calm down, Ashe. Let's not do something stupid. Let's lay low and keep honing our skills until we are ready.
To be physically fit? No, not only that. I have a goal in life… To get my vengeance against my mother's murderers.
I went back home and slept until the sun rose up again.
I did the same stuff as usual, but this time, I increased the intensity of my training while I farm.
Then night comes, trained again in the forest.
Day comes. Farmed and trained.
Night, day, night, day, night, day…
Everyday is the same.
But as days went by, I could feel something inside me. It isn't anger, but I don't know what it was. Everytime I feel an ache on my chest, memories of my mother pushing me away from her resurfaces. I could feel something inside was, aching to get out, the same spot where my mother touched me when she pushed me away from her.
Or… do I just miss her? Now come to think of it, when she pushed me away, that was the last time I felt her touch.
Tears were about to flow out from my eyes, but I set my heart cold. That day I accepted reality, was the day I died.
But my hatred against her murderers still lives.
Suddenly, the aching stopped. Few days went by and I never experienced the aching feeling again. I just missed my mother's touch. I just crave for it, like a baby craving for their mother's hug.
"I love you, Ashe." Were her last words.
I will never forget you, mother. I will avenge you soon. Please wait for me.
Suddenly, sharp fangs bit my ankle, causing me to halt my train. I groaned in pain and shook my leg off. A green snake with gold eyes looked at me and it vanished in the midst of my farm. What was that?
I looked at my ankle, seeing the snake's bite still fresh. But I paid no attention to it. I know my body, and this is nothing.
And a few days and nights passed by quickly, until snow began falling on our village.