WARNING! THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS RATED 18 SCENE!
Winter has come. The fields have become white. It takes a little effort to walk through the snowy path. What was supposed to be a 5 minute walk became a 30 minute walk due to how thick and tall the snow is. All of us, farmers, have to save enough food for ourselves and enough coals to last throughout the winter. It's not like this is the first time. Growing up through a small village with few materials and trades taught me how to survive the harsh winter season. Every farmer hates winter. It is hard to grow crops and it is hard to farm. When you want to trade, you can only trade a few materials. Coals are expensive and if you think that trading crops, foods, or other materials can get you a few coals, that ain't happening.
As usual, even if it's snowing, I continued on with my daily routine. Day time I try to farm even if it is snowing. At midday I go to the city to trade, but most of the time to no avail. Then at night I train. I kept repeating the same routine over and over again until it became a muscle memory. Without even thinking, my body would automatically do the routine by itself while my brain rests. At first it was tiring. But the more I do it, the more I get used to it. Everyday I keep increasing the intensity of my training. I keep my discipline all the time whether or not I train or work.
However, midway throughout the winter season, few people have run out of food. They went around asking for food from others, and everyone was kind enough to share. Someone even came to me and asked for food, and of course, I gave them one. I had a gut feeling that I needed to do something for the villagers. The winter is becoming more harsh, and the snow is dropping faster than it ever is. Without hesitation, I quickly set out to hunt food for this village.
"Where are you going, dear?" Lady Lumana asked me as I leave the gate of our small village.
"Oh, I'm just going for a trade." I lied through my teeth.
Lady Lumana sighed. "You know that you won't get anything at trading right now, especially with this winter."
I smiled at her. "Well, someone has to try. Don't worry! I'll be back if there is nothing to trade. Quickly." I reassured her.
I could see Lady Lumana's muscles relax, but her expression gives a different result. "Fine. Be safe dear, okay?"
I nodded and left the village.
I wasn't gonna trade. I was out to hunt food. This is the first time that I would be testing my skills in the real world. I want to see my progress, whether or not I'm ready to face those monsters who betrayed my mother and I. My heart was pumping. Adrenaline was rushing. But I don't mind. I took a deep breath and began my journey for food. For these villagers who helped me. Who took care of me. I'm willing to go out through the wilderness in winter so that they can eat something. This is how I can repay them at least.
Then I set off. To the wilderness far from the village. An area filled with wild and ferocious beasts that hunts for its prey. It took me an hour to get to my destination. A canyon… As soon as I stepped off, there were signs of fresh blood already on the snow. Intestines of animals were ripped from their bodies, decorating the white ground with crimson blood. Even in the cold, the smell was strong enough for me to cover my nose with neck gaiter. Despite the thick snow on my feet, I kept going. What am I looking for? Food. What kind? I heard a moose is huge enough to survive throughout the winter season. However, they are so rare that you are lucky to find one. Even if you find one, without proper equipment, you would just kill the meat of the animal, making it inedible. How do I know this? Well, during my early trading, I was curious about the history of the city. I stumbled upon an old history book regarding the city I was curious about. In the book, it mentioned the small village I was residing in. It also mentions the animals and their rarity.
Moose are one of the rarest animals to spot. You can only see them deep in the forest or sometimes in an open field. However, after wandering for about an hour or so, I have not yet spotted a single beast or a moose. The wind is blowing harsher and the coldness is slowly making my feet and hands numb. The air, however, is worse. It is super dry. My lips are starting to crack. However, I don't mind. I just kept on going, finding a moose to hunt. For the villagers.
After wandering endlessly for two hours, I finally found a moose. It is huge. Bulky. Muscular. Its antlers are mesmerizing due to how big and tall it could expand. I took a deep breath. I grabbed my sling and prepared a rock to throw at the moose. But before throwing the rock to the moose, I sharpened its edges to make sure it could kill. And then, with enough space around me, I spun the armed sling and myself as well to create more velocity and power. I released the aimed sling, the sharpened rock flying across the field like a bullet. The wind was on my side, increasing the speed more until it hit the moose, killing it in the spot. However, as I was about to grab my reward, five ferocious beasts appeared. Three were blocking my way and two were about to grab the killed moose. But I did not let that happen. I rushed against the three beasts and grabbed them by their necks, breaking it in half until all I was holding were corpses. Then, with quick feet, I dashed towards the remaining two beasts. I held their tails and smashed them towards the ground, smashing them back and forth until their bodies became bloody. I threw their corpses away and cleaned myself after. Finally, a moose. A food that the whole villagers could eat and survive for the harsh winter. I grabbed the moose and went back to the village.
Upon my return, however, the village was on fire. I hear screams of help from the distance. My heart beat fast and I was worried. Without thinking of what was happening, my body moved faster than it could.
As I was running towards the village, a group of men covered in black clothes and masks to keep them concealed blocked my way.
"Stop! Move any closer and you're dead, girl." The man in black threatened.
"You're threatening me?" I growled, my hands clenched, ready to fight. I became bold and took a step closer to the group of men. One of them clicked their tongue at my action and said, "Let's kill her!"
They rushed at me. All at the same time. But I kept my composure. I dodged their attacks with grace and sharpness behind my actions, copying what my mother used to do every time she sparred with one of the knights. Even in fighting, she kept a blank expression, grace and sharp movements with speed. So I did the same. Even though I am not at her level yet, I still mimicked how my mom would fight.
"This girl is playing with us." One of the men said.
"Hey, let's use our swords and attack her at the same time." One of them suggested. Smart idea. You attacked me at the same time but I dodged them. Let's see how this would go with swords.
They took out their weapons from their covers and attacked me at the same time. But I parried each of their swords, creating an opening for me to attack. Without hesitation, I began to unleash a barrage of martial arts combos, mixing it with sharp knives to kill them when they go unconscious. My first actual kill. It felt… wonderful.
I hear more screams. I entered the village. The fire was huge and quickly spreading, but it wasn't spreading fast. The coldness and the wind were fighting against the flames. I hurried until I found all the villagers gathered at the center. They were surrounded by fifty numbers of men. Thieves, I realized. Of course. How could I forget? This season is where thieves are also active to steal food or coals. I gritted my teeth. How shameful are they! While everybody worked hard, they were running around stealing against those who worked their asses all day to survive and provide for their loved ones.
And I saw it… Lady Lumana was unconscious on the ground, blood dripping from her forehead. Memory of my mother's death resurfaced. Something inside me broke out.
"Lady Lumanna…" I said. She heard me and looked at me. She smiled.
"Everything's going to be alright." She said, Before she could continue talking, one of the men bashed her head with a huge bat. Is she dead… Or unconscious? I asked myself. I hope it is the latter. Everyone cried. Lady Lumana was the sweetest woman in the village. She is like a mother to everyone. Sometimes, it got to the point that she was sick yet she still decided to help us. We had to force her to rest until she finally gave out and rested.
Seeing Lady Lumana's body on the ground… Blood on her forehead… She reminded me of my mother's love. The two of them almost resembled each other… As if, she was a reincarnation of her.
A roar came out from me. Something inside me awakened. A strong shockwave pushed the fifty thieves away, leaving them shocked from the force. The memory of my mother's final moments kept resurfacing, until all I saw were the faces of my so called aunts, smiling at me. Yeah… I'll kill them with my hands. Even if it means losing an arm or two, I'll hunt them down and take my vengeance.
Green flames came out from me, surrounding me with its warmth. My anger bursts into flames, forming a snake with golden eyes around me. Black circles with unknown texts appeared in the sky and on the ground, rhyming along with my heartbeat. The ground shook and the sky became dark.
"How dare you kill Lady Lumana!" I roared once again like a dragon, sending shockwaves of fear to everyone.
The thieves tried to run away, but before they could, with a glance of my eyes, the emerald with golden eyes snake chased the runner down, litting them in fire until they became ash. The thieves tried to fight back, but they froze when they stared at my eyes. It is like staring at the void, the void stares back at you back. Except, this void kills you.
The emerald serpent comes into the field, setting fire to the bodies of the thieves. As the serpent was busy devouring its prey, I walked towards Lady Lumana's body. I tried to feel her heartbeat, but I can no longer feel a beat. I tried to listen to her breathing, but she was still. Lady Lumana was dead.
I hear them… Laughs of my mother's murderers. I can feel them staring at me, looking at me with sadness. I don't need your damn sympathy! What I need is your damn corpses.
After a few minutes, the dark circles disappeared. The emerald snake came back inside me, vanishing completely as it entered my body. I held tighter to Lady Lumana's corpse, trying to embrace the last warmth that remains.
Not until I hear an eagle flapping its wings in the sky above us. A figure dressed in white armor jumped down near me. Before I could react, my vision turned black. I became unconscious.