Like all the residents of this world, I am bound by the Song.
The Song is an ancient force, bestowing individuals with unique abilities and magical prowess, each attuned to the rhythm of their soul.
As inexperienced as I may be, there's one thing I know with certainty.
I stepped away from the gate, distancing myself enough to gain a clear view of the surrounding area. Its layout unfurled in my mind like a map, and with that, I focused.
Extending my hand, I drew upon every ounce of my skill, channeling the energy that surged within me. The Song flowed through me, raw and unrefined, manifesting as mana.
As my soul's tune resonated with the mana, it began to shift and contort, taking on a new form—a beast.
Mana, unique to every individual, carries a personal signature.
Mine, like my soul, was a reddish-blue, almost purple but still holding a faint hue of blue, like the twilight sky just before nightfall.
To the untrained eye, it appeared blue, but a closer inspection would reveal the subtle mix of colors—like a storm gathering on the horizon.
The ball of energy twisted and writhed, its form becoming more distinct.
It slowly took shape, and before me stood a deer, delicate and elegant, its body formed entirely from pure mana.
It was beautiful—ephemeral, like a fleeting dream—but it was real, a reflection of my soul's song made flesh.
I patted the deer's back and climbed on. This was my spirit animal. Navtar, I called him.
And he was fast.
Within moments, we surged forward, racing through the forest with the speed and grace of a creature born from the very magic that flowed through me.
Trees blurred past as we navigated the dense woods, moving with purpose, the clearing I sought growing closer with each passing second.
Less than an hour later, we reached the forest's edge. I spotted a clearing in the distance.
Without hesitation, I nudged Navtar to slow as we neared, the sound of the forest fading into a quiet hum.
I dismounted gracefully, landing softly on the ground. The air felt different here—charged with the anticipation of what lay ahead.
I glanced at the trail leading through the clearing, the path winding like a serpent. It was time to begin the next leg of my journey.
The raiders I was after were somewhere along this trail, and I would find them.
With a final glance at Navtar, I began to walk, my pace steady and focused. This should be easy enough.
I moved through the forest quickly, the trail beneath my feet growing narrower as the dense trees closed in around me.
My senses were alert, tuned to every sound, every movement. The forest was still, too still, and I knew something wasn't right.
As I neared a clearing, I could hear the unmistakable sound of voices—gruff and harsh. Three figures were crouched just ahead, half-hidden by the trees.
Their movements were slow, deliberate, as they circled something—or someone.
I moved closer, careful to stay downwind, my boots light on the ground.
I could see them now—three raiders, armed with crude weapons, surrounding a woman and her child.
The woman, her clothes torn and dirtied, was trying to shield the girl, a small figure clutching her mother's leg.
The child couldn't have been more than ten, wide-eyed with fear, her hands trembling.
I gritted my teeth. These bastards were taking their time, savoring the fear they instilled.
The raider in front, a burly man with a jagged scar down his face, sneered. "What do you think, boys? A little coin, a little fun?"
He grinned, his eyes flicking over the woman and her daughter like they were nothing more than animals to be slaughtered.
"Please," the woman begged, her voice breaking, "leave us alone. We're just trying to pass through, we don't have anything."
The girl whimpered, her small hands clutching at her mother's skirts.
"You don't have anything?" The raider with a crooked smile stepped closer, his dirty blade flashing in the dim light. "Well, you'll have something soon enough." He raised his weapon, and that was when I saw it—his intent was clear.
The woman gasped, lifting her hands as though trying to push him away. "No! Please, don't!"
But she was too slow. The raider slashed downward.
It happened too quickly—her scream was cut off as the blade found its mark.
I cursed under my breath. I wasn't fast enough to stop it.
Before I could move, the raiders began to laugh, their gruff voices echoing through the clearing. But I wasn't going to let them get away with this.
I unsheathed my sword in one swift motion and stepped into the clearing, my eyes locked on the remaining two raiders.
The first one, the one with the crooked smile, turned in shock as I closed the distance. But it was too late for him.
My sword was already in motion, slicing through the air with practiced precision.
He barely had time to react before the blade found its target, cutting deep into his chest.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he crumpled to the ground without a sound.
The second raider, the one with the scar, was already drawing his knife, but I was faster.
He lunged, but I sidestepped with ease, bringing my blade up in a clean arc that caught him off guard.
He grunted in pain, staggering back, but I wasn't done. I took another step, cutting him down with a single strike, forcing him to the ground.
The clearing fell silent, except for the ragged breath of the girl, who was still standing there, frozen, her wide eyes fixed on the body of her mother.
I was out of breath, but I couldn't let my guard down. Not yet.
I turned to her, my sword still in hand. "Stay back," I said firmly. She didn't move. She just stared, her face pale, her body trembling.
I didn't know how to ease her fear, but I couldn't afford to let the situation slip. "I'll protect you," I said, though my voice felt hollow in the face of what had just happened.
I took a step closer, but she flinched back, her gaze flicking toward the bloodied corpse of her mother.
She couldn't be more than ten—too young to understand why the world was so cruel.
I could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me. "You're safe now," I added, but my words felt like an empty promise.
I had failed to reach her in time.
I couldn't wield mana like the others could—my skills with magic were too weak. But I could fight with my sword, and right now, that was all that mattered.
The girl looked at me, her eyes wide and full of confusion, but she didn't move. She was still too terrified to understand.
But I couldn't stay here. I had to get her to safety.
The raiders were dead, but I knew they wouldn't be the last of them. Someone would come looking.
I stood, my grip tightening on the hilt of my sword. I couldn't leave the girl alone out here. Not like this.
But I couldn't carry her. I had to keep her safe.
I stepped forward, getting closer, the girl still watching me as though trying to figure out if I was friend or foe.
"Come with me," I urged gently, "We'll get out of here."
She shook her head, her voice small and shaky, "But... my mama…"
I nodded, but I knew I had no time for grief. "I know. I'll take care of you. Just... follow me."
She didn't move. Her gaze was fixed on her mother's lifeless form, her eyes hollow, her body trembling.
I could see the fear and confusion all over her face, the weight of the loss threatening to crush her spirit.
I thought for a moment on how to handle this. The girl was still too young to understand fully, but I couldn't let her break down here, not when we had no time to waste.
I remember the night I saw my own mother die. I sat there, hours spent over her cold body, unable to do anything but watch.
I hadn't known what to feel, what to do... I only knew the numbness of loss.
But I don't have that time now. The world was still turning, and the girl needed something, anything, to move forward.
Quickly, I grabbed her mother's body, pulling it away from the clearing.
The girl's eyes followed, but she didn't say anything.
I paused for a moment, turning to look at her. "She's gone to a nice place," I said softly, my voice firm but kind. "Free from burden, from pain. She's at peace now. Do you want to see her off?"
The girl's eyes filled with tears. She clutched her mother's clothes, trembling as she whispered, "Will I ever see her again?"
I didn't want to lie to her, but I had no comfort to give except the truth. "Not now," I said, kneeling before her. "But when your time comes, you'll meet her again."
She didn't answer, but I could see her swallowing the lump in her throat. Her tears fell, but she nodded slightly.
I took a breath, trying to steady myself. We needed to move.
I led her to the edge of the forest, to a small clearing where a large rock sat at the base of a hill.
I had been here before.
The rusted sword wedged in the ground next to it was a constant reminder.
It was the same spot where I had buried my mother years ago, and now, I would do the same for this girl's mother.
I began digging, the earth cold and stubborn beneath the shovel.
My arms ached, but I pushed through, my mind on the task.
The girl sat by the rock, her eyes never leaving her mother's body, but her gaze was distant, her tears slowing as she leaned against her mother's form.
When the hole was deep enough, I stepped back, wiping the sweat from my brow, and turned to the girl. Her body was stiff, but she hadn't moved.
I knelt beside her. "This was my mother's grave," I said softly, gesturing to the rusted sword at the rock. "I buried her here a long time ago."
The girl glanced at it, her eyes hollow with grief, before looking back to her mother. "I don't want to bury her," she whispered.
I nodded, understanding more than she knew. "Sometimes we don't have a choice. But it's the last thing we can do for them."
I gently lifted her mother's body, moving it closer to the grave, and the girl followed slowly behind.
I couldn't imagine the pain she was feeling, but I knew she couldn't stay here, not like this.
I placed the woman in the grave, taking off my cloak and laying it over her body, covering her with the cloth as a final mark of respect.
It was all I could offer, but I hoped it would be enough.
I stepped back as the girl stepped forward, her hands shaking as she touched her mother's cheek one last time.
She whispered something—words I couldn't hear—and then stepped back, wiping her eyes.
I began filling the grave, the earth heavy in my hands as I buried the woman. When I finished, I stood and turned to the girl, who was still watching the fresh mound of dirt.
I felt the weight of the moment, the silence pressing on me, but I knew what had to be done.
I turned to her. "As a final decree, we sing a song to the fallen. Shall I?"
The girl nodded, her expression softening slightly as she glanced up at me, the sorrow still there but the flicker of understanding in her eyes.
I stepped back, taking a deep breath as I prepared to sing. It was the only way I knew to honor the fallen, to give them a send-off they deserved.