Ethan leaned forward, his gaze steady as Lia's voice grew softer, her words carrying a weight of sadness. "The awakening?" he prompted gently.
Lia nodded, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "Yes, Master. When you turn eighteen, the entire village gathers to witness your awakening."
"It's a sacred ceremony—people say it's the moment when the gods bless you with a purpose. My father was so proud, so certain I would receive a powerful class that would bring honor to our family." She paused, her voice trembling. "But… nothing happened."
Ethan frowned, his stomach sinking at the pain in her voice. "Nothing at all?"
"No," she whispered, her shoulders hunching as if to protect herself from the memory. "No light, no class, no blessing. Just silence. Everyone was staring at me, whispering. The village elders said the gods had abandoned me, that I was cursed. My father... he couldn't bear the shame. He tried to defend me at first, but even he couldn't argue with the custom of the land."
"They really believed that? Just because you didn't awaken?"
Lia nodded, her gaze dropping to her lap. "In our village, the gods' favor is everything. If you don't awaken, they see it as a sign that you're unworthy or worse... cursed. It wasn't just whispers anymore. People stopped speaking to me entirely. They avoided me as if even being near me would bring bad luck."
Ethan clenched his fists. "That's ridiculous. You didn't deserve any of that."
Lia gave a bitter smile, her eyes glistening. "It didn't matter. The elders said that if my parents didn't act, the entire village would face divine wrath. They told my father he needed to prove his loyalty to the gods and the people by… by casting me out or branding me with a slave mark."
Her voice faltered, and she took a shaky breath before continuing. "At first, he refused. My mother begged for mercy, but the villagers wouldn't let it go. One night, they came to our house. They dragged me out, tied my hands, and told my father that if he didn't deal with me, they would."
Lia's lips trembled, but she continued. "The village elder stood there, holding the branding iron. It was glowing red, ready to mark me forever. My father… he looked so torn. He kept saying he needed more time, that there had to be another way, but no one listened. They told him that sparing me would doom the entire village to the gods' wrath."
She hugged her arms around herself as if warding off the memory. "I'll never forget the look in his eyes. He was broken."
Lia swallowed hard, her hazel eyes shimmering with tears. "My mother… she couldn't take it anymore. She threw herself in front of me, shielding me with her body. She begged them to spare me, even if it meant banishing me instead."
"The villagers were furious, but the elder eventually agreed. They said I could leave, but if I ever returned, they'd mark me as a slave or worse." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "My father told me to go, but he couldn't even look at me."
"So they just… sent you away? Alone?"
She nodded, wiping at her eyes. "I had nothing. No food, no money, no direction. Just the clothes on my back and the whispers of the villagers chasing me into the night. I wandered for days before slavers eventually found me."
They didn't care who I was or why I was alone—they just saw a girl they could sell and I was branded with the slave mark anyways."
Ethan stood up and pulled the woman into a hug. He did not know if it would comfort her but this was what he used to do to his mother whenever she felt uncontrollably sad.
The next second he felt Lia relax in his arms. Her rigid frame softened as her hands hovered uncertainly in the air before hesitantly settling against his back. Her fingers clutched at his shirt as though she were holding onto a lifeline.
"I am sorry I brought up all those memories. You don't have to think of those again." Ethan continued holding her tightly for a while longer and then released her. "Shall we head out? It feels a bit dull to be cooped up in the room on such a nice day."
He pulled the curtain on the window letting the golden sunlight stream into the room. The rays illuminated the space, making it feel warmer and less suffocating. "Oh, since you are from here, I will be counting on you to show me around."
Lia blinked, momentarily startled by Ethan's suggestion. She glanced out the window at the bustling streets bathed in golden light, her expression shifting between uncertainty and a tentative flicker of excitement. "You… want me to show you around?" she asked hesitantly.
Ethan nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "Of course. You're more familiar with this place than I am. Besides, I think it would be good for both of us to stretch our legs and explore a bit. To start with, do you know any good spots where we can grind some mobs and get a few levels?"