It was just another day, a little cold with humidity in the air, there were birds chirping before the village of Greyhollow. The animals were running around and felt like new lives were blooming everywhere.
That day David was going back to the village, he wanted to meet Garrett once again. He wanted to meet him once again before he set off on an adventure.
He had brought some medicine for Violet and was walking with a puffed chest with excitement.
***
David's PoV
I don't know what I will do when I see him.
Should I be thankful? Of course, I didn't say my thanks because we were summoned the next day, I didn't even check up on him well, those injuries were grave and yet I ran off.
but if I don't say my goodbyes maybe I'll add this to my long list of regrets. I was just around the village and then I started contemplating what I should say to him.
What should I say to his daughter?
What should I say to his wife?
Maybe an apology for the start, if only I was strong enough I could've protected him.
Still he protected everyone with an irreplaceable cost.
This time I would at least pay my gratitude well-
I was about to enter the village then a deep sharp stench twisted my guts, I threw up on the snow, I know this stench...
This stench of rotting flesh.
I ran into the village but there was no one, an eerie silence stirred with the most vile stench, it wasn't from one direction but... everywhere.
Then I saw crows entering windows with dogs barks and crows craws were twisting against each other.
I ran towards the cottage where the stench was coming from... But it was coming from everywhere, I ran up to the cottage and found bloated rotting corpses.
I threw up again and I ran out, I cried out the names of villagers whom I lived for months while sharing the same chains of dread of the Winterbeasts.
I went up another cottage, another body...
Next home, more bodies... Every door I opened every room I went in was nothing more than open graves.
I don't understand... We definitely saved the village that day,
"Garrett you saved them that night... You did!" I cried out and then I ran towards Garrett's home.
When I reached his home, I saw only feint tracks of sleigh.
I went inside and everything was covered in dust and dirt.
I walked around and my guy felt like it was falling in an endless void.
"What happened? Garrett was your sacrifice in vain? Who did this to you? Where are you?
Garrett, Violet... You said you would protect your daughter's brother, tell me you did..."
Then I saw a black figure covered in black robes and masks, they were the dogs of dukes.
"What are you doing here-"
"Have you seen a woman with black hair, green eyes and round glasses or a child with violet eyes around here?" The man spoke, before I could finish.
My eyes gaped in fear and disbelief, I looked at the man and he was slowly walking towards me.
"Even if I did I wouldn't tell you-" I pulled out his sword but then for some reason I lost the feeling in my hands and my vision got distorted, It felt like my head was in the air but the feeling in my body was lost.
Like....my head was...
***
The words didn't even leave David's mouth and his head flew severed from his body, it dropped on the ground with the last blink.
"Guess they really died here..." The masked man slowly walked away
then vanished to continue his search.
***
Far away Violet was picking up some berries outside the cave, the white raven helped her, telling what was edible and what was not.
The sky was warm with a light mixture of different hues of deep blues, purples, pinks, oranges, and reds.
A twilight sky all the time, it felt like winter was a dream here.
"How do you know so much about plant mister raven?" Violet looked at raven who was pecking at the fruits high on the trees.
"What do you think I eat when I am hungry princess? I don't drink like blood from others..." The raven spoke.
Violet spread a rag and then put every fruit and berries on it then went inside the cave.
Luciel was still out hunting, Violet washed the fruits and berries, Mr.raven landed in front of her and started cleaning his feathers.
Violet then extended her hand to berries and fruits to the raven.
"What's this? Are you not hungry?" The Raven tilted his head in confusion.
"No, but you should eat first..." Violet looked at the Raven and her selfishness made raven question the rules of worlds he had survived.
Luciel walked in his shirt bloodied along with his face, Violet stood up and then rushed at him, she tore a part of her skirt and started looking for injury that needed attention.
"What happened to you! Does it hurt? Are you okay? Are you going to die?" Violet eyes teared up in concern.
Luciel slowly pushed her away and then shook his head.
"It's not my blood." Luciel's stare was cold and then he went for a bath.
The Raven sat on Luciel's head and started pecking at it,
"You could at least say "thank you for your concern" to her! You cold hearted bastard!"
Luciel tried to catch the Raven but he flew away.
"I swear the moment I reclaim my land, you'll be the first to be punished!" Luciel clenched his fist in anger.
"Is that how you treat your saviour!" The Raven cackled.
"Your land?" Violet slowly tiled her head in confusion, "are you a rich Luciel?"
The Raven and Luciel looked at each other realising they spoke too much.
"Well I am kind of, but that doesn't concern you..." Luciel spoke and then started unbuttoning his shirt.
Then he realised a curious gaze at her, "do you mind?" He looked at Luciel.
"Mind what?" Violet still had those innocent eyes that didn't know what he was talking about.
He sighed and then the Raven sat on the Violet head.
"Princess you should act like a maiden, for example if a pervert strip in front of you should scream and throw the biggest rock you can find at him."
"Who are you calling a pervert you talking chicken!" Luciel yelled at him.
Violet laughed and chuckles filled the cave, it somehow pacified the anger of Luciel...
He scoffed and then went to the bath, when turned his back to Violet then saw something that made her heart hurt by the sight.
There were many scars on his body, different scars in different shapes, it spoke a horrifying story Violet knew he may not narrate neither she could listen.
"Don't ask about them, it's for your own good.
He didn't ask about your past did he? So please don't ask about his." The Raven spoke then flew away.
Violet looked away and then picked up the berries and fruits she threw away without realising.
She picked up those then washed them again, she started eating them while thinking what the past really is?
The time slowly went by like this, few instances, few quarrels, few moments but many revelations came out, all of these became an irreplaceable memory for all three of them.
Soon following this routine 3 year and half passed away, Violet turned 18 and Luciel was 20.
The Ravan acted like their guardian and mediator many times, he created balance ensuring they helped each other without asking much.
One thing that didn't change was Luciel cold heart, he was convinced the moment he opened it to anyone, they'll betray him.
These days with Violet was just another chapter in his book that could be skipped or forgotten... Until one day he realised it was far from the truth...
One day on a monotonous evening, Luciel was training deep within the cave, Violet was roasting meat he had hunted for her in exchange of her creating bedding and keeping his clothes clean.
"Mr. Raven! These horns on these rabbits! They are broken! Can't you just ask Luciel to stop being rough on them!" Violet sighed, she had picked up on temper of Luciel a little, unlike him her temper was reasonable.
"I'll ask him princes..." The Raven looked tired, the cave was cold and silent like usual until the sound of the foot steps started getting louder by every second.
"Are you sure that brat is here?" A voice echoed in the cave again, Violet jumped up startled.
"Mr. Raven! What is going on! Someone is coming here!" The Raven head was pointed at the direct sound came.
"Well can't run away forever... Princess go to the place I told you and hide!" Raven spread his wings and flew away...
"Mr. Raven!" Violet wanted to fight, she has learnt how to fight, few spells but the were weak.
"I will not run away! This time I'll protect you!" Violet clenched her fist and picked up bow and arrow, she climbed up on a crack and hid close to the opening sound came from.
She waited and focused on the approaching steps.
It was the first time she'll see other people besides Raven and Luciel but when the came into the light of torches her eyes widened in horror.
Two large men with tall large bodies with red skin and green skin, they had horns sticking out their skulls with mane like hair, dressed neatly in uniform, they weren't like Luciel and Violet...
"Who are they..." She started shaking in fear.
She hid from them making sure she doesn't appear in their sight, for a few moments she thought they would go away.
Her face and palm were drenched in sweat, her heart was exploding out of her chest.
She slowly peeked to check weather they were gone or not, but when she looked she saw their eyes locked with her...
"And here I thought from where the stench of human was coming from?" Their side of mouth streched in grin....