When Lila woke, the village was gone.
her home destroyed ~there was nothing, but smoke and ash mixing with the wind.
She forced her eyes open, though her vision blurred. "Mother…" she whispered, her voice cracking. Every inch of her body ached, and the metallic taste of blood lingering on her tongue.
"You managed to survive," a voice said.
She turned weakly toward it. A figure approached—small, childlike, it was a boy.
Lila trying to sit up. "Who… who are you?"
The boy stepped closer, looking at her."You're trembling," he said softly. "But don't worry, I won't harm you."
Then he looked towards the forest."Someone's coming," he murmured.Then he turned facing her a smile lingering on his lips. "We'll meet again, Lila." as he walked away....
Lila's strength finally gave out, her vision fading gradually, everything went dark
~~~~~~~~
A man in black arrived at the scene.>>>>>
"I guess I got here late," he muttered under his breath.
His eyes scanning the wreckage.
"Where is she..." he murmured.Then he found her, a girl barely conscious.
He walked over, lifted her gently into his arms, and carried her through the burned village stepping over blood and bodies.
~~~~~~~~
Lila woke again, her heart pounding, her body drenched in sweat.
She had a nightmare — burning houses, blood, the screams of people, their prayers, their curses all echoing in her mind. "But it felt real."
It's just a dream, she told herself. It has to be.
"Oh, you're awake," a voice said.
She turned sharply. A stranger entering her room hold a cup of water, setting it down and sitting on the chair beside the bed.
"What—who are you? Why are you in my house?" she demanded.
"Your house?" he raised an eyebrow.in a cold tone. " You really think this is your house?"
Lila looked around. The room was unfamiliar —stone walls, dim lights. she wasn't in her home. She quickly pulled the blanket over closer to herself.
"Relax," the man said. With an unchanging expression. "I'm not going to hurt you," if I really wanted to, "you'd be dead by now."
"Then.... who are you, what am I doing here.she demanded,her voice trembling.
He leaned back slightly. "It looks like you don't understand your situation," he replied calmly. "You should be thanking me. I saved you. So let's just say I'm your reward."
Her brows furrowed. Saved me? Why would y—"
She froze as memories of that night flooded back — the flames, the screams, the monster. Tears rolling down her cheeks.
"What… what day is it today?" she asked softly her voice cracking.
"It's the fourth day of the new month," he answered.
Her eyes widened. "I've been asleep for four days?"
"Yeah," "you lost a lot of strength,be grateful you woke up.
"Look, princess, you better stop crying, crying won't change anything.
think about what to do next. Don't you want revenge? Don't you want to know who destroyed your village?"
She looked down,her hands trembling. "I… I do want to know who did it," she whispered. "But I don't want revenge. I don't want more blood, Mother would be disappointed."
He chuckled lightly. "What a fool," he muttered.You are too soft ,you will die quickly."Something strange happened in the village, didn't it.
"Yes… something did," Lila replied quietly.
"That's not what I'm asking about," he said, his tone turning serious.
That beast — it was a corrupted ancient creature. and corrupted monster have nothing in their mind except for blood and murder.its hard to survive if you encounter one So tell me, how did you escape?"
Lila blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
"You used your powers, didn't you?" he said, narrowing his eyes. That's why your body is in a mess." You're lucky you didn't use it longer — otherwise, your soul would've shattered."
"My power?" she repeated, staring at him."What are you talking about?"
But then, a memory flashed in her mind — her own scream, the monster roaring in pain,her telling it to stop and it did.
"How?" she whispered. No.... that's impossible .
"My body looks fine to me," she said defensively.
The man sighed. "Imagine holding a bag of water," he said. "If it suddenly gets punctured, the water spills out. You can save a little, sure — but that part of the bag is ruined. Right now, you're that bag. You used your power, and it nearly tore you apart."
Lila stared at him in fear and confusion. This..... this power is it a bad thing, she whispered.
He gave a long look at her and turned away, we shall continue this conversation tomorrow, don't forget to drink the hot water it's getting cold.now rest, he said getting up from the chair and headed towards the door. We have a long way to go.
~~~~~~~~~~~`~~~~
He walked down the quiet hall, his footsteps echoing faintly against the wooden floor.
"Enough sleeping," he said flatly, leaning against the wall. "Wake up."
Lila's eyes opened, her throat dry and her eyelids heavy. The room felt colder than before.
She didn't answer him — not yet.
"Good," he muttered, straightening from the wall. "You're awake. Get up. We move before the sun rises."
Her voice cracked as she sat up, clutching the blanket tightly. "But… it's still dark," she whispered.
"Exactly," he said without looking at her. "That's when it's safest."
She hesitated, staring at him — unreadable. There was something about him that felt distant, untouchable.
He turned away, his voice low but enough for her to hear."Don't make me wait."
She sat there for a moment after he left, the silence heavy in the room. Should I follow him? she wondered. But I have nowhere else to go…
Her eyes drifted to the window. Outside, the world was still wrapped in darkness, the moon faintly visible in the sky.
She sighed and forcing herself to move. The wooden floor was cold beneath her bare feet as she reached for the cloak hanging beside the bed. Every step felt like walking through pain — sharp, deep, unending. It hurts, she thought.
When she stepped outside, he was already there, leaning against the gate — motionless, his eyes closed, the cold morning air moving through his hair.
"Why don't you say anything?" he asked, his tone calm. He didn't turn to face her.
Lila pulled her cloak tighter. "I didn't want to wake you."
He opened his eyes slowly, finally glancing her way.
"You couldn't," he said simply. Then he turned and started walking. "I don't sleep."