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The cold stone floor of the primitive cell felt as though it were freezing the girl's wounded knees. The darkness was suffocating; only a thin beam of silvery moonlight slipped through a crack in the cave's ceiling, faintly illuminating the damp, silent space.
Countless sensations tangled inside her mind, sensations she could barely organize. Her heart raced so fast it made breathing difficult. Hunger and thirst left her dizzy. Every cut and wound scattered across her body burned like living embers.
Her blonde hair was a tangled mess, as pale as dirty snow. Her eyes, once as blue and radiant as diamonds, were now dull and sunken… almost lifeless.
When had everything gone so wrong?
She wondered, as long as she could still think at all.
Fate had not been kind to her only remaining family. Her mother lay in a coma, connected to machines that devoured more money than she could ever hope to pay. No relatives. No friends. No one to help her… everything rested on her shoulders.
She had tried everything. If she could enter a hero academy as a cadet, maybe she would receive financial support. But her strength was low. Her Rank F potential was practically nonexistent.
After that, she tried working. Every job rejected her, either because of her age or because she simply wasn't fit for a "street rat."
Cornered, with no options left, desperation pushed her toward the most dangerous alternative: entering a dungeon.
At first, surprisingly, it didn't go so badly. Within a few days, she managed to defeat isolated goblins. She recovered the entrance fee and even made a small profit. She swore to herself that she wouldn't take risks against stronger monsters.
But promises… promises are empty.
In the end, she was defeated by a small group of goblins. She was gravely injured, but contrary to her fears, they didn't kill her on the spot.
She was dragged for hours beneath the scorching sun, until she arrived at this cold, hollow place.
In a way… it suited her.
Alice clung to the thin line between life and death.
With trembling hands, she pulled a small ring from the torn pocket of her cheap clothes. Cheap metal, dull and worn, yet still capable of reflecting the faint moonlight.
It seemed that, once again, luck had abandoned Alice.
Just as she was about to close her eyes, sinking into a darkness that, in a twisted way, almost felt welcoming, her ears caught something.
A distant melody.
She thought it was a hallucination… but the notes grew clearer with each passing second. Soft. Gentle. A lullaby.
♫⋆｡♪ ♩ ♬
Alice opened her eyes. It wasn't her imagination.
The two goblins guarding the cell entrance began to writhe, visibly irritated by the melody. They growled in annoyance and left to investigate the source of the mysterious sound. Soon, they disappeared into a dark corner outside the cave.
Then, a few seconds later
— Grrgaa— han? Argh— SPLASH.
The grunts were abruptly silenced by a grotesque sound… like the heavy dripping of blood.
And then, from the darkness, he emerged.
A small figure, cloaked in a mantle whose texture the pitch-black shadows refused to reveal. In his hands, a bloodstained katana reflected the faint light, emitting a hypnotic white glow.
Atop it all rested a fox mask, smeared with blood, bathed in moonlight, a blend of beauty and menace.
The figure approached.
Alice couldn't comprehend anything. Her vision wavered on the edge of unconsciousness. All she could make out was an armed silhouette, covered in blood… advancing toward her.
Her fear exploded. Her heart raced. But she no longer had the strength to scream. No tears left to shed. When she tried, only hoarse, desperate sounds escaped her throat.
— P-ple… p-please…
— D-don't… n-no…
But then, everything changed.
A soft, melodic voice passed through the mask as the figure knelt before her, sliding the katana back into its sheath.
— Hey… it's okay. I won't hurt you.
The figure removed the mask.
Under the faint light, a young and gentle face was revealed. Soft features, almost angelic, completely out of place in such a hellish scene.
And, for a brief moment… Alice felt her soul calm.
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I needed to hurry.
After witnessing that scene from atop the wall surrounding the great goblin village, the decision became inevitable. I had to infiltrate immediately. Even if they didn't kill the girl right away, her condition made one thing painfully clear: she didn't have much time left.
From the top of the wall, I watched the last threads of light vanish beyond the horizon. The orange sky dissolved into shadows until the moon rose, vast and silver, spilling its cold glow over the world.
Under that light, my expression hardened. I adjusted the fox mask on my face, still marked with dried bloodstains, and began my operation.
From above, I mapped out small, scattered groups of goblins. Most of them were gathered at the center of the village, dancing around the chieftain's throne, which stood tall and imposing. A ritual… or some grotesque celebration.
Either way, it worked in my favor.
My small body, wrapped in dark clothing, slipped through the primitive alleys like a living shadow.
Group after group, goblins fell. Some didn't even have time to turn their heads in my direction. The few who screamed had their pleas swallowed by the deafening noise coming from the village center.
After some time, I found what appeared to be the entrance to a cave on the eastern edge of the settlement.
Two guards stood watch there. A serious problem.
The area was far too open. If I tried to take them head-on, I would be seen, and I had no idea how many more might be inside the cave.
I couldn't afford to be discovered.
Then, I had an idea.
I pulled the small ocarina hanging from my neck and gently blew a few familiar notes, a soft excerpt from Zelda's lullaby, a song I knew all too well.
Hidden within a dark corner of the rocky wall, I let the melody drift through the air. Like moths drawn to light, the two goblins approached, curious about the unfamiliar sound.
And then
swoosh.
A single draw of Snow Lady, swift and precise. Two heads rolled across the ground, and green blood sprayed into the air like a grotesque fountain.
I moved into the cave without wasting time. The air inside was damp, cold, and carried an unpleasant metallic scent, surprising for a place in the middle of the desert.
Thanks to my sharp vision, seeing through the darkness was no issue.
Soon, I spotted a hunched, trembling figure inside an improvised cell, far ahead.
I approached slowly.
— Hey… it's okay. I won't hurt you.
The girl trembled so violently she could barely focus. My ears caught the sound of her frantic heartbeat, relentless and painfully loud. Her pupils dilated and shrank in desperate disarray.
I immediately recognized the signs of a panic attack.
Before it worsened, I grabbed her shoulders firmly, but without aggression.
— I'm here to help you. What's your name?
Through choked stutters, she managed to answer.
— A-A… Alice…
— Good, Alice. I'm going to get you out of here. But first, I need you to try to calm down.
From the Ouroboros hanging at my neck, I pulled out supplies: a regeneration potion, some food, and a bit of water.
— Drink this.
She tried to swallow, but her throat was so dry that even the act itself seemed painful.
With patience, I helped her take small sips until a faint spark of life returned to her blue eyes.
— Now listen. I want to get us both out of here, but first I need to check something.
Alice's eyes trembled.
— Deeper in this cave… there might be other prisoners. If there are, I need to get them too.
She grew even paler, instinctively recoiling. The thought of being left alone in that darkness again made her whole body shake.
— N-no… p-please… don't leave me here…
She clutched my cloak tightly, tears streaming down her face, which was already beginning to heal thanks to the potion.
— I understand — I replied softly. — But I need you to be strong, okay?
Gently, I removed the fox mask hanging at my side and placed it over her head, resting it like a small fox-shaped hat.
— In that case… I want you to take care of this for me until I come back.
Alice touched the mask with both trembling hands.
Then, finally, she understood.
— Y-you… you'll come back?
— Of course. — I smiled, even though she couldn't quite see it. — Can you do that for me?
With effort, she nodded.
— Good. I promise I won't be long.
And with that, I disappeared into the darkness of the cave.
Alice was alone once more, but this time, the darkness no longer felt so terrifying.
Holding the fox mask close, she felt a faint warmth where only despair had existed before.
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