The warmth of my house was comforting; it reminded me of a distant time when my mother would hold me during the storms.
When I was little, I was afraid of everything—from the turbulent winds that made the house tremble in winter to the lightning that seemed to conjure fire across the city.
Baduuum
A thunderclap echoed loudly. A shiver ran down my spine, but I managed to steady myself with the warmth of my furnace.
"I think this one's going to be a tough one… I hope they don't come."
In recent years, some people claimed to have seen dragons flying over this region. They had never—not even once—come near Ironhill.
But that was just a rumor I heard a week ago. I never know what to believe; those tavern talks are nothing but lies!
Toc toc
"What?"
THUUM THUUM
An intense cold swept over my body. Maybe it was the icy wind. Or maybe it was the fear that radiated from my stomach like a heavy punch.
With hesitation, I approached the door. There was only a faint sound, like fabric brushing against the wood.
"Hel…p…"
A trembling voice—hard to tell the gender—but clearly begging for any kind of help. I opened the door immediately.
A tall figure. A black robe. A dreadful presence. Yet trembling legs. And then, she collapsed into my arms like a piece of cloth.
"HEY! WAKE UP!"
I tried to wake whatever she was, but to no avail. The only option was to tend to her wounds.
So I carried the creature to my bedroom. The bed wasn't the most comfortable, but it would suffice to treat her injuries.
Removing the hood from her face, I discovered she was a woman. Her delicate features were marred by a wound running along her neck. She looked younger than me. Her dark hair was well cared for, suggesting possible nobility.
And her pointed ears indicated she had been born in the north, beyond the Sea of Xillsar.
"She's not from here… that's why she was in the forest, in a storm like this… poor thing."
I had never been able to see what others could—levels, titles, or anything of the sort. But she was powerful, that I was certain of. Even with her body numb, she carried a threatening aura that made the skin of anyone who touched her prickle.
Fortunately, she had only one more wound—this one on her abdomen. Her armor was light, perhaps too light.
What seemed to have attacked her was a bear. A bite? No… more like a slash? Perhaps.
What was obvious was the seriousness of the situation. Whatever this was, I shouldn't be getting involved.
I had already done all the first aid I could. Luckily, I hadn't injured myself today and had enough supplies to treat her.
And so, I managed to fall asleep. When the sun finally rose again, it was a new summer day. The light from outside warmed my face. I had dozed off sitting at my table.
"Who?"
A sweet voice—it was her. Without her robe, without her armor, she was looking outside my house. Apparently, her hair had been loose yesterday, but now her presence was different. I felt nothing. No pressure. No fear. Nothing.
Her blue eyes comforted me greatly, but I still had to ask.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine. Was it you who treated me?"
"Treated is a strong word. I just stopped the bleeding from your wounds and used some herbs to numb your body."
She stood there, listening as I spoke about everything, explaining each detail of her recovery. That was how I met her. That was how I met…
"Hilga."