Morning sunbeams filtered through the small attic hole, bathing the room in a warm glow. Rushia's eyes fluttered open as she awoke from dreams of grand quests (not exactly). Her simple bedchamber bore traces of a young (play-acting) knight in training. In a corner, a wooden stick and a (poorly carved) wooden shield leaned against the wall. On the walls, drawings of dragons (not even close) and castles (maybe a little) were pinned up.
From outside her room, her mother's voice rang up the narrow staircase. "Rise and shine, brave knight!"
Rushia burrowed deeper into her straw-filled mattress. "Five more minutes, your majesty Mom..." she murmured.
"If you don't get out now, I'll turn that stick of yours into firewood!" Aria yelled from downstairs.
That got Rushia moving. She jumped out of bed, seizing her newest blade—the wooden stick found at the forest's edge, which she had mentally dubbed Murakan. It was a proud name she had decided on after much thought (all her sticks held that name).
She rushed down the creaky wooden steps from the attic loft into the simple cottage below. Aria stood waiting, hands on her hips, surrounded by empty gathering baskets. Rushia dreamed of glorious quests, and today's quest was simple: provisioning the day's food.
"Another Murakan?" Aria asked wryly, eyeing the stick in Rushia's hand.
"It is a noble name—passed down through generations!" Rushia declared proudly.
Aria gave a small chuckle and brushed back Rushia's messy brown hair. "Come on, Sir Rushia, we must provision the royal kitchens!"
Rushia beamed and followed her mother out the door. Another day of adventure awaited!
***
Aria, Rushia's only family, was a poor commoner. Despite their struggle, she deeply cherished their playful banter.
They lived in a small border town, and without an actual stable job, Aria had to venture into the nearby forest to gather the provisions they needed to survive.
At first, Aria went alone, but she soon started bringing little Rushia along, anxious about leaving her home unattended—especially after seeing what her daughter did when unsupervised.
Though initially reluctant, Rushia eagerly joined her mother after hearing Aria's dramatic tales of gallant knights protecting common folk in the woods.
Most children her age would see through such a crude ploy, especially after it was so overused, but Rushia's pure innocence and obsession with knighthood made her endlessly gullible to Aria's little fibs.
This made Aria worry that her daughter's blind faith and boundless trust in knighthood might lead her astray someday.
But still, for now, Aria could exploit this (shamelessly), since Rushia would do anything if Aria framed it with a little heroism or knighthood.
Aria could claim that the valiant knights of the Round Table themselves finished their vegetables, and Rushia would eagerly gobble down her meal without complaint—though her expression usually said otherwise.
If Aria said honorable knights made their beds each morning, Rushia would rush to tidy her room immediately.
Rushia's gullibility concerning knights was absurd, but dangerously effective. Despite her worries, Aria still needed this exploit because it made managing her daughter's behavior as easy as saying, "Sir Galahad washed the dishes."
***
Venturing deep into the shady forest, Aria led the way along the winding path, Rushia skipping behind with her latest 'sword' in hand. The trees towered overhead, sunlight filtering down in dappled patches. Birds chirped and fluttered amongst the branches.
"Keep your eyes peeled for mushrooms and berries, Sir Rushia," Aria reminded.
"Yes, m'lady! I shall protect you while we quest for provisions!" Rushia declared, waving her stick about dramatically.
Aria smiled in amusement. In Rushia's mind, she was a gallant protector accompanying a royal lady on a dangerous forest expedition. But to Aria, her daughter looked simply adorable, swishing her little sword at imaginary threats.
When a crow cawed loudly overhead, Rushia let out a fierce battle cry and brandished her stick at the treetops. "Back, vile creature! You shall not harm the queen!"
Biting back laughter, Aria played along. "My brave champion, you have vanquished the foul beast! The kingdom is safer thanks to your valiant efforts."
Rushia beamed with pride and continued scampering about, vigilantly guarding her mother from non-existent enemies. She battled twigs and branches, defended against the occasional chirping bird, and kept a watch for wicked sorcerers behind every tree trunk.
To Aria, it was all an amusing game of make-believe. But to Rushia, she was living out a thrilling tale of heroism, protecting the weak and innocent just like the knights from stories. Aria enjoyed this experience, watching her daughter immersed in a world of boundless imagination, which made the dire reality of their struggling, poor life easier to bear.
***
Aria and Rushia made their way along the deeper forest path, bathed in the lower sunlight. Aria stayed guarded, watching the forest closely as they entered the more dangerous area.
Foraging in the forest, despite looking like a pretty simple job, was not something commonly done by the town's citizens. And for good reason. Much of the forest teemed with vile creatures that hunted in silence, and even lethal plants that could swallow whole anyone who was not wary.
In this forest, only one group of people dared to venture into it daily: the hunters. They studied the ecosystem and its inhabitants in detail, giving them leeway in navigating the woods. In fact, even a knight could struggle here—many creatures could easily kill a seasoned knight without prior knowledge.
In this forest, it's not strength that matters; it's knowledge and experience.
As Aria walked deeper, she grabbed Rushia's arms tightly. In addition to that, she watched carefully for wood carvings and labels across the trees.
These labels were prepared by the hunters to note safe and dangerous areas for each other. However, these carvings were not written in the local town's language, but in the internationally recognized Lua language.
For Aria, speaking, reading, and writing in Lua posed no challenge. Furthermore, she had taught Rushia the Lua language, using old knighthood storybooks.
But that wasn't the only source Aria used to teach Rushia Lua.
As they walked the sunny path, Aria stopped by a large oak. "Time for a Lua lesson, my little knight!"
Rushia skipped over eagerly, wooden stick in hand. "I'm ready!"
Aria pointed to some symbols in the bark. "Sound this out for me."
Rushia squinted. "Ummm... B-A-R-R-I-E-S?"
"Not quite, try again."
"B-E-R-R-Y-S!" Rushia yelled triumphantly.
Aria chuckled. "You're getting there! Now this one."
Rushia's face scrunched in concentration. "D...A-N-G...E-R-R-R?"
"Close enough!" Aria pulled out a berry for a reward. "Here you go!"
"Yay, berry!" Rushia immediately stuffed it in her mouth. Learning was tiring, but snacks made it worthwhile.
***
Sunlight dappled the forest floor as Aria and Rushia gathered acorns and berries. Birds chirped merrily overhead and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves.
"Look at this huge acorn!" Rushia cried, holding it up in delight.
Aria smiled warmly. "Well done Sir Rushia! We'll feast like royalty tonight."
Rushia's giggles echoed between the mighty trees as she imagined legendary knights gathering forest delicacies just like them. Aria's heart swelled at her daughter's innocent joy.
Without warning, bloodcurdling shouts shattered the idyllic calm. Three strangers burst onto the path in a frenzied panic - two men and an injured woman. Birds erupted from the treetops in fright as the very air grew heavy with dread.
Heedless of the danger, Rushia charged forward, a wooden stick aloft. "Have no fear! I shall save thee!" she yelled, imagination gripped by thoughts of valor.
"Rushia, stop!" Aria pleaded, but her voice was lost amidst the chaos.
The cause of the group's terror soon appeared - a hulking bear-like beast with glowing red eyes and gnashing teeth. It roared deafeningly, the sound reverberating through the endless woods.
Aria's blood turned to ice as the monster barreled straight towards Rushia's tiny frozen form. Her panicked shouts were muted against its thunderous approach. She ran with futility against the inevitability of what was to come.
***
Rushia stood frozen as the monstrous creature barreled towards her. But in her imagination, this was the moment of a grand battle. She would defeat the vile beast with her trusty sword, just like the gallant knights from her mother's tales!
In her mind's eye, Rushia saw an epic duel unfold, nimbly dodging attacks while landing devastating blows. Finally, with one last mighty swing, her wooden blade would fall the creature in a spectacular finish worthy of legend.
But as Rushia glanced around, she realized the surrounding trees and brush would hinder such a dashing display of swordsmanship. She decided a change of venue was needed to properly stage her heroic deeds.
Spying a small rock, she hurled it, trying to redirect the monster's attention. Of course, the tiny stone didn't even reach the creature. But unexpectedly, the beast turned and began chasing Rushia's fleeing form instead.
In her naivete, Rushia thought she was beginning an exciting adventure, leading the monster toward their epic confrontation. She didn't comprehend the true danger at all.
Aria watched helplessly as her daughter ran further into the woods, carried away by childish fantasies of glory far removed from the grim threat looming behind.
***
Drias, Rey, and Lea crashed desperately through the brush, the monstrous beast in pursuit. Veteran hunter Drias wore faded leathers, his garb well-worn from time in the woods. In his arms, fellow hunter Lea cried out in sheer agony, her forest attire soaked crimson from the gruesome wound on her mangled arm.
Only cowardly fear drove them now, courage lost. Lea's broken arm flopped limply as Drias carried her, blood dripping down her leathers. Then Rushia's shout pierced the air. All of them froze in place. At Rushia's shout, Drias turned to see the tiny girl facing the creature, wooden stick raised.
To Drias, she looked like a hero come to life - a new legend about to be born. Shame burned through him that a child showed the chivalry he had lost. The young man Rey felt that same shame. Though gifted in the arcane arts, denoted by his mystic robes, he too was being saved by Rushia's courage.
As Rushia turned to run, drawing the monster away, Drias was jolted from his reverie. Consumed by regret, he passed Lea to Rey, "Get her help! Go!"
Rey nodded, his robes swirling as he took Lea's bloodied form. Her face had gone deathly pale from the pain and severe blood loss of the injury.
Gripping his spear, determination flowed through Drias. He would stand and fight, reclaiming the honor Rushia's selflessness showed them. The shadows closed in as he raced to defend her courage from the vile beast.
Adjusting his mystic attire, Rey hurried to get Lea to the hospital, shame, and regret weighing heavily. Grim silence fell across the blood-speckled path as he ran, praying it was not too late.
***
Rushia's tiny feet pounded the earth as she fled through the woods, the lumbering beast close behind. Spotting a clearing ahead, she made for a rocky outcropping overlooking a steep cliff.
Reaching the precipice edge, Rushia turned to face the oncoming creature. A smile spread across her innocent face and she took up a gallant pose, wooden stick pointed to the sky. In her fanciful mind, mystic energies began swirling around the humble blade, building power for a legendary attack.
But the harsh reality was that Rushia was just a malnourished child - weaker than most her age, without a scrap of magic to her name. The monsters and mysteries she imagined existed only in her head.
The brute closed the gap, its thunderous steps shaking loose stones over the cliff side. Rushia stood firm, not a hint of fear in her brown eyes. In her mind, this was a fated duel like the epics her mother would tell.
But something unexpected happens. When the beast was nearly upon her, the ground beneath them shuddered and gave way. With nothing to grasp, both tumbled over the crumbling precipice.
Rushia felt weightless, the air rushing past her. She didn't understand what was happening as the towering pines blurred by. Her mind still saw grand adventures, oblivious to the rapidly approaching reality below.
It seemed an eternity before she hit the raging river, ending her fall in an explosion of frigid water. The raging currents quickly swept both Rushia and the creature away, leaving only turbulence and debris.
The glory of legends was hers, if only in a mind that never grasped the tragedy of that final plunge.
***
Drias stood motionless, having witnessed the entire horrific scene unfold. Guilt and grief consumed him that he had not been able to save the courageous child. Her selfless bravery had shamed him, yet he repaid it by letting her fall.
In his heart, Drias knew the child could have grown to be someone great, a true hero. But his inaction had led a little girl to sacrifice herself for their sake. Sorrow weighed heavily on his shoulders.
Aria's panicked shouts echoed through the trees as she finally caught up. Taking in the crumbled precipice edge, she instantly understood what had transpired. Unfathomable horror gripped her, imagining her beloved daughter's fate.
Without thinking, Aria ran for the cliff, desperate to chase after Rushia. But Drias held her back with a firm grip, knowing the earth would only collapse further. He could not allow this grieving mother to throw her own life away.
"Rushia! Rushia!" Aria screamed in anguish, struggling against him. Tears streamed down her face as the reality of her loss took hold. Her legs gave out and she sank to the ground, mind flooded with pain and regret.
Drias kept a solemn vigil beside the distraught mother. His own guilt was dwarfed by the visceral agony etched on Aria's face. Her world had been shattered in an instant.
The shadows of the forest closed in around them like a funeral veil. All wildlife had gone silent as if the woods themselves mourned this tragedy. Drias bowed his head, the image of a tiny girl standing so bravely against the beast now seared into his memory forever.