The air was soft and fragrant, filled with the sweet scent of blooming lilacs and fresh morning dew. A young girl, no older than seven, sat in a beautifully decorated room, her tiny hands folded neatly on her lap. Silken curtains danced with the wind as rays of sunlight spilled across polished marble floors. Around her, adults in fine attire smiled warmly, their eyes gleaming with pride.
"She truly is our family's hope," one of them said.
"The heir of the Arclen bloodline," another whispered. "A child born with the eyes of promise."
The girl—small, quiet, her dark-blue hair brushing her cheeks—smiled shyly as hands patted her shoulders. Compliments flowed like honey, words she didn't fully understand yet learned to smile at.
Later, she sat in the garden, on her mother's lap. Her mother's voice was soft as she sang a lullaby, one that carried through the trees. The girl laughed gently, tugging at the hem of her mother's dress. The sound of her laughter filled the air like music.
Laughter echoed through the garden as the little girl darted behind rose bushes, her dark-blue hair fluttering. "You'll never find me, Papa!" she giggled, barely holding in her laughter as her father pretended not to see her. When he finally "found" her, lifting her high into the air, her joyous squeals filled the sky.
That night, under the soft glow of a lantern, her father read her tales of witches, heroes, and faraway lands. Her violet eyes sparkled with wonder. "Papa… do you think I'll have my own adventure someday?" she asked softly. Her father smiled. "Of course, my brave little witch—you can have any adventure you dream."
Those were perfect days—simple, glowing, full of warmth.
But then came the day everything changed.
The warmth vanished. The house that once echoed with laughter now vibrated with venom. She stood in the grand hall, surrounded by the same faces—only now, they were twisted in disgust.
"She's useless."
"She didn't awaken the Arclen legacy."
"A disgrace to our name."
Her mother's voice joined theirs, cold and sharp as glass. "You were supposed to bring honor to us, not shame!"
The girl's small body trembled. Her lips quivered as tears welled in her shining violet eyes. "Please… stop…" she whispered.
No one listened.
"Stop…" she said again, louder, voice cracking.
Her father's portrait loomed above the fireplace—his frozen smile mocking her.
Her mother's voice cut through the chaos, cold and trembling with fury:
"Get out of this house, you worthless piece of garbage!"
"STOP!" she screamed one last time, her voice echoing, breaking the air apart.
The scene shattered—colors tearing, faces fading into black.
Darkness swallowed everything.
And then, a breath.
She jolted awake—eyes wide, chest heaving, sweat clinging to her pale skin. The ruins' ceiling greeted her once again.
Her trembling hand reached out toward the fading fragments of her dream. Her violet eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
She was awake—silently, painfully awake.
The girl's violet eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, her vision hazy and her body aching. For a moment, she didn't understand where she was—only that everything around her was brown and cold. Dirt. Just dirt. She blinked again and realized she was sitting at the bottom of a pit, the walls rising above her like a broken cage.
Her lips trembled as tears filled her eyes. "Why… why does this always happen to me?" she whimpered, voice cracking with a mix of exhaustion and frustration. The girl looked around, confusion filling her voice as she murmured, "Where… where am I? And what were those strange blue lights?" Her small hands wiped at her eyes, leaving smudges of dirt across her cheeks. "Ugh! I'm all muddy now… my pretty dress is ruined!"
"Hello!? Is anyone out there? Please, help me! I'm stuck!" she cried, voice trembling. Her words echoed back unanswered, fading into the night's silence. "Huh? No one's here…" Realizing she was alone, her small shoulders slumped, and tears welled in her violet eyes.
Then her gaze landed on something—her hat. Her big, floppy witch hat was lying a few feet away, half-covered in soil. Her eyes widened. "Nooo, Hatty! You're all dirty!" she cried, scrambling toward it. She snatched it up, brushing it off carefully as though it were alive. "I'm sorry, Hatty, I didn't mean to drop you! You must be so mad at me!"
Her tears slowed as she looked around again. A glimmer of wood caught her eye—her broom. "My broom!" she called happily, relief blooming across her face. She tried to stand, but a sharp sting shot up her leg, and she yelped, falling back down. "Ow ow ow ow! That hurts! Why does the ground hate me?"
She hugged her knee and sniffled, pouting for a moment before taking a deep breath. "No… no, I can't stop here. I'm not gonna give up! My adventure just started!" she said, determination sparking in her eyes. She pushed herself up, wincing but refusing to fall.
Spotting a set of vines hanging from the wall, she gasped. "Aha! My escape route!" she declared proudly—then, after one weak tug, slumped in defeat. "...Okay, maybe after a short nap." Exhausted and trembling, the girl collapsed and drifted into sleep.
The night was silent, the ruins cloaked in silver light as the moon hung high above. The violet-eyed girl stirred awake, rubbing her eyes with both hands, her hat tilted slightly over her face. When she noticed the night sky above the pit, her face went pale.
"Oh no! It's midnight already! I have to get out of here!" she cried, her voice echoing softly through the ruins. Panic turned quickly into determination as she spotted the vines hanging along the pit wall. She grabbed one, testing its strength with a small tug. It held.
"Alright, Miss Witch… this is your grand escape!" she said to herself with a dramatic puff of her chest, her childish tone both frightened and brave. She tied her broom to her waist and adjusted her big hat—crooked but proud—and then began climbing.
Her injured leg throbbed with every pull, pain biting at her courage, but she refused to stop. "Ow—ow—ow—but I'm not giving up!" she huffed between breaths, clutching the vine tightly. Halfway up, her foot slipped, and she gasped, eyes wide, heart racing. For a moment, she dangled there, trembling.
Then, gritting her teeth, she muttered, "No way I'm falling again!" With a small grunt, she steadied herself and climbed on, step by shaky step.
Finally, as she reached the edge, the moonlight spilled over her, bathing her in silver glow. She pulled herself up, breathing heavily, cheeks covered in dirt, but her violet eyes gleamed with pride. Standing atop the ruins, she raised her broom high and said, "Ha! Take that, pit! You thought you could stop me!"
She laughed softly to herself, the sound carrying faintly into the night—innocent, tired, but full of heart.
The girl slowly stood, clutching her broom for support, her violet eyes flickering with exhaustion but refusing to dim. "I'm not done yet," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. "The night's scary… I need to find somewhere safe."
A cold wind blew through the ruins, rustling her hair and making her sneeze. "A-Achoo! Ugh… it's cold too…" she mumbled, shivering as she wrapped her arms around herself. She limped forward, each step heavy with pain, yet she pressed on. Her injured leg throbbed, but she refused to stop. The distant howl of a beast echoed through the ruins, and her heart jumped in fear. "Dear Eve, please protect your cutest follower tonight....I promise I'll be extra good!" she prayed softly, walking faster despite the pain.
Minutes passed. The moonlight shimmered faintly on her hat as she stumbled—her foot catching in the roots of a tree. "Ah—!" she cried out before tumbling face-first into the dirt. Her cheek stung, her eyes watered, and tears slipped down her face as she sniffled, "Why… why does this always happen to me… " the girl frustrated, whispered, "Ugh… can this day please stop getting worse already?"
But then, through her tears, she saw it—a wall. A gate. Her eyes widened with hope. "A settlement! Maybe someone lives there!" she exclaimed with renewed energy. Limping, she ran toward it, her heart fluttering with joy. When she reached the gate, she leaned forward, panting, her breath visible in the cold air.
She knocked softly at first, then harder. "H-Hello? I'm lost and hurt! Please—can someone help me?" Her voice echoed in the silent night. No answer came. She sighed, lowering her head in despair. But then—creeeak—the gate slowly opened.
Her face lit up instantly. "T-Thank you! Thank you so much!" she said, smiling brightly, stepping forward with gratitude. But her joy froze mid-step.
Before her stood not people—but creatures, kabolts. Two of them. Their scales shimmered with a greenish hue under the moonlight, tougher and sleeker than before. Golden eyes glowed faintly, intelligent and calm. Their tails had thickened, ending in club-like shapes, and from their backs rose two small, sharp spikes resembling fins.
The girl gasped in awe and fear, realizing—this was no village, far from it.
One of the Kabolts stepped forward, and surprisingly, it spoke, in a deep voice. "What are you doing here at this hour? Are you hurt?"
But before the girl could utter a word, her knees gave out. She fainted where she stood, her expression frozen in shock.
The two Kabolts looked at each other, puzzled. "What… just happened to her?" one asked, tilting its head.
The other blinked, tail flicking. "I think… she fainted?"
And as they stood there, unsure of what to do, the moonlight shimmered over them—signaling the unexpected arrival of a guest who would soon turn Kairo's world upside down.
To be continued....