I ventured down the narrow grass path.
The walls were too close together, barely far enough apart for one person to enter and walk through that place where I found myself.
The ground was damp and the plants climbed up the stones as if they wanted to eat the entire path. Each step made a slight crunch under my boots.
In the distance I saw that the walls opened up a little more.
When I reached the end, a small forest appeared in front of me. At the top of the canopy of an old twisted tree, a black crow watched me fixedly. Its eyes shone like two obsidian beads.
—Give me, give me sweets and I'll give you something in return —the crow shouted while flapping its wings over and over, as if impatient.
I stood looking at it, not quite sure what to think of a talking crow. I put my hand in my bag, hesitating for a second, and took out one of the many sweets I carried with me.
As soon as it saw it, the animal got even more excited, moving its wings hard and fast, almost as if it were clapping.
—Give me ten sweets and I'll give you this shiny stone —it said, and with its beak it pulled from the nest a stone that gleamed under the little light that reached there.
I observed it more closely and immediately recognized the mineral.
It was exactly the one the blacksmith had mentioned to me: the one that could help improve my sword, make it more resistant and sharper. Without thinking twice, I took the ten sweets out of the bag and left them on the ground, one next to the other.
The crow dropped the stone from above. It fell spinning through the air. Before it touched the ground, the bird dove, caught it with its beak and placed it right in front of me.
I picked it up carefully. When I held it in my hands and saw it up close, I knew I had to return to the blacksmith as soon as possible. That stone was going to change things.
Without wasting any more time, I turned around and went back down the same narrow path.
When I reached my boat, already with one foot inside, something stopped me. I felt I couldn't leave yet.
I had to go talk to that woman from before again. Maybe she needed to get out of there. The place where she lived wasn't suitable for anyone: crumbling walls, constant dampness, smell of rot and abandonment.
If she went to the sacred forest, she would be much safer.
I turned around again before fully boarding the wooden boat. I walked quickly back toward the ruined house.
When I entered, I noticed she was no longer in the kitchen.
It seemed she had finished feeding her pet, the wolf she called Poro.
I climbed the stone stairs carefully, because some steps were loose and creaked too much. I reached the second floor and headed straight to her room. There was no other place she could be.
When I entered, Poro growled at me as soon as he saw me. He bared his teeth and put his ears back. The woman, who was sitting behind a small table next to the door, looked up and spoke to him in a calm voice:
—Silence, Poro.
And the wolf obeyed instantly. He sat down and lowered his head. It was incredible to see the bond so strong that those two had.
She looked at me with that neutral expression that was already starting to feel familiar.
—Hey, one question, knight… do you have a fairy tale?
—Yes, yes I have one. Do you want to see it? —I replied while reaching into my bag.
—No, it's okay. But you know those tales aren't made for children, right? Their content, for some reason, is too cruel… My question is: who could have written them?
—I… don't know. The truth is there's no name inside the book that says "the author." Do you perhaps know who wrote it?
—No… unfortunately I don't know much either. I just felt uneasy, that's all. Can I examine it a little?
—Of course, no problem.
I handed it to her. She took it carefully, looked at the outside, opened it, flipped through some pages very quickly and then handed it back to me.
—Thanks for showing it to me. Now then… since you're here, you're a client and you came for that, right?
—I came for that?
—Don't play dumb. I know you come here for my body. So I'll tell you the price. If you don't have it, then you have to leave. You already know: it's 3000 souls. Hand them over and let's finish this so you can leave.
I was completely shocked. I didn't know she sold her body. Well… of course she did. What else was she going to sell in a place like that? In the end there was nothing more than her and her pet.
But the truth is she was beautiful. I thought it would be fun to spend some time with her. In the end I had souls to spare.
—Okay, I accept. Take the 3000 souls.
—Thanks for your donation —she said in the same flat tone as always.
Without saying anything else, she got up and headed to the bed. I followed her. I grabbed her by the waist and gently threw her onto the mattress. I felt like having a little fun.
—Wow, you're being too eager… Well, there's no limit to it. You can use me as much as you want.
I took off her clothes calmly. I massaged her small breasts, touched her nipples with my fingers. She showed no reaction. Not a sigh, not a movement. Her face remained just as expressionless.
—I know what you're thinking… I'm sorry, I was born frigid.
It was a shame she didn't moan or move, no matter how much I played with her body. But even so, her naked skin, her thin and pale figure, were too arousing.
—You're already all hard and throbbing. Let's finish this once and for all. Here, put it in.
With her fingers she opened her vaginal lips, showing me everything. I couldn't hold back anymore. I placed my penis at her entrance and pushed slowly until I was fully inside.
I immediately felt the heat and how tight it was inside her. It was difficult to move at first, but that only made it more intense.
—Now we're joined to the root, don't you think? Feel free to thrust whenever you want. I'll stay still.
I started moving. She still didn't change expression, like a perfect doll that feels nothing. Only my gasps and the wet sound of our bodies colliding over and over could be heard.
—Fucking my pussy must feel really good, right? Well, in the end I can't know.
I thrust my hips against hers, grabbing her tiny breasts. Inside she was so narrow that sometimes it hurt a little, but that pain mixed with a strange and addictive pleasure.
—You can cum inside me and fill me up. No problem.
Although her words came out without emotion, for some reason they excited me even more.
I moved faster, pushing her small body against the mattress.
I looked like a beast on top of her. I felt my limit approaching. The semen rose through my penis and, unable to hold back any longer, I came inside, filling her completely.
—Hmm… so you've already finished.
I slowly pulled out my member. The semen began to come out of her vagina like a thick white river.
I got up from the bed and went toward the door while putting my clothes back on. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her calmly cleaning herself and getting dressed without haste.
—Ah, yes… I haven't introduced myself, right? Sorry. You can call me Little Red Riding Hood.
In the end I learned her name. But from the moment I entered I knew she was strong. Her and her companion Poro. If they accompanied me, my journey would be much easier.
—Hey… what if I buy you?
—What did you just say?
She looked at me fixedly, without changing expression.
—I mean… if you can lend me your power. You look very strong.
She remained silent for a few seconds.
—Mmm… if you have 100,000 souls, I agree.
I knew I had to do it. I had the souls. If I didn't give them to her now, maybe I'd never get another chance.
—Okay, I accept.
—Whoa… so you were serious?
—Of course I'm serious. Why would you think otherwise?
—Well, well… a deal's a deal. From today on I'll follow you. So do whatever you want, but if you're too cruel, I won't hesitate to stab you in the back.
Poro barked right when she finished speaking.
—Okay, okay… you're coming too, Poro. In the end I'm also getting tired of this eternal rain… Well, treat us well, undead sir.
—I assure you I will.
And so, without further delay, we set off toward the sacred forest.