Chapter 5 — If only she were real


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Silvia]</strong>


    <span ss="userText">Silvia is a charming five-year-old girl, the daughter of Nivalis Silverfrost. She has long, silver hair that<span ss="aiText"> seems to shimmer and sparkle in the light, <span ss="userText">an amazing feature inherited from her mother. <span ss="userText">She has a slight build and tends to be shy<span ss="aiText">, a trait thates with being a child in a world where adults can be unpredictable and dangerous. Her soft <span ss="editText">face is<span ss="aiText"> a striking contrast to her father''s rugged and weathered <span ss="editText">one<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">Despite her young age, she was quite small, even for her five years, her tiny figure barely reaching her mother''s waist. Silvia gives an innocent and childlike impression, which is only natural given her tender age.


    <span ss="userText">But what truly made Silvia stand out from her mother, and what made her even more enchanting, were her eyes. They were unlike any others – a rare shade of gold that resembled the very first rays of sunlight peeking through leaves in a forest. Silvia''s eyes didn''t just shine; they emitted a gentle warmth and a sense of innocence. In stark contrast to her mother Nivalis''s icy blue gaze, Silvia''s eyes gleamed with aforting golden hue. These eyes, which she had inherited from her father, served as a constant reminder of the human blood that flowed through her veins.


    <span ss="userText"><span ss="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span ss="ryNqvb">And then there were her ears. <span ss="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span ss="ryNqvb">Sylvia''s elven heritage was evident in her ears, which, although shorter than the full elven long ones, had a slight point to them, a graceful echo of her mother''s ancestry. These unique featuresbined made Silvia a remarkable fusion of two ipatible worlds.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia''s favorite thing in the whole wide world was the moments when her mother tucked her into bed and began telling enchanting bedtime stories. Whenever her mother''s soft voice filled the room, Sylvia would settlefortably in bed, with her heart brimming with anticipation.


    <span ss="userText">In those precious moments, Silvia would drift into a world of dreams, far away from here, a world where she imagined herself as someone extraordinary. She yearned to be as important as the valiant heroes and heroines her mother spoke of in her tales. In her fantasies, she saw herself wielding a gleaming sword, wearing a brilliant suit of armor, and embarking on daring quests to save the day. Silvia just closes her eyes, and her mind gets filled with visions of facing dragons, rescuing lost kingdoms, and making a difference in the world. In her dreams, she wasn''t just a regr girl, no. She was someone as important as the heroes in those stories. And someone as brave.


    <span ss="userText">She is a true treasure, a ray of sunshine in a world filled with darkness and despair.


    <span ss="userText">***


    <span ss="userText">The night had settled, and a heavy silence filled the air of Silvia''s room. The darkness enveloped Silvia like a warm nket. But the darkness could not warm her body nor ease her mind.


    <span ss="userText">Outside the window, the stars sparkled like little diamonds, and the moon cast a gentle, pale glow. But all that beauty stayed trapped beyond the curtains, unable to sneak into Silvia''s room. But even with the window shut tight, the crisp, freezing air somehow managed to sneak in and find its way to her, caressing her skin like a gentle whisper. She wrapped herself in nkets even tighter, drifting in and out of sleep.


    <span ss="userText">In the cozy little room where Silvia spent her nights, there were just a few things. First, there was a small bed with a lumpy mattress, a wooden dresser to hold her few clothes, and a in desk made of simple wood. The walls of her room werepletely bare, without any pictures or decorations. The floor, though, was made of sturdy wooden nks that creaked under her feet when she walked.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia often found her bed ufortable, like a bumpy sack full of potatoes, which sometimes left her with a sore back in the mornings.


    <span ss="userText">Inside her room, there were no toys or stuffed animals to keep herpany. The absence of books or artwork left the room feeling empty.


    <span ss="userText">She also had no friends her age to y with. It seemed like nobody in the vige wanted to be friends with a half-elf like her. Since the day she was born, the other children had always shunned her.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia''s life was quite dull and followed a monotonous routine, but she had grown used to it over the years. But things had be even more challengingtely. Her mother had been pregnant, and for thest several months, her belly was especially big, and that meant more daily chores for Silvia. She tried her best to help her mother, but it was getting harder with each passing day. Really hard.


    <span ss="userText">Every morning, Silvia would wake up early, even before the sun had risen. She would put on her worn-out clothes and drag her tired feet down the creaky wooden stairs. There, at the table, she would find her father waiting for his breakfast.


    <span ss="userText">"Where''s my food, girl?" he would grumble, his voice filling the silent house.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia would hurry to prepare her father''s morning meal, which usually consisted of leftover bread and a few bits of meat. The best part, though, was that she could sneak a little bite for herself without her father noticing. It was a small secret pleasure that brightened her otherwise lonely mornings.


    <span ss="userText">Meanwhile, Silvia''s mother, Nivalis, had her morning ritual. She worked tirelessly, devoting herself to the difficult task of cleaning the entire house and washing clothes. Silvia couldn''t help but notice her mother''s condition, her swollen belly and her pale skin stretched taut over the growing child inside.


    <span ss="userText">In the soft light of the morning, Silvia stood next to her mother in the kitchen, helping with <span ss="userText">washing<span ss="aiText"> the dishes. Silvia''s little hands, covered in foam and soap, struggled with a particrly stubborn stain on the te.<span ss="userText"> A glimmer of curiosity danced in her eyes. She had been carrying a question inside her for a few hours, and she couldn''t keep it to herself any longer.


    <span ss="userText">— "Mommy," she asked, her voice dripping with innocence, "when will my little brother or sister arrive?"


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis, her mother, turned to her with a weary but loving smile. "Soon, sweetie, very soon," she replied, her voice gentle and soothing.


    <span ss="userText">This exchange had be a daily ritual in their lives for the past few months. Silvia would ask the same question, and her mother would respond with the same reassuring words.


    <span ss="userText">After finishing their morning chores in the kitchen, Silvia and her mother often received their next task from her father: fetching water from the well. But today, she had to go alone. This routine had be quite familiar, so she knew what to do, but Silvia couldn''t help but wonder why her father never did it himself.


    <span ss="userText">— "Why can''t he do it himself?" Silvia often wondered aloud, making sure no one heard, her young voice tinged with a hint of frustration. With a yful imitation of her father''s voice, she added, "It is because it''s not a man''s job!" She shook her head. — "It''s not fair. Those buckets of water are heavier than me, " she<span ss="aiText"> pouted, a frown forming on her face.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia had learned to push these thoughts aside, however. She knew there was no use inining, and so she carried on with the task despite her aching arms and legs.


    <span ss="userText">The walk to the well was very short. Silvia, a little girl with small hands, held onto the handle of the bucket tightly. She nced around the edge of the forest, half-expecting to see glowing eyes peering at her. The tall trees stretched high above, making long shadows on the ground. In her young, childish mind, the rustling leaves sounded just like whispers, sending a shiver<span ss="aiText"> down her spine.


    <span ss="userText">Usually, after that, Silvia, along with her mother, spent a lot of time fixing the clothes that her father brought home from who knows where. Her mother had taught her how to sew, and they would sit for hours stitching clothes to sell. It wasn''t so bad. She cherished the moments they spent together, sharing stories andughter as they worked. But there was one thing she hated – those sharp needles.


    <span ss="userText">However, most of the money they earned went straight to buying food and other important things. There was hardly ever any extra money left. And even if she did have some, Silvia had no way to spend it.


    <span ss="userText">Her life was quite sad and seemed without hope.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia knew that her father would not treat her new sibling kindly as well. She feared for her new little brother or sister, and she didn''t know what to do about it. The thought haunted her.


    <span ss="userText">She could see that her mother was worried too, even though she tried to hide it. Silvia could see through her mother''s smile and knew she was scared, too.


    <span ss="userText">On top of all this, Silvia felt guilty about not being able to help her mother more. She understood that everything was much harder for her mother, especially with this round belly of hers. So, every day, Silvia tried to push herself to do more. More chores, more tasks... and it made her even more tired.


    <span ss="userText">After the daily chores were finished and it was long past sunset, Silvia would curl up in bed with her heart heavy<span ss="aiText"> and her mind troubled.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia would stare at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts of what the future held. She would imagine herself escaping this terrible ce and bing a brave adventurer, like the ones in her bedtime stories.


    <span ss="userText">In her wildest dreams, she could picture herself exploring the vast wilderness, climbing mountains, and swimming in rivers. She would be free to go wherever she wanted, and she wouldn''t have to worry about anyone hurting her or her mom.


    <span ss="userText">But as shey there, gazing up at the cold, unfeeling ceiling, she knew that these dreams might nevere true. She might never escape, and she would always be trapped in this terrible ce.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia''s heart ached with a deep, hollow emptiness, and she wondered if this was her destiny.


    <span ss="userText">But then she remembered her mother''s words, "If you pray hard enough, anything can happen."


    <span ss="userText">One night, when Silvia was especially tired, and her mind was clouded with sadness, her mother tucked her into bed, pulling the nkets up to her chin. Silvia''s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and her mother could see the weight of the world on her small shoulders. It was at that moment that her mother decided to share a story, a story about the goddess Elysia. A goddess that the Silverfrost family once served.


    <span ss="userText">Elysia, with no doubt, was a beautiful goddess whose love for music was known throughout thend. She had a magical instrument, and when she yed it, the melodies were so enchanting that they could chase away even the darkest of clouds and bring a smile to the saddest heart.


    <span ss="userText">"You see, my little snowke," her mother said in a soft, soothing voice, <span ss="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span ss="ryNqvb">“Elysia was not just the goddess of music, as many people think. <span ss="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span ss="ryNqvb">She is much more than that. <span ss="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span ss="ryNqvb">She is the keeper of hope and light, and she was the one who taught us to appreciate the beauty of life,"<span ss="aiText"> she <span ss="editText">s<span ss="userText">aid softly.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia listened intently, her wide eyes fixed on her mother''s face.


    <span ss="userText">"Even though we have suffered so much," her mother continued, "we must never forget the joy that we can still find in our lives. Elysia reminds us that there is still good in the world and that we can find happiness even in the darkest of ces."


    <span ss="userText">Her mother paused, her fingers gently brushing Silvia''s cheek.


    "It''s like how stars need the dark sky to sparkle or how music needs quiet moments to sing," Nivalis said, her voice soft and calming, "we can also find joy in our lives."


    <span ss="userText">Silvia''s heart felt warm as she absorbed her mother''s words. It was as if a tiny spark of hope had ignited within her.


    <span ss="userText">"So, maybe, if we pray hard enough, we will find a way out of this. Together."<span ss="aiText"> her mother added, her voice breaking slightly, "I''m sure <span ss="editText">our <span ss="aiText">prayers will reach her, and she will hear<span ss="editText"> us<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="userText">Now, as Silviay alone in her dimly lit room after a long day of work, those words reyed in her thoughts.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia was a clever girl, and she couldn''t help but think this was just another fairytale for kids. There were no gods. Where was this goddess when her mother got a bruise on her face from her father because of a silly snowman Silvia had made?


    <span ss="userText">But still, something deep inside her stirred. A tiny me of hope flickered in her bright eyes, even in the darkest moments.


    <span ss="userText">On that particr night, Silviay wide awake, her hands sped tightly together.


    <span ss="userText">She whispered a prayer, a plea, to the only goddess she knew.


    <span ss="userText">She prayed to Elysia, silently hoping for a miracle toe their way.


    <span ss="userText">A quiet prayer whispered under her breath, her voice trembling with emotion.


    <span ss="userText">"Please, Elysia, please hear me. We need your help.


    <span ss="userText">Please, please save us. Please.


    <span ss="userText">I''ll do anything. Anything.


    <span ss="userText">Just save us.


    <span ss="userText">Mom doesn''t deserve this.


    <span ss="userText">We are good people.


    <span ss="userText">We are good people.


    <span ss="userText">Please, save us."


    <span ss="userText">As the tears streamed down her face, Silvia whispered the prayer again and again.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia''s heart was full of hope, but her mind was filled with doubt.


    <span ss="userText">She waited for a sign, but nothing came. The only sound she heard was the wind whistling through the trees outside her window.


    <span ss="userText">Her mother''s words echoed in her mind, "Pray hard enough, anything can happen.". Those words raced through her mind for some while, but eventually, of the tiresome, she fell asleep.


    <span ss="userText">That night, Silvia''s dreams were filled with the goddess. She could hear the weak echoes of her magical instrument, the gentle notes soothing her weary soul. She could see the goddess''s face, beautiful and serene.


    <span ss="userText">If only she were real... If only it wasn''t just her imagination...