Chapter 47 — Crimson red


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Nivalis Silverfrost]</strong>


    <span ss="userText">The moon hung high in the sky, bathing the world below in its silver light. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the surrounding trees, carrying with it the scent of pine needles and wildflowers. Crickets chirped their endless song, and owls hooted softly in the distance. Everything was peaceful and calm, both inside and outside the cave — just another ordinary night in their home.Nivalis was peacefully sleeping with her two kids in their cozy bed, dreaming sweet dreams.


    <span ss="userText">However, the silence was soon broken by a sudden whimper from her daughter, who slept between her and her son. Nivalis stirred awake, blinking her eyes tiredly. "What''s wrong, honey?" she mumbled sleepily, touching the girl''s shoulder. Nivalis nced at Aster to see if he was awake<span ss="aiText">. The boy was asleep, breathing softly.


    <span ss="aiText">"M-mommy..." Silvia murmured, her voice hoarse and pained.<span ss="userText"> She looked at her mother and sniffled, tears glistening in the corners of her golden eyes. "Mommy..." she whispered again. "My stomach hurts... And I think I peed myself," she added, looking down, embarrassed.


    <span ss="userText">— "It''s okay, honey," Nivalis reassured her daughter, lifting the nket and peeking underneath. To her surprise, a crimson trail ran down Silvia''s inner thigh, staining the bed beneath her. ''Oh,'' Nivalis realized, understanding what was happening. "Oh, sweetie... Don''t worry, everything is alright," she whispered to her daughter, smiling warm<span ss="aiText">ly.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia looked down at the liquid on her thighs and gasped, touching the red substance with her finger. She brought her hand up and examined it closely. "W-wait, is this blood?" she<span ss="aiText"> asked, her voice trembling slightly.<span ss="userText"> "What''s wrong with me? Am I sick again? Oh no, is-" she rambled, her panic rising.


    <span ss="editText"><span ss="userText">— "Hush, rx," Nivalis whispered, touching her daughter''s soft lips to <span ss="aiText">silenc<span ss="editText">e<span ss="aiText"> her.<span ss="userText"> Aster stirred<span ss="aiText"> slightly beside them but didn''t wake up. "Everything is alright. You aren''t sick," she continued. "You are just growing up. It''s perfectly normal<span ss="editText">,<span ss="userText">" she added, caressing her cheek reassuringly.


    <span ss="aiText">"Normal?" Silvia asked, her expression confused and uncertain. "<span ss="userText">How can<span ss="aiText"> this be normal?" she questioned, ncing down at herself.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis smiled fondly at her daughter<span ss="userText">,<span ss="aiText"> kissing her forehead lovingly. "<span ss="editText">T<span ss="aiText">his means that you are a woman now<span ss="userText">, my little flower,<span ss="aiText">" she said, her eyes twinkling with pride.


    <span ss="aiText">"I don''t understand," Silvia<span ss="userText"> frowned<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> staring<span ss="aiText"> at her mother''s face. "What do you mean?"


    <span ss="userText"><span ss="editText">— "Let''s get you cleaned first, sweetheart. I will make you an herbal tea to soothe the pain, then exin it all to you. Okay?" Nivalis suggested<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> brushing<span ss="aiText"> a lock of hair out of Silvia''s face.


    <span ss="userText">"O-okay," Silvia nodded slowly. She got off the bed and started walking towards the kitchen, holding her tummy.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis nced at the bed where Silvia had slept and noticed a small dark patch of blood, about the size of her palm, marking the spot of the ident. Quickly, Nivalis covered the stain with her own tunic, which was lying nearby, and then followed her daughter to the kitchen.


    <span ss="userText">"Ugh," Silvia winced, a painful cramp tearing through her insides. Nivalis rushed<span ss="aiText"> forward, grabbing her daughter''s waist and<span ss="userText"> supporting<span ss="aiText"> her.<span ss="userText"> Together<span ss="aiText">, they hobbled towards the<span ss="userText"> firece<span ss="aiText">, where the warm embers still glowed brightly.


    <span ss="userText">— "Here, let me help you," Nivalis said, lowering herself and grabbing a wet cloth from nearby. She<span ss="aiText"> started wiping the blood off Silvia''s thighs and<span ss="userText"> private<span ss="aiText"> parts<span ss="userText">,<span ss="aiText"> careful not to cause any difort. "Are you okay, my sweet girl?" she asked worriedly, looking up at her daughter''s tearful face.


    <span ss="aiText">"I-I think so," Silvia said,<span ss="userText"> sniff<span ss="aiText">ling. <span ss="userText">Nivalis rotated<span ss="aiText"> her, gently<span ss="userText"> wiping<span ss="aiText"> her<span ss="userText"> butt cheeks<span ss="aiText"> and <span ss="userText">what<span ss="aiText"> was<span ss="userText"> between<span ss="aiText"> them, making sure not a single<span ss="userText"> trace<span ss="aiText"> of the blood was left. The girl''s face turned redder, but she didn''tin or try to stop her. After a few moments, <span ss="editText">the girl <span ss="aiText">was clean.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis rose to her feet and made her way to the corner of the room, where she retrieved a clean piece of fabric and a smaller cloth that could be folded and used as a pad — items she relied on during her monthly cycle.


    <span ss="userText">Returning to Silvia, Nivalis knelt before her once more. The girl<span ss="aiText"> stood there obediently,<span ss="userText"> watching<span ss="aiText"> as her mother wrapped the <span ss="userText">fabric<span ss="aiText"> around her<span ss="userText"> hips in severalyers<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="editText"> forming<span ss="aiText"> a makeshift underwear. <span ss="userText">The process reminded her how they made diapers for Aster<span ss="aiText"> when he was little.


    <span ss="aiText">"Hold this," <span ss="editText">Nivalis <span ss="aiText">said,<span ss="userText"> handing <span ss="editText">her daughter <span ss="aiText">the ends of the cloth. <span ss="userText">Then<span ss="aiText">, she<span ss="userText"> folded<span ss="aiText"> the smaller fabric<span ss="userText"> several<span ss="aiText"> times<span ss="userText"> before<span ss="aiText"> sliding it between her daughter''s legs. The girl gasped quietly as she felt<span ss="editText"> her mother''s fingers but didn''t say anything<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="aiText">"Good. Now, <span ss="editText">we need to tie<span ss="aiText"> the knot," she continued,<span ss="userText"> taking<span ss="aiText"> the ends back from her daughter.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis slowly and skillfully tied the ends together,<span ss="userText"> making <span ss="userText">a cute ribbon<span ss="aiText">. "Done. See? Easy as that," she said, smiling at her daughter''s bewildered expression.<span ss="userText"> "This will prevent the bleeding from staining your pants or bed," she added, rising to her feet. "We will need to change the pad <span ss="userText">every now<span ss="aiText"> and then<span ss="userText"> to keep <span ss="editText">everything<span ss="aiText"> clean.<span ss="userText">"


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Oh, I think I saw you were<span ss="aiText"> wearing<span ss="userText"> it before,"<span ss="aiText"> Silviamented,<span ss="userText"> touching<span ss="aiText"> the fabric<span ss="userText"> of her<span ss="aiText"> makeshift underwear<span ss="editText">, which resembled a diaper too much. <span ss="userText">"So this<span ss="aiText"> is what it''s for<span ss="editText">... <span ss="aiText">I didn''t know you <span ss="editText">w<span ss="userText">ore it because of<span ss="aiText">... that," she<span ss="userText"> added<span ss="aiText">, shifting ufortably in ce.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis <span ss="editText">smiled patiently<span ss="aiText">, kissing her forehead lovingly. "Yes,<span ss="editText"> sweety,<span ss="aiText"> exactly. I will exin everythingter, alright?" she asked, ruffling her daughter''s hair. Silvia nodded hesitantly. "Good. <span ss="editText">Now <span ss="aiText">put on <span ss="editText">your <span ss="aiText">clothes<span ss="editText"> while I<span ss="aiText"> make you tea.<span ss="userText"> Then, we<span ss="aiText"> will <span ss="userText">go outside and talk<span ss="aiText">, and I will answer any questions you may have.<span ss="userText"> Alright, honey?" Nivalis<span ss="aiText"> said,<span ss="userText"> rubbing<span ss="aiText"> her daughter''s<span ss="userText"> cheek<span ss="aiText"> tenderly.


    <span ss="aiText">"Uhm, alright," Silvia mumbled, <span ss="editText">quietly walking back to the bed <span ss="aiText">and dressing up in the clothes she wore <span ss="editText">before bed<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> Meanwhile<span ss="aiText">, Nivalis started heating water on the fire for her daughter''s herbal tea.


    <span ss="userText">Aster was sound asleep and didn''t react to any movements or noises in the room. He was lying on the bed, his limbs sprawled out wide, resembling a starfish. The nket was kicked to the side, and his long silver hair was scattered across the bed in messy locks, partially covering his face. Silvia couldn''t help but sigh at the sight, and even Nivalis heard it.


    <span ss="userText">...


    <span ss="aiText">Outside the cave, the moon was still high; The stars twinkled above like thousands of tiny diamonds scattered across the ck sky. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, filling the <span ss="editText">night <span ss="aiText">with soothing sounds<span ss="userText"> for both girls to enjoy<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis was sitting on the grass, her back leaning against an old pine tree trunk. She was holding her daughter in her arms, with legs to the side, while her daughter''s head rested against her shoulder. Nivalis reached<span ss="aiText"> for the steaming cup on her right and handed it to Silvia. "Here<span ss="userText"> you<span ss="aiText"> go,<span ss="userText"> darling<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> This<span ss="aiText"> should ease<span ss="userText"> the<span ss="aiText"> pain a little," she said, <span ss="userText">gently<span ss="aiText"> stroking her daughter''s<span ss="userText"> back<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">"Thanks," Silvia said, taking the cup<span ss="aiText"> with<span ss="userText"> both<span ss="aiText"> hands and <span ss="userText">bringing it to her lips. She blew on it a few times, trying to cool down the drink before taking a sip. "Tastes nice."


    <span ss="userText">— "Mhm," Nivalis smiled, drinking from her cup. A few minutes<span ss="aiText"> passed as they enjoyed their drinks in silence. Nivalis was waiting for her daughter to ask questions, but none came. The girl simply stared at the distant stars, enjoying the peaceful night with her mother. As more time passed, Nivalis finally decided to start first. <span ss="userText">"Do you feel better now, sweetie?" Nivalis whispered<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> gently stroking<span ss="aiText"> her daughter''s<span ss="userText"> knee<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">"A little," Silvia nodded, staring at the cup<span ss="aiText"> in her hands<span ss="userText"> for<span ss="aiText"> a<span ss="userText"> few<span ss="aiText"> moments before turning to look at her mother. <span ss="userText">"So... what is this... thing?" she<span ss="aiText"> asked<span ss="userText"> quietly<span ss="aiText">, her<span ss="userText"> golden<span ss="aiText"> eyes<span ss="userText"> shimmer<span ss="aiText">ing in the moonlight.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis <span ss="editText">ced their cups<span ss="aiText"> on the ground and<span ss="userText"> wrapped<span ss="aiText"> her arms around her daughter''s waist, holding her tightly. "Well, my darling...<span ss="userText"> Remember when I <span ss="userText">had a big belly <span ss="userText">before Aster was born? <span ss="userText">When I was pregnant?" she<span ss="aiText"> asked,<span ss="userText"> brushing the strands<span ss="aiText"> of silver hair from Silvia''s face.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia<span ss="userText"> frowned<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="userText">looking confused<span ss="aiText">. "<span ss="userText">Yeah?" she nodded slowly. A momentter, the wrong realization hit her. "Wait, am I pregnant<span ss="aiText"> now!?" she eximed,<span ss="userText"> horrified <span ss="userText">by the news. "Is this why my belly<span ss="aiText"> hurts? Because the baby grows inside me?" she<span ss="userText"> panicked<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> touching<span ss="aiText"> her<span ss="userText"> stomach<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis shook her head, <span ss="editText">gigg<span ss="aiText">ling softly at her daughter''s panicked expression. "No, no. Nothing like that, honey," she said reassuringly. "<span ss="userText">The reason why it bleeds from... down there... <span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText">ignals<span ss="editText"> that your<span ss="aiText"> body i<span ss="editText">s ready to<span ss="userText"> be pregnant<span ss="aiText">," Nivalis exined. "It''s a sign that you''re bing a woman now," she said, kissing Silvia''s forehead.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia didn''t reply. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she processed the information, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Ready to be pregnant?" she repeated her mother''s words, confused. "<span ss="userText">How do you know I<span ss="aiText">''m<span ss="userText"> not<span ss="aiText"> already pregnant?" she asked, staring at her mother.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis smiled<span ss="aiText"> warmly, shaking her head. <span ss="userText">"You aren''t, honey. It doesn''t work like that," she assured.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia sighed with relief,<span ss="userText"> rxing<span ss="aiText"> a little. "<span ss="userText">Whew<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="editText">good..<span ss="aiText">. But how does it work, then?" she asked curiously.


    <span ss="aiText">— <span ss="aiText">"Ahem," Nivalis cleared her throat, her cheeks warming with a hint of embarrassment. <span ss="aiText">"Well<span ss="userText">...<span ss="aiText">You see,<span ss="userText"> sweet<span ss="aiText">ie... How should I exin it to you..." Nivalis muttered, averting her eyes.


    It took a moment for her to start. "When you grow up and find someone you love, and after you get married, you''ll start sharing a bed with your husband," she exined, searching for the right words. "<span ss="aiText">How should I put it, um... The <span ss="editText">man has to<span ss="aiText">... insert his seed into you. That''s how babies are conceived, and only then can you be pregnant and grow a child in your womb," she said, her exnationced with awkwardness.


    Silvia''s head tilted to the side as she tried to process the information. "Putting the seed inside?" she wondered aloud, attempting to grasp her mother''s meaning. "Like a vegetable or something?" she asked, eyeing Nivalis with curiosity and confusion.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis chuckled<span ss="aiText"> nervously, scratching her cheek. "Ah, no, honey. You see, when the husband and wife are alone together, he has to..." Nivalis paused for a few seconds, trying to figure out how to describe sexual intercourse without making it too graphic for her daughter''s mind. "Um... he will stick his<span ss="userText"> private<span ss="aiText"> part into your private ce.<span ss="userText"> Then<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="editText">the <span ss="aiText">seed will<span ss="userText">e<span ss="aiText"> out<span ss="userText"> from his <span ss="editText">thingy <span ss="aiText">and enter your womb, where it will grow into a baby. Do you understand what I mean?" Nivalis asked, unsure if her exnation made sense.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia didn''t reply instantly. She thought about her mother''s exnation<span ss="userText"> momentarily before asking<span ss="aiText"> another question. "<span ss="userText">Do you mean the thing Asty has between<span ss="aiText"> his legs?" she asked,<span ss="userText"> raising<span ss="aiText"> her<span ss="userText"> eyebrows<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis<span ss="userText"> coughed<span ss="aiText"> awkwardly,<span ss="userText"> surprised<span ss="aiText"> by her daughter''s<span ss="userText"> question<span ss="aiText">. "Um, yes. Exactly," she replied,<span ss="userText"> nodding<span ss="aiText"> her head.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oooh, okay," Silvia said, her eyes lighting up as she connected the dots. "<span ss="userText">What if it happens while I''m not being married?"<span ss="aiText"> she asked innocently<span ss="userText">.


    <span ss="aiText">— "<span ss="userText">Uh<span ss="aiText">h," Nivalis swallowed, <span ss="userText">"Well, you will get<span ss="aiText"> pregnant<span ss="userText"> anyway<span ss="aiText">," she<span ss="userText"> replied<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> rubbing<span ss="aiText"> her daughter''s backfortingly.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "<span ss="userText">Then why do<span ss="aiText"> I have to marry a man?" she asked, looking confused.


    <span ss="userText">— "Because to do something like this, you have to trust and love the other person dearly," Nivalis replied, her gaze soft as she looked into her daughter''s eyes. "It must be someone you care for so much that you''re willing to have his children and raise them together. It''s a sacred and intimate act." Nivalis exined. "It has to<span ss="aiText"> be someone dear to you, not just anyone," she added, brushing her finger along Silvia''s cheek.


    Silvia blinked, silently contemting her mother''s words for a few moments. "Then... why did you agree to do it with... him?" she asked quietly, referring to Haldor. Even to the young girl, it was clear there was no trust or love between them.


    Nivalis tensed; her lips <span ss="userText">trembled slightly as she averted her gaze to the ground. Silvia <span ss="userText">noticed her mother''s mood shift and immediately regretted asking. "I''m sorry, Mommy..."


    <span ss="aiText">— "<span ss="editText">No, it''s okay<span ss="aiText">, sweetie," Nivalis muttered, regaining herposure. She took a deep breath and hugged Silvia tightly, pressing her daughter''s face against her chest. "<span ss="userText">I-I... didn''t have any choice..." she whispered, but her voice began to tremble, and she could not find the right words to continue.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia didn''t dare to <span ss="aiText">say anything<span ss="editText">, feeling terrible for asking this question<span ss="aiText">. She simply held onto her mother''s waist, listening to her heartbeat and not daring to move. The moments stretched out before Nivalis spoke again<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">— "Sometimes, life gives us impossible choices... I had to bear it to survive," Nivalis confessed in a hushed tone. "<span ss="aiText">It''s not important anymore, my love<span ss="userText">... It''s all<span ss="aiText"> in the past now<span ss="userText">," she said, gently running her fingers through Silvia''s hair. They sat in silence for a while, holding each other close.


    <span ss="userText"><span ss="aiText">— "This is why you<span ss="aiText"> can only do it with <span ss="editText">the right person<span ss="aiText">, my little flower," Nivalis whispered again, cing her chin on her daughter''s head and looking at the moon.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">How do I know if<span ss="aiText"> it''s the right person?" Silvia <span ss="editText">mumbled, her voice<span ss="aiText"> muffled by her mother''s chest.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis<span ss="userText"> closed<span ss="aiText"> her eyes and<span ss="userText"> sighed<span ss="aiText"> softly. "<span ss="userText">I wish<span ss="aiText"> I could tell you, honey," she said, hugging Silvia more firmly. "<span ss="userText">Sometimes<span ss="aiText"> people can hide <span ss="editText">their<span ss="aiText"> true<span ss="userText"> feelings<span ss="aiText">. Many want to take advantage of young women... <span ss="editText">So you should be careful. <span ss="aiText">It''s easy to mistake someone''s intentions."


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia<span ss="userText"> remained<span ss="aiText"> silent, listening to her mother''s heart beating. "<span ss="userText">I know! If I ever decide to have a baby<span ss="aiText">, I will<span ss="userText"> ask<span ss="aiText"> Asty<span ss="userText"> to<span ss="aiText"> do it," she dered, soundingpletely sure of herself.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis couldn''t help butugh. "Pfft," she covered her mouth with her hand, her body shaking as she attempted to stifle her giggles. "Oh, my<span ss="userText"> silly<span ss="aiText"> little girl," she said, shaking her head with a smile.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia blinked, looking up at her mother, confused by her reaction.<span ss="aiText"> "What''s so funny, Mom?" she asked, pouting.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis couldn''t help but continueughing<span ss="editText">. "Sweetie, Asty is your little brother," she pointed out,<span ss="aiText"> trying to stop herself from giggling.


    <span ss="userText">"So<span ss="aiText">?<span ss="userText"> I<span ss="aiText"> will just convince him to make me pregnant. Easy," Silvia answered as if it was obvious.<span ss="userText"> "There is no need to worry about<span ss="aiText"> finding<span ss="userText"> the<span ss="aiText"> right<span ss="userText"> person<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> Besides<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> he <span ss="userText">kinda proposed already?" she<span ss="aiText"> added, <span ss="userText">recalling the incident with the Moonflower.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis blinked, feeling a headacheing. She tried to make sense of what she just heard. <span ss="userText">"You can''t have children with him, honey," Nivalis said, patting her daughter''s head.


    <span ss="userText">"<span ss="aiText">Why not?" Silvia pouted, staring at her mother.


    <span ss="editText"><span ss="userText"><span ss="aiText">— "Oh, dear..." Nivalis sighed heavily, wondering how their conversation had taken such a turn. ''Shouldn''t these things be self-evident?'' she thought, feeling her headache in full glory. There was no way a mother could be<span ss="aiText"> prepared for such <span ss="userText">a conversation. "It''s just not right, sweetie. You can''t do those things with your little brother. It''s not natural," she finally managed, shaking her head.


    "But why?" Silvia persisted, stubbornly crossing her arms.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis pinched her daughter''s nose, eliciting a giggle from her. "Because he is your brother," she exined. "It''s different.<span ss="userText"> Brothers<span ss="aiText"> and sisters shouldn''t<span ss="userText"> do<span ss="aiText"> something like that."


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Ow<span ss="aiText">," Silvia whined, rubbing her reddened nose. <span ss="editText">"But <span ss="userText">what about the moonflower, remember? The marriage tradition?<span ss="aiText">" she pressed, her gaze locking onto her mother''s.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis<span ss="userText"> sighed<span ss="aiText">, rubbing her forehead tiredly. <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">No matter how much we love to joke about this<span ss="aiText">, honey, it <span ss="aiText">doesn''t mean anything. You have to promise me that you won''t<span ss="editText">... EVER<span ss="aiText">... consider doing that with Asty. Do you understand?" she said, her tone serious.


    "Fiiine," Silvia capitted, rolling her eyes. "It''s not like I want to have babies anyway," she said, leaning against her mother''s chest <span ss="aiText">again. "I don''t think I could survive another few years of changing diapers," she mumbled <span ss="userText">quietly.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis chuckled, caressing her daughter''s back. "<span ss="userText">Yeah<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> neither<span ss="aiText"> do I," she confessed, earning a smile from her daughter. They sat silently, enjoying each other''spany, <span ss="userText">until Silvia interrupted with another question.


    <span ss="userText">"Hey, mom?"<span ss="aiText"> Silvia<span ss="userText"> whispered without looking<span ss="aiText"> up from her mother''s bosom.


    <span ss="aiText">— "Yes, my love?" Nivalis replied, resting her chin on top of her daughter''s head.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia nervously shifted<span ss="aiText"> her weight from<span ss="userText"> side<span ss="aiText"> to side<span ss="editText"> before finally asking a question that bothered her.<span ss="aiText"> "I<span ss="editText">s it also wrong for you to do that with Asty?" she asked curiously, finally looking up; a silly smile formed on the girl''s face as she waited<span ss="aiText"> for an answer.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis let out a long and loud sigh, one of the biggest she had ever made. This conversation did not turn out the way she had expected, and she was now starting to understand her own mother better. It made her realize why her mother used to have so many headaches back when she was a kid<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="editText"> Nivalis <span ss="aiText">smiled at her daughter, pinching her <span ss="editText">little <span ss="aiText">nose<span ss="userText"> once again.


    <span ss="userText">...


    <strong><span ss="userText">[G?l''r?kkynêth]</strong>


    <span ss="userText">Somewhere on the other side of the safe ind where the Silverfrost family resides, strange creatures emerged from the depths of the ancient forest. All four of them looked exhausted and incredibly skinny. Their skin was sickly grey, their bodies hunched and twisted, and their teeth sharp and stained with filth. They were small in stature, wearing ragged clothes and armed with crude stone spears. All four of them looked at the<span ss="aiText"> distant shore with<span ss="userText"> envy. <span ss="userText">But one was a head taller<span ss="aiText"> than the rest and looked stronger.


    <span ss="userText">Hunger... Pain... <span ss="userText">Cold.<span ss="aiText"> These were the sensations that dominated the mind of G?l''r?kkynêth. He could no longer feel his fingers or toes, and his stomach growled fiercely, demanding food. He looked around at the faces of the women with him: his three wives, their eyes dull and lifeless. He knew they would notst much longer without food.


    <span ss="userText">But the gods <span ss="userText">were kind to him and his wives. On the third day of their flee from<span ss="aiText"> the ughter,<span ss="userText"> one <span ss="userText">caused by the humans in iron armor who had destroyed their entire tribe, they stumbled upon a river. On the other side was a forest — <span ss="userText">not the ancient and dangerous one<span ss="aiText"> he had called home, but a <span ss="editText">different <span ss="aiText">one<span ss="editText">... <span ss="aiText">full of game. <span ss="userText">His instincts<span ss="aiText"> screamed at him that<span ss="userText"> this<span ss="aiText"> was a <span ss="editText">p<span ss="userText"ce where <span ss="editText">they<span ss="aiText"> could<span ss="userText"> thrive<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">He pointed a finger at the river and yelled, "Vr?nn-r!"


    <span ss="userText">It didn''t t<span ss="editText">ake long to cross the cold river and find a proper cavern to call their new home. <span ss="userText">This ce<span ss="aiText"> was<span ss="userText"> full<span ss="aiText"> of <span ss="userText">them, enough to<span ss="aiText"> shelter hundreds of <span ss="userText">his sons. It <span ss="editText">would take many winters to rebuild what was lost. Then, he would<span ss="aiText"> find <span ss="editText">those<span ss="aiText"> who had<span ss="userText"> murdered<span ss="aiText"> his <span ss="userText">brethren <span ss="aiText">and avenge them.<span ss="userText"> No one<span ss="aiText"> w<span ss="editText">ould be spared, and no one would<span ss="userText"> stop him.


    <span ss="userText">...


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    <em><strong><span ss="userText">"Introduction to Adventuring" </strong><strong style="text-align:center"><span ss="userText">by Hrogar Stonehammer. Chapter 1, Page 5.</strong></em></pre>


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    <em><span ss="userText">In the annals of our world''s history, there exists a tale as ancient as the stones beneath our feet. It is said that the <span style="text-decoration:underline">goblins, those vile and loathsome creatures that haunt the darkest corners of our world, were not always as they are now. No, they were once kin to us, descendants of the proud dwarven ns who delved deep into the depths in search of riches and glory.</em>


    <em><span ss="userText">But heed this warning, dear reader, for the path of ambition is treacherous, and the depths of the world hold secrets darker than the ckest night. It is said that those dwarfs who delved too greedily and too deep, consumed by their lust for gold and power, were cursed by the very stone they sought to master.</em>


    <em><span ss="userText">Children born in the darkness grew into adults, never knowing the warmth of the light, never tasting a mug of mead or the freshness of a mountain breeze. All things that make us dwarves were forgotten by them until they were no more. When they emerged from the tunnels, they were no longer dwarfs but monsters, twisted and foul, and their eyes burned with the light of madness.</em>


    <em><span ss="userText">Centuries underground made their forms curved, their once sturdy frames bing thin, their muscles wasting away to nothing. Once proud beards fell out, their skin became pale grey from not seeing the sun for too long, usually coated in a sticky, foul-smelling liquid from their mouths, the same liquid they use to preserve the meat of their prey.</em>


    <em><span ss="userText"> Their eyes grewrger and wider so they could see better in the dark, and their teeth became sharp and vicious so they could devour any flesh that came their way. <span ss="userText"><strong>Do not forget:</strong><span ss="userText"><span style="text-decoration:underline"> if you see one, there are many more. The goblins travel in tribes and reproduce rapidly. Don''t leave one alive when dealing with them, or they will return in greater numbers the next time. Show no mercy because the innocent ones will pay for your mistake.</em>


    <em><span ss="userText">And remember their lesson well, for in our pursuit of adventure and glory, let us not be consumed by the same darkness that befell our ancient kin.</em>


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