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Chapter 3.2: Soul''s Release
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They chatted for a while. Despite the grim topics, their conversation remained light and enjoyable as they moved from one subject to another.
When the topic turned to academics, Adira spoke with pride and joy about her mother.
Her stories seemed to endear her mother to the old woman, who, in turn, compared her own daughter unfavorably to Adira’s mother, calling her a dimwit.
Whenever the old woman spoke of her daughter, she always added words like ''stupid,'' ''idiot,'' or ''fool'' to describe her.
The old woman was adamantly opposed to the idea of her daughter leaving home to pursue an academic dream—a dream many poor children held.
A lot of parents who are below the working class, believed that there was little hope of graduating from such an academy if one came from an impoverished family.
They believed in the importance of knowledge, and that the education in the empire was of the highest quality. However, what held them back was the belief that their own children had already been left behind, unable to receive the same preparation afforded to those with privilege.
Moreover, mingling with aristocrats—the privileged who had never known poverty—would surely be a challenge. They had always believed that becoming involved with nobles would only lead to trouble.
The culture of withdrawal among nobles had also been prevalent, especially during tea time, and particularly among ladies. Those born into high society often looked down upon those below them, judging everything from simple clothing to minor mannerisms.
Although conditions were not as dire as in the days of the rotten king’s reign, connections and influence still dictated social interactions within the peerage. It would not be incorrect to say that this culture of withdrawal remained strong even today.
Adira recalled how her mother had taught her at her very first tea party to hold her head high, never allowing herself to appear weak in front of the other noble children.
After all, she was a ducal child, part of the first generation to carry the legacy of their parents, who had paved the way for the Emperor’s ascent to the throne.
After their long chit-chat, Adira wished to help the old lady with cleaning but was met with refusal; the old woman insisted that although she was old, she was still as strong as a youthful flower.
Time passed quickly, and before long, the old woman reminded Adira that it was already nightfall. The sense of time had completely slipped from Adira''s mind. She was shocked to realize how swiftly the day had passed—she had spent it in bed, doing nothing."
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As night settled in silence around them, it seemed the old woman had already fallen into a deep sleep.
Adira lay in bed, her thoughts wandering, unable to find rest.
For someone who had only recently glimpsed what the world was like, now that her consciousness was fully awake with nothing to distract her, the absence of sight felt strangely foreign. It was akin to forcefully closing one’s eyes; for her, however, it felt permanent.
To be blind after having been born with sight frightened and amazed her in equal measure. Her imagination, unrestrained, could run wild—envisioning things she longed to see. In a sense, being blind brought a strange satisfaction, an odd reassurance.
This kind of thinking might seem strange to some, but for her—having seen enough faces, emotions, and expressions, all laced with resentment that is directed to her—being blind felt like a blessing, especially knowing that her eyes had given another person the opportunity to see again. She released a deep, shaking breath.
‘Still,’ she thought, ‘it feels as though I’ve lost something terribly precious.’
She sighed, ‘I shouldn’t dwell too much on this.’
She lay there, pondering until she wondered if she had fallen asleep—or perhaps not. How could she know for sure, with her sight gone?
Oh, the nightmares. Since there were none, it was certain she wasn’t asleep yet.
The sound of knocking confirmed that she was awake.
‘Eh? Knocking?’
She tilted her head toward the source of the noise.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The old woman groaned in irritation, “Get out! No one’s here!”
Adira heard something being thrown.
“Old Lady Leafa, will you please come out? We just need you to answer some questions and then we’ll be off.”
Hearing Old Lady “Leafa’s” name left Adira dumbfounded. She had spent the entire day with her, sharing moments and even meals, yet they hadn’t once exchanged names!
Knock! Knock! Knock! They continued knocking.
The old lady cursed under her breath again. “Asking in the middle of the night… Have you no conscience for this old lady? I’m sleeping so peacefully I almost ascended to heaven and you dare interrupt? Is this how youngsters are nowadays?”
The men outside appeared exhausted as if they expected this reaction. “We’re looking for someone—a woman…”
Old Lady Leafa retorted, “What makes you think I have her!?”
“We just want to ask a few questions about her, and then we’ll be on our way. Please, Old Lady Leafa,” one man insisted.
Leafa groaned from her bed, her tone dripping with irritation as she grudgingly cracked the door open.
The group of men outside felt a small sense of relief, knowing they could now finish what they had come for.
A young man dressed in a crisp white uniform unfurled a scroll, revealing a portrait of a woman. “Have you seen her?”
Adira listened closely; though she could not see, she knew exactly who they were searching for—it was herself!
The silence grew deafening as sweat began to pool in her palms. Though she had prepared for this moment, her nerves still gripped her tightly.
She didn’t want this old woman to be tied to her in any way—no matter how nonchalant she had been about Adira’s strange, bloodied state. Adira couldn’t bear the thought of Old Lady Leafa becoming involved in her tangled mess.
Old Lady Leafa replied sharply, “I can’t see anything! My eyes are poor! Do you think I can see that?”
One of the boys sighed and took on the task of explaining further: “A woman… A brunette woman with bright golden-brown eyes—uh—she appears to be a young adult? She carries a black sword at her waist. The sword emits a dangerous aura... evil per se.”
The old woman scrunched up her face in annoyance at their persistence: “What are you talking about?”
A tall man clad in armor stepped forward, pushing one of the younger men aside as he addressed her directly. “ We’re looking for a strange woman. Some farmers reported seeing her on the road, struggling to walk. They said she moved oddly, unsteady on her feet, all while carrying wood in her hands. They also mentioned the road she followed leads here—to your humble abode.”
The old lady paused thoughtfully before responding: “Well my eyes are poor and my hearing is weak; how would I know if such a woman passed by?”
“I see,” he replied, his gaze scanning her as if searching for any hint of deception. When he found none, he nodded. “If you happen to see a strange woman, please report it to us immediately. She is extremely dangerous. Take care of yourself and be sure to bolt your door shut.”
“Do you think I can’t take care of myself? I’ve been living alone all this time! There’s nothing dangerous here!” His expression narrowed slightly in displeasure but he quickly masked it again with professionalism.
He nodded curtly: “We’ll take our leave then; forgive our intrusion.”
The old lady nodded back dismissively: “Yeah—and make sure not to come back!”
The boys—who seemed like newly assigned squires—felt awkward at their dismissal but bowed respectfully before exiting along with their commanding knight.
One boy who appeared familiar with Old Lady Leafa lingered behind briefly and whispered: “Old Lady Leafa, you shouldn’t do that—you know… He’s a knight from the Empire…”
“ Do what!? What did I do?”
Confused by how best to express his thoughts about respect towards knights without offending an elderly woman who clearly didn’t care for such formalities anymore, he simply dismissed his concerns altogether: “Anyway… You shouldn’t stay here any longer; your house is next to the barrier already! What if it weakens? You’ll become food for ghouls outside!”
Old Lady Leafa snorted, "Who cares? I''m old. It''s only a matter of time until I breathe my last." The boy continued to persuade her, but she remained resolute.
Defeated, waving a white flag, he bid her farewell and left quickly. The old lady silently closed the door and turned to bed, nearly having a heart attack when she saw Adira standing there, sword in hand.
She had asked for it during their earlier conversation, and Leafa had easily given it to her unperturbed.
Adira spoke softly, "I can''t stay here any longer. If I do, you''ll be in danger, old lady. I mean it."
The old woman rebuked her, "Nonsense! Sleep, sleep!"
Adira couldn''t help but smile as she replied, "I will forever be grateful for your help and for saving this undeserving life of mine."
She knelt and bowed her head to the floor, her palms pressed flat before her. Her mother had taught her that this was how people in the East showed their utmost gratitude, but she had also seen it used by others as a gesture to beg for mercy.
There were many cultural differences and manners among nations, after all, but for her, it felt as though she was doing it for both reasons. Nonetheless, she wanted to show her utmost vulnerability to the person who had saved her.
"Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have met you, Old Lady Leafa," Adira spoke with sincerity, a quiet resolve settling within her. "This encounter has opened a new path for me. It was a short meeting, but it was everything I needed all my life."
Old lady Leafa knew that no persuasion can change her mind, Adira’s decision was firm. A silhouette of her own daughter seemed to shadow the figure of the young lady in front of her, a fleeting echo of the past.
"Then take some leftover food." she insisted, immediately packing food and clothes into Adira''s arms.
Among the items was a sack that had been fashioned into a bag. Taken aback, Adira could only stand there and listen attentively to the commotion around her.
" The place where I buried my husband is outside the barrier," the old woman explained, her voice steady. "It may be outside, but no monster dares go near the burial ground. There''s a legend surrounding it, but I don’t have the time to tell you the details. Just know that it''s safe." She paused for a moment, her gaze shifting to Adira. "I suggest you stay there for a while, until those young squires and some of the soldiers on patrol calm down. I’ll lead you to the pathway; just follow it."Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
She handed Adira the piece of wood she had been holding before. " If in case you feel unsafe, there’s an old temple of sorts near the burial ground. I don’t know much about it, but I’m sure it’s safe—I stayed there for a week without encountering a single monster. Just don’t stray from the path and it will lead you straight there.”
The old woman grasped Adira’s hand gently and led her outside, guiding her along the path she needed to follow. "Go straight ahead here." she instructed, her grip firm on the hand that held the piece of wood, thumping it on the paved ground then onto the uneven terrain, as if to make Adira feel the difference between a proper path and the rough ground beyond it.
She paused for a moment, making sure Adira understood, then continued, "Stay on this road, and you’ll reach the burial ground soon enough."
Adira nodded, her heart swelled with warmth and gratitude, touched by the old woman''s kindness and care, “Thank yo-“
"Make sure not to stray from it, okay?" The old woman’s voice was firm but gentle. She tapped the ground with Adira''s hand, guiding her. "Use the wood as your guide. You’ll know when you reach it—the path is clear. I’ve been cleaning it for a while."
“I-“
“Do you have a destination in mind after staying there?” Leafa interrupted.
“I do…”
“Where?”
Though she didn’t have a destination in mind, Adira pretended to at least have one, “East.”
“Tch! Being secretive, I see. Fine! The food should last a week. If you’re still there later, I’ll bring you some more leftovers. Now go.”
“Old Lady Leafa… Thank—”
“Go now! I need to return to my sleep!” Though her voice carried strictness and urgency, her eyes lingered on the open field, watchful and alert, wary of certain figures appearing.
Adira nodded and walked straight ahead. The thought of wanting to see the old woman''s face lingered in her mind, causing the corners of her lips to quirk up.
Suddenly, it hit her. Before the distance could grow too wide, she turned around quickly, her voice trembling with a mix of urgency and warmth. "Grandma, my name is Adira, even though this meeting is short I… I hope you won’t forget about me."
Confused by the silence, Adira hesitated, wondering if the old woman had already gone inside. She strained her ears, but there was nothing—just the soft rustling of the wind.
“Take care of yourself Adira.”
Surprised, a tear threatened to form in what was once her eye, but she quickly reminded herself that she no longer had that luxury.
Instead, she waved her hand with a wide, proud smile, as if to make up for the loss. "Thank you!" she called out, her voice carrying the weight of all the emotions she couldn’t express.
She turned around and started walking, her thoughts lingering on the old woman. ‘Such a confusing person’, she mused, ‘yet it doesn’t feel so bad. In fact, I actually feel a bit… at home.’
Though her time with Old Lady Leafa had been brief, it had somehow transported Adira back to her childhood—a time before everything fell apart, when laughter and smiles had been as simple as breathing.
The cold air sent chills through her spine as she walked along the path that seemed to lead upwards.
The rustling leaves brushed against her ears as she felt the wind hitting her side—until it suddenly stopped.
Curious, she flailed her hands around until they brushed against something cold—stone, solid and unyielding, blocking the wind. She must have arrived.
Feeling around, she touched the stone walls to determine their extent. No sounds came from behind—only a faint whooshing of wind—but this place felt strange; it was connected in some way she couldn''t explain.
After exploring further, she realized this was a small cave!
Each time she reached what seemed like an end, it curved back on itself; following it felt like escaping something rather than entering.
It seemed that in her distracted state, Adira had missed the burial ground entirely and had continued straight ahead toward what Grandma Leafa said to be the temple if she were to assume that this cave is a temple?
"Oh well." Adira muttered to herself with a shrug. ‘Nonetheless, I’ve arrived at a safe destination.’
The confusion of the journey seemed to fade as the sense of security washed over her.
She smiled, finding it convenient not to rely on her mana to form a light. It might be dark inside the cave, but without her sight, it hardly mattered.
Though she had concluded that this is indeed a cave, she wondered if it was also a temple. However, temples were supposed to be square or something carved like a house; this one was different—wasn’t it?
Does the road lead straight into this cave?
She began checking the center as she walked around. The tapping sound of her wood echoed throughout, reinforcing its cave-like nature.
Then something caught her attention—a smooth stone that felt carved with sharp and peculiar shapes beneath her fingers.
It was obvious this was some sort of relic; a square symbol resembling flowing letters adorned its surface.
So this really was a temple! But what kind remained unknown since it didn’t resemble any deity she knew—those were typically shaped like mortals; this one seems to be shaped like an animal.
Adira sighed softly, "It really is hard to be blind... What are you—smooth relic or statue? I don’t know. Can you tell me what you are so I won’t have to guess?"
Silence enveloped her as she sat down on the ground littered with leaves; beneath them lay stone as well. Old Lady Leafa’s husband was likely buried outside since there was no soil here for digging.
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RUMBLE!
Startled awake by the melodic chirping of nearby birds, confusion swept over her. Had she really been so tired that she hadn’t even realized she’d dozed off?
Thunder rumbled ominously outside, as if the skies were angry, but she barely registered the sound, instead marveling at how she had managed to fall into such a deep, smooth sleep.
Raindrops began pattering against the cave entrance.Knowing she was sheltered from the downpour, Adira felt free to explore the cave.
However, she knew the rain would soon bring a chilling cold inside, and she needed to prepare. A small fire would suffice.
As her wooden staff tapped against the ground, luck seemed to be on her side as she noticed the presence of scattered pieces of wood strewn throughout the cave.
She decided to gather some wood to prepare for the cold night. There were many thick branches scattered around, as if they had been hauled inside somehow, despite the absence of trees in the cave.
Most likely, they had been carried in by the strong wind that swept through the area, leaving the remnants of its force behind.
Yet, the way the twigs were arranged struck her as strange, almost as if they had been deliberately organized.
The cave grew increasingly mysterious—perhaps due to her blindness.
She started a fire in its center using her sword against a stone while sitting nearby for warmth.
The birds’ tweeting for some reason didn’t cease; instead, they grew louder.
Adira frowned, her confusion deepening. Why were these birds seeking shelter inside the cave instead of the trees? Wait... did that even make sense? Lacking any real knowledge of nature or birds, she had always assumed they took refuge in large trees during a storm. Perhaps she had been wrong.
She strained her ears, trying to pinpoint the source of the chirping. Wait—how were they even taking shelter here?
She imagined them huddled on the ground, but that would leave them vulnerable to predators, making it illogical, though it would surely be a cute sight to see.
If only I had eyes, she chuckled.
Her imagination began to wander. What if there was a tree inside? Or perhaps a branch had somehow found its way in and continued to grow over time?
This place must truly be majestic if that were true, a hidden sanctuary where nature and the remnants of an ancient temple intertwined.
She pictured the leaves turning a soft, delicate pink—sakura trees, she thought, recalling the rumors of such trees blooming in the east.
It was said to be a breathtaking sight, though she had never witnessed it herself. Now, in her mind, she could see it all clearly.
As the imagined setting unfolded around her, her mood lifted, even in the midst of the storm.
Adira reached into the sack she was carrying and pulled out the food inside. As her fingers brushed over it, she immediately recognized what it was—a bundle of rice dumplings! Definitely not leftovers!
Feeling elated, she was about to take a bite when the birds suddenly grew louder, their tweets quickening in an almost frantic chorus.
Her attention snapped to them. She stood up, arms reaching upward, but the ceiling seemed higher than she had imagined.
She hesitated to use the wood to measure the height, not wanting to disturb or harm the birds in the process.
She wondered, ‘Where could these birds possibly be perching inside the cave?’ The sound of their chirping seemed to echo from all directions.
"Hm... Do you guys want food or something?" she murmured.
TWEET! TWEET!
Uncertain of what to do, she sat back down. But this time, a new sound reached her ears.
At first, it seemed like a woman screaming, though the pitch was unnervingly high—more like an animal whimpering. The sound was muffled by the heavy rain, but it was still distinct enough for her to hear clearly.
It could be a human, for all she knew. After all, this place was near the border, and there were always those who ventured out, seeking the false sense of security that proximity to the barrier might bring—like Grandma Leafa!
Without a second thought, she rushed outside. The rain was so fierce it felt like a tempest, and she was drenched from head to toe within moments.
Her senses were in disarray, overwhelmed by the relentless rain, each drop adding to the chaos.
The chill of the downpour, the slick ground beneath her feet, the stinging pain in her eyes, and the ceaseless sound of raindrops—everything felt amplified, overwhelming her senses with every passing moment.
She had never been so acutely aware of her surroundings. Before, when she had her sight, all she needed to do was focus on where to go.
But now, that luxury is gone!
She had to rely on where that distress sound was coming from, yet even that was bombarded by the storm, leaving her disoriented and with a pounding headache as all her senses seemed to be triggered at once.
Though she struggled against the overwhelming barrage of sensations, she gritted her teeth and pushed forward.
The strange noise continued to grow louder as she approached, its high-pitched wail reminding her of a fox in distress.
When she realized she had reached the source of the sound, she stopped and focused, trying to make sense of what was happening around her.
It seemed there was an animal outside, desperately clawing its way through the mud, its frantic movements sending splashes of water and dirt into the air.
A sense of relief washed over her—at least it wasn''t old Lady Leafa.
But as the repetitive scratching continued, confusion crept in. There was something unsettling about the sound, as if it didn’t quite match the situation.
The animal didn''t seem to notice her at all, even as she closed the distance.
She kneeled down, her hands to her arm sinking into the sticky mud, when suddenly they fell into something much deeper.
In the blink of an eye, her face was drenched in mud from the unexpected drop! Half of her body plunged into a water-filled hole!
She grabbed the trunk of a nearby tree, pulling herself out of the water-filled hole. Gasping for air, she wiped the water and mud from her face, her heart pounding furiously in her chest, as if it might burst free at any moment. THAT WAS CLOSE!
Beneath the tree, there seems to be a hole. It wasn’t the ground itself— she realized it was the water that had pooled inside the pit, being disturbed by frantic scratching.
Beneath the tree, she noticed a hole. It wasn’t the ground itself—she realized it was water that had pooled inside the pit, rippling from frantic scratching.
Confused, she reached deeper into the hole, her hand exploring cautiously. What kind of animal could be in such a frantic state that it paid her no mind?
Her fingers brushed against something soft. Without hesitation, she pulled it out, and the creature let out small, strained sounds, as though it were struggling to breathe.
In that instant, everything clicked into place. The woman-like scream, the hole beneath the tree, the desperate scratching sounds—it all made sense.
Panic surged in her chest. What in the heavens is a cub doing here!? she thought. Did the mother fox forget to take them out?
Adira knew that foxes typically dig dens to protect their young, but it was possible that the mother had gone out to hunt before the storm rolled in.
Without hesitation, Adira began searching, knowing that a fox cub wasn’t likely to be alone. Her hand ventured deeper into the pit, pulling out three more cubs.
She searched the hole one final time, her movements just as frantic as the mother fox’s.
When she found nothing, she quickly stood and rushed back toward the cave, the four cubs clutched in her arms. She nearly slipped on the slick ground as she hurried.
The cubs were crying, their desperate wails filling the air.
But it was clear that water clung to their noses and mouths, evidence of their near-drowning struggle! She had to hurry!
Luckily, she made it back to the cave, largely thanks to the mother fox, whose constant calls guided her.
Without those sounds, however, Adira knew she would have been lost! Without her sight, everything felt disorienting, and she might have wandered aimlessly in the storm.
She knew she''d arrived back to the cave when rain ceased pouring over her head again.
Adira quickly placed the four cubs near the warmth of the fire, making sure the heat would reach them without getting too close to the flames.
She carefully adjusted their position, ensuring they were safe from the danger of being burned while still feeling the soothing warmth they needed.
In the process of ensuring their safety, Adira accidentally brushed against the burning wood, and a sharp sting shot through her fingers.
She hissed in pain, quickly blowing on her hand to soothe the burn, wincing as the heat lingered.
In haste to help them breathe again, she pressed against their tiny tummies while massaging their cold forms hoping for even slight responses—they felt lifeless!
Desperation gripped at Adira’s heart as time slipped away with each passing second threatening death upon them if not acted upon swiftly enough!
She shook them gently, then, in a final act of desperation, turned them upside down, hanging them to allow the water to drain from their airways.
Every moment counted. She quickly used her threads to secure them upside-down while gently pressing on their tummies, working as fast as she could. If she was even a second too late with any one of them, death would be the price.
Her heart leaped when one cub finally breathed roughly beneath fingers pressed gently against its mouth: “Okay! Okay… shh… It’s alright baby… You’re going to be okay.”
She continued diligently on each remaining cub until they too began showing signs of life—coughing out water trapped within tiny airways!
Suddenly an animal whimpered near her ear causing initial stiffness before remembering its likely the mother fox waiting anxiously on her side.
Once she was certain the cubs could breathe on their own, Adira gently laid them near the fire and stepped aside, giving the mother fox space to tend to her young.
She didn’t know how to care for animals—she had never been allowed to keep one as a child. And over the years, the weight of the resentments from those she had killed had driven all creatures away.
No animal dared come near her, for animals had an uncanny ability to sense good and evil from a person’s very energy.
They could feel the darkness she carried, the weight of her past, and it kept them at bay, wary of what lingered within her.
That’s why it came as a surprise that this fox didn’t try to maul her.
Despite her spiritual energy, the creature had shown no fear, no aggression—only a quiet, instinctual care for its cubs. Which is very… weird.
Her head felt light; thinking too much made everything worse—it felt like illness lurked just beyond reach waiting patiently!
Drenched clothes clung heavily to her skin, the cold seeping deep into her bones, and exhaustion washed over her. Finally, Adira collapsed near the fire, shivering uncontrollably as her body gave in to the weariness.