My name is Jeanne Sera Bradford. A noble lady hailing from the cold northern region of the Empire, Weisstoria.

Ever since I was born my parent had deeply ingrained in me that we the Bradford have a deep obligation to the empire and that it is a torch that would eventually be passed on to me.

Back then I didn't really understand the burden the title Margrave carries but I have been told by the many servants that my family name is synonymous to that of the empire's shield. We are the warden of the north, the keeper of the sacred land of which the goddess herself, Enthalpy, once descended during the final years of the great strife which is now commonly known today as the after calamity.

As the sole child, I understand that they had deep expectations of me, and by the time I reached the age of four, they had already begun searching for renowned educators from all over the empire in order to train me in many different subjects such as etiquette, stewardship, and most importantly swordsmanship.

Eventually, on my seventh birthday, by miracle, my affinity with mana would soon be discovered, and following that, of course, was the start of my magic training.

With diligence, people soon began calling me a genius and that I had great talent as well as vast potential. They all emphasized to me that someday when the new dawn arose, I would eventually be one of the great pillars that would support the empire.

I didn't really question my parents' true intentions or what grand ambitions they both had in store for me, as long as I was praised for all my hard work, I told myself that it was all worth it. It was also safe to say that at this point in time, I didn't really have anything resembling that of a friend, I was completely isolated.

Day after day, my training only continued to get harder and harder to the point that I could hear both my mind and body screaming for mercy.

I once considered giving everything up, but the thought of disappointing my parent and the fear that all my hard work would be all for naught kept me pushing even harder.

"I've already come this far to give up!" Was the word I always tell to myself.

Thinking back then, I truly was just a naive girl. Nevertheless, I also wouldn't go as far as to say that my parents didn't love me either.

My father although very stoic had always been the first one to praise me after a long and arduous training. My mother on the other hand would always try and find time to visit me and bring me some snacks during classes.

It is everything that I could wish for, a normal and happy life.

—that was until one fateful day.

*********

It was just like any normal afternoon, after finishing all of my studies, I felt a little adventurous and went out of my way to sneak out of the mansion to explore the Engardel woods that I kept hearing from the servants located running along the main road between our residential manor and the city of Acherdam.

There are many legends surrounding the Engardel with the most famous being the very sacred land of which the goddess Entalphy descended.

Out of curiosity about the place, as soon as I arrived, I instantly entered the woods without any hint of caution.

Wandering around the forest ground aimlessly, I paid little to no attention to my surroundings and was focused more on exploring my new environment dissuading me from realizing that I had already passed over the same fallen tree trunk several times.

With no proper experience in traversing a forest, I inevitably found myself lost in the middle of nowhere without any clue on how to get myself back.

I was beginning to be worried.

And just as everything could not be any worse, by the onset of the late afternoon the once tranquil orchestra of the birds, trees, and critters of the woods was soon then replaced by the terrible silence followed by a howling noises from afar.

!!!

Wolves...!

It was only then at this point that I fully understood the grim situation that I'm currently in.

Losing all of my strength in my legs, I instantly collapse to the ground with no other option but to just cry.

I was scared...

really scared...

I continued to cry heavily hoping for my father to get me out of this place, but alas nobody came.

!!!

With the rustling noises from the bushes, it was then that my body began to tremble uncontrollably and my breaths became shorter and shorter.

—Just as I was about to surrender myself to the inevitable, Instead of the wolves, a boy of a similar age to me suddenly popped out of the bushes and landed right in front of me.

Dumbfounded, I can only stare at the boy in disbelief.

"Finally found you. You're the source of that crying right? What are you doing here all alone, are you lost?" The mysterious boy asks before extending his helping hand to me.

Balling the tears out of my eyes I nodded to the boy before reaching for his hand without an ounce of hesitation.

"Good, you're not hurt. It's getting a little dark, your parents must have been very worried by now, let's get you out of here"

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Just as I was feeling a little hopeful and relieved, it was then that I heard another howl from the distance, based on how loud it was, I knew they were only moments away from us.

"It was no use after all..." My body again began to tremble uncontrollably.

The boy perhaps noticing it, tightens his grip around my wrist and smiles at me.

"Don't worry about them, they won't bother us. They are, after all, scared of this brave girl in front of me" Were the encouraging words he said to me.

Me brave?...

Confused with his words I can only remain silent as we swiftly hurry out of the woods.

Already at my limit, I can only shut my eyes close and embrace the boy's arm tightly just to be able to dampen the dreadful sounds.

"Please let it stop..."

"Please let it stop... ..." were the words I cried inside my head praying for the wolves to go away.

Traversing the wood for almost an eternity, with a sudden jolt, the boy then came to a sudden stop.

Fearful that the wolves had finally caught us, tears began to fall from my eyes again.

It was no use...

After all...

Father...

Please...

Help...

...

... ...

Me...

Hitting rock bottom, I tighten my embrace even more onto the boy's arm, the only thing left that's giving me a sense of security.

I am scared... Scared beyond belief... Fearful that this may be the end...

I should have never come to this forest... I'm sorry...

...

...

Expecting for the gruesome end, to my surprise, I instead felt a soft hand patting my head...

"Good job making it through..." Was the only thing I heard forcing me to slowly open my eyes only to be blinded by the surroundings.

"Ahh!"

As the blinding light subsided and my sight finally finished adjusting to the brightness of the environment, I was then greeted by the serene plain that runs along the stone path leading either back to my home or the city.

!!!

Welcomed by the cold air that cuts across the plain, for the first time in my life, I felt truly relieved.

"..."

Silently looking back at my savior, I was completely stunned to now be able to clearly see his face.

He's a youthful boy whose age was similar to mine, he has this hair that's as white as the snow during the winter months, and a pair of eyes that are as blue as the deep ocean itself.

It was my first time seeing someone with such a unique feature as him which, to say the least, awakened something inside me.

Wiping the tears off my face, I can only grow embarrassed upon noticing that his hands are still firmly wrapped around my wrist.

Now that I've managed to take a closer look, I didn't notice at first but his arms are somewhat full of dark bruises, I don't know where he got those but I assume it must have felt very terrible when I was gripping on it hard, and yet throughout the entire ordeal this boy didn't let go of me, even by one bit, and whenever he spoke encouraging words to reassure me, I got the same feeling of security that mirrors that of my fathers.

What a mysterious person...

"Is there a problem my lady? I know you're a little shy and haven't spoken a single thing since I found you, but if there's anything that's making you uncomfortable, don't be afraid to tell me" the boy after noticing my stunned face quickly tries to reassure me as he continue to hold my arm.

"..."

I can only remain quiet in return, I haven't really spoken to someone around my age and even if I did ace all my etiquette lessons, I still have little to no experience on how to strike up a conversation with someone I had just met especially against an opposite gender.

I don't really want to show an embarrassing side of me, particularly to someone who just saved me.

"—I imagine both of your parents are still tirelessly searching for you, let's not keep them waiting"

After a quick and silent rest, the boy then decided that it was time for him to take me back and began to guide to back to the city, which was in the opposite direction to my home.

Nevertheless, I was still too shy to correct him and soon found ourselves at an unfamiliar plaza.

Wanting to take another short rest, the boy then asks me to sit by the fountain and wait for him as he fetches us something to eat.

... ...

Coming back from the long line of food stalls, the boy bought me something that I hadn't eaten before.

"Here, it's called an Ice Cream. It's great!"

Ice cream? Isn't that something that my mother specifically told me not to eat as you can easily get addicted to it and make you fat?

Not wanting to disobey my mother's word, I shook my head trying to decline the offer but the boy forcefully shoved it into my hand and looked at me with a determined face.

"T.R.Y. I.T."

Left with no other choice, I accepted my fate and mimicked the boy on how he was eating his share and started licking on mime as well.

!!!

Soooo sweeeeet!

"See told you"

Surprised at its cold refreshing and sweet creamy flavor, I unconsciously rushed to devour my ice cream only to realize that it was not enough. Wanting for more, I vigorously turned to the boy only to back out just as fast as it would be too improper of me to ask for more.

He already saved back to the forest, I couldn't possibly inconvenience him even further...

—But the boy, as if reading my mind, quietly stood up, walked to the vendor, and came back with a much bigger serving of Ice cream...

"Don't be afraid to ask for more, ok?"

...

... ...

After our short rest, we then resumed our journey.

"Say, do you know where your house is from here?"

I immediately shook my head replying with a no.

"I see, I see. Hmm... Considering how well she's properly dressed, she's probably from a rich family, perhaps the noble sector is a good start." The boy said thinking out loud.

It was just then when we turned a street that I saw a recognizable maid from afar asking random people with a distressed look written all over her face.

Probably sensing a presence that's staring at her, the maid made an unconscious quick turn which caused our eyes to accidentally meet. Realizing that she had just found the person she had been looking for, her eyes abruptly widened and without any hesitation started running towards me while calling out my name.

"Young lady! Young lady! Where have you been? We've been worried sick!"

"You know this person?" The boy immediately asked me to which I nodded in reply.

"I see"

The boy then approached the maid and gave her a bow.

"Good afternoon ma'am, I noticed a group of you had been looking for a missing person and decided to join the search"

... Huh?...

"—I was lucky to find her outside the city by the main road crying all by herself. When I approached her and asked her about the matter, she told to me that she got lost and had no idea how to get back, so I tried escorting her here where I last saw your party. She already cried for far too much so please, if anything, don't scold her anymore"

"Wait, he's lying!" I yelled inside my mind.

The boy took a glance at me showing a 'shush' gesture.

"Oh... uh... I see"

With the maid wholly acknowledging his story, The boy then turned around to me.

"Well then my lady, with my job done, I guess this is goodbye. Take care of yourself in the future" was his final words before walking away.

"What are courteous boy..." was the comment of the maid.

It was only when he was gone that I realized that I didn't manage to ask for his name...

**********

After the incident, the maid who found me reported everything to my father. Luckily, just as the boy had told her I was spared from being scolded and was instead comforted by both of my parents.

It was later on that found that it was my mother who was the most worried for me, the moment I arrived back, I was immediately greeted by her full display of affection, and hugged me very tightly without any sign of letting me go.

Later in the night, she decided to sleep with me, worried that I might again disappear.

Staring at my mother's delicate sleeping face, I can only guiltly smile at her as for the first time, I've disobeyed something she ordered me not to do.

"I'm sorry Mother, I ate an ice cream that you told me to never do...

...

It was delicious..."

In the end, I didn't manage to get his name.

Hopefully, we'll meet each other again, and then I'll finally properly introduce myself...