--Eliza’s Point of View--
“PAPA, PAPA CAN I HAVE A UNICORN?MAY I?CAN I-CAN I-CAN I?” Staring deep into my father. ‘I also hugged him in hopes of increasing my chance of getting the unicorn’ (When I was younger, I wanted everything. We were after all a family of nobles. I believe I could get anything I wanted in the world and the world would just hand me anything and everything.)
“Of course Eli, I will get you anything that you desire. Now quickly, go on to your room. Daddy is busy” A gentle smile appears upon his face and he faced back onto the desk of paperwork like always. I went back into one of my three rooms. Of course two were my personal play rooms and the other for sleep. (I had a grandiose life. In fact i even had a daily routine of playing around with my toys and eventually I would pass out due to exhaustion, hehe). “REBECCA, REBECCA!”
“Yes madam” A servant of utmost dignity suddenly appears “What would you like today?” bowing her head.
“I want pie, pie, PIE” I ordered lots and LOTS of pie ooh I can’t wait to taste it. (Everyday a new pie would present itself, and i even brought it to myself to try every pie in the world. Every day was another pie added to my list)
“Of course we will bestow it to you soon enough” The servant magically vanishes. ‘What to play, what to play’ I stare at my ball I got yesterday. ‘…Nah old toys don’t get to be played’ I want the unicorn so much that i want to save all my energy for it. ‘I can’t wait mmuuu’ I squeezed my flushed cheeks. I roll around my bed. Expectedly…
“Madam we have brought you, your pies” Following her statement are two other servants behind her who placed a table and three pies in the room. I stare at the pies with drool coming out of my mouth. There was even a cherry on top of it, the way I liked it. “Madam please enjoy…and please do not make a mess like last time. You must stay ladylike whether in private or in public.” leaving with a sigh.
From my bed I pounced over 3 meters from my bed to the pie. I grabbed one of my eyes and ignoring the forks I grabbed a piece and put it straight into my mouth, “MUUUU” I was filled with SWIRLS of flavor. I brought the pie next to the window to see a boy playing music in the corners. ‘They must be happy if they are playing wonderful music’ (However, little did I know that he was an orphan off the streets, I regret not helping him…that time. But my meeting with him would eventually open my eyes to the world)
After a while of playing with my toys, I went off out to my personal balcony. (I always spent my evenings on the balcony hoping one day a prince will come up to my balcony). I look down from the top of the hill. For miles I see floods of light, until it darkens further down the hill. “na-na-naaa~” I hummed as I danced from my balcony. I danced until my legs tire in front of the lights of the city…as if the whole world is watching me. ‘I want to be…noticed…seen… I…wanted…attention.’ Soon enough i dozed off
….
…
*Shoutings in the distance* “Burn down the mansions, take all you see”
“Hmm what’s going on?” I rub my eyes. That’s weird…where am I? I touch my surroundings. ‘Am I…in a box?’ I pushed up-
“Shhhh Eliza, don’t push. Just stay quiet” I recognized my father’s voice.
“Dad, I can’t…NNNNN…can’t get out” I shoved with all my might.
“SEARCH FOR ANY SURVIVORS AND DISCARD THEM. YOU TWO, GRAB ALL THAT IS DEEMED VALUABLE” A rough masculine voice could be heard strong enough to rattle the neighborhood.
“Eliza, please…shhh be quiet. Do this for your papa” I heard a sob. “Please…don’t make a sound. Eliza, stay silent until Grandpa comes ok? Can you do that for me?-”
I close my mouth with my hands. ‘Pape?’
-“So close you ears and go to sleep…my sweet darling…” He shut silent but i could hear him crying.
“AHHHH SOMEONE HELP MEE” A screaming filled with agony exude from nearby. Windows smashed to the ground. Crackling of fires.
These sounds...they sound so horrible. I spoke with the softest voice i could “…ukk….oo..ok, papa” I obeyed my father. (In that time I was trembling in fear of the unknown and what what was forewarned to happen). ‘Papa…I’m scared’ I closed my ears like my papa said. ‘Pape please protect me’ ‘Grandpa please save us’(Soon enough, much of these thoughts began to cloud my mind, eventually I Blanked out).
…
…
Still passed out, a voice went through me.“There you are sweet thing…I will protect you.”
I didn’t want to wake up…yet that voice emanated hope. “Papa…” I snap my eyes open “PAPA, PAPA-PAPA” I take a good look around to see nothing familiar to me. I was no longer in the room i recognized as my own. I thought….it was a dream
“Shhhhhh sweet one, I’m here…shhh” A gentle old man sat beside me holding my hand.
“GRANDPA” I quickly hugged him for comfort after realizing who it was. Looking up with tears built up into my eyes, i asked, “What happened to papa?”
Grandpa with his old eyes of wisdom looked up…”he’s… on a trip” (I believed him at that time; however, I soon realized what he really meant. I knew he only lied to me to protect me, but it it did not help in the least.)
(For the next few years i lived with my grandpa forcing me to forget the fortuitous past I once had, but because of this arrangement i learned many things that i would’ve never known-without this...i would still be crying on that very bed till my death. If i had realized sooner what my grandpa meant)
“Papa where are you? Will you please come back?” ‘I wished and i wished be he never came.’ Out of the blue i heard a few strums from a guitar. I look outside to see a boy...a little younger than me. I stared at this boy who is covered in dirt and scrawny with eyes that seeed to not signal any signs of life. I was about to lay down to relax and continue to mourn; however, the music stopped. I didn’t want it to stop(For the first time since that fateful day, I found a piece of the past life i once forgotten. The music where i listened from my own home. In the house that was extravagantly decorated. The time...when papa was still with me) ‘No, please don’t stop.’ Without realizing i walked up to the boy, I sat down and pleaded “will...will you play the guitar for me, just once more?”
The boy just looked at me and nodded. Picking up the guitar, he played for the next few minutes.
While he was playing, I felt like i have heard this song before.. Then as the song continued fragments of my memory has connected to each other and i wondered if he was the boy who played in the corner. Timid i asked, “A-are you the boy who played on the corner in front of the mansions?”
He simply nodded.
My curiosity on the boy only further grew. “Are you an orphan?”
He again simply nodded.
Again i asked another “What’s your name?” Soon enough i became more direct and my shyness began to fade under the pile of questions i had for him.
He simply nods ‘no’.
‘MMUUUU’ This boy won’t be direct with me. I ask him many questions; however, he would only nod...until “What happened to your family?”
This time however a quick hesitation appeared before he looked down. He mumbles“all 6 feet under” Tears began to obscure his eyes then he starts to weep crawling into a fetal like position.
“What do y-OH NO” The realization hit me only a few milliseconds later. ‘Again, WHY AM I SO SELFISH’ i yearn to cry myself, blaming myself’ I looked at the boy finally realizing how vulnerable he was. He looked like a lost puppy. I wanted to leave and cry inside the house...b-but i couldn't leave him. All of the sudden I hugged the boy like i was his mother. I wanted to try and comfort him i wanted to apologize, “Shhhh-shhhhh i’m here” unable to resist the vulnerability “how about i’ll be your big sister, huh?” I move his head onto my lap and stroke his hair. Looking at him crying-and he looks back at me, looking at him crying almost made me cry myself. This boy….lost everyone.
(Ever since then, I have taken care of him. Taught him. And even made sure he doesn't doing anything dangerous. Everyday is another worry. But because of him he...gave me a new purpose in life. Something that made me forget my own past. It was a purpose that would keep me busy-to assist me on forgetting my origin. ‘I wanted to take care of him’. I finally realized that while i was taking care of him, how it must’ve felt for my father- To sacrifice anything and make sure there is a smile on his face and to give him the things that the harsh reality will throw at him. I felt...so bad for my father after realizing this as i never considered his feelings. Instead i was a selfish noble for always strived to be the center of attention. So i will show this boy the correct way in living in this world. That...is my goal.)
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
-------End of Eliza’s Story---------------
“I am assuming that little boy is the one you call ‘Jakey’?” As i remembered the little boy that was endangered by the two
“Yes he is the little brother i always taken care of…” her body steadily limps over as if she is about to doze off any second *Thud* Her head falls into my lap.
I did not mind. In fact as i take a closer look at her face, I realize the extreme weariness in her eyes. ‘I suppose that encounter with the
She began to weeps. “Y-yes.” I river flows from her face.
“Then I shall ask, do you have any regrets?” I rashly ask her this question. I simply await her answer.
“N-no” She continues to, but has somewhat calmed down.
“Then husshhh” I try to soothe her with my hands stroking her unkempt hair. “Life may send you torment, It may send you glory, it may send you sorrow, it may make you suffer; however, it is those moments that piece together into a single story-your story. It makes you unique from every other individual upon this world. What is truly interesting about it, is that it is still being written every passing moment. You can never completely erase the past, but you can still affect what will be written. Question is: will you have the strength to move the pen and control your life?” As i say my last statement, i noticed she fell asleep. I look up in the blackened sky to see Orion. ‘Hmmmm sleep well child and be the bird to strike the worm.’ I shut my eyes and welcomed the dark...
…
…
“HIDE ALL THE CHILDREN, ALL OF YOU SURROUND THE BEAST” interrupting my sleep, commotion could be heard from the town.
I quickly open my eyes from my seating position. I stroked Eliza’s hair with the intentions of waking her up. “Wake up dear, your village seems to be endangered” I calmly rose to my feet and soon helped Eliza’s limp body up.
She murmurs in her sleep like state, “My...village...endangered...Endangered?” Soon enough she snaps awake “JAKEY!!!” She sprints off away towards the village.
She ran off with a speed like no other ‘Is it her determination to protect the one who she cares?’ For a moment as she ran i saw a glimpse of maternal light emanating from her- I have witnessed only two times that light from her. Her story...still taunts my curiosity. I began walking towards the village and picked up a stone along the way in case the situations calls for a battle. ‘If a beast appears, i will need a weapon whether it is a sword of the gods or a stone laying on the side of the road.’
Only a few moments later i reached the village and see….
“GRRRRRRRAUUGHH” A
‘Hmmm?’ i notice a few men on the ground with bite wounds and are bleeding on the ground. I spot Henrick pointlessly shouting out orders as his men are panicking while trying to fend off the beast. Disappointed i brought the stone behind my head and focus my eyes onto both heads of the dog. I waited for the right moment and soon enough one head was behind the other. ‘Here I go-’ With a thrust that emulates the speed of a shooting star, the rock pierces through and into the head of the dog then into the other.
Stunned, most of the villagers fall onto their back. Despite the sudden death of a beast, some manage to squeeze out a little comment”what..was..that?” “Did….god help us?” Everyone turns towards my direction with faces filled with fear, that i once again was familiar with.
I was disappointed yet again. The
“Wh-what was that?!?!?” Wise, Hencrick, came up towards me. The other villagers motioned back up away from me.
“A simple stone throw I perhaps” I was devastated that they were weaker than i have fathom to believe. ‘Where has all the strength in humanity gone?’ Quickly changing the subject “So what was the source that attracted the beast into the village in the first place?”
Snapping out of his stunned state “uhh-Ahem yes. Well Because the guards that originally guarded the gate had met an ...unexpected death” he looks at me for a brief moment “So we are awaiting for the capital to bring another couple soldiers. However, it has unexpectedly been a long wait so far.” A look of concern appeared on his face as he faced the people and children.
“I see, i suppose i should find what situation they are in. Do you know which path they are navigating through?”
“Uhh yes they are a bit West from here. It is actually a soldier camp that my brother runs. He is a general of the camp. Uhh let’s see, please wait here” Henrick quickly runs into a house and soon enough comes out with a letter in hand. “Please hand this letter to my brother, it is a request for a couple soldiers to protect the village.” I grab the letter, but as soon as i retract my arm-It was quickly grabbed with a sudden amount of force from a feeble older man. He bows his head slightly, “Could you...bring Eliza with you?...It pains me to stay away from my granddaughter; however, as it stands many beasts may come and i do not want her to bare any wounds. You are the only one who i trust while able to travel through the forest without being harmed...unlike the feeble us, so please as this may possibly my last wish….ever. So please accept this selfish request” He smiles earnestly, but behind his mask i sense a great deal of heartache.
It is in my culture to honor the death of another so i could not refute his dying wish. “I shall...accept your wish.” I did not mind the rather unexpected request; however, i do not know whether if she would be a hindrance or not during the travel.
Again the smile widened across his face; however, water leaked from his eyes. “Th-thank you, you don’t know how much this means to me. Ever since my son died, i have taken care of her. But my time on this world is-running out.” he turns around “-and...If i ever...take a trip, i shall entrust my granddaughter to you.” With that he starts asking the other villagers to repair the houses and remove the beast.
I walk outside the village and await for the arrival of Eliza. I look at the other side and all i could see was darkness clad with trees. ‘I wonder what awaits me from inside….’
“Uhm..i’m ready to go.”
I turn around to see Eliza carrying a bag big enough to fit the beast i slayed earlier in it. “Do you really need such objects?” I honestly see no reason to bring anything into the forest.
She quickly answers back “This-is-just-preparations. I might need something when i enter the forest. I want to be prepared for the inevitable. I want this trip to be as successful as possible so i can protect my home...” I heard a subtle voice of fear but very much present.
‘I do not understand her. As long as i could remember the forest was a blessing to me and my brothers as it offered anything you need: Fish from the rivers, Herbal medicine to heal wounds and sickness, and a place to hide in. It’s is truly the city where the gods sleep.’ However i do not have any reason to object to her decision as it does not affect hinder me negatively. “Well i believe we should be off, we must come back at god’s speed to reduce any chance of endangerment to your people.”
“Lets” with that we both quickly enter the dark forest...
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Author: So i do apologize for the late chapter release. I had a few midterm finals a while ago. A few holidays(ahem Christmas and New Years). However i have also ran into a few problems when writing this chapter. When writing this i felt the progress in Eliza's story was rather....rushed and this is my first time taking a position as a female. (In terms of maternal feelings and such and the psychological things in the brain of a women.)
I would also like to add that below (my signature) will be updated and you guys will be able to see the progress i will make. So enjoy. LET ME KNOW IF YOU THIINK THE PROGRESSION IS TOO FAST O.O :-fightingchicken:-