Chapter 13.5:

428 years ago, Vedem

Five years had passed since that fateful conversation with Elmer. Despite knowing that selling narcotics was illegal, and more importantly, immoral, the girl continued to collect veilroots from the swamp and handed them over to Elmer, keeping just a few to bring back to Kaja. When the old herbalist questioned her about the dwindling yields of veilroots, the girl lied, claiming the plants were becoming scarce near the edges of the swamp and that she would have to venture further inside, where more dangers lurked – snakes and szuzhas. Kaja wasn’t pleased with this explanation, but perhaps realizing that the girl was unprotected when she ventured into the swamps, she decided not to push the issue any further.

Meanwhile, Elmer sold the veilroots in Tehl, just as he had promised, and brought back a significant amount of coin, sharing it with her as he said he would. She had so many golden crowns that she sometimes had to pinch herself to believe she wasn’t dreaming. She had never had any money of her own before - her parents, and even Kaja, never gave her anything. It was the first time in her life she had coin of her own.

Elmer was ecstatic after the first sales. They raked in way more money than he anticipated. Not only did he stop treating her poorly, but he also began to show appreciation for her efforts, often hugging her and kissing her on the forehead and cheeks. Something inside her fluttered at his attention, and then came a defining moment. When she told him she had enough coin to leave Vedem for good, he begged her to stay. When she wasn’t convinced, he embraced her and kissed her passionately on the lips – her first kiss. She was already falling for him all this time, and now she was head over heels for him, and their relationship deepened. He became her first, and only, in other intimate experiences as well, sharing moments that she felt had bonded them even more closely.

However, they kept their relationship hidden from the villagers, with Elmer explaining that they would never accept her and that he didn’t want to suffer for it either. When she suggested they both leave Vedem, he refused, insisting that he had to inherit his father’s butchery. Even when he faced an arranged marriage, he assured her that he had no feelings for the other girl, that she was the only one he loved, and that they would continue meeting even after he got married. And she believed him, keeping her distance during the day, only to meet him at night for moments full of passion.

Meanwhile, the village was expanding, albeit slowly. The swamps remained troublesome, and the refusal to use magic to clear them made the progress of reclaiming the land slow – unbearably so for some. The progressive minority, once silenced, had become more vocal, and now the village seemed evenly split between those who supported the use of magic and the conservatives who still believed it to be a sin against Vitara.

She and Elmer found a secluded spot in the swamps, and after another intimate encounter, they lay next to each other on a blanket. She rested on his arm, kissing his chest, never wanting to let go, while he rose up, ignoring her, and began putting his clothes back on.

“I thought we’d have more time together today.” She said, her voice laced with disappointment as she sat on the blanket.

“Well, Alrun wants me to help her with the baby tonight.” He said, pulling his trousers back on. “But we had our fun today. I felt good. You felt good too, right?”

Before she could respond, he continued. “Anyway, I need you to get me way more veilroots for the next batch. The guy I’m dealing with in Tehl right now - he’s serious. He wants three times what we usually sell him.”

“Three times more?” she asked, a bit apprehensive. “You said you’re meeting him next week. I’ll never be able to collect that much by then.”

“Oh, c’mon.” he said, his tone turning harsh as he buttoned his shirt. “Don’t back out on me now. I’m sure you can get even deeper into the swamps. They’re pretty much endless in these woods.”

“Yeah, but – “ she began, but he cut her off.

“Szuzhas? You’ve only stumbled on what, three in the past five years? You worry too much. Just do what I ask. You’ll be fine.” He said, dismissing her fears. “Now, I have to go. Remember to wait here for – “

She cut him off this time. “For fifteen minutes. I remember, Elmer.”

He grinned. “Good job, Pip."

“You already know my real name.” she said, her voice tinged with sadness, but he ignored her and left.

She sat alone on the blanket, slowly putting her clothes back on. Once again, she questioned her relationship with Elmer. Sometimes he seemed so cold and dismissive of her worries, yet on other occasions, he would show unexpected kindness to her, even hinting at a possible future together. She wasn’t sure what to think, but one thing was certain: she couldn’t let him down. So tomorrow, when she ventured deeper into the swamps - into parts she had never visited before - she would bring him all the veilroots he asked for. Three time the usual amount, and even more. Then perhaps he would be overjoyed and show it by making her feel valued and cherished, even if just for a moment.

Cloud, noticing her alone, joined fairly quickly. Elmer had driven him out on one occasion when they were here together, and since then, the white cat never revealed himself unless she was alone. He was already around ten years old, his once sleek fur now slightly coarser. His movements had become more deliberate and measured with age, but his eyes still held the same affection for her. She had cared for him all these years, despite not being able to give him a proper home, and in return, he showed her unwavering friendship, appearing whenever she needed him. Petting him was as much a comfort for her as it was for him.

“How are you feeling today, Cloud?” she asked as she petted him.

The cat meowed at her, as if speaking in return. She pretended to understand him and responded. “Yeah, I know, but I love him. He can be harsh sometimes, but I believe he loves me too.”

She watched her shaking hands, the source of her curse. If only they didn’t tremble, then she could have been with Elmer openly. They could just be happy together, and he would never have married Alrun.

Cloud meowed again, seemingly worried, and she responded. “I have to go deeper inside, but don’t worry, I think it’ll be fine.”

Cloud meowed once more, now sounding urgent, as if trying to make her reconsider. She simply replied. “I can’t let Elmer down.”

***

On her way back to Kaja, she stumbled upon her sister, Elva. They hadn’t spoken in years, despite seeing each other around the village multiple times. It seemed that even her sister, who was once kind to her despite everyone else’s harshness, now ignored her as much as she could.

“Pip.” Her sister called out simply.

“I’m twenty-two already. You can stop calling me that.” The girl responded.

Elva smiled weakly. “I know, but you’ll always be my Pip.”

“What do you want?” the girl asked. In the past, she would have liked to speak to her sister again, but after so many years of silence, she wanted nothing to do with her.

“Listen.” Elva began, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation ahead. “Rolf has some connections with the guards in Tehl, and he told me they’re investigating the sudden increase in veilroot narcotics circulating in the city.”

The girl swallowed hard at her sister’s words but remained silent.

Elva continued, lowering her voice. “They told him they have a lead – there’s a reason to believe someone in Vedem is supplying veilroot to Tehl, and Elmer is a prime suspect. The guards from Tehl are considering coming here soon to investigate him.”

The girl’s heart began to race, fear gripping her. If Elmer were caught, he could be arrested or, worse, executed for selling veilroots.

“Since you’re always in those swamps, I was afraid this might involve you too.” Elva added, her voice pleading. “Please, tell me it’s not true.”

The girl’s gaze fell to the ground, and before she could say anything, Elva already understood. “Oh Pip, just stop this. It’s not too late. Don’t contact Elmer anymore. Let him take the fall. Please! I can’t bear to see you suffer from this.”

Elva’s words, especially the last ones, ignited anger withing the girl. “You say that, yet you didn’t care about all my suffering through these years. You haven’t even spoken to me properly in the past seven years.”

Elva shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “I know, I know! And I hate myself for that, but Rolf said that it would look – “

She cut her off sharply. “If Rolf dictates your life so much, then you shouldn’t be talking to me right now.” With that, she turned and left her sister behind.

She knew she would have to speak to Elmer as soon as possible, before he left for Tehl, to warn him to be careful and perhaps even drop the upcoming deal altogether. If the military was getting involved, they might need to halt their veilroot operation for the time being.

***

Elmer had ignored her for the entire week. He didn’t meet her in the forest swamps, failing to appear on their usual days. And in the village, during the day, she was too scared to approach him, not wanting to risk him suffering from being seen communicating with her openly. They finally met on the night before he was set to leave for Tehl, when he came to collect all the veilroots she had gathered for him. Despite the dangers of the swamp and her sister’s warnings, she had continued to collect them, fearing to upset him if she didn’t.

She told Elmer everything she had learned while he just stared blankly at her. After she finished, he whispered. “This is it then, huh?”

She was afraid he might be ending their relationship altogether, so she quickly tried to reassure him. “No, no, no. We can just wait for a while. Lay low and let the guards forget about you. You don’t have to sell this batch.”

He glanced at the pile of veilroots she had collected, lying on the ground beside them. There were so many, and just thinking about all of the gold they would bring him made him question if he could really back down. “I don’t think I can.” he said calmly.

“What do you mean, Elmer?” she asked, her voice laced with worry for him.

“Never mind.” He replied, before turning to her. He suddenly embraced her. “You did good, Pip. Thank you for letting me know.”

A warmth spread inside her at his words, that feeling of being appreciated by someone you love. It was all she had ever wanted.

***

Late evening of the next day, she was at the workshop, sweeping the floor. She had just finished bathing old Kaja, helping her into her clothes, and then settling her on the couch before brewing the small amount of veilroots she had brought into a tea for her. The old herbalist was growing weaker each day, barely able to do anything on her own, not even hit the girl as she used to in the past.

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As she swept, she wondered how Elmer was faring in Tehl – whether he had listened to her and backed out of the upcoming deal, and if not, she hoped he was safe and careful, that the guards who were already onto him hadn’t caught him.

The answer to her question wasn’t long in coming, as she glanced outside the window, she noticed a squad of five soldiers entering the village, their horses behind them. They were clad in dark leather armor, reinforced with metal plates on the shoulders and chest. Their faces were stern, and each carried a short sword at their side, with helmets that covered most of their features, leaving only their eyes visible.

It was the first time in around seventy years that there had been a military presence in Vedem. The last time was during the demonic war, when soldiers fought valiantly against the archdemon Thalzor and his armies, who had conquered these lands. The entire village was in an audible uproar at their arrival, with people pouring into the streets to witness the rare sight.

“What’s happening outside, girl?” Kaja asked suddenly, still seated on the couch.

The girl’s heart was already racing when she saw the soldiers, but when she noticed Elmer behind them, she felt like it was going to explode.

‘They got him.’ she thought to herself. ‘My poor Elmer was going to get imprisoned or executed.’

“It’s nothing, Kaja.” The girl replied, but her shaking voice did little to reassure the old herbalist.

Then, the leader of the squad stepped forward and spoke, his voice loud and asking for attention. “Citizens of Vedem, I am Major Bert Verran of the Morthrygan army, stationed in the city of Tehl. We are under the authority of the crown, investigating the alarming rise of veilroot narcotics in our city. As part of our investigation, we have reason to believe that the source of this illegal substance may be connected to your village.”

As he finished speaking, Elmer’s parents, along with his wife and child, came outside to see what was going on. Elmer’s father spoke, his expression visibly concerned. “What’s going on, Major Verran? Has my son done something illegal?”

Meanwhile, the girl stepped outside, her mind racing with ideas of how she could help Elmer, but then Major Verran spoke again, and it became clear that Elmer didn’t need saving. “No, sir.” Major Verran said, his voice steady and authoritative. “Your son has actually been an invaluable informant, helping us progress this case.” He then raised his voice sharply, addressing the gathered villagers. “We are here to arrest Lida Wessler.”

The girl’s heart froze. They were here for her.

The villagers looked around in confusion, glancing at each other and wondering if they even had a Lida among them. Meanwhile, Lida could see her parents, Rolf, and Elva standing on the other side of the soldiers. Their expressions varied – her parents were furious and embarrassed, Rolf remained calm and indifferent, while Elva was in tears.

The mayor stepped forward. “Major Verran, I’m afraid there is no one named Lida here. The Wessler family is my daughter-in-law’s, but they don’t have a Lida.”

The major glanced at Elmer before speaking. “Point her out.”

And without hesitation, Elmer did. He pointed directly at Lida, who stood at the entrance of the herbalist’s workshop. The collective gaze of the entire village suddenly fell upon her. It was the first time in many years they had heard her real name.

Her heart raced as she watched Elmer, who refused to make eye contact with her.

‘Did he just sell me out like this?’ Lida thought, disbelief washing over her. ‘Did he clear his name by pinning everything on me? How could he?’ She had believed he loved her as she loved him…

“Oh, the cursed one.” The mayor muttered before quickly trying to defend himself. “I’m sorry, Major Verran, I didn’t realize. No one has ever called her by that name here, so I thought you were mistaken.”

Lida’s parents quickly joined in. “That girl was always trouble.” Her mother said. “Selling narcotics is the least of her foul deeds. Was cursed by Vitara that one.” Her father added.

Major Verran remained indifferent to their words as he turned to Lida. “Miss Lida Wessler, please step forward. You are hereby accused of trafficking veilroot narcotics, a crime against the Kingdom of Morthryga. You will be taken into custody and escorted to Tehl, where you will stand trial for your actions.”

Lida was frozen in place, unable to move a muscle. Every instinct screamed at her to defend herself, to fight back. This was different from the usual bullying, neglect, and assaults she had endured throughout her life. This time, she could be sent to jail – or worse, she might even be hanged. But the words wouldn’t come. The gazes of the villagers, accompanied by their silent yet audible murmurs, reached her ears. She heard all the familiar nicknames they had always called her. She heard their misplaced compassion toward her parents, lamenting their misfortune for having this cursed daughter. She heard their praise for Elmer, applauding him for being brave enough to act as an informant in such an investigation, calling him an honorable man. But most painfully, she heard them belittling her more than ever, reducing her to nothing. They called her names she hadn’t heard before, blaming her for things she had never done, leveling her to the ground with their contempt.

“Elmer, why?” she finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper.

Elmer coughed, still avoiding her gaze, as his wife approached him with their toddler, wrapping her arms around him. “I don’t know what you want from me. You’re the criminal here.”

“You said you loved me…” Lida whispered, her voice trembling.

Elmer’s eyes darted around, catching the questioning gazes of the villagers. Panic flickered across his face before he burst out in anger. “What the hell are you even on about, you cursed wench? Are you having hallucinations? Clearly, you’ve been taking veilroots yourself if you think that anyone could ever love you! Not even Vitara loved you - that’s why she cursed you!”

Lida’s heart began to ache. It hurt so much that she clutched her chest, as if trying to keep it from bursting. Then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, old Kaja, in a rare attempt to walk on her own, hobbled out of the workshop. With a sudden burst of energy, she smacked Lida on the back of her head with her walking cane, shouting. “I knew it! I knew you weren’t bringing me all the veilroots you collected! You cursed child!”

Lida fell forward into the muddy ground, her hand instinctively reaching for the spot where she’d been struck. Her head throbbed with pain, and she didn’t know what to do.

Major Verran addressed her, ignoring the villagers’ hostility toward her. “Miss Wessler, you are under arrest. Please approach us willingly. Tomorrow morning, we will escort you to Tehl.”

She raised her head, searching for her sister - the only person she believed might still be on her side - but when their eyes met, Elva turned away.

The major’s words, combined with the searing pain she felt both physically and mentally, shifted something inside of her. For the first time in her life, she couldn’t stay silent anymore.

“Why do you all hate me so much?” she shouted, her voice rising from the depths of her heart. “What did I ever do to you? I didn’t chose to be born like this!”

“It doesn’t matter!” One of the village women shouted. “Vitara marked you for a reason, and we are not worthy to question her will.”

“But it was her will to make me this way!” Lida retorted, turning to Kaja. “You! You were the one who said it was a curse! It was you! Not Vitara - you!”

“Because it was a curse!” Kaja snapped back. “Nothing in existence could stop your shaking, so it had to be a curse!”

“True.” One of the men agreed. “If you weren’t cursed and foul, would the soldiers have come here to arrest you?”

The rest of the villagers murmured in agreement.

Major Verran, maintaining his professional demeanor, ignored them and addressed Lida once more. “Miss Wessler, cursed or not, I must insist that you come with us.”

But Lida could no longer listen. She snapped. “Screw all of you! And screw your precious Vitara! Vitara this, Vitara that. You tortured me all my life because you blindly believed what Kaja told you! Can you even make a decision on your own, or will Vitara always dictate your every move? The village has been overrun with swamps for decades because you all refuse to clear them with magic out of dumb superstition. You’d rather we all die here in these conditions, all for the glory of your so-called great Vitara!”

The villagers gasped at her blasphemous words. “Heretic!” they shouted, and some began throwing stones at her. The collective rage of the villagers built up, and even Lida’s parents joined in, hurling rocks at their daughter. Some of the rocks hit her body, a smaller one even hit her face, and she could feel blood rushing down her cheek. The soldiers immediately tried to intervene, stepping in to stop the violence. Major Verran raised his voice above the chaos, trying to restore order. “Citizens, stand down! She is under arrest and will face justice. You have no need to worry – she will be dealt with according to the law!”

But the villagers were beyond reason, their fury consuming them. No words could calm them as some pushed through the soldiers. They reached the kneeling Lida and kicked her mercilessly, the soldiers barely able to contain them. Quickly it all descended into pure violence as more villagers joined in, some turning their anger toward the soldiers for protecting her, as they tried to hold the mob back. Lida was struck multiple time – her face, her body – all of it was a blur of pain. Summoning what little strength she had, she broke free from the crowd and ran toward the forest swamps.

Major Verran called after her, his voice sharp. “Lida Wessler, stop!” But she didn’t look back; she kept running.

Frustrated and desperate to regain control, he raised his hand to the sky, summoning his fire magic, releasing a powerful surge of flame that shot upward, illuminating the night’s sky. “Enough!” he roared, his voice booming over the now terrified crowd. Their violence ceased at once and they grew silent and uneasy.

With the villagers subdued, Major Verran turned and tried to pursue Lida, but the mayor stepped in, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. “Major, it’s too dangerous to go there right now.” He urged. “The swamps are treacherous, especially at these hours. She made her choice…and the swamps will surely claim her life.”

***

Lida ran without stopping, never looking back. All the money she had collected over the past five years was left in Kaja’s house, but she knew she could never go back for it - not now, not ever. They would kill her if she returned.

Relying on her extensive knowledge of the swamps, she navigated the troublesome terrain even as night began to fall. With only her memory and the sliver of moonlight filtering through the trees to guide her, she pushed forward. She exhaled heavily as fatigue set in, her body aching. Blood trickled down her forehead, seeping into her eyes, blurring her vision.

"Cloud!" she shouted, calling out to her friend. "Where are you?" But he didn't respond.

Then, a strange sound reached her ears – a beastly hum unlike anything she had ever heard before in the swamps. No animal or creature she had encountered here made such primal, otherworldly noises. And there was light - pulsating red light emanating from the distance. It beckoned to her, and despite her better judgement, she found herself drawn toward it.

After a few minutes of walking, her bare feet were cold, full of mud, and torn from the sharp rocks and thorny underbrush she had stumbled upon in the dark. Her soles ached with each step, but she continued until finally, she reached the source of the light.

Before her stood a large sword, driven deep into the swampy ground. Even with its edge buried, the hilt rose to her eye level. It was forged from some black metal, the pommel glinting faintly in the red light that pulsed from the blade. But it was the blade itself that captured her attention. In addition to the fearsome red glow it was pulsating, it was covered by something that resembled metallic leaves – yellow, almost gold in color. These leaves wrapped around the blade, running along its entire length, as if protecting it. They were sharp and angular, giving the sword an unnatural appearance. The red glow resembled a beating heart, and it almost felt as if the sword was alive, like it was breathing.

“Aren’t you the most unlucky wench in the world?” an almost beast-like voice called out to her.

Startled, Lida’s eyes snapped to the source of the voice. Only then did she notice the figure kneeling in the swamp beside the sword, their hands moving purposefully through the murky water, as if searching for something.

As she continued to watch the person in silence, her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, revealing more details. The figure, with their back to her, was human-like, clad in black armor that appeared to be broken in several places – one of the shoulder guards was missing, as if it had been ripped off entirely, and the back of the armor was pierced in multiple spots, with blood still trickling from the holes. The helmet was also damaged on the right side, allowing long dark hair to spill out from underneath. But something else caught her eye…was that a horn protruding from their head? And from their lower back, was that…a tail?

“Gotcha!” The figure exclaimed suddenly. Startled, Lida lost her footing and fell backward. But the figure wasn’t even addressing her. They had pulled a szuzha out of the swamp water, holding the creature in their right hand, seemingly unfazed by the sharp blades covering its body. Then, in an act that defied all reason, they brought the szuzha closer to their mouth and took a bite out of it. The sound of crunching blades filled the air as the person chewed, before they proceeded to suck down the szuzha in one long, smooth motion, sighing in satisfaction afterward.

Lida was terrified. She didn’t know what to do. She escaped the villagers who wished death upon her, only to stumble upon this figure – whoever or whatever the were, they were definitely not human.

The figure turned its head slightly, revealing just one eye to Lida. Her heart stopped as she saw it – the entire eyeball was pitch black, with only a red pupil glinting in the center. The only light around came from the red glow of the blade, but Lida was certain the figure’s skin wasn’t human, it was dark blue. Even more terrifying than the eye was their jaw – the teeth were massive, still covered in the szuzha’s blood. The figure rose up from the swamp, turning to Lida before removing their broken helmet and tossing it aside, revealing a face that was both a human female and something else.

“You look terrible.” The figure said, their voice eerie calm. “What happened to you?”

“I – I – They – I – “ Lida stammered, her words faltering as she struggled to speak in the presence of such a creature. She could already guess what they were, though it didn’t make sense based on what she knew. But then again, what else could they be?

“Speak already. I don’t have all day.” The figure snapped, their beast-like voice harsh.

“I-I was driven out of my village. I cursed their goddess, and they attacked me.” She finally managed to say, her heart racing like never before. This was a different kind of fear, something far more primal and consuming.

The figure suddenly laughed, the predatory hum in their voice making the sound both disturbing and skin-crawling. “The world is laughing at me.” they said as their laugh abruptly ceased. “I was going to kill you, but…”

Silence hung between them, until Lida, her heart still gripped with fear for her life, dared to speak. “But?”

“Yes.” The figure replied, a twisted smile playing on their lips. “I have a different idea instead. Do as I say, and I might let you live.”