“Sa-sacrificed? What do you mean?" Adriel asked frantically. He wasn't stupid, he knew what the girl meant even without further explanation, but his heart refused to admit it. He didn't want to believe that something like that still existed.

Unfortunately, one defeated look from the girl confirmed his fears. Adriel physically deflated and slumped next to the unknown girl. “What's wrong with us? Why do we always encounter unexpected situations?” he asked no one in particular and just stared ahead blankly.

“This was not a planned trip on an unfamiliar path. What did you expect?" Meyara just shrugged her shoulders. Didn't seem worried in the least because she probably didn't care that much for the girl. "I'm sorry. We are in a hurry. Whatever your problem, I hope you can find a solution really soon.”

"Sacrifice has always been a solution for our society," the girl answered while sobbing. "I just need to be quiet and surrender because everything is for Glimmerwall's good."

“Glimmerwall?” Meyara's eyes lit up a little when she heard the name of the village. “You're from Glimmerwall? Is it true that your people are holding back a dragon that can bring good luck to those who deserve it? Have you seen the dragon's power for yourself?”

Meyara inquired, digging for every piece of information she wanted to know. Her face brightened even more when she got the opportunity to confirm the facts she knew from every book she had read. The sudden urge made her body move on its own. She ended up gripping the girl's shoulders too hard without realizing it.

“Wow! Wait a minute, Meyara!” Adriel stepped forward and stretched one hand between Meyara and the girl, trying to put some distance between them. He stared disapprovingly at his friend. "You just said that we don't have time for this. Then why are you asking those questions to this poor child? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?”

"Ashamed?" Meyara huffed in annoyance. “Why should I be ashamed of myself? I’m just asking!"

"Yeah. As if what you did wasn't just a selfish act. You didn't even try to understand this girl's situation when she clearly asked for our help, and just went ahead to get what you needed from her!"

Meyara pressed her lips into a thin line. Words didn't come out of her mouth for a while, and she just watched as Adriel crouched in front of the girl and began to speak in the softest voice she had ever heard from the young man. Adriel treated every wound on the girl's face gently and carefully while listening to the girl's story. There was something warm and heartfelt in the scene unfolding before her eyes, and her heart ached for a reason she could not grasp yet.

She focused on what Adriel said and how every word in it had successfully hit the bull’s eye. They should have made her stop what she was doing, or at least feel guilty about it. However, Glimmerwall had something that Meyara had always wanted to know. She would not back down for anything.

"Okay. You know me well, so I won't try to defend myself. But you should know that this time, I was thinking about Warren too.” Meyara explained, hoping she could convince Adriel that selfishness wasn't the only trait she had. “The sooner I become my old self, the better our chances of saving Warren. And if the dragon thing turns out to be true, we won't need anything else.”

“But what if there’s no dragon?” Adriel looked at Meyara accusingly. “Are we still going to help them?”

"Well, we have to observe the situation first."

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“Meyara ….”

"It’s true."

Both Adriel and Meyara whipped their heads towards the girl in sync. They should have seemed comical if only they were in a slightly better situation.

"Which one is true? Wait. What did I say?" Excitement bubbling up in Meyara’s chest all of a sudden, she couldn’t even think clearly. "Please tell me the dragon is right. That's all I need to know."

Adriel was about to protest but the unknown girl beat him. Her condition had improved after he treated her because she was now standing in balance. Her eyes seemed to look more alert than when she was first found.

However, the change in position made Meyara realize how small the girl was. Her head barely reached Meyara's shoulders and her limbs were so thin, her steps staggered like a toddler. Barefoot, she stepped closer to Meyara with far more courage than her small body could contain.

“Whatever you know about my village, I believe it is all true. Glimmerwall people used to brag about all our possessions. It’s no surprise that the whole world knows about the treasure we protect all our lives.” The girl said confidently. However, she was only able to stand for a moment before finally falling again with a muffled cry. Gripping her middle tightly. “T-That dragon is also right. To it my family will be sacrificed.”

Meyara covered her gasping mouth in disbelief. Adriel mirrored her expression almost exactly. Neither of them knew what to expect in this situation, but the truth of the story they initially thought was just a legend certainly took them by surprise.

“I want to tell you more about this,” the girl was still hissing in pain so her sentences were occasionally cut off, “but we don't have much time. Please, come with me. My … my family might still be saved if we hurry.”

"But what can we do?" Meyara asked. “If it's some kind of tradition, aren't outsiders like us unable to interfere?”

“We can think about it on the way.” Adriel interrupted. Without further ado, he lifted the girl onto his back after he moved their bags to his front. “Show me the direction to your village now. If we run as hard as we can, maybe we'll reach it before sunset.”

Many protests and questions burned Meyara's tongue. But she couldn't let them out because Adriel was running so fast, she was almost unable to catch up with him. She groaned internally. The only thing that kept her from hitting Adriel square on the head was her curiosity about Glimmerwall and the urgency in this situation.

Meyara also felt a little suspicious about the presence of the girl who suddenly appeared near them and invited their pity. All these coincidences were too strange to ignore. Therefore, she kept a close eye on the suspicious girl. Staying on high alert, and trying to make sure there was no funny business involved in this whole ordeal.

Their journey was more difficult than they had imagined. They had to climb several cliffs which were not too high but slippery enough to make them fall several times. Taking two steps only to take one step back. Countless cuts and bruises decorated their bodies, but they did not treat them because they chose to save a stock of potions for more critical situations.

"So … because of the earthquake, you fell off one of the cliffs and ended up where we found you earlier?" Adriel asked amidst irregular breathing. The girl nodded against his back.

"But what did you do alone?" Meyara interrupted. “Did you run away while you and your family is about to be sacrificed?”

"No. I’m not qualified to be sacrificed because of my shortcomings. Those who are sacrificed may be weak and sick, but they must be perfect physically.” The girl sounded so hurt when she said this. Meyara didn't miss the way she glanced at her missing hand. “I hope they also choose me so I can be with my family even in hell. I was just frustrated and didn't know what to do, so I ran to the cliff outside Glimmerwall and was about to ….”

The girl stopped talking then, but neither Adriel nor Meyara needed to listen any longer to know what she wanted to say. Especially Meyara, who had similar thoughts before. She also almost gave up on life, but she was lucky enough to rediscover her new reason to continue living.

And maybe she could help the little girl find her reason too.

A sharp scream pulled her out of her thoughts and she stood there without blinking, gaping at what was happening in front of them.

***