Even now she can still remember, the time when the elder of her tribe had given her a task to go to the outside world – to search about his vision of a certain element, an element that might become a foundation for the next calamity he prophesized. Just as her role in the tribe as one of the priestesses, she paid heed to his request and made her travels to the human world.

Her parents were so proud back then, they have seen her not a girl but a capable woman who bears a mighty fate, but they don’t know how deeply unwilling she is to this request. She only accepted it for her parents to not lose face in front of the council, especially to her father. He’s proud as a lion, never once he had thought her to show any kind of remorse, only a heart of steel could protect her from her enemies. Even now, she could still remember the hard whip from his wooden sword hitting on her back – to her jaw – and her frail arms during the daytime.

She misses the wind fluttering the leaves as it traveled through the woods, wandering from south to west while she and her friends would play and swim in the river. It’s so sad that now she had to travel alone and had to take care of herself.

She traveled in the woods for months, she had faces and defeat countless monsters on her way. Even she is a priestess, her father didn’t want her to be weak. He always thought her that normalizing is something that is not a good thing for the community. It is a parasite he said, a parasite that poisons minds, disabling to move forward, hindering the evolution.

One should not stop searching just because the once insatiable desire has been fed up. Being content with what you’ve gained would open you to vulnerability. Exploring and being open-minded would lead to more prosperity – not in wealth but intelligence.

They didn’t give her enough concrete plan on what she should do, not anything else but to disguise as a human and join a guild to travel around the world to be their eyes and ears to this world. However, it was not that simple, she was unlucky as she stumbled upon this group of hunters that enslaved her. She was held captured for months; she can still remember back then – those lustful – unforgiving eyes like a wild animal – allured by her beauty, bothered her most of the time. It seems that fate is not that kind to her.

She was put under the spell of chains, nullifying her powers, but not entirely, she has still some tricks hidden on her sleeves.

They didn’t stop on their watchful gaze – they even attempt to touch her. She may be ignorant about the outside world, but she’s not dumbed enough to not know what those licentious behaviors and shameless gazes mean.

She was compliant, but not to all their wishes. Whenever they tried to make a move on her – by pinning her alone in an empty room, she would’ve used a spell to put them under her hypnosis – a delusional spell for a delusional person.

She had been held captive for four months, she rarely set foot outside nor she was able to feel the sunlight under her skin. She may be trapped, but she was not alone, not completely at all.

She met these youngsters – children who were held captive for slave selling. She heard of their tales about how rough their life is, the gruesome death of their parents that were robbed of their fortune, about how they were sold by their flesh and blood.

The more stories she had heard, the more her heart grows colder for the men in this world, but that would be imprudent to think so narrowly on one quality they had described. She has not yet completely forgotten her mission, to study the humans, and to find out about what the elder prophesized.

Until now, sadness and hatred bear on her heart coming from their stories. She may not know what other value in this world has, but soon enough her ill feelings will be shook by a certain man.

After she is finally has done helping to deliver the cargos, she was ordered to look on the prisoner, an unpleasant one. It’s been two weeks since he was taken here and all he did was to convince them to retaliate, he must be a fool to not recognize that their soul is broken, but, even though they were treated harshly, they were given the right amount of ration and a bed to sleep. She goes inside the room, but before she goes to pick up the first-aid and the filled bucket – she first arranged each bedsheet of her cellmate.

She never had thought that she would meet a more annoying man than those bastards she despises. At first glance, he seems to be a patient man – who can stand the silence, but whenever he smirks and talk his way out – it’s what makes her annoyed.

She entered the underground dungeon. She carefully walked her way down the old stepping stone. No matter how lower she bent the web always caught her auburn hair, she pulled back and shook off the cobwebs strangled to her body. She gently put down the first aid and the bucket of water on the ground. She quickly removes it and made her way back to the trail. Passing two more right turns – she stopped in front of a door made of wood, it’s not weak, but considerably sturdy enough.

His gaze slowly rose – hearing the creaking sounds. His nose swells smelling the familiar fragrance. The elf casually made her way, but her face – firm just as her personality, or maybe what she would like to show to him, tells that she doesn’t want to be in here.

He must’ve realized by now – that she does not like him. On any occasion, she would’ve muttered seven or nine words. She only came to tend his wounds whenever they had finished torturing him.

“So, just as usual.” He grinds his mouth and spat a tooth along with the blood. He hisses – enduring the throbbing wounds. Blood was being washed along with his profuse sweating. From his back to his chest, to his torso and his legs – was not forgiven by the torturers. Other lacerations might have the chance to heal but the marks will remain for a long time.

She didn’t speak nor show any kind of emotion but inside of her mind, she was disgusted.

Ever since she came here, she only witnessed how these monstrous men hurt one another. They take whatever they want and they hurt who they deemed to see fit to gratify their perverted desires. She embarked on her mind, that all of them, including him – are not capable of helping and showing care to their fellow kind.

“Silent treatment again, huh.” She coldly gazed at him. “Did I tell you my name? I don’t remember.”

She soaked the white towel into the water – squeezing it and came closer to him.

“Hold still.” She emotionlessly said. She kneeled leveling to him.

“Do you know any more words besides ‘Hold still’ or ‘Don’t move’? ‘Cuz I’m pretty sure you’re not an idiot.”

Without holding back, she carelessly washes his wounds removing the dirt. Just like what she said, he tried not to move despite the rough treatment she gave to him, but he couldn’t help it, his wounds were pulsating harder and it hurts more whenever she grazed his wounds. He flinches and shuddered violently.

“Could you do it gently, please?” He pleaded. He tries to make eye contact with her but she rejected it the moment it met.

“You are so harsh, you know that, right?”

Again, she didn’t reply. Instead, she continued to do it, acting more punitively.

“Okay, since you’re not talkative. Just tell me why are you doing this? This harsh treatment? I didn’t do anything wrong to you. Did I piss you off?”

After cleaning his upper body – she goes to grab the first-aid. Drawing out the alcohol and cotton – pouring it and cleaning it to his wounds. The moment it touches, he flinches and he endured it. This pain is only a minority than his previous recollection, it would be shameful to be beaten by this.

“My name is Alastor.” She didn’t look back at him, although, she was surprised that he would willing to give his name to her and not give up any kind of information to his enemies. Why would he do it? His identity means everything to him. She gives him a dubious look.

She looked back and stabbed him with her unwelcoming gaze. “Why did you willingly say your name to me? Aren’t you afraid that they will somehow use that against you?”

“Nah, I assure you. Nothing would come out when they search about me.” He confidently said. “Other than that, I trust you.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I know that you’re gonna help me.”

“How are you so sure?”

“How are you planning to get out of here without leaving those children behind?”

She stopped; her lips were sealed. She is stunned by that realization. For the four months, she has been planning to escape this hell hole along with the children, but no matter what – she finds herself back in the idea that she’s alone and can’t fight without risking or leaving the children, she might die if she ever takes them alone.

“Look, I know a place where they will be safe. A haven where they will be safe and so that they wouldn’t have to be part of this. They will be given a choice, a shelter, clothes, foods, and a life they never had.”

She looked interested in his proposal but her stern gaze remains unchanged.

“Tell me more.”

Alastor looked at the chains wrapping him and back to hers.

“Fine. I’ll help. Only, if you keep your promise.”

“I am a man of my words. I can reassure you; I already have a plan for that -”

He stopped midway as he could hear footsteps, heavy as it echoes across the hall.

“The success rate is low though. I don’t know about this land but you can tell me about this place so that I can make it work.”

The footsteps are coming closer. She had to agree about this or else he would die, other than that she will fail her mission.

“What’s it gonna be?” he asked.

“Fine. I’ll come back eventually.”

“Glad to hear it. I think I’ll survive for a few rounds.”