???’s POV

I feel cold. I don’t know how long I have been here. Walking in this hazy dark maze of black. The floor is made of shiny black tiles with some odd dark mist rising from it. The crystal like walls move and shake by themselves constantly changing shape. There is no light but somehow I can tell how things look like.

Somehow I can tell none of this is real. I am aware this is some kind of odd dream but I am unable to wake up. So all I can do is wander around in this place. Sometimes I feel pain coming from all over my body but I can’t do anything about it. However, recently something changed.

There is this thing that has been accompanying me. It looks like a gray haze that is constantly changing shape. Most of the time it doesn’t even look like anything but sometimes, it looks like a human girl. When that happens I feel strange. It’s as if I am scared but happy at the same time. I don’t understand exactly what is going on with me but at least, I don’t feel as lonely anymore.

I have tried to talk to it but that thing didn’t react at all. I also tried touching it and when I did a sharp pain ran all over my body. When the pain was finally gone that thing was also gone. It took a while until it reappeared. I can’t tell how long it took to reappear. After all, there is no sun or moon in here, much less a shift in brightness, everything is extremely monotonous.

Now something else is happening. Something new and somewhat scary. Two lights appeared in front of me and that hazy thing. One with a beautiful golden colour that reminded me of the sun. The other a beautiful silver like the light of the moon. Both darted towards us before colliding onto us.

The golden light hit that hazy thing, soon after it looked weakened and almost in pain. The silver light, on the other hand, went inside me and made me feel rejuvenated. My body felt lighter and the pain I didn’t even know I had been feeling disappeared. However, I couldn’t be happy.

My instincts told me that that hazy thing was dangerous, yet it also told me to cherish it. As time went by I saw it weakening more and more, looking as if it would disappear at any moment now. I couldn’t take it. That thing had been the only company I had in a long time. I didn’t want to let it disappear like that. Even though I knew what I was thinking wasn’t a good idea I did it anyway. I walked forward and hugged that thing.

Pain shot through my body as it screamed at me to let go. Even so, I didn’t want to. After a while the pain subsided, and that hazy thing was gone too. However, I couldn’t help but feel like it wasn’t gone. Almost as if it had become a part of me instead. That thought brought joy to my heart for an unknown reason. After that experience my eyelids feel heavy, so I closed my eyes.

When I opened my eyes again I felt a bit dizzy, but I could still recognize the roof I was currently looking at. Wooden planks haphazardly placed together to form a cover for this little hut. Brother and I worked hard to make it before I fell sick. My body feels weak and it hurts a little bit. I am guessing it has been a long time since last time I was awake.

Looking around I saw someone I didn’t know. An elf with a pair of carmine red eyes. Such an odd eye color for elves. Not to mention her skin is extremely pale looking almost sickly. Her getup is a maid dress that looks a bit worn and dirty. I wonder who she is.

I wanted to open my mouth to ask but only a hoarse squick came out before pain assaulted my vocal cords. The next moment someone else dashed in front of me with a worried expression. At first I thought it was my brother but I couldn’t be more wrong.

In front of me were a pair of extremely beautiful crimson eyes. glossy platinum silver hair that made me want to caress it. Pure white skin like snow devoid of any imperfection like a porcelain doll. Thin pink lips that made me feel things I couldn’t understand. Her face held beauty like I had never seen or imagined before.

I could feel my body freeze as I didn’t know what to do. Yet my entire body felt afire with an unknown desire. My dizziness only grew as my mind razed to try and guess who could this stranger me. That’s when she spoke. Her words made my heart flutter and my body shiver as I tried my best to understand their meaning.

“You are finally awake. I am glad”

The smile she sent my way made me feel as if I was glancing at the sun. To radiant to bare yet too stunning to look away. I moved unconsciously, wanting to know if she was real. Before I realized I had placed my right hand on her cheek. It felt cold to the touch yet warm to my soul. Her cheeks flushed a rosy shade and only then did I come to my senses.

“S-sorry”

Withstanding the pain of speaking my hoarse voice came out. However at that moment her worried expression came again. Who could this stranger be to be so worried about me? Not to mention she looks about my age as well.

“Mia, please bring some water. Afterwards please go out and try and buy some soup please”

With that order the elf maid left with a nod. Soon after she brought the water and left again. With a lot of care the silver haired girl fed me the water. I didn’t understand why but I felt a bit embarrassed from being nursed by her. I tried to say thanks but.

“Don’t talk. Your body isn’t back to health yet. I don’t want you to hurt your voice by talking”

Her way of talking wasn’t all that gentle. It felt somewhat tyrannical and demanding. Even so I didn’t care. I understood that she was caring for me and somehow this was her way of showing it. So I decided to do as she told me and just gave the smallest of nods.

Afterwards silence fell as we stole glances at each other. I didn’t understand why she looked at me. I mean, I can tell I look like a skeleton right now. My hair must be a complete mess not to mention I must smell really bad. Even so, every time she glanced at me a warm smile flourished on her. Each time this happened I felt my heart jump. Then suddenly.

“Uhm, c-can I touch your ears? No you know what, for get I said anything”

She looked extremely nervous when saying that. As for me, I felt my heart skip a bit when those words fell. My hand moved unconsciously and took hers. She didn’t resist otherwise in my weak state there is no way I could pull on it. Yes, that is what I did, I pulled her hand towards my head.

For us beast-kin our ears and tails are a symbol of pride. We would never let anyone touch them unless they are close family or a lover. However, I felt it was alright to let her touch. My instincts told me so.

Like her cheek her hand is cold to the touch but brought a strange warmth to my heart. When she slowly caressed my ears a pleasant feeling ran through my body. It somewhat reminded me of when mother used to brush my hair, ears and tail. However, it also felt very different. My body couldn’t help but heat up and shiver under her touch. Before I knew it a small moan escaped my mouth.

“Sorry, sorry, I did too much”

She looked flustered as her hands left my ears. I didn’t know where that moan came from. What I did know was that the feeling of her touch was intoxicating and I wanted more. My head was all fuzzy and all I wanted was to cuddle and caress her silver hair while she played with my ears and tail.

Soon enough I came to my senses and my indecent thoughts brought me a massive wave of embarrassment. I felt my cheeks heat up and I bet my face was as bright as a tomato. I didn’t even know this girl’s name yet I wanted to do something so intimate with her.

“Master, I have brought what you asked”

Thankfully, at that moment the elf made came in with a bowl of soup. My relief didn’t last long as the silver haired girl began feeding me gently. The soup wasn’t that good but each bite brought joy and embarrassment to my heart. I felt happy. Yes, I felt really happy, I hadn’t been happy ever since mom and dad died.

“My name is Aurora”

After I finished eating I gave my name in the hope that that girl would introduce herself as well. My throat didn’t hurt as much anymore and my voice wasn’t as hoarse as well.

“Aurora, that is a beautiful name. Mine is Lilith, it’s a pleasure to meet you”

My heart fluttered when she complimented my name and it did so even more when she gave me hers. I felt as if her name had been imprinted on my heart and soul, never to be forgotten.

“Well Aurora, you should rest. We will be taking our leave now. However, if you want to find us we are staying at the tiger den’s inn room thirteen”

When she said they were leaving my heart ached but at least with the direction I could go visit her again. I don’t know if I should. After all I am a dirty slum girl, even so my instincts, heart and soul demanded me to do so.