Vignette

At the break of dawn, when people were still silhouettes, a scout delivered news to Vignette. Hearing it, she could only shake her head with a sorrowful expression.

*

‘Good morning, elder Vignette,’ a man greeted her. He strained a smile at her, trying his best to carry onward.

‘Good morning, elder Vignette,’ came another greeting from a woman. She forced a smile. Her body was famished thin.

Vignette walked slowly through the village with her old legs. Her back had stooped to age and her cane knocked along the road with each step she took.

She received many greetings from the villagers; each of them doing their best to smile at her. At the sight, Vignette too had to smile back at them, even when she had difficulties to. Her hand went to her heart to ease the ache she felt.

A mother with a baby came out from a hut. Her cheeks were sunk and her skin was pale. She approached Vignette with frail steps.

‘Elder,’ her voice was weak, tears welled in her eyes, ‘will everything be alright?’

‘I’ve sent a letter asking for help,’ Vignette answered. She took a look at the baby in her hand and touched his cheek with her bony finger. The little one grabbed her finger with his small hand.

‘But there’s still no help,’ the mother shed a tear.

The baby, seeing his mother, went into a wailing cry.

Vignette touched the mother’s hand. ‘Help will come.’

‘Will it really?’

‘Yes. I promise you that. Until then, I need you to remain strong. If it’s hard, I will help you as best as I can. Could you promise me to remain strong? For yourself and your child too?’

The mother wiped her tears and nodded.

Vignette gave her shoulder a pat. ‘Good.’

*

Stab!

There was a target hung on a tree and arrows had hit everywhere but the center.

Stab! An arrow hit the edge.

The training ground at one outskirt of the village was desolate and empty, save for one person who was practicing the bow. She felt vexed after missing, but she would take an arrow and shoot again.

Stab! The arrow hit the target, but not the center.

‘Have you forgotten how to hold the bow?’ Vignette stepped into the training ground; her cane knocked on the dry dirt as she did. ‘Or are you having stupid reasons to hold the bow with your right hand?’

Kayla glanced to see Vignette. ‘Gran,’ she nodded.

She took an arrow from her quiver and shot at the target.

Stab! Didn’t hit the center.

‘Answer me,’ Vignette pursued.

‘It’s a stupid reason,’ she admitted. She took another arrow and shot.

Stab! Not center.

Vignette sighed and shook her head. ‘At least this one is ordinary stupid. You haven’t gone to the forest, have you?’

Kayla set her bow down. Her black eyes looked at Vignette. ‘No.’

Vignette casted a doubtful glance at her. ‘It’s dangerous there.’

‘I know.’ Kayla passed the bow to her left hand. She took an arrow and pulled the string with her right hand.

‘A village has been destroyed by the monster.’

Stab! Dead on center.

Kayla let a moment pass, absorbing what she heard. ‘Which?’

‘The one inside the forest.’

‘… Sorry to hear. The head of that village was your friend, wasn’t he?’

‘Yes.’ Vignette glanced at the blue sky with sadness in her wrinkled face. She then looked at Kayla again. ‘Our village doesn’t know of this news yet. Don’t spread it.’

‘Why tell me then?’

‘To prevent you from doing stupid things like possibly attempting to hunt the monster. I know you’re stupid enough to think of it, Kayla.’

‘The Agents you speak of will be too late.’

‘They won’t. The person I’m contacting is your late father’s disciple. She will come here. You better not do stupid things until then, you hear me?’

‘I hear you clearly,’ was her answer.