Peter blinked to adjust the light coming into his eyes. The sound of water droplets sounded resounding, making the atmosphere feel calm. The cold air and damp ground beneath him made the boy wonder in his mind where he was. He tried to move his arms and legs, which felt stiff and numb.

The last thing in his memory was a mysterious girl with a bamboo stick in her mouth.

Are Borin and Anna safe? Where are they? Asked Peter in his head. He rolled his eyes to capture the surroundings. Stalactite rocks that hang above the ceiling looked blurry since his eyes had not adapted optimally just yet.

Soon, Peter realized he was in a cave. Sunlight was the only source of light. It penetrated through the gaps amongst tendrils at the mouth of the cave. The boy then groaned as he tried to stretch his muscles.

“Are you awake?” Peter immediately recognized the voice he had just heard as Anna’s. After exerting almost all of his strength, he managed to move his stiff neck. His eyes stared at the source of the voice that had just greeted him.

“Yes, it seems so.” A hoarse voice escaped his parched throat.

Anna then scooped up a puddle of water in a rock crevice. She bent her palm to form a bowl-like shape, whispered a line of incantations, and handed it to Peter’s mouth.

“What’s this?” Peter thought she was giving him another potion.

“A plain water,” said Anna. “I just refined it using a little magic.”

Peter felt his throat getting better soon after drinking. He thanked Anna and looked around. Borin was still lying unconscious nearby.

“Where is this?” asked Peter.

“I don’t know. It seems like someone brought us here,” said Anna. “I too just woke up not long before you.” The girl sat while hugging her knees. They were silent for a few moments.

“So, why didn’t you use your spell earlier?” asked Peter. He wanted to know more about spells and mages, hoping it can help unravel the mystery of his father’s death.

Anna looked deep into Peter’s eyes like she was looking for something there. A moment later, she looked away and said, “I can’t. I only master healing spells and potions. Fighting is not my magic expertise.”

“Ooh…” Peter nodded in understanding. “Then why do you have to keep this ability a secret?” He felt that one’s strengths should not be covered up.

“My mother advised me to hide it from strangers as much as possible. Some people hate mages, while others may have bad intentions and just want to take advantage of my abilities.”

Peter couldn’t disagree. He understood the message. A young girl like Anna is very easy to take advantage of by bad people.

“Then why did you help us?” asked Peter again. “That would reveal your secret, wouldn’t it?”

“Well, it’s because you don’t seem like a bad person.” Anna smiled and continued, “My mother taught me that my ability is a gift. Although many people have evil intentions, that shouldn’t make me selfish and unwilling to help others, just to cover up my abilities. She wants me to keep helping those in need. In a way that is not too prominent, since it can bring danger to me.”

“Your mother was a wise person,” said Peter. “Where is she now?”

Peter’s question changed Anna’s mood of a sudden. She sighed while casting her gaze across the mossy cave walls. Shortly after, her eyes started to look watery.

“Sorry… I didn’t mean to make you sad again.” Seeing Anna’s reaction, Peter became clumsy and awkward. He understood Anna had a terrible past.

“It’s okay… I suppose. I should get stronger by trying to accept reality,” said Anna while lowering her head. She was silent for a few moments, trying to muster the courage to recall the terrible events that had happened to her in the past.

“My mother died a few months ago.” The words finally slipped out of his mouth.

Then she silenced again.

Anna’s breath was getting heavier in Peter’s ears. He felt sucked into the atmosphere of grief that surrounded his interlocutor. There was no other sound besides Anna’s sobs, which were heart-wrenching.

“She… she was murdered viciously….” After saying that, she couldn’t hold back anymore. She covered her face with both hands, but her shaking body was a clear sign she was crying. Her mother’s mournful screams when her body was pierced by a sword resounded clearly in Anna’s head.

Peter could see the sadness was so real. Although it wasn’t his experience, his heart ached like it was being sliced into pieces. He hugged Anna, hoping to strengthen her.

For a few moments, the two drowned in sadness. Peter could feel the rhythm of Anna’s ragged breaths through her back which moving up and down. “You don’t have to continue your story.” Peter could not bear to see Anna, who was so lost in misery.

“P-please don’t stop me. Help me. I have to overcome my past,” Anna replied with her breaths shaky. She tried hard to stay strong, making Peter could only wait in silence.

Anna cried for quite a while. She took a few more breaths before finally being able to calm down.

“After killing my mother, they sold me into slavery.” Although still interspersed with sobs, her voice sounded clearer. “Miss Gladys bought me despite they sold me quite high. She also treats me well. I can understand that she sometimes acts like a spoiled girl. She is a noble princess, though.”

“I owe her my life.” Anna stared at the mouth of the cave. “I don’t know what happened to her now. Is she still alive?” she asked herself. “We have to go help him.” The girl was now looking at Peter with reddish eyes, begging him to help save Gladys.

“Of course.” Seeing Anna look so miserable, Peter couldn’t resist. Although he didn’t have any abilities, he was determined to protect the wonderful girl sitting next to him. Peter felt Anna was a special girl. Even without magical abilities, her unselfish demeanor—as well as her gentle yet strong personality—had captured Peter’s heart.

“We’ll leave when Borin wakes up,” said Peter, promising.

“Thank you…” Anna whispered as she rested her head on Peter’s shoulder—making the boy feel his soul tremble with warmth. The girl then closed her eyes, looking exhausted after struggling with her own emotions.

Not long after, Borin came to his senses and jumped in surprise. “Where am I?!” The boy gazed around the cave. He calmed down after seeing Peter and Anna were fine there.

“You’ve been sleeping for so long. I thought you were dead earlier,” said Peter, making Borin couldn’t help but frown.

“If I die, I’ll haunt you!” said Borin in response to Peter’s mockery. Anna couldn’t help but smile at the two boys.

“I’m hungry. Let’s go out to find some food.” Borin stood up and prepared to walk outside the cave.

At that moment, a strange female appeared there. Her skin was an exotic brown and her hair was long and black. Her eyes were large, while her eyebrows and lips are thick. She wore a brown sleeveless dress with a headband decorated with bird feathers.

“She’s the one who caught us!” said Peter. He immediately charged and attacked the girl. Unexpectedly, the girl was able to dodge swiftly. Peter staggered, losing his balance from hitting only empty air.

“Don’t worry, I’m not your enemy.” The girl said as she shifted away from Peter.

“Then why did you anesthetize us?” Peter’s eyes widened in anger.

“I just wanted to save you,” said the girl. “They’ll catch you if I don’t hide you here.”

“Who exactly are you? Aren’t you one of them?” asked Borin.

“Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything.” The girl then sat near the wall of the cave opening. She let Peter and Borin sat before starting to speak.

“My name is Susan, a villager of the Amui tribe. I’m sorry that I had to bring you here. I did this to protect you from the other villager.”

“What are they going to do to us?” asked Borin.

“They will make you a sacrifice to the god. Just as they will do with your two friends.”

“Oh, no…” Anna whispered as she covered her mouth. Her eyes widened in fear, while Peter and Borin could only stare in horror.

“The offering of human sacrifice is our customary ritual as a tribute to the gods.”

“Then why did you save us? You don’t know us at all,” asked Peter.

“Because I think the ritual is very vile. My grandmother had been sacrificed a year ago. They usually choose strangers or old people as a sacrifice. Since then, I have been trying to end this tradition.” Susan took a deep breath, pausing her explanation.

“However, most of the villagers don’t agree with me. For some reason, they consider this human killing under the guise of ‘sacrifice’ as something normal.” Susan looked at Peter, Anna, and Borin in turn. “They say if we stop sending sacrifices, a terrible disaster will befall the entire village.” The tribal girl sighed in exasperation.

“There is only one friend of mine willing to support. However, just the two of us against the entire villagers won’t work. Therefore, I hope you will help me end this ritual.”

Peter, Borin, and Anna nodded. They now understand Susan’s reason for taking them to this cave. The three were silent for a moment to digest what they had just heard.

“Alright, for now, I trust you.” Peter realized that there wasn’t much choice. “Then what should we do?” he asked further.

Susan was silent for a moment before finally answering. “I don’t know either.”

Susan’s answer suddenly made the rest stupefied. “What do you mean? If you don’t know what to do, then what about us?” Borin expressed his astonishment.

“Hmm… it would be too long if I had to explain everything now. Since there will be a sacrifice ceremony in the village square tomorrow night. I think it’s better for you guys to observe first. We will discuss what steps to take later.”

“But are they going to kill Miss Gladys?” Anna sounded worried.

“Don’t worry, they won’t be killed at that moment. Your friend will be delivered to god. The god is the one who will determine their next fate. Remember, don’t be seen by the villagers or they will catch you too.”

Peter, Borin, and Anna nodded in agreement. They had no choice but to follow Susan’s advice—a girl they had just met.

“Okay, I have to go. I can’t stay here too long.” After that, Susan left the cave, leaving Peter, Anna, and Borin in their confusion.