“When one’s lot in life involves suffering on a regular basis… most people find a way to cope. For some, that might be turning to drink when they had spare money, where they could drink themselves silly and lament their woes without getting into trouble.

More commonly however, was for people to designate other people in more unfortunate circumstances as worse and lower than themselves, then use their perceived upper hand to step on those people. The lives of such people were more often than not a living hell, and all for just a petty reason.

Because some people could only feel better then they see others being more miserable than themselves.” - Saying Attributed to the Silver Maiden.

“So… you’re saying I’m already dead?” asked Celia while they walked towards the main road the next day. Aideen had spent some time to explain to the girl about her current condition while they walked, as she figured it would be better for Celia to come to terms with it sooner rather than later. “Guess that explained why I sorta felt something was off with my body.”

“You’re taking these news better than I had expected,” admitted Aideen to the younger woman. She felt some sense of responsibility for Celia, as it was after all, a confluence of coincidences that led to her current state as an Unliving.

When Aideen considered the other woman’s pitiful condition during the time she rescued her, Aideen knew that if she had been later by a few days then Celia would likely have embraced death and the oblivion it brought. The only reason she had not was due to luck.

Luck that the bandits happened to stake out that particular road on that particular day, and for some of them to talk about the captive they had in front of Aideen. Then it was some more luck that one of them was intimidated enough to lead her straight to their camp in time for Aideen to rescue Celia before she lost all will to live.

Had she taken another road, or maybe delayed her travels by a day or two, or the bandits happened to be tight-lipped that day, then chances were that Celia would be gone in a few days. As such, Aideen felt somewhat responsible for the woman whose life she had saved by coincidence.

“I mean… it’s not as bad as it could be, no?” asked Celia with some doubt in her voice. The younger woman looked at Aideen as she walked, and thought for a moment. Aideen had long divulged her own identity to the younger woman, so Celia knew that she was a fellow Unliving. “I don’t feel bad I guess, and as you said… you’ve been one as well for… what was it again?”

“A little over two centuries.”

“Right. I don’t know about you, Miss, but for us peasants who used to have to toil for our living day in and day out… the idea of being… well… immortal and eternally young is like a dream come true, you know?” said Celia with some awe in her voice. “No, rather, it was more like something we never even dared to dream about. Even if it comes with the cost of dying first many would have given their everything for something like this.”

Aideen was somewhat surprised to hear that, but soon after, she realized that it was mostly a difference in upbringing and views on the undead, which they as Unliving technically were. She was born in a land plagued by necromancers in every direction, and had been raised to see undead as a bad thing before.

On the other hand, lands that give rise to natural undead seemed rare in Alcidea, and as such there were few legends about them. Naturally, not many had much opinions about the matter either, and while necromancers were not unheard of, they were not reviled or villainized either.

There were far fewer of powerful necromancers in the northern continent compared to the south of course, but then Aideen remembered how children of royal families from the north had come to Ptolodecca to learn from her Grandpa Aarin, as Ginnie had mentioned.

“Makes sense if you viewed it that way, I guess,” said Aideen to Celia after the thought passed. “So, what’s your plan after this? I can bring you over to your home village if you want.”

“I don’t think there’d be any place left for me there,” said Celia with a sorrowful sigh. “I’ve seen how they treat women who were taken against their will there. One of my childhood friends was violated by a passing knight once.”

“What happened then?”

“They forcefully made her into one of the bastard’s mistresses,” replied Celia with some obvious hatred in her voice. “From what rumors I heard, he abused her and even traded her around with his friends to toy with. She couldn’t take it anymore and committed suicide two years later.”

“Oh…”

“With me and grandpa disappearing for so long, the landlord would likely have sent someone to take over the land and house we lived on. Everyone would also have their guesses as to what happened to us,” she added with a shaky, but determined tone. “So no, I don’t think there’d be anything left for me over there. If possible, I’d just like to visit to see if the new tenant took care of the old horse we usually had on the plow, but that’d probably be it.”

“And after that?”

“I honestly don’t know, Miss,” answered Celia with a shake of her head. “But then again, I guess now I have an eternity to find out, won’t I?”

“True,” said Aideen, who gained some fondness for the younger woman. She had bounced back to her feet remarkably fast for someone in her situation, which was a surprise. The experiences she had been through would have broken most in her stead, but her coming to terms with… everything that happened to her was something admirable. “You can come along with me on my trip if you like. Though mind you, I’d be heading for uncharted lands next.”

“That sounded like a better option than any other I have at the moment,” admitted Celia honestly. “I guess I’ll take that offer then. Thank you, Miss.”

“You’re welcome, and just call me Aideen.”