She stared in shock at the crumpled form, curled sideways on the rocky ground near the river. He did not move. A torn rucksack lay nearby, its contents strewn about the ground. Small droplets of blood dotted the ground around the man’s body.
Her blue eyes cautiously scanning around for any danger, she carefully picked her way through the undergrowth, daring not even to breathe. Assured that the danger had left, she approached the injured man carefully.
He was a decade older than her, at least, and his closed eyes looked tired and worn. His dark hair was unkempt and dirty and matted with blood, and a beard covered his face. One hand clenched his abdomen, blood pooling out between his fingers.
She nudged him gently. “Hello? Are you okay?” Hearing no response from him, she rolled him over to take a better look. He turned easily, and she gasped as she saw that he was missing his left arm, the sleeve hanging loosely. Biting her lip to calm her fear, she examined his shoulder through the thick shirt he wore, searching for signs of what had happened. The arm was simply gone, with no stump or blood that she could feel.
“Must be an old injury, right?” She concluded, mumbling to no one in particular.
The forest seemed unnaturally still, and there was no sound save for the wind rustling against the leaves overhead. The dense fog that once covered the area was nearly fully dissipated as she continued to examine the one-armed man.
She moved his remaining arm away from the source of blood, gently laying it down beside his body. She immediately found the injury: a small gash in his stomach.
“You must have been robbed…” she surmised, searching around nervously for the people responsible. Finding nothing, she stood up. “Stay right here,” she said to the unconscious man on the ground as she and rushed off through the forest.
The water was cool and refreshing as it washed over her bloodied hands, dyeing the water around her a light pink. She scrubbed her hands vigorously as she knelt by the calm river, trying to force the nervous thoughts from her mind. Clean at last, she stood up and turned to look at the man she had found, shaking her hands to dry them. He lay still in the same position she had placed him, comfortably on his back. She sighed to herself as she thought about what she had done for him. Was it going to be enough? Are the stitches okay? She had never stitched anyone up before. According to the book, he could develop bad illnesses or even go into shock for not being treated properly. Had she made the right decision?676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8fNb5jtC2
She bit her lip and closed her eyes to calm her racing mind. She had done exactly as the book said. It would have to be enough.
She looked around at the torn rucksack lying on the ground nearby, surrounded by its contents. Sighing, she leaned over and picked it up, scooping up what she could salvage of the soiled food and dirt-covered clothes and stuffing it back into the old bag. She dropped it unceremoniously beside her medical supplies and a thick leather-bound book, the words “The World of Medicine” embossed into its spine.
She looked back at the injured man once more, brushing the blond bangs out of her eyes. What is an amputee doing out here alone? She wondered. Doesn’t he know how dangerous it is?676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkR35VeeFp
He stirred suddenly, causing her to squeal in fright. He groaned, a grimace of pain flashing across his face as he tried to sit up.
She rushed over to him quickly, kneeling beside him and firmly placing a hand on his chest. “Stop,” she said, “you’re still hurt.”
He looked at her with tired eyes, a look of confusion on his face. “What?” he muttered. He propped himself up on his arm, looking around. “Where am I?”
He spoke quietly and pleasantly, his voice as rich and smooth as the chocolatey colour of his eyes. She smiled at him. “You’re in the Fairy’s Forest,” she explained gently, “I think you were robbed.”
His eyes widened in realization as the memories came flooding back to him. Quickly, he turned over and brought his legs up under him, causing the girl to panic.
“Stop!” she said, trying to move to block him from getting up. “You’re still injured!”
“That doesn’t matter.” He winced as he brought himself to his feet, clutching his abdomen. “Nothing matters. I have to go.”
“Wait!” The girl moved in front of him, trying to hold him back. “You haven’t fully recovered yet! It’s too dangerous!”
The man stopped resisting and looked the young girl over. She looked to be a teenager, but she held herself like she carried the weight of the world. Her long blond hair trailed down over her shoulders, and he saw fear and concern for him behind her blue eyes. She was dressed in a simple gown that looked like it should have been cast aside years ago, and her feet were bare.
“Thank you for saving me,” he said gently, “but the Gods wait for no one. I really have to get going.”
The girl looked up at the sky. “It’ll be dark soon.” She looked her patient in the eyes once more. “At least wait until the morning.”
He sighed, throwing his head back in irritation. “I don’t know if I should.”
“Please?” she begged, “I have food we can eat, and a safe place to sleep! It’ll be fine, I promise!”
He looked her over once more before nodding slowly, unable to deny her logic. “Alright, you win.”
She smiled warmly and bounded over to where her supplies and book was. “Here, this is yours.” She held up the rucksack for him to see.
He chuckled and took it from her, slinging it over his right shoulder. “Thanks. I guess those robbers were upset they didn’t find anything valuable on me, huh?”
“All the effort of stabbing you for nothing,” she joked, standing up straight, the book clutched tightly to her chest.
The two made small talk as they picked their way through the woods. The man was impressed at the way the girl moved through the undergrowth, silently and swiftly choosing her footing despite the thick ferns and weeds that blocked their path. “You’ve been out here a long time, haven’t you?” he remarked as she stopped to wait for him to catch up.
She nodded in response. “I can’t remember how many years it’s been.”
“Why do you live out here? Don’t you have a family?”
The girl looked down at the ground as he approached, and he put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
She continued to walk through the forest without saying another word.
It wasn’t long before they arrived at her camp. A massive fallen tree had been uprooted, leaving a sheltered crater overshadowed by roots. Other trees around had been similarly uprooted or snapped in half, creating a swathe of destruction through the forest.
“This is your camp?” he asked in awe, looking around at the damaged trees.
“Yep! A few days ago, a tornado swept through the area. I think it was magic, though.” She walked to the large fallen tree and jumped down into the crater, emerging a moment later with a small bag. Holding the bag in her teeth, she climbed out of the crater and walked over to the man. “Here.” She said, opening the bag and holding it out for him to see.
“Berries! Nice!” The man reached in and carefully pulled out a small handful, popping one into his mouth. He gave a sigh of satisfaction before gobbling the entire handful.
The girl giggled. “I’m glad you like them.” She sat down on the ground, her back leaning up against the massive tree.
He carefully lowered himself to join her. “They’re amazing. Godly.” He agreed, grabbing more from the bag.
“My name’s Liz, by the way,” she said, offering her hand to him.
“Oh, right!” He hurriedly wiped his hand on his pants before accepting the handshake. “It’s nice to meet you, Liz.”
Liz gave him a look. “Do you have a name?” she asked after an awkward pause.
He leaned his head back against the fallen tree, looking up at the sky. “I did, once.”
“You don’t remember it?”
He chuckled. “No, I definitely remember it.”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9ScGd2Lck
“Then what is it?”676Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOx8hZg019
He met her gaze. She looked annoyed with him. He found himself more hurt by it than he expected to be.
Sighing and looking away, he explained. “You can call me Mist, I guess.”
“Mist?”
“Yeah.”
“But that isn’t your name…”
Mist shifted uncomfortably and saw the pain in her eyes. “Names have a certain quality to them. It is believed that the Gods themselves gift us our names before we are even born, and tell our parents in dreams what to call us. A new life deserves a new name. So, Mist.”
“But why Mist?”
He shrugged with his right shoulder, a strange movement that left Liz wondering why he bothered. “Mist. Sounds like Mystery.” He said dramatically.
Now it was Liz’s turn to look away, brushing the bangs out of her eyes. “Okay, fine. Mist, then.”
There was a painful and prolonged silence as they both ate the berries from the bag. The sun was beginning to set, painting bright colours across the sky. Birds and forest creatures could be heard all around them, and insects buzzed overhead. The whistling wind kept the gnats away from the pair as they sweated with awkwardness.
“Thanks again for saving me. I feel much better now.” Mist said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
Liz shrugged. “It’s what Dad would have done.”
“Oh, is he a healer?”
Liz nodded, trying to fight back tears welling in her eyes. “He was.”
“Oh, right. I’m sorry.”
Another awkward silence followed, and Liz shifted uncomfortably. “What are you even doing out here?” she asked, trying to break the silence.
“I need to go to the Citadel.” He says, leaning his head back against the tree tiredly.
“The Citadel?!” Liz leapt away like a frightened rabbit, staring at Mist with wide eyes. “Why do you need to go there? You’re not an Eyylik! It’s dangerous there!”
He couldn’t help but smile at her reaction. “I know it’s dangerous. The Eyyliks don’t like Humans wandering around in their home. But I don’t have a choice.”
“What do you mean? Everyone has a choice! You can’t go there, you’ll be killed!”
He shook his head softly, a look of sadness crossing his features. “You’re going to think I’m crazy…”
Liz bit her lip and forced herself to calm down. She giggled nervously. “I already think you’re crazy.”
He laughed. “Good point! I have to go to the Citadel because the Gods want me to.”
She gave him a doubtful look. “What?”
He sighed and leaned his head back, closing his eyes. “You know what the Shades are, right?”
She nodded quickly. “When a Sorcerer casts a spell, the Shades materialize.”
“Right, and they kill everyone. That’s why magic users are feared. The Eyyliks slaughter them on sight.”
“What’s your point?”
“What if the Shades stopped appearing?”
Liz considered that for a moment. “Then we wouldn’t have to fear Sorcerers anymore.”
“Exactly. No one would have to die.”
Liz stood up slowly, eyeing the strange man as she moved. Did this amputee honestly believe he could stop the Shades from appearing?
Mist shook his head and laughed nervously. “You think I’m crazy.”
“Of course I do,” Liz admitted, “as would anyone else in their right mind. Are you telling me you know how to get rid of the Shades?”
“Well…” he rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. “I don’t know exactly, but I know that I need to get to the Citadel.”
Liz examined him with a critical eye. “You’re willing to risk your life for this?”
Mist nodded. “I am.”
Liz watched the determination cross his features, and stretched dramatically. “Well, I guess I have no choice but to go with you, then.”
“What?”
“You’re not healed yet. If I can’t stop you, then it’s my duty to travel with you and make sure you’re in good health.”
“I don’t need a healer following me around,” Mist scoffed. “I can take care of myself.”
She smiled at him. “Of course you can! I knew you could from the moment I found you lying on the ground bleeding.”
He rolled his eyes. “Look, you really don’t-”
“I do, because…” She bit her lower lip and wrapped her arms around her stomach, her eyes downturned. “If there’s anything I can do to stop the Shades, I need to do it…”
Mist watched her. She looked so small and fragile, like a frightened child. What had happened to her to make her like this?
Mist stretched his arm out to the side and let out a fake yawn. “Well, we had better turn in for the night. We’ve got a long day of travel ahead of us tomorrow.”
Liz looked at him with excitement and shock. “Really?”
“Yeah, of course,” he answered with a weak smile. “It’d be nice to have some company on the road.”
She smiled widely, releasing her death grip on her abdomen. “Thank you, Mist. Good night.” She began to walk towards the crater at the base of the tree, when Mist called out to her. She turned around slowly to face him. “Everything okay?”
“Um…” Mist rubbed the back of his neck, feeling suddenly vulnerable. “Thanks again for saving me today, and… thanks for not asking about my arm. Or, you know, lack thereof…”
Liz chuckled nervously. “I am curious, but it’s none of my business.”
Mist nodded. “Maybe I’ll tell you one day.”
“Maybe.” Liz agreed, moving back away to her crater.
Mist sighed heavily, leaning his head back against the fallen tree. The birds had quieted as the sun dissipated over the horizon, and the shrill sound of frogs echoed throughout the woods. A faint rustling could be heard nearby as some nocturnal animal prowled through the undergrowth, but Mist wasn’t afraid. He found he wasn’t easily scared these days.
His missing arm continuously ached as night wore on, the phantom pain returning more keenly as the air around him grew more humid. Mist grunted and grabbed his arm as the burning sensation worked its way up to his shoulder, but there was no arm for him to grab. Gingerly, he touched the injury with his fingertips, his mind temporarily confused with the sensations coming to him. It was as though his arm was still there, but he could clearly feel it was not. The pain increased in intensity again, and he grit his teeth to stop himself from crying out.
He ran his fingers through his matted hair as rain started trickling down from the skies above, the cold water seeping through his thick shirt. He sighed heavily. “You just don’t give me a break, do you?” he quietly grumbled. Pulling his damaged bag close, he pulled out a heavy wool shirt, scowling as he saw the soil covering it. Shaking it relatively clean, he draped it over his left shoulder, trying to shield his sensitive stump from the cold and the rain. He huddled beside the fallen tree, the pain slowly ebbing away as the night wore on and exhaustion overcame him.
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