The First Step

The bright beam of the moon cried dominating the dark blue sky. I looked at my feet covered with dirt and mud as I walked ahead, deeper and deeper into the forest. Dark green trees towered above my figure as I tried to make of what was in front. The smell of metal hit my nose as I tried to recognize the smell--Was it blood?

I tried to trace the source of the smell and went closer to a tree.

“Arah...”, a hoarse and weak voice called out. Surprised, I tried my best to recognize that voice until realization hit me.

“Mama…?”

My eyebrows crashed together in shock. I scurried closer to her and saw her weak figure laying right beside the tree. Her clothes which were once white were now stained with bright crimson blood. Tears dripped out of her eyes in despair. 

“Arah…”

I heard her call out once again. My hands hit my mouth in shock as I fell to my knees. Beads of sweat formed upon my forehead as I tried to scoot closer to her.

“Mama..”

I called out to her as I reached forwards trying to feel the warmth that I missed dearly. She smiled as the look of anguish painted across her face. 

She was shivering--she was cold. My eyes focused upon her’s--her beautiful eyes that once held warmth, held serenity, but they were blank now. I felt as if those eyes were mocking me for being a terrible daughter. Her eyes oozed out tears, tears that I wish I could stop from streaming. 

I cupped her face in my hands softly as I tried to observe her features but wasn't able to as my vision blurred because of my streaming tears.

“Killed--You killed me Arah.”

Her stuttering words and hitched breath broke my heart into a million pieces.

I felt as if time had stopped and everything around me moved slowly. The echoes of her voice centuplicated in my mind and it slowly worsened to the point that it was deafening. It hurt. It was painful.

Her breathing got heavier and slower. Her eyes were slowly closing-- 

“MADAM!” 

I opened my eyes in shock. Dots of sweat formed upon my forehead. My eyes widened as I looked around in surprise, transfixed from the reality that I was in earlier. 

My panicking eyes landed upon the man in front of me as I realized that he was the same man who had picked me up earlier in the carriage to drop me to the borders of the Kingdom of Dajoah.

I looked around. Clear blue skies with no signs of ay precipitation. 

I quickly gathered myself and fixed my dress until my eyes landed on the man in front of me who looked worried. 

He reached his hand out to me.

“Are you okay?”

I smiled awkwardly as I pushed my hair back and slightly nodded.

He looked around and scratched the back of his head in awkwardness.

“Well then, I’ll be off now.”

“Alright." I quickly replied. 

A second passed, and then another, and another until I finally looked and maintained eye contact with him. He looked back at me with a sign of hope in his eyes until it hit me--

“Ah! Your reward!”

I laughed awkwardly as I reached for the little bag in my gown that held enough money for me to not starve to death for a few days. I handed him the money and gave a quick nod and off he went in his carriage to a place unknown. 

I turned around. 

This was it. This was my final stop and this was the place I would spend the rest of my life in. The huge gates of the kingdom stood all high and mighty with cannons and many armed guards surrounding them.  

I puffed air out harshly and took my first step towards the source of my ultimate doom or my ultimate happiness--who knew?

I did not realize when I had reached the doors.

“What’d you want?”

A guard asked as he pointed his gun at me. 

My eyes widened in surprise as I raised my eyebrows and squinted my eyes. 

 “I am just a citizen y’ know, no bad intentions. Jus’ here to meet my daughter.”

He looked at his fellow guard and both of them had a staring contest, or what it seemed like until they looked back at with their sharp and dominating gaze and asked, “How do we know if you’re not lying, for all we could know, you’d just be a scornful commoner from that Caldorus or whatever?”

I chuckled darkly in amusement.

They hated Caldorus and it was one of their weakness, I knew I had to take advantage of that. 

“Ah, Caldorus? That stink hole? It was a challenge for me to be there even for a couple of days or so. I am from Azaleth, coming from Caldorus was easier than coming directly from Azaleth."

I looked at them right in the eye and smiled. 

“Now let me in will you.”

The guard looked at the other waiting for approval until a voice boomed out.

“Do not let her in. She’s wearing the royal uniform of the Castle from Caldorus.”

 My eyes widened in surprise. So they were not the idiots I hoped for them to be. 

Alright. So I knew they were going to attack me and so, I knew it was time for me to put my fighting skills to the test. 

I went closer to the first one and grabbed his gun right out of his hands. I knew he was not expecting that and so, I took advantage of that. 

All of them looked at me in shock. It might be their first time looking at a female who knows how to operate a gun. I felt glad I learned it back at the castle. 

I pointed the gun at one of them and smirked scornfully. 

“You either let me in or he dies.”

All of them had fury visible in their eyes.

“Neither.” 

I laughed wholeheartedly. 

“Alright then.”

Quickly placing the gun on my shoulder I ran for my life. I knew I was faster than them. I just knew it. The city was not far away and I knew I could reach there on foot just in time. 

I ran and ran. 

It felt as if everything around me had stopped and I was the only one moving.

I couldn’t let this chance go, I wanted to prove myself and run away from the hell-hole I first called my home. They betrayed me and I felt as I did so the same but did I?

 The sparkle in all the peoples’ eyes was gone. They were so worried when the news about me running away was broken to them.

 I truly wonder how sad mama is. She would be so disappointed in me. 

Will dad leave her without giving her a lesson even though it was not her fault?

I did not realize when I had already reached the city. 

I stopped, the view around me was truly breathtaking.

The city looked so lively. Shops all around. Children were having fun and smiling ever so brightly. 

Were the guards still following me though? I looked back to confirm my answer and yes, they still were. 

There were people all around me and suddenly I felt someone harshly pull me by my arm.

I looked for the culprit and it was the guard.

This was it. Now I just had to create a scene. 

“THIS MAN IS GOING TO KILL ME! LEAVE ME! I DID NOT DO ANYTHING FOR I AM JUST A COMMON WOMAN! DO NOT HURT ME!”

I struggled in his grip. People all around looked at us. 

I had their attention and now I only wanted empathy.

“PLEASE! I HAVE A FAMILY AND CHILDREN, PLEASE! I KNOW MY HUSBAND IS DEAD BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME!”

The guards were truly puzzled at what I was saying.,

A commoner came closer.

 “Yeah! Leave her alone, will you?”

 I looked at him with sadness visible in my eyes.

“Please help me, sir! This man is trying to take advantage of me!”

I heard several gasps. 

I saw many people talking amongst themselves. This was probably the most scandalous thing they had seen in a while.

I heard a few whispers amongst the people.

“This is why the government of Dajoah is horrendous.”

“Poor girl.”

An hour went by and the fight amongst the people and the guards worsened. 

There was screaming all around until suddenly, each one of the voices dimmed down into an alternate of total silence. 

“What is happening here?”