The First Dancing Maiden

Kingdom of Vasha

With her lower face covered with silk and eyes green as the leaves, shouts and shrieks were silenced by her voice.

"Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene... I beg thee, pray not take my lord."

The Vashains and Cuerins froze in the middle of the war, the voiced echoed throughout the flaming kingdom. It was like cleansing their soul and relaxing their mind. Although, in reality, it was paralyzing them, manipulating their brains, and twisting their bodies.

"She's here," little Sanren heard her mother utter. Their faces covered with dirt and scarlet blood on their clothes while hiding by the woods.

She was more bewildered of her mother's expression- a proud and happy emotion.

Sanren returned her eyes to the Dancing Maiden. Her golden hair dancing with the flaming embers and waist with perfect curves moving with her clear and peaceful melody. Everyone has been silenced.

"My child, I won't be long. Go along with the maiden and protect the future."

Her mother's once beautiful locks, now dirty and disheveled. Sanren did not understand what was happening, yet her heart feels painful... watching the woman who gave birth to her, now clutching bloody injuries with scarlet blood spreading all over silk clothes.

With shaking hands, her mother held her shoulders as she smiled softly.

"The dancing maiden... will never return again. Go along with the goddess, join her journey and... and you must protect the next legend. Survive, my child," her mother kissed her forehead. "We are the remaining spirit guides in this realm, no matter what happens, you must survive. Fulfill our family's remaining quest, protect the future, and fulfill the mission that I neglected."

Her mother coughed blood. Sanren didn't know what to do; she didn't even realize that tears were streaming on her cheeks.

"Protect the future..."

Little Sanren cried. Even in her mother's last breath, she still murmured those words.

"Your smile is like a breath of spring, your voice is soft like summer rain, and I cannot compete with you, Jolene..."

With tears on Sanren's eyes, green embers surrounded the beautiful goddess as if cleansing the souls of the tainted and heal the wounds of the injured. She was like a beautiful scarlet butterfly in the midst of blood and war.

As the last hum of the goddess' melody strum throughout the kingdom, the warriors of the enemy all fainted, as if she sucked their souls within her. The maiden coughed and spat thick blood. Sanren widened her eyes, is she gonna die too? Like my mother?

The goddess looked up at her and raised her right hand, Sanren sobbed and hesitated. With the strong wind surrounding the maiden, the silk cover on her lower face flew with it. Sanren saw the beautiful face of the goddess. She was smiling, although with sad eyes. The other hand of the goddess was caressing her tummy, Sanren stared at her as she slowly stopped sobbing.

"Fulfill our family's remaining quest, protect the future, and fulfill the mission that I neglected."

She remembered her mother's last words. With her little body, she got up, determined to do what is must. She must fulfill her ancestors and mother's wish. This is what they died for.

She walked towards the goddess. Everything was blurry, although as she gets near, she could now clearly see the warm emotions on the woman's beautiful face amidst the bloody war.

She wiped her tears as she stood infront of the goddess. "I-I must p-protect..."

Sanren froze after she felt warm arms on her small frame. She wanted her tears to stop falling but she just... can't.

"Hush... child. Everything will be okay. I shall protect you while I'm still in this world," her warm voice and presence calmed Sanren. It reminded her of her mother.

"But in return, I wish for you to guide and protect my heir, dear child." She smiled. "In the future."