Natasha's suffering

Natasha (POV)

"Hah... Hah... I... Hah... survive."

I'm completely worn out. It was within my expectation, however...

The pain, the agony, and the despair I felt. I don't think I would last another month inside.

I needed to follow all the walkthrough to clear the first and second trial, and it took me a month and a half.

I was so tired, but I couldn't even take a proper breathing. The third trial started.

That trial was simply torture. I know I made it myself, still... experiencing it was too much.

I could endure the physical pain that was dealt because of magic.

The pain caused by getting burned by fire.

The obstacle could be described as walking through hell. The road was so long and thin, and one mistake could lead to a sea of fire.

If there was someone with me, we could've held on with one another, and work through slowly but surely together.

But me. I was alone and I fell a total of 10 times before I could finish. It was good that I have water and ice as my elements, if not, I would already be dead, turned to ash.

The pain caused by getting stab unknowingly.

The obstacle was that ten invisible knights are going to kill you. Without someone watching your back, it could be the end of you.

You can't feel anything, reaction, wind movements, killing Intent, sound, and etc... You just suddenly noticed that you will get stab in the back, both of your sides, and in the front.

Having the water element was very lucky. I even thought that I already used all of my luck in my lifetime to get this.

It was the greatest factor that helped me survive. In that obstacle, I didn't get stab. I covered the place with water, so I could see their footsteps. Then, I used ice to freeze them.

It took me extremely long to end since they are stronger than me, not only in strength but also in numbers. I'm glad I defeated them.

There were like more than ten obstacles I faced in one year. I didn't suffer much, it was endurable. That was because I already know what would happen, and with my water and ice element. It was a fortune.

I also needed to provide food on my own. I needed to find a shelter that I could use for a while. But with all that obstacles going on, it was not easy for me to do all those things together.

There were some times that the noble me, couldn't eat for at least three days. I even passed out for quite a few times, and when I woke up, there is still no food as I have to find one on my own. I couldn't help but cry how hard it is.

I cried, but still, it was endurable.

What terrified me the most to the point of despair was the obstacle related to my mental state.

The cry of pain, the scream of torture, words filled with despair, the words before death, the hatred, the thirst for revenge, and all other scary negative things. I kept on hearing them in straight six months.

When the night came, if I'm alone, I'm prone of getting scared with the darkness.

And with all those sounds that I kept on hearing, I couldn't sleep. I chose to ignore it and forcefully close my eyes.

Pain suddenly surfaced from my body, I was bitten by ants, tens of them crawling over my body. I was just sleeping in that dark forest with no light, so I couldn't see any ants.

"Hik... sob... hik... wuwu..."

I cried and cried, but I was alone. There was nothing that could help me but myself.

In the darkness I tried to look for a few wooden sticks to make fire, but I already tried it before, and I couldn't learn it at all. No matter how many times I tried, it wouldn't work.

And I spent half the year living like that. One month before the year ends, I finally learned how to light up a fire. It somehow got easy.

But my mental state was already close to breaking. I'm glad I lasted. If it continued by just one day, maybe I would break.

In this past year, I learned a lot. A person has a limit when he is alone, so it is a must to have a companion.

A person must learn to be prepared and know how to take care of themselves, so when the times comes that he/she is the only one left, he/she would survive.

...

I have to say, although I forgot it halfway in the trial. The reward is worth all those suffering.

My mind was cleared and relaxed when I received the reward. My mental energy was enhanced five times, same as with my vitality.

More importantly, I now have a War Maiden, Aphrodite.

"Take me home."

"Yes, my mistress."

...

"Natasha! Where have you been?!! We have been searching for you all this week, your father didn't even have a wink of sleep."

My mother, the Marquees cried and scolded me when I arrive home.

I'm sorry, it was force majeure. I had to do it. For my dream, and for my future.

I didn't want to make mistake like I did before, I was actually scared of a mere curfew? I can't gamble a War Maiden with that, I already lost one. Hence, this time, each action I take will have over 90% of success.

I already created a story and made the family hire Aphrodite as my maid.

With her, my action will finally be more loose. I don't need to do a lot of things anymore, she will take care of it.

Other than that, I will treat her as my sister. I myself know that a War Maiden is dependable. To make sure that the suffering won't happen again. I will need to have a lot of companions on my side.