Chapter 8

My legs give out. I fall onto the wet floor. Lying down in exhaustion, I huff and puff catching my breath, reeling in the fight. 

The ball of light whirls, then plunges fast, absorbing into my body. I can hear the humming clearer, a soothing melody.

"No time to waste," I struggle to stand. Orphnaeus aids me to break through the webbed trap. Bloodied and bruised I hold onto Orphaneus's reins. 

 Why have I been regressing after each death? I've grown tired of it all. 

We arrive at the divided paths. 

"Let's head right," I groan.

 As we walk further, I can see a faint light at the end of the tunnel. Orphnaeus kneels down, and I climb on his back. He trots towards the light. The light is getting brighter. I close my eyes against the glare. 

I open them again to find beautiful scenery while we stand on a cliff, overlooking a breathtaking view. 

The wind brushes my hair like a soft whisper, promising comfort ahead. Orphnaeus continues down the trail, but I don't let my guard down yet. 

I hear a twig break in the trees behind us. Pretending to pay no heed, I hold onto the reins hard, signaling him to move fast.

The sound behind us does the same. 

"You've got to be kidding me" I grunt.

Orphnaeus runs at full-speed, weaving trees, and road obstructions. We rush out from the forest's edge. The sound stops its chase. 

"That was too close," my voice trembles.

I glance behind to see something disappearing into the woods. 

I grasp my chest at the thought of not only me dying but also Orphnaeus.

We slow down on the open road, the sun is high, almost blinding. Squinting, I see a fort in the distance. 

Finally! We can rest!

I dismount, limping toward the guards. 

"Help…" I reach out, barely holding on. A guard catches me as I collapse. 

Wake up, a voice hums.

I jolt upright.

"Ow ow ow" I grit, pain radiating through my body. 

"Oh whoa! Not too fast" a girl rushes over.

Her dark blond hair neatly tucked away in a bun. She wears a white robe embroidered with green vines. 

She rests her warm hand on my shoulder and eases me back down. 

"You are alright. Nothing to be afraid of," she says soothingly.

"Orphnaeus…" I call out in a soft whisper.

Unable to utter more than a word at a time. I am parched, lips cracked. It almost hurts to open my mouth.

"Who is that?" she asks, "Your horse?"

I nod my head slightly bearing the pain.

"Don't worry he's fine, a little feisty, but alright," she chuckles.

"My name is Mary by the way," she grins with a proud posture, "I'm a healer."

I watch her nag about my condition as she casts healing magic. Concerned for my wellbeing she continues to express warmth. Something I haven't felt since my mother passed. 

I gently smile and agree with her list of concerns.

I eventually drift asleep for a little while longer knowing I will be alright. 

You must leave now, the familiar whisper hums, gentle but firm.

I open my eyes suddenly, trying to sit up with sluggish movements. 

The pain is bearable, I groan, slowly rising to my feet.

I peek out the window, it is nearly evening. 

Amidst gathering my belongings, Mary waltzes into the room. She tells me I am in no shape to be moving. 

"You must be bed-ridden for at least a day longer," she expresses with concern.

Seeing my relentlessness, she gives up trying to persuade me. 

"Oh alright," she sighs in defeat, "Just wait a moment." 

She heads over to some cabinets, stores some vials in a pouch, and walks over. She holds the pouch out towards me.

"Here. You'll need this," she says with confidence.

"And this is…" I lead on.

"It's medicine. I put some healing potions and stamina potions in here," she places it in my hand. 

She is determined to nurse me to a healthy state, leaving me no room to refuse. 

I take her offer and thank her for her kindness– rough yet gentle at the same time. Before I leave, I ask her for directions to get some clothes and an inn. Mary leads me down the corridor to a storage room filled with clothes and other items.

"This is where we keep donations that people give us," she says as she opens the storage room.

"Pick out what you like, and change in here. I can help you to the town information guild after," she smiles, opening a bathroom nearby.

I nod and walk in to pick out clothes that would keep me inconspicuous. I head to the bathroom to change. 

No wonder she's worried, I see my bony, hollow eyed reflection in the mirror. 

"I basically look dead," I tilt my head, staring at the shell of a human.

I come to sudden realization,

My hair, I gasp, covering my mouth with the palm of my hand.

"Oh no!" I begin to breathe heavily, anxiety choking me. 

There is only one family with black hair like this, Alaires. 

I quickly change into my new clothes and braid my hair to keep it hidden underneath my robe. 

"Is that the reason she has been nice to me?!" I question biting my fingernail as I walk out to find Mary.

I see Mary waiting for me outside. I try to calm myself and head over to her. Mary takes me to Orphnaeus, we both rejoice seeing each other. Mary laughs at the sight of us acting like a pair of jesters. Orphnaeus is clean, his wounds are taken care of, his black coat glossy, and has new reins. 

Mary leads the way to the information guild near the entrance of the town.

"Say Mary, is there something you want to ask me? Like anything at all?" I ask awkwardly.

"Hmm, no, I don't think so," she says, puzzled by the question.

I grip the hood of my robe, "Are you sure?" 

She places her index finger on her chin, and looks at me.

"Well…I do have one, but I wasn't sure how I should ask you," we stop and look at each other.

I swallow and let out a long breath.

"They said you were missing…it was in the newspaper," she says, pausing for a second, " though I was mistaken at first. But then I saw you– your hair, your features– and I knew."

"Did you tell someone?" my voice quivers.

I'm breaking out in cold sweat.

"Um, no, no I didn't tell anyone. Looking at your state of being, I thought it would be better if I acted as if I didn't know who you were," she looks down at the ground.

"What about the guards? I'm sure they could've alerted someone?" I ask, grabbing her hands.

She pulls her hands away, and takes a step back. 

"I'm sorry I don't know about the guards", she clasps her hands together.

I must get my information and leave, I panic.

"Ok. Ok. Let's just go to the information guild for now" I suggest, holding my breath.

We continue on the path to the guild. 

"Ask them anything, they'll know the answer," she gives me a thumbs up as we arrive at the entrance to the information guild. 

"Thank you, and I'm sorry I grabbed your hand," I say softly.

"It's alright," Mary says in a warm tone, comforting me.

She leaves waving her hand towards me in the distance and disappears into the crowd.

 I tell Orphnaeus to wait outside, and step into the guild. I glance around in awe.The lobby is bustling with people.

Like a labyrinth of rooms and informants. 

"Is there something I can assist you with?" a deep voice interrupts in a professional tone.

"Ah yes, um–I have many questions," I am caught off guard.

A tall man with light brown hair and dark brown eyes, wearing a suit and thin glasses. His expression is unreadable.

He gestures for me to follow him to a room nearby. He invites me in and closes the door.

"Would you like some refreshments?" he asks politely. 

"No, I'm alright," I kindly refuse.