Unnamed Child

The wolves crept toward Valen, slow and deliberate, surrounding him and outnumbering him. Their fur was black as shadows, some with eerie blue, green, or even purple eyes that glowed faintly in the moonlight. He couldn't use his fire magic, not with the child so close, trapped in the cage behind them. He scanned their formation, searching for an opening, a weakness he could exploit. If he could wound just one, create even a flicker of chaos, he might have a chance to reach the cage before it was too late.

The wolves attacked Valen from two sides, front and back, grabbing his arm and injuring him. "Aghh!" he shouted in pain, his voice cutting through the air. With a swift motion, he hurled one of the wolves off of him, sending it flying three meters away. Before he could recover, another wolf lunged at him, but Valen swung his sword, cutting the beast down in a single strike.

Suddenly, from behind the cage, a massive figure appeared. The larger wolf stood still, its crimson-red fur glowing faintly in the moonlight, its white eyes locked onto the child in the cage. It wasn't part of the pack; it only observed. After a moment, the beast turned and darted away, scattering the other wolves in pursuit. Their leader led them off into the night, and in the distance, the haunting sound of wolf howls echoed through the trees.

Valen grabbed his injured arm, sheathing his sword, and approached the cage with slow, cautious steps. "What's your name?" he asked softly. But there was no answer. Only tears slid down the girl's cheek, silent and heavy.

"It's okay, you don't need to be scared," Valen said, his voice soft and reassuring as he slowly sat down beside the cage. The moonlight bathed his face, casting shadows over his features, but his eyes remained gentle, locking onto the girl. "I'm Valen," he added, glancing up at the sky for a moment. The night was still, save for the distant howls of wolves, and the stars shimmered faintly above. The air was cold, but it didn't seem to reach the warmth Valen was trying to offer.

"You should be asleep by now," he murmured, his hands shaking slightly as he reached for the cage. There was no key. Only a metal pin blocking the entrance, a simple but strong blockade. With a grunt, he twisted and pulled at it with his bare hands, the metal creaking under his force. Finally, the pin gave way, and the sound of it clattering to the ground echoed in the silence. As he slowly opened the cage door, a cold breeze brushed past him. He looked back at the girl, her tear-streaked face illuminated by the pale light, her silence more telling than any words could be.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she sobbed, her face contorted in anguish as tears poured down her cheeks, leaving trails of sorrow on her pale skin. The girl's silence shattered with a burst of cries, her fragile body trembling as each sob racked through her. The air around them seemed to grow heavier with her pain. "I didn't listen," she gasped between sobs, her voice cracking, the words barely escaping her lips. "I'm sorry, Mom. I'm sorry," she repeated over and over, her words laced with desperation and guilt, as if she were trying to undo something that could never be undone. Her sobs echoed in the stillness of the night, mingling with the distant howls of the wolves.

"Okay, calm down, please, it's alright, you're safe now," Val said gently, trying to comfort the girl. But she kept crying, her sobs loud and nonstop. "I'm sorry, Mom. I'll be good, I promise," she whispered through her tears, her words hard to understand. Then, suddenly, her eyes closed, and she fell unconscious.

"Hey, hey, please wake up!" Val said, panic in his voice as he shook her, trying to wake her up. "What do I do now?" he said quietly, his voice full of fear. The quiet around them felt heavy, and the girl's stillness made him feel even more afraid.

He carefully placed her in a safe position, laying her head on her chest. He listened closely. "Okay, good, she's okay, she's breathing," he whispered to himself, relief slowly filling him.

After that Val stood up and looked around, searching for anything useful he could take from the carriage. "Damn, maybe I should take these blankets," he thought, seeing the blankets that looked very expensive. They were soft, in a beautiful shade of blue, with delicate embroidery decorating the edges. After a moment, he also found something to drink milk, and some bread. He also spotted a few bottles of mana mixtures, which he quickly put into his bag. The bag was the one Orlen and his friend had given him.

He wrapped the blankets around the girl, picked her up gently in his arms, and started walking.