Chapter 01
In this forest, where enormous trees grew so densely they seemed to blot out the sky, there was a village hidden from outside eyes.
For a rare change, a foreigner—someone who was not an enemy—was staying here.
The man leaned crookedly and thought to himself,
“Does she even know she’s a prisoner? How can she wander around with such a carefree face?”
Her skin was pale and her figure delicate.
When he first found her, her clothes were caked in dirt and completely torn, yet it was obvious they had once been fine, expensive fabric.
Judging by that, she was likely the child of a noble family from the Altareon Kingdom.
Even so, she moved busily with hands and feet so soft and unaccustomed to hardship that it was almost absurd.
“How about this?”
“[Oh, perfect! Thanks to you, miss, it’s much better already.]”
“[Sierra! Are you done? Now can you play with us?]”
“[Sister, sister! Let’s go there! And teach us the game from yesterday too!]”
“Uh, uh! Wait a moment, kids. We need to go slowly, it’s dangerous otherwise.”
She laughed lightly, following the children’s tugging hands. Her openness seemed completely defenseless.
He had reluctantly taken on the role of interpreter and observer simply because he was the only one who could speak the common language.
There was no choice but to trail behind the foreigner wherever she went.
It was strange how communication somehow worked even though he knew only a single greeting in the language of the Altershna Sanctuary.
He had been the one to bring her here in the first place.
That day, their usual prey had fled toward the forest’s edge, taking him farther than normal.
It must have been the edge of the Sanctuary forest.
By what coincidence did he discover her lying in a pitiful state beside the strange iron rails, something he had never seen before?
He had brought her along, thinking perhaps she could become a bargaining pawn if the Altareon Kingdom ever tried to meddle in the Sanctuary.
“She’s too carefree.”
After her fever subsided and she regained consciousness, she insisted she had “lost her memory” and was harmless.
Yet, the moment she rose from the bed, she busied herself running about, helping the villagers however she could.
“[Sierra! Come here! You’re quick with your hands, aren’t you?]”
“Ma’am, what’s the matter… ah! You need help, right? Got it. So I just have to pick the fruit into this basket?”
“[Yes, yes, that’s right!]”
“Right? Haha. I’ll be back soon. Okay, kids?”
“[Whine… I want to play more.]”
“The children need their nap now. Time to sleep, yes?”
Even though they clearly couldn’t understand her, she communicated effortlessly with gestures and expressions.
“Why do I have to keep trailing after her?” he thought, grumbling before his gaze was caught by the soft, flowing hair of Sierra, drifting like a field of wheat at sunset he had once seen.
He didn’t even realize where his eyes had wandered as he muttered,
“She manages to get around so well with that fragile body.”
Still, he obediently followed her.
Sierra found the stubborn man glaring at her annoying.
Because she didn’t know the local language, he had been assigned as her guide long ago.
Fearing she might be dismissed as a useless outsider, she had forced herself to be kind to everyone.
Even as the villagers slowly became familiar with her, his sharp, blue-eyed vigilance never wavered.
Sierra couldn’t help but notice his scrutinizing gaze.
“[Big brother, can’t Sierra stay here?]”
“[But why do you look so scary, big brother? Huh?]”
“[Wait. I’ll play with you later.]”
Though she didn’t understand their words, the children clung to her arms while he maintained a stoic expression.
Yet, when he lifted the children and made them laugh, it was clear he reserved that gruffness only for her.
“I’m going to pick fruit now.”
“Alright.”
“Hmm, I could go alone…”
Sierra frowned at his casual motion of leading the way, yet he naturally followed behind. It annoyed her for no reason.
Because of this man, always so steadfastly cautious, she had few clues to recover her memory.
By now, she could have trusted him a little.
Yet, his cold, measured gaze never dulled, as if he were still seeing something unfamiliar.
Thanks to him, she rarely had a moment to be alone. Even short excursions were supervised by other women in the village.
‘Could it be… he’s noticed my memory is gradually returning?’
Being so close to her all the time, it was entirely possible.
When she first woke in the village, she remembered nothing at all.
Yet, thanks to their pure kindness and care, she had become whole again.
When she first awoke, the forest had been in the midst of a harsh winter. Now, tender first blossoms were emerging.
In this quiet, beautiful forest, time seemed to flow more gently.
Perhaps that’s why, even though most memories were faint, she could feel comfort.
“Blessing.”
“What now?”
His reply, almost a growl, was consistent.
The villagers’ names felt as soft as the forest.
Her wary observer’s name meant “the shining blessing of a blizzarding night.”
A beautiful name, certainly—but she playfully shortened it, unwilling to speak it properly. Also, it was hard to pronounce.
“Blessing, where can we pick the best fruit these days?”
“….”
“Huh?”
When she smiled innocently and called his cute, awkward name, he would frown and delay answering.
Still, he would eventually sigh lightly, never angry.
Despite his sharp eyes, his actions were surprisingly soft.
“Since we have to go together anyway, won’t you help a little?”
“…Follow me.”
She hurried after him, speaking her mind without hesitation.
The Eshkal tribe, who lived in this village, were said to carry the blood of ancient Dark Elves.
Perhaps because of this, the villagers were tall and well-built, their physiques impressive.
He was taller than an ordinary adult man from the kingdom, though not as large as some of the other village men.
He stood out not only for height but also for his unusually pale skin compared to the others’ darker tones, and for his strikingly handsome face.
“Uh… could you go a bit slower? I don’t have legs as long as yours.”
Even though she was considered tall in the kingdom, here she was no taller than some of the younger girls.
“….”
He glanced back but said nothing, slowing his pace.
Though he spoke the common language, he tended to be brief unless necessary.
Would it be too much to let her go alone sometimes?
“There should be some good fruit around here.”
“Thanks, Blessing. Could you wait a moment?”
“…Haa. I’ll help.”
Perhaps eager to finish quickly, he crouched beside a small tree, his large hands tearing fruit from the branches.
‘He’s going to crush them all…’
She watched his swinging silver hair briefly before sitting to pick fruit herself.
In her focus, she wandered to a more secluded spot.
Although it was warming up, flowers and fruit were only just starting, so it wasn’t plentiful.
But pushing aside a branch blocking the path, she saw a cluster of fruit nearby.
“Huh? There’s so much fruit here.”
Below, a large puddle stretched in intervals—strange and mysterious scenery.
While her attention lingered, she suddenly heard his firm voice.
“Sierra, step back.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden…”
She turned to him but accidentally stepped into the puddle with a splash.
Immediately, his calm face twisted sharply.
“No!”
Boom—
Suddenly, the ground shook.
“Huh?”
Before Sierra could even react, a massive shadow loomed above her.
