Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

Chapter 9 The Elf Incident.

The small iron cage seemed even smaller around the girl. She trembled, her legs pulled tightly to her body as silent tears slid down her cheeks. The cold of the night pierced through the metal bars and bit at her thin skin. Outside, the muffled sound of voices reached her.

"Tomorrow she'll be sold," one of the captors said, laughing grotesquely. "With any luck, she'll bring in enough to cover our losses from the last shipment."

"I heard they're going to sacrifice her. Seems like these elves still believe in ancient rituals," another commented, his voice full of disdain.

The girl's heart raced. Sacrificed? Sold? Despair took hold of her small body, but along with it came a spark of something else: the determination to survive.

She knew she had to escape.

Her eyes scanned the cage more carefully, searching for any sign of weakness.

Her small fingers traced the rusted joints of the metal, exploring every inch. Then she felt it: one of the bars seemed slightly loose. She pulled with all the strength her fragile body could muster, but the bar barely budged. Still, she didn't give up.

"Calm... slowly..." she murmured to herself, her words barely audible.

With careful movements, she began to twist the bar back and forth, using her body weight to amplify her strength. At every creak of the metal, she stopped, her heart in her throat, fearing the guards might hear. Minutes passed, and finally, the bar gave enough that she could slip through.

Escaping the cage, the girl's bare feet touched the cold, rough ground. It was harsh, but freedom had never seemed so tangible. Looking around, she saw the guards distracted, talking near a fire. She slinked through the shadows, holding her breath with every step.

Then a deafening sound split the night: the crash of thunder, followed by a flash of lightning that illuminated everything around her.

Without thinking, she followed the path, driven by that inexplicable energy. The sounds of the forest seemed to grow quieter, and the pain in her body began to fade. It was as if every step brought her closer to something important, something she couldn't name.

At the end of the path, she saw a small house. It was simple, with a soft light glowing from one of the windows. Beside the house, a garden full of exotic flowers seemed to glow in the darkness, as if alive with magical energy. The girl hesitated for a moment, but the feeling of safety urged her to continue.

She stumbled and fell at the entrance of the garden, her small arms failing to protect her from the fall. The door of the house suddenly opened, and a tall, feminine figure stepped out. Her red hair glowed like fire, and her eyes shone with an intense crimson hue. Behind her, a much smaller figure appeared, holding a book in its tiny hands.

It was a boy. His eyes were incredibly clear, almost glowing, and his expression was one of curiosity that didn't match his apparent age. He observed her carefully, as if trying to decipher the reason for her presence there.

The red-haired woman quickly approached, kneeling beside the girl.

"What happened to you? Who did this?" she asked, her voice a mix of concern and restrained anger. She was most cautious when it came to her son.

The girl tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. She just looked up at the woman with pleading eyes before passing out from exhaustion. The boy watched everything in silence, but there was something in his gaze that seemed... deeper, as if he understood much more than he should.

"Mother... I think you should take care of her," the boy said, his voice clear and confident despite his young age.

---

More character images at:

Like it? Add it to your library!

Don't forget to vote to support the book if you like it.