Dorothy's POV:
- What the hell... just happened?
I hadn't stopped running since I left the man behind. I couldn't believe what had just happened. My mind felt clouded and painfully dark. Although it shouldn't have been that dark yet, I felt like the shadows of the trees were projecting themselves as if they were going to pull me to the bottom of an abyss. Thousands of eyes peered out from the trees as if they were watching everything. The whispers in the wind just seemed like indiscreet conversations judging me from the shadows.
- N- No... Don't look at me!
I put my arms in front of my face without stopping. I couldn't stand those stares. Even though I couldn't see them anymore, I felt them piercing my body mercilessly, as if there were even more of them now.
- J-just st-
Then my foot hit a branch. The force with which I hit it made me fall face-first to the ground without any resistance.
- Ughh
The sensation of blood and tears runs down my face. I slowly touch my nose to make sure it's not hurt. The agitation inside me, far from calming down, explodes as if a dam has burst. My tears begin to flow in torrents.
"Just... where did it go wrong?"
After losing my family, I felt like I was nothing more than a lifeless shell. Just eating, breathing, and sleeping. Everything was black until I met those two.
- Wahhhh
"Mistress Mira... Mistress Lira..."
They were the ones who helped me climb out of that hole. While all the slaves only thought about surviving, they actually cared about my pathetic self. They taught me to stay calm, to live proudly regardless of my condition. Even the day we were separated, they had a bright look for the future.
- I even promised them that we would meet again when I had a good master... Ugh.
A powerful pain pounded in my chest and foot like a hammer. I could no longer tell which was a wound and which was my own fault hunting me down.
- I'm sorry… sniff… Teachers, I wasn't able to live with pride… I simply can't live with myself. Deceiving kind people… pretending to be weak to take advantage of them.
Tears streamed from my eyes, my voice tangled with them and sobs.
- I… I can't even be proud of myself anymore.
I even managed to get someone to take care of me. The careless fire hero couldn't survive without me tending to his wounds. Even when we first met, he preferred to live with those injuries rather than show them to others and feel weak.
- Erick really is an idiot…
The pain in my chest grew heavier. As if my heart were made of lead. I crouched down, my forehead pressed to the ground. A powerful burning sensation flooded my wounds. As if they had placed my body against burning embers.
- Uggghhh… Ah- Ah… Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
The pain only intensified; even when I pressed my hand against my side, the pain was sharp and constant. As if I had gone back to that cart.
- Is… is this my punishment for breaking my promise?
Even though I promised Vulk that day… Despite everything, I never tried to go back to Erick. I even thought it was okay to stay with them and forget everything.
- But in the end… even when I tried, I could never forget it. It haunted me like a ghost. Haunting me painfully and relentlessly.
Perhaps… I should just stay here and die. Even if I could leave this forest, I would only return to being a shell without pride. I can't look Erick in the face… I can't even think about looking for my sister who became a witch.
*tisssss tisssss*
A sound behind me. Something was moving quickly in my direction. I tried to get up, but my body simply refused to respond. As if it had already given up on everything.
"Maybe... this is for the best."
*Crash!!*