Though Ember was raised as a human, now that she had started to develop her own Fire, her power was somewhat affecting her unstable emotions, making her feel cranky and irritated even at the smallest things.
âMiss, are you sure you donât need anything else?â
Since she woke up, Ember was unusually quiet and simply let her servants do what they wanted to take care of her. As soon as they left her chamber to give her more time to rest, she opted to leave bed and sit on the same window sill where Rayâs cage was located.
She stared at her pet who was busy jumping here and there inside her cage, eating once in a while, sometimes playing on the swing. Time passed idly like that.
Though her eyes were at her pet, her mind was somewhere else, her thoughts lost in memories she thought she had buried deep in her mind.
âI miss my nanny.â
For some odd reason, an overwhelming sense of grief weighed her chest. It was like back when Gaia had left her alone.
Gaia. She was Emberâs everything, the only person in her world, and yet she lost her life because of her. For as long as she could remember, she took care of Ember like her own child, and in the end, the only reward she had for her years of dedication was death.
That day, Gaia went down the mountain early in the morning. They needed to get the necessary supplies inside their cave before winter arrived. During the winter, the entire mountain was covered in heavy snow for the entire three months and it would be difficult for them to leave the mountain.
Along with food like cereals and grains, they had to have other basic survival items like medicines and various other necessities with them. However, it was not easy to get supplies since she had to trade secretly in the villages near the foot of the mountain. In order to not expose herself, Gaia would always start to procure supplies for their cave slowly at least a month or two ahead.
That day should have been like all the other days, but her nanny didnât return even after the sun had set. In order to lessen interaction with the villagers, Gaia would only purchase things at the market at the guise of a traveler, and she would never spend more than a day away from the cave. She would always return before the sunset but that day she didnât.
The cursed mountain where they live was a dangerous place to be at during the night. Due to the nature of the place, the pitch black darkness and the fog that could not be dispelled by a torch could easily cause ignorant passersby to be lost or injured. Though it boasted nothing but dead trees, poisonous insects and the rocky steep slopes could still kill unlucky stragglers.
That was one of the advantages of the terrain that allowed Ember to grow up safely in that mountain.
âI shouldnât be worried. Gaia knows this mountain like the back of her handâ¦but what if she met an accident? What if she lost her footing and fell?â
Finally, in the middle of the night, Ember was shocked awake upon hearing the first sign of noise at the mouth of the cave. She didnât even realize she had fallen asleep while waiting.
âGaia is back!â
With a bright smile, she lit up a lamp and hurried out of the cave to welcome her, only to see a sight she would never forget in her lifetime.
âDid you buy a lot? What happenedâGaia! Is thatâ¦b-blood?â
Ember ran towards her nanny who was lying face down on the ground. Her body was severely wounded, her traveler robe almost torn to shreds and the clothes underneath drenched in blood. It looked like she had been harmed with a sword and there were several arrows sticking out from her back. One could barely see the small rise of her torso to indicate she was still breathing.
In panic, Ember immediately kneeled on the hard ground and held the shaft on an arrow, intending to pull it out.
âG-Gaia? You are awake, right? Please tell me you are. Tell me what to do. What do I do to treat you? I-I-I donât know whatâ¦should I pull out the arrow first? Do I break the arrow and then clean the wound? Tell meâ¦please donât fall asleepâ¦I will bandage the wound so you wonât bleed anymoreâ¦â
Gaia had her eyes closed but she was still awake. She groaned in pain but she smiled as she heard Emberâs voice.
âLittle⦠Princessâ¦â
Her voice was weak and could barely be heard.
âGaia, let me get you inside the cave. I will treat your wounds inside, so stay awake, all right?â Ember proceeded to help her get up but she could only put Gaia to lay on her side.
âLittle Princess⦠listen to meâ¦â
Ember shook her head even though Gaia could not see her. âTalk once weâre inside the caveââ
ââ¦listen to me⦠carefullyâ¦.â
âLet me treat you first, Gaia!â Ember cried out.
ââ¦no useâ¦I cannot be savedâ¦â She coughed out blood, but after that, she was able to speak more clearly. âDonât feel bad, little one. I am old⦠I am happy that I at least get to die in your armsâ¦â
âGaia, donât say thatâ¦â
âLittle Princess, you will be alone from now on butâ¦you know how to protect yourself and surviveâ¦Do not let anyone harm you. Do not dieâ¦Protect yourself wellâ¦You are strongâ¦You can do it even without me nowâ¦â
âNo, Gaia, Iâ¦I still need you.â
âApologies, my Princess. I cannot serve you anymoreâ¦please surviveâ¦â
âGaia!â
âThe villagers caught meâ¦they will soon come for you. Run if you mustâ¦hide if you mustâ¦remember my wordsâ¦Do not dieâ¦â
With this, Gaia let out her last breath, but at least, the fact that she was able to meet Ember before she left the world caused a small smile to linger on the corner of her lips.
That night, the sound of Ember desperately crying her heart out echoed within the darkness of the forest.
âGaia, donât leave me pleaseâ¦â
âI am scaredâ¦â
âPlease donât leave me. I donât want to be alone.â
âPlease wake up! Donât leave me!â
âGaia, I need you!â
âGaia!â
After spending that night next to her dead nanny, Ember could not remember the next events well. It was as if her own heart was covered in fog. She only had a brief recollection that she buried Gaiaâs body somewhere near her cave, but those days felt like she wasnât truly alive.
Tears rolled down Emberâs eyes when she remembered that night. It was the most painful moment of her life. What she wanted in life was simpleâto have a happy life with just the two of them. It didnât matter to her that she starved on most days or that they lived inside a cold dank cave. She didnât need family or friends or anyone else.
Gaia was enough.
But even such a simple dream was mercilessly destroyed just like that.
Whoever had written her destiny, must have been a cruel person to not spare her any moment of happiness.