Chapter 16 - The Girl Wants to Be M*rdered

**Chapter 16: The Scent of Blood** * * * Ever since I was born into this world and experienced the passing of the seasons, just around the time I was witnessing my second snowfall, Remi began reading me fairy tales every night. Back when I was just two years old and Remi was six, she earnestly read to me despite her sometimes stumbling pronunciations. She was truly adorable back then. Whenever she couldn't read a word, she'd secretly ask mom for help, then proudly continue the story armed with the right answer, which often brought a smile to my face. Honestly, I can admit it now, but I knew all along, Remi.... Every day, Remi would introduce a new story to me, but sometimes she'd repeatedly read a fairy tale that she especially loved. Among those, the very first fairy tale she read to me and her all-time favorite: "Alice of the Blue Forest" The protagonist, Alice, is a girl who dreams of traveling. She imagined her life as being fixed and motionless, like a windmill turning in place. Hence, she resented her parents for not allowing her to enter the forest. 'Monsters that eat people live in the forest, so you must never go there,' her parents warned. To Alice, the forest wasn't a terrifying place occupied by monsters but a peaceful expanse where birds chirped and deer frolicked. Why do my parents try to stop me from going into the forest? Could there be treasures hidden there? If Alice had been a dutiful daughter who listened to her parents, the story would have halted there. She would have grown up to be an ordinary girl, never causing trouble, marrying, having children, and living a long, uneventful life until her peaceful death. However, alas, this is a fairy tale. And—fairy tales exist to impart lessons. This story is a warning. Good people receive blessings, while bad people are punished. Children who don't heed their parents' warnings meet misfortune. Excessive greed leads to one's downfall. Perhaps unwisely, on a day when the sun stood higher than ever, Alice ignored her parents' warnings and ventured into the forest. There, she formed friendships with fantastical beings. She helped a small fairy who had lost her wings near the water to find them again. For a tree that was smaller than the others and couldn't get enough sunlight, she transplanted it to a better spot. To a dwarf aspiring to make boots that could be worn for a hundred years and an ambitious fish seeking to train its gills to fly in the sky, she offered advice. Her encounters with these mystical beings set Alice’s heart racing with excitement. Living is the greatest joy of all, Alice declared. Simply breathing cannot define being alive. Until now, she said, she hadn't been a living person but merely a lifeless sculpture. Now, I am more alive than ever. As the number of precious friendships grew around her, the surroundings became noisier, but the chaos was a pleasant sound to her. However, children who ignore their parents' warnings face consequences. This fairy tale was written to warn children who don't listen to their parents. Warning. The place that all her friends whispered against entering. The deeply shadowed forest. The box that should never be opened, but was more alluring than anything. 'Hey there, who are you?' '... Me...?' Alice, who ventured into that place, encountered the 'monster.' ** Soft fabric brushed against my eyes. I tried to move, but it felt as if my entire body was weighed down by heavy anchors, sinking into the sea. An odd scent filled the air. An unsettling mixture of bitter herbs and iron-tangy blood lingered. Haah. My consciousness gradually awakened. I need to remember the last thing I did to understand what happened to me. The plan executed flawlessly, the indescribable beauty of death, and the warmth of cherished ones' affections—I recalled it all. Anna had stabbed me multiple times. Though she missed the vital spots, I ended up falling off a cliff that seemed hundreds of meters deep. Even if someone had immediately pulled me out, saving me would've been impossible. Right. It's not just unlikely—it's impossible. But what is this sensation? Have I died and been reborn anew? No, that's not it. Something feels off. Given my familiarity with death, I knew this wasn't it. More wretched, pitiful, and miserable than death. Surging despair, horror, sadness. I felt tears welling up. Is that it? —I am alive. "......ㅡㅡ, Ahㅡ" Where is this place? My mouth was as parched as drought-cracked earth. Though I tried to speak, only a faint groan escaped. It felt like my vocal cords were tearing. My voice was scratchy and lowered, but all too familiar. That was my certainty. For reasons unknown to me, Aris Akaia had survived. Clack. "ㅡYou've awakened." "....Ah...!!" "Please don’t move. First, I’ll give you some water. Carefully, try to stay relaxed." A sound like placing a solid object on a wooden desk resonated, followed by an unfamiliar woman's voice. Her voice was so mesmerizing it almost made me forget I was crying. It was like rolling pearls; a mellifluous voice hiding wisdom and age. Enchanting. Beautiful. I've never heard a voice like this. Who could it be? "I’ve soaked this cloth with water. I'll put it in your mouth, please suck on it little by little. Slowly, slowly. Yes, you’re doing great." "......Gulp, haah, haah." "Little by little...yes." A soft, water-soaked cloth slipped into my parted lips. I maneuvered my unresponsive tongue to somehow savor the droplets of water that tinged my tongue. It was like replenishing a parched field with water, yet the refreshing coolness was a welcome relief. "...ㅡAh." "No more." Although my body clamored for more, the woman withheld it, reasoning it was unwise to overconsume. The cloth left my mouth. Oh, come on. Though the complaint didn't escape my lips, perhaps it showed on my face because she seemed to smile momentarily. I tried opening my eyes to see her face, but a sharp sting forced me to close them again, a slight groan escaping my lips. Ouch. My brief glimpse showed nothing but darkness. Some sort of bandage seemed to cover my eyes, leaving a foreign sensation around them. It felt like coarse fabric wrapped around my eyes. I heard the rattling of utensils being tidied up, the clatter quieting, followed by her gentle inquiry. "Do you feel better now?" "......Yes." "That's a relief. You looked like a corpse when I first found you." Her voice seemed to come from right beside me, her breath, her scent—it was all overpoweringly vivid. The aroma I sensed, I thought it was emanating from me. Who are you, really? Human, are you? "You appeared to be in dire straits, so I brought you here and provided 'treatment.' Can you tell me what happened, if you don’t mind?" "......Ah..?" "If it's too tough, you don’t have to speak." Her concern was relieving. From what I gathered, she had found me drifting along the river and saved me. Yet it seemed she still didn’t know my identity. She doesn’t know me? Is this some secluded rural area? Really, how did you manage to treat me? You did it alone? My curiosity remained unanswered and grew more profound. And. Her tone was so polite and warm, it made me think if kindness had a voice, it would sound like hers. "Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet." From your lips. From your fingertips. From the clothes you're wearing. The lingering, sticky scent of— "My name is Saeli." Blood. What is it? And yet, a doctor? Not a murderer? "Me... Who am I...?" I'm intrigued. Since I hold no particular attachment to this world, I could end up as a nameless corpse somewhere or perhaps head to the palace to see Anna and Remi. But seeing them now would shatter the precious facade I carefully crafted. I'm interested in learning about you, Saeli, so I can’t die just yet. Oh, as always, I think I'm too kind. "Ah.... Ahh.... I, I don't....!" "....What?! Please, calm down!" Let’s say I died and came back to life in another form. Let's not overthink this. Aris Akaia is dead. And that’s all there is to it. "I don't know. Why, why? Pain... it hurts... Please tell me. I had something precious, but it hurts... it hurts... Help me...." ".....!!" I heard her sharply inhale. While she murmured a few words by my side, I continued my performance. There was no need to force tears. They had already soaked the fabric covering my eyes, dripping onto the floor. "Please, don't abandon me... it hurts... I need to know... don't let it hurt, don't stab me—sister." "......Ah" I mustered all my strength to raise my hand, reaching out toward Saeli, who sat beside me. A clattering sound erupted as my fingertips brushed against her, accompanied by the crash of what I assumed to be a chair falling over. Despite exuding such a potent scent of blood unlike anything I've experienced, she seems weak to these shows. My interest is piqued. "Damn...!!" "Help... Sister—" Suddenly, something sliced through the air toward me. With no means to evade, I had no choice but to accept the sudden blow. You’re kind, sister. Thump. "ㅡSister." "....What is the world like outside, how corrupt has it become!?" The impact lightly shook my body. Did she strike my throat? It is true that sometimes the best way to stop a frantic child is to make them faint. Come to think of it, I haven't thanked her for saving me. Well, I'll be sure to do that after I wake up. For now, goodnight. Once more, my consciousness began to sink into the deep sea. Slumber beckoned. The sunlit surface drifted further away. Gurgle. Deeper. Gurgle. Even deeper. ** * * *