Crimson Dancer

Chapter 1: The Village of Kurha

Nestled on the outskirts of the Amigenia territory lies a quaint, seemingly inconsequential village called Kurha. It’s a place where the days stretch long, and the echoes of the outside world are faint whispers carried on the wind. Twelve-year-old Betty has spent her entire life in this village, leading a quiet existence with no knowledge of the trials the world beyond Kurha might hold for her.

"Help! Somebody help me!" Betty's desperate scream pierced the tranquil stillness of the forest, sending flocks of birds fleeing from the treetops in a frenzied rush. Behind her, the sound of snapping jaws filled the air as a small wolf pup, barely more than a cub, pursued her relentlessly.

“Betty, for goodness’ sake, pick up the axe and defend yourself!” shouted Matthew from a distance. His voice was laced with a mixture of frustration and concern as he watched the scene unfold. The wolf pup, a mere level-one creature, should have been an easy challenge, yet Betty was struggling.

"Don’t tell me you can’t handle even a level one pup," Matthew muttered under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief. "If the folks from Shilai Village see this, don’t even think about admitting you're from Kurha."

Shilai Village, a neighboring settlement, wasn’t far from Kurha. A small forest, known for being home to low-level wolf pups, separated the two villages. The children from both villages often ventured into the woods to hunt these creatures, hoping to earn a few coins by selling their pelts and teeth in the nearby town.

The wolf pup was gaining on Betty, its sharp teeth snapping dangerously close to her heels. In a panic, she threw her heavy axe aside, but her foot caught on a rotten tree stump, sending her crashing to the ground. Dazed, she could only watch as the wolf pup lunged at her, its teeth bared, aiming for her throat.

“Betty!” Matthew’s heart pounded in his chest. He had kept his distance, believing that Betty needed the experience to grow stronger. But now, he regretted that decision. He was too far away to intervene in time.

The wolf pup’s jaws were mere inches from Betty’s neck when, out of nowhere, a feathered arrow sliced through the air, striking the pup squarely in the skull. The creature let out a final, pitiful whimper before collapsing, lifeless, on top of Betty.

“Ah!” Betty gasped, her heart racing as she realized what had happened. It was only when Matthew rushed over and lifted the dead wolf pup from her chest that she understood she was safe.

A figure emerged from the trees—Abby, a boy from Shilai Village, and at thirteen years old, the pride of his community. With his bow in hand and a smug smile on his face, he approached the pair. “Typical Kurha villagers—always so helpless.”

Abby was destined for greatness, or so everyone said. He was on track to attend the Royal Academy in Whirlwind Castle, bypassing the usual qualification tests thanks to his family’s connections. His older brother was already a student there, and Abby’s path seemed just as assured.

"Give it here," Abby said coolly, holding out his hand. "That’s Betty’s kill, after all."

Matthew, hesitant but knowing he had no choice, handed over the wolf pup. “You know, Abby,” Betty said, her voice shaking slightly as she got to her feet, “I may not be as skilled as you, but I need that wolf. My aunt is sick, and I need to trade its pelt and teeth for medicine.”

Abby studied her for a long moment before he responded, “Fine, you can have it, but on one condition—you must agree to marry me.”

Betty froze, her breath catching in her throat. “What?”

Matthew’s anger flared like a fire. “That’s absurd! One measly wolf pup for a marriage proposal? Betty, don’t even consider it!”

Abby laughed, a cold, sharp sound that echoed through the trees. “Relax, Matthew. I’m just messing with her. Who would offer a single coin for a poor orphan like Betty? But fine, take the wolf. I don’t need it anyway.”

With that, Abby tossed the wolf pup at Betty’s feet and sauntered off, his laughter lingering in the air long after he had disappeared into the forest.

As the last rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, Matthew turned to Betty, his voice softening. “You need to learn how to defend yourself, Betty. I won’t always be around to protect you. If you don’t, who will provide for you and your aunt once I leave for the academy?”

Betty nodded, her heart heavy with the realization that Matthew was right. In a world where survival depended on strength and skill, she knew she had no choice but to grow stronger—or risk losing everything she held dear.

Matthew handed her the axe, and as Betty gripped the handle, she felt its weight more acutely than ever. This was not just a tool for chopping wood—it was a weapon, one she would need to master if she was to survive in the world beyond Kurha.

"Start with the basics," Matthew said, his tone firm but encouraging. "You have a month before the town’s qualification tests. By then, you need to be able to defend yourself, Betty. You need to be able to kill a wolf pup on your own.”

Betty’s resolve hardened as she looked at the dead wolf pup at her feet. She had a long way to go, but she would make it. She had to. For her aunt, for Matthew, and most importantly, for herself.

Chapter 2: No Gold Coins

When Betty hobbled back home to the small, worn cottage she shared with her aunt in Kurha Village, the exhaustion was etched clearly on her young face. The evening sky was just beginning to darken, casting long shadows across the village, but the warmth of home was waiting for her—or so she thought.

As soon as Betty stepped inside, her aunt, lying under a threadbare blanket on the rickety bed, glanced at the wolf pup’s lifeless body in Betty’s hand. Her aunt’s gaze was sharp, and without a moment’s hesitation, she sighed. “Betty, this wolf pup… Matthew helped you with this, didn’t he?”

Betty’s aunt was no fool. Years of hardship had made her perceptive, and even in her frail state, she could see through Betty’s attempts at bravado. The small table by her aunt’s side held a simple meal of half-stale bread and a bowl of thin vegetable broth.

“Mm-hmm,” Betty mumbled, dropping the pup’s body in the corner before limping to the table.