In the dead of night, a dense forest was disrupted by a small bundle tumbling from the treetops. It was slightly cushioned by the branches before landing into the brush below with a soft thud. A faint whimper echoed from the bundle as the night continued, the sounds of wildlife surrounding it. As dawn broke, the sun illuminated the forest floor, revealing the bundle to be a young adolescent girl. Barely conscious, she lay amidst mushrooms and various flowers. Weakly, she attempted to move, but her body ached all over, rendering her immobile. All she could do was lie in wait, crying out for help, hoping someone would hear her. "Father... Father... Where... are you?" she whimpered, her voice hoarse and dry. Hours blurred together in an endless haze of pain and darkness. The girl's body screamed in agony, her head pounding like a relentless drum. "Papa... Papa..." she whispered again, desperately trying to move her fingertips, but to no avail. It seemed hopeless. Suddenly, she became vaguely aware of rustling and footsteps, though they felt distant and unimportant. A figure loomed over her, its face a blur. "H-help... please..." the girl whispered. The stranger jumped back slightly, taken aback, before stilling once again. The girl attempted to look up at the figure standing above her, but the effort caused her immense pain. Curious, the stranger knelt in front of her, resting a hand on its knee. As the girl tried to ask for help again, she noticed something that troubled her. Resting on the stranger's knee was a clawed hand that couldn't possibly be human. She wanted to scream, cry, and fight, but she couldn't—she had no fight left in her. Panic overtook her, and she began to feel faint. The stranger slowly reached out its clawed hand toward her. As she lost consciousness, the girl tried to focus, but her vision swam. She saw a flash of auburn skin and something sharp, and then everything went black.

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Sometime Later... Arjana stood on a grand balcony, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. Beside her, an older man adorned with feathers and a crown gazed down at her with a gentle smile. He patted her head affectionately as the bright sun revealed a beautiful and prosperous kingdom below. But then, his expression turned somber. "Arjana," he said, his voice heavy with sorrow. "I'm sorry..." The kingdom was suddenly plunged into darkness as blood began to rain from the sky. Arjana clung desperately to the man, but she fell through the balcony into an abyss of darkness... "Little one, youngin'...?" a voice called out from the void. Days later, Arjana stirred from unconsciousness, greeted by the unfamiliar sight of wooden walls and the rich scent of mahogany. She slowly sat up, her body still aching but feeling slightly stronger from the much-needed rest. She found herself in a rustic cabin bedroom. "Finally, you're awake. Tell me, how are you feeling, little one?" a relieved voice said. Arjana turned to see a tall man dressed in peculiar attire, with a belt adorned with glass vials and pouches stuffed with herbs. His head was covered by a large hood, with graying, braided hair peeking out. He appeared middle-aged and weary, causing her to shudder. "Don't be afraid. I'm a doctor, here to help. A friend of mine found you lying in the woods," he explained calmly. Adjusting his hood, he introduced himself, "Name's Birger Bramblewood, but my young patients call me Mister Birger." He opened a small jar from his belt and dabbed a strange blue substance around her nose. "Something to help you wake up," he said. The smell was strong and overpowering, but not unpleasant. "Tell me, do you remember your name, youngin'?" he asked, kneeling beside the bed. Arjana pondered for a moment as fragmented memories returned. "My name is Arjana Talarus. I...I'm a princess from the Paria Kingdom," she said, her voice trembling. "Can you help me get back home? Please!" she pleaded. Birger was taken aback, trying to process the information. He gently calmed her down, fearing she might have a head injury. "Now, hold on. Calm down. I don't want you getting all riled up and hurting yourself," he said soothingly. "Let me get you some medicine. Then you can tell me everything." He walked to a workbench and ground up some green herbs in a mortar and pestle. As he heated the mixture, changing the water to a deep red, Arjana's curiosity got the better of her. She stumbled to her feet, but Birger guided her back to the bed. "Youngin', you can't be standing up," he scolded. "But I want to see," she insisted. With a sigh, he carefully placed her back on the bed. "Another time, please stay put." After ensuring she was settled, he poured the red mixture into a bottle and waited for it to cool. "Drink this. I'll be back with some food," he said before leaving the room. Arjana hesitated, unsure if she should trust the potion. She decided to investigate the workbench, but the unfamiliar language on the jars and the spicy, dry smell of the herbs left her puzzled. Suddenly, pain overwhelmed her, and she collapsed to the floor. Birger rushed back in. "Youngin', I told you to stay put!" he scolded, helping her back onto the bed. "You didn't take the medicine, did you?" he sighed, offering her the bottle again. "Drink this; it'll make the pain go away." Desperate for relief, Arjana drank the potion, wincing at the bitter taste. The pain subsided immediately, but when she tried to get up again, Birger stopped her. "Hold on, youngin'. Wait until you're fully healed. By the gods, you're a stubborn one..." "But I have to find my family. I need to go back to my kingdom," she insisted. Birger sighed, deciding to take a different approach. "Arjana, do you remember how you wound up in the forest injured?" he asked. Arjana struggled to recall, but her memories were still hazy. "I remember...my kingdom was invaded. Father and big brother stayed to fight, but they sent me away." "Where did they send you?" "To the Empire in the mountains. I think it was called the Brymshire Empire," she replied. "Do you know how you got there or who was taking care of you?" "....Oh! My father's friend, the Emperor. I was staying with his family. He has an older son named Saguious and a younger daughter named Cellia. She was older than me, and we used to play together. Their maid, Tinomy, looked after me," she explained. "And the Emperor's wife?" Birger asked. "She was away at the time. I never got to see her," Arjana said sadly. Birger seemed puzzled as he looked her over. "Arjana, how old were you when the kingdom was invaded?" "I was thirteen." "When did it happen?" "In January, the first week." "And how long were you living with the Emperor's family?" "Until June," she replied. Birger paused, pinching the bridge of his nose. The birds chirped outside, and sunlight filled the room. Arjana felt uneasy, sensing that something was amiss.

"...Little one...you stayed with them until June...It's already April, spring of the new year." Arjana looked at Birger, bewildered, as thoughts raced through her mind. There was no way she could have been unconscious for several months. In a panic, she stood up and began to pace, but Birger quickly stopped her. “Let me go! Please!” she begged. “Hold on now, wait here,” he said, leaving the room briefly and returning with a blue flower. "Here." Arjana calmed down slightly as she saw the glowing, beautiful flower. She noticed a strange golden pollen coming from it. Curious, she gently took the delicate flower from him and smelled it. It had a sweet scent, almost like a dessert. “What is this?” Arjana asked, never putting the flower down. “You know my friend who found you? He lives in an area where they grow. He picked this and wanted you to have it. They're called Blue Dreams, and the pollen can calm the mind. The children in my old village loved them,” Birger explained. Feeling a sudden burst of energy and an urge to feel the sunlight, Arjana asked, “Mr. Birger, may I go outside, please?” She began to jump up and down slightly. “Okay, okay, just don’t move around too much,” he said, stopping her from jumping. “Follow me,” he sighed, taking her hand and leading her outside. Arjana eagerly stepped into the sunlight, walking on the grass. The sun was bright at first, but she soon enjoyed its warmth and the sound of birds singing above. She looked around at the colorful blooming flowers and tall trees that surrounded them. However, her glee turned to suspense when she didn't see anyone else. No houses, no streets, or any other citizens... It was just them, in a cabin in the woods. Arjana grew apprehensive about the man who "saved" her. She began to worry if she was truly rescued. “What if he’s lying? What if he kidnapped me?” she thought, her bubbly behavior slowing to a stop. Birger noticed and, sensing the tension, stepped back to give her space. “...Mister... Where’s the town?” Arjana asked, her voice shaking slightly. “I’m not allowed in the town, Arjana.” “Why?” He paused for an awfully long time, leaving only the sounds of the forest around them. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally decided to answer. “...Because of where I’m from. I’m not a citizen of the town. So they tell me to stay outside the town limits for the safety of the other citizens living there,” he explained, gesturing to a small sign he set up in front of a path. The sign said “Rockridge town” with an arrow pointing north, while it said “Cursed Mountain” to the east. “May I go to town and see if I can get home?” Arjana asked, hoping he wouldn't object. “You can, but they’ll drive you away. Child or not, they don’t trust outsiders. In the past, that town used to be friendly towards strangers, but not anymore,” he replied, sitting in the grass next to her. “They wouldn't hurt a child, would they?” He paused for a moment before answering, "Arjana, the last time I saw a hungry child at the town limits... they butchered him with machetes.” Arjana's heart dropped in her stomach, making her feel ill. She dropped to her knees, and Birger reluctantly patted her on the back to comfort her. “Why...why would they...?” “In the past, outsiders used deceit to enter the city. Once inside the prosperous town, they committed crimes against the locals. Every time the locals attempted to cast them out, the outsiders hid behind their weak: children, women, and the elderly,” he explained, pulling out a wooden pipe. He took a deep puff before continuing, “The locals, fed up with the outsiders, resorted to violence. Many outsiders were purged; women, children, and the elderly were not spared. The locals lost so much at the hands of the outsiders that they became bitter and resentful. So now, whenever a woman, child, or elderly person appears at their gates, they are prepared to use deadly force without hesitation. They believe it deters the outsiders who wish to harm them. The town is still prosperous, but they are extremely violent towards outsiders. The scars from that time are still fresh.” Devastated, Arjana whimpered at the prospect of not being able to get help. Birger stood up and offered his hand. “It's getting late. You can stay in my home until we figure out what to do with you.” Arjana sat there, unsure if she could trust him. He may have saved her, but she still didn't know why she was out here or where she was. So many thoughts ran through her mind about whether it was wise to accept his offer. Sensing her apprehension, he offered some comfort. “This is only temporary until we find someone to take you home,” he said softly. Feeling lost and unsure, she took his hand in agreement. He helped Arjana to her feet and guided her back into the cabin. Once inside, he went to his kitchen and gave her an apple from his cabinet. “I can tell you haven't eaten anything. This is all I have until I go to the market,” he said optimistically as Arjana sat on a wooden stool. "I don't mind,” she said before taking a bite of the apple. Looking out the window at the evening sky, Arjana sighed. She missed her family deeply. Secretly, she hoped that someone from her family would come for her, but with the way things were, she was uncertain. One question remained on her mind: “What happened between June and this April?”