It was winter.

The wind blew heavily with gusts of snow from the heartless north.

Faraway in a forest gathered several men in tattered raiments that had been mended several times with no remembrance. The beared adult men carried fire torches, sticks, and axes.

'Heave-Ho! The sun's going down anytime!'

The voice rang.

The flames lit the late afternoon in the fog filled mountain through the foliages like overlaying canopies. Steps of the people echoed, leaving footprints in the snowy road as well as the sounds of crushed leaves and faint jingling of shackles created a forgotten melody to the winter.

A plus size curly haired burly man gestured towards the fog in the front, "Finn, what happened to the girlie?"

From the side, a lanky boy wobbled up, "Old man Vic, she ain't doing good in the freezing cold. Old man Tim and others holdin' her."

Apparently, the white sack they carried happened to be a girl not younger than ten.

A sacrifice.

He hesitated a bit, 'What if we get retribution?"

For generations, the village of Sumire held an annual ritual of human sacrifice. The village had suffered many casualties in the past until the last mayor brought in a reforming solution.

The villagers held a deep-seated belief that calamities of nature—such as landslides, earthquakes, droughts, and the invasion of monstrous beings—were the handiwork of the celestial realms above. In order to placate the fury of the mountain deity, they resorted to the grim ritual of sacrificing a villager considered unworthy, a practice that not only halted the scourge of disasters but also enriched their harvests with abundance.

Like last year, this time a sacrifice was chosen.

Smack.

"Retribution?! Retribution, ye'say?!"

Finn's back was met with a sharp smack from Victor. Victor's face had completely turned red. He angrily barked at his fellows, "Ey, stop dawdlin'. The mountain spirit's gonna get mad for late offering! Our village has been doing this for years!! Don't forget!! Who brings us food and provision!! The mountain's protecting us!!"

The others behind started mumbling. Some had guilt itched on their faces vanishing not long after the afterthoughts of their deeds for the village after Bryce, a brown lean man in bardic manner said something to them.

Bryce was the village mayor's sycophant who had the ability to sway the emotions of the mass through vibrant speech.

"Enough fuss already." He narrowed his eyes while that friendly smile stayed plastered on his face,"We don't have all day."

At the mountain cliff...

" The mountain spirit's asking a lot this year. Emma's newborn was chosen this year too. But, we still got less harvest."

" Sheesh, coming here twice sucks."

The breeze was stronger on the cliff where they gathered. Underneath the snow covered surface awaited a sizzling mist covered depth.

"Boys, unmount her."

Victor trampled the snow as he awaited his fate. His sole desire was to return home as swiftly as possible. After all, the weather can be quite capricious. The darkness was beginning to descend.

Delicate feet, ensnared by corroded iron shackles, were first glimpsed as they slipped down the fabric drapery. Her arms were bound tightly. The young maiden trembled against the chill, as if the very weight of her body would conspire with the earth to betray her.

Lips so parched that crimson droplets nearly flowed down her chin. She was a maiden of otherworldly beauty. Her mystic blue eyes, partially visible, sparkled like the clearest sky. The cloth drapping over her shimmering pearl blonde hair rendered her more akin to a bride than a prisoner.

At one point, back in the village, she was loved by all, liked by the elder's third son Edwin.

But now, she was helpless. Anguish itched in her eyes that earned a loud smack on the shoulder from the farmer named Paul, "Ye', don't ye glare, girlie! Show some respect, brat!" That most likely scarred her weak skin.

She cried in anguish.

She couldn't speak. They had slit her tongue. She had done all the pleading yesterday. Her pleas fell on deaf ears. The villagers performed some pseudo ritual in front of the mountain parallel to the cliff. All they poured into her ears was how blessed she was to be chosen.

A desperate call of devotion followed.

"O' the protector of the mountains!"

 "Heed our prays! Bless us!"

Swoossh...

Not long after that, the miserable girl was thrown off into the oblivion; where she herself disappeared from the naked sight.

Forgotten by the deserting gait of the villagers.

To be Continued.

The world has been habituated by mystic beings. Humanity had fought for existence. However, The speedy growth of the goblins, orcs, elves, dragons and so on plighted the great minds.

A magical world that only exists in fairytales called forth those who could protect the world.

A beautiful world where monsters and humans co-existed, humanity's only saviour was called....

...'The Heroes'...

The Heroes from otherworldly dimensions like the Earth were summoned by different nations across the continent.

Heroes coming from various classes killed the rampaging monsters. In exchange, the entity called system granted them special abilities. The rulers of lands gave them the highest honor in their domains. The heroes were venerated on the citizens' lips; this was fate that was ordained.

For many years to come, new heroes were summoned through rituals. As of today, it was no different.

In the prosperous Kingdom of Valencia, many heroes were summoned. Among them a party of five heroes; Three males and two females summoned from Earth stood out the most. Their names were Kang Il-Seong (S rank; leader), Yoo Habin (Tank), Shin Kuroki (Knight), Seon Jihye (Mage) and Fubuki Yumiya (Healer). They formed the Esper guild.

Clack. Clack.

The doors of the throne room welcomed the arrival of men and women dressed in metal armours and mage robes. They kneeled. Recently, the adventurers had returned from subjugating anomalies in the northern regions.

"Blessings upon Valencia's sun."

"Blessings upon Valencia's sun."

"Blessings upon Valencia's sun."

The voices rang bowing in respect towards the King.

Sigird Este Bjorn Von Valencia.

A cold blooded ruler. A man, unfit for the throne, who has ruled with an iron fist after purging out his half siblings in the battle of succession. His gaze was unreadable, dark and transpicious.

"Arrived, have you?"

"I thought you'd kill me with boredom with the waiting."

The air tensed.

His slightly cool gaze encompassed even the strongest adventurers who were branded as S rank and closer players by the system. Even as a mere NPC, Sigrid's beastly aura never failed to surprise Kang Il-Seong.

"Not at all, your majesty." Replied Il-Seong, the S ranker while the while the others could barely raise their gaze. "The northern beasts have been subjugated as per order."

"Well done." The king stayed seated on the throne. His shimmering greyish silver hair reflected the light from his sides, "Anything else?"

For some reason, Il-Seong made a request.

"Your majesty, I'd like to check out the northern regions again." He added, "There should be a source of the spawning of the monsters."

'If I'm right, the cloth I found belongs to a human there,' He thought to himself.

Sigrid considered for a while. The Northern grounds were forbidden even for the Royal family's visit.

From the sidelines, Knox Franklin, the counsellor of the King commented, "Sir Il-Seong, I believe you are soon to return to the academy?"

"Yes." He nodded. His party had gotten up on their feet for departure. However, the thought of going to the north Inveigled his mind more than anything.

For the contributions, the adventurers were rewarded handsomely. Afterwards they were allowed to exit. Adventurers who had potentials had to attend the royal academy. It wasn't just a necessity but a mandate to fit into the society of the upperclass.

To be continued.

The snows fall.

They keep falling and falling until layers form. The fallen girl from the cliff had meticulously survived from the odd height under the heaps of snow after a fateful blizzard last night.

Wrong to say. Barely alive. Her vision returned and went out like a dim lamp in a stormy weather. Her blurry blues invoked pity from the living and unliving beings in the universe in her witness.

Anyone who sees her might laugh off and call her the Snow maiden she heard from the grannies in the village lulling young children with.

Unmistakably, she had been laying on a side of her face, she can no longer feel. Her skin was whiter than the sheep in Betty's farm.

For an instance, she had become one with the unfeeling winter like a bride separated from her destined one.

For her the world was cruel, wasn't it?

Too cruel. In her dreams, the memories of laughing, smiling with her village people kept replaying. The Renewed hope only brought the greater destruction.

Did I deserve this?

Maybe, if I die, everyone will be happy..

She was an orphan; abandoned at birth by the doorstep of a stranger one summer. She grew up in Sumire. She was the beacon of life in that village. Her cheerfulness and kindness had captivated the people there.

She truly belonged there. She lived in the dust and air of Sumire. She truly belonged there.

—With everyone she cared for.

With her friends she played with since her childhood.—With the nice uncles and aunties who sneaked her snacks or did her a favor or two once or twice. She was happy with everyone.

But she was mistaken.

No one truly thought of her as family.

Just yesterday she was dragged out of her grandma Mint's hut in the crowd.

She can remember the sneering looks of impatient and apathy on the faces of people she knew.

"Oi, What's stoppin' ya? It's Chief's order. Get the girlie out." Uncle Paul, the slender fisherman spat out tobacco.

Another man whispered to the other, "Let's do it before that hag returns."

The villagers had gathered there. The children were kept out. The very kind lady nextdoor, "Honey, this is for your own good. We raised you, remember? Good Children pay back their parents. Be good." Mrs. Kona grabbed her shoulders and said with a forced smile.

Uncle, aunty...what are you saying...?

"But I don't want—" Her eyes locked onto Max. Her face lit up,"Ma—" but it didn't last.

The brunette boy who'd always bring the girl marsh flowers. He had a guilty expression, for which he quickly dashed away. She was now genuinely frightened out of her wits.

Agatha nudged the village chief's son-in-law Victor, "Give her to us, women. We'll prepare her. You, men, prepare for the palanquin."

Not a shred of pity did the poor girl receive. At first, she was cooed and coaxed. When the amount of her pleading exceeded the limits of their patience, they bit back at her.

"Don't be ungrateful! Remember who fed you!!"

"You'd be the same as a stray dog if it weren't for us!"

"Can't you do a single thing for us?!"

"Ungrateful brat!"

The poor girl was dolled up. Undressed by force. Her lips were smudged red with rouge. She was swatted on the head for being disobedient.

"Please! Don't do this to me!! Aunty, it hurts—"

In the end, her tongue was slit in a grooming ritual with a nail under the excuse of 'The deity likes silent brides!'.

AAAAAAAAA—!!!

The laughter of the women got indelibly ingraved into her mind. There, she was writhing in pain, and they were making light of her and kept mocking her.

"A little pain can't kill a bull, lassie."

It took another turn when she ran out barefoot to find her grandma in hopes, she'd be protected by the old woman.

Smack. Hit. Kick.

Ironically, she was caught by the group of Samuel and brutally thrashed on the spot and brought back by the hair.

" Did you have to hit her so badly?!!" Agatha scoffed, "What if the deity DOESN'T like her?!" at the fools having ruined the makeup.

Moore shrugged with an incoming scowl,"Lil bitch almost cross the raft." Crossing arms, " Luckily Shepherd knocked the hag out. She was coming all at us with a stick."

Soon Victor came with shackles and put shackles on the sacrifice, "Such a wild runt doesn't deserve palanquin. Teach her a lesson on foot while some of us can ride a donkey or two." In the end, she was thrown off the cliff as a sacrifice.

Why would anyone care for me?

Her incomplete life flashed before her eyes. Before her visioned dimmed, she was dragged away by a dark shadow that couldn't be more human. Maybe, getting taken by a beast was in her fate after all.

To be continued.