Chapter 2 – Anne’s Story (1)

Chapter 2: Anne’s Story (1)

I opened my eyes. I didn’t know how long I’d slept.

After my body changed, the concept of time disappeared. I counted up to 100 years, but beyond that was difficult.

Today I didn’t hear the sound of storms. When I went outside, indeed, the weather was clear.

A chilly air remained, but this much was fine. I spread my wings and flew up toward the sky.

At first, I couldn’t even imagine flying. Having wings was unfamiliar and difficult from the start. But now being in the sky like this felt the best.

‘The lake had melted.’

The place that was frozen almost every day showed ripples today. Such opportunities were rare, so I quickly landed on the ground.

The appearance reflected on the water’s surface was no different from the beginning. A red bird. It was a bit large for a bird, but anyway, a bird.

‘This would be bigger than an ostrich.’

It wasn’t originally like this. From my memory, I was much bigger. I might have shrunk because of the cold, or I might have shrunk from just sleeping.

Whatever it was, I didn’t mind. Right now was appropriate. When I first discovered my nest, my body was so big i could barely fit in. I even thought I might die from being stuck.

‘Hm?’

Suddenly feeling something strange, I raised my head. There was a young girl holding a fishing rod.

“Ah, ahhh….”

I made a mistake. If the weather had warmed up, it wasn’t just me who moved.

If it was such a large lake, there had to be many fish too. Not only animals that needed to eat, but people could also come looking.

“Ahh. Ahhhhh….”

They said when people were too surprised, words didn’t come out. Only sighs flowed between her parted lips. Feeling somewhat sorry, I tried to move my body to distance myself.

“Ah, no! Ple, please! No!”

The girl threw down her fishing rod and knelt.

Even though the weather had cleared, it had to still be very cold. This was a gravel area, so her knees had to hurt a lot.

“Sniff, sob….”

Did I look that scary? Feeling a bit wronged, I looked at the water’s surface.

My body was a bit large, but not at monster level. My red feathers stood out, but flames didn’t ignite. I had a sharp appearance, but I wasn’t hideous.

I reflexively thought about saying it was okay. But I immediately closed my mouth. No, my beak.

I’d tried several times, but human words didn’t come out anymore. What came from me were only whistle-like sounds. If I used those, that girl would be even more terrified.

“I don’t want to be eaten. I’m scared.”

“Hmm?”

“No. If I die, what will happen to my younger sibling?”

It wasn’t being conveyed through hearing. It was a desperate cry passing through my head.

I looked at the girl prostrated there, trembling. It seemed I could hear that girl’s inner thoughts.

‘If listening was possible, perhaps I could also convey?’

I wondered if it was possible, but I became a bird, so what else couldn’t happen.

‘The problem was I didn’t know the method….’

After thinking briefly, I fixed my gaze on the girl. And I brought up the words I wanted to convey in my head.

“I won’t eat you.”

Anne was a very spirited girl.

Even though her parents had passed away in an unfortunate accident. Even though only she and her younger sibling were left alone in the world. She didn’t lose courage and lived with all her might.

“Anne. Where are you going?”

 “The weather has cleared, so I’m going to the lake to fish!” 

“Be careful. Clear weather means monsters are also moving around.” 

“Yes! Thank you, ma’am!”

Anne left the village with her fishing rod. Watching that sight, the middle-aged woman clicked her tongue.

If circumstances allowed, she’d want to help, but it was difficult. The north was always a barren place. A place where taking care of oneself was hard. All she could do was worry and tell her to be careful.

‘If only it weren’t for the bandits.’

A few years ago. Anne’s father was killed by bandits. He fought bravely for the village but lost his life.

The head of household position became vacant. The mother had to step up. But the misfortune sent down by God wasn’t the end. Anne’s mother was taken by a monster while working.

‘Whether Anne could endure.’

When she returned, I should give her some warmed goat’s milk at least.

Meanwhile. Anne ran quickly to the lake.

‘Monster activity was sparse during the day. Let’s catch something quickly and return!’

Her younger sibling, Rone, unlike herself, was not in good health. His health was originally poor, but losing both parents consecutively was significant. For such a younger sibling, it was elder sister Anne who had to take responsibility for every meal.

Upon reaching the lake, indeed much of the ice had melted. Since the weather cleared a bit, the fish would also be active.

She hooked the needle to the fishing rod and attached bait. Catching just one would be enough. Catching two fish would be too good.

‘God. Perhaps three wouldn’t be possible?’

Being a bit greedy, just as she was about to cast her fishing rod.

SWOOSH

From somewhere, scorching heat suddenly hit her. It felt like blazing flames bloomed right next to her. Wondering what it was, Anne looked around and ended up seeing it.

“Ah, ahhh….”

A monster of unknown identity, dyed red all over.

“Ahh. Ahhhhh….”

First came the thought of her mother who was taken by a monster. Next came thoughts of Rone who would be left alone and suffering.

RUSTLE

“Ah, no! Ple, please! No!”

When the monster moved, Anne collapsed. She couldn’t even think of running away. She was too scared.

She hated pain and hated dying even more. But what she hated more than that was her sick younger sibling being left alone.

He was still young. He still needed care. If he lost his parents and then lost his remaining sister too. Her younger sibling would surely lose his life.

“Sniff. Sob….”

I don’t want to be eaten. I’m scared. No. If I die, what will happen to my younger sibling. God. Please. Just once show me your mercy….

“I won’t eat you.”

“…?”

A warm voice whispering in her ear. Anne unknowingly raised her head. The monster was looking at her.

“I won’t eat you.”

It was impossible. There was no way. Why did it feel like that monster was speaking?

“Be at ease.”

The monster took a step back. Warm warmth was felt around it. A gentle breeze that tickled the skin blew.

This voice. It was definitely the monster’s. I’d never heard of such a thing. How could a monster speak human words? And directly convey them into one’s head at that.

“What is your name?”

Should I answer or not? She hesitated for a moment. Then she found herself opening her mouth to an irresistible force.

“A, Anne. It’s Anne.”

“Anne.”

Just saying the name once. Really just that once was all. Why did my heart swell up?

You came to fish. 

“Y, yes.” 

Go ahead and catch some. The weather has cleared, so fish will bite well.

The monster took another step back. Anne looked closely at that monster.

A large red bird.

It seemed like a monster, but it didn’t seem like a monster. At first she was scared, but now it was different. From its voice. From its aura. she felt warmth.

Anne, who had been watching carefully, cautiously cast her fishing rod. Just in case, she glanced to the side, but the monster stayed still. It seemed like it had stopped moving to help her lower her guard.

I have a few things I’d like to ask. Can you answer them?

Anne nodded her head.

Where is this place? What is it called, and where does it belong?

It felt like a foreigner asking. Could it really not be a monster? Without letting down her guard. But with fear slightly withdrawn.

“H, here is the northern part of the Empire. It’s also called Nosland.”

Anne earnestly answered the red bird’s, no, the monster’s questions.

So. This place is in the north. It’s a very cold place. It belongs to a place called the Empire, and that Empire is the best place on the continent. 

“Yes.” 

The reason you were frightened upon seeing me was because there are many evil beings that harm people. “…Yes.”

The red bird was silent for a moment. Anne watched nervously, slightly worried.

“Anne. Your fishing rod.”

“Yes? Ah, ahh!”

When she pulled the fishing rod with all her strength, a fish came up. It wasn’t big, but this much could fill one person’s stomach. She didn’t have to return empty-handed!

Try catching a little more. You’ll catch two more.

Indeed, as the red bird said. Anne caught two more afterward. Three fish. This much was quite lucky.

“U, um. Th, thank you.”

“To me? “

“Yes. So… just, thank you.”

For not being a monster. For not being hostile. For staying by her side when she would have been scared alone. When Anne bowed her head, the red bird’s beak twitched.

“Anne.”

“Yes.”

“You said your younger sibling is sick?”

“Yes? H, how did you know?”

It was strange. I never said that.

Take this.

A red feather flew on the wind. As if someone was controlling it, it fell onto Anne’s palm.

Take it and place it by your younger sibling’s bedside. “Why this….” It’s a gift to the first person who became my conversation partner.

The red bird spread its wings.

Beautiful. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I felt like I might be enchanted and tried to catch it.

Your heart caring for your younger sibling is admirable.

With those words, the red bird flew up into the sky. With one flap of its wings, the surroundings turned red. Brilliantly colored. Anne just watched that scene in a daze.

“…Ah.”

The feather. Anne found the feather the red bird gave her. It didn’t fly away and was still there. She gripped it tightly in her hand.

She was still bewildered. It was a series of unbelievable events. The feather she was holding now might have had a bad influence.

But Anne thought it probably wouldn’t. If it were really a monster. If it were one of the evil beings. It would have eaten her as is or dragged her away.

‘Perhaps. Could it be an angel sent down by God?’

I didn’t know well. Anyway, I could return home. Anne gathered the fish she caught and the feather and returned home.

“COUGH, COUGH. You’re back, sister?”

“Rone. How are you feeling today?”

“I’m fine. COUGH, COUGH!”

There was no way he was fine. There was no color in his face at all. Like a candle about to go out at any moment. Anne was scared of that fact. She didn’t want her younger sibling to be left alone, but she also didn’t want to be left alone.

“Ta-da. I caught three fish today?”

“Wow. Really?”

“Yes. I was lucky today. God must be watching over us.”

Before preparing dinner, Anne took out the feather. And she carefully placed it on Rone’s bed.

If God really stayed by my side and passed by, then my younger sibling too. May he not be sick. May the two of us live supporting each other. Praying earnestly, Anne touched the feather.

The next day.

“Uh, sister.”

“Rone!”

She couldn’t believe it.

Just one day. In only one day, Rone had gotten out of bed. He had difficulty even moving. He was pale without any color. Color had returned. He wasn’t coughing either.

“What on earth is this….?”

The village people were also surprised.

They knew Rone wouldn’t live long. But that child’s illness was cured as if washed clean. As if a divine miracle had descended.

“Anne. What on earth happened?”

“Well, so….”

After thinking briefly, Anne answered like this.

“W, well, I went to catch fish. I found grass that looked like medicinal herbs and we ate it together for dinner! Maybe that had an effect?”

The red bird might be put in a difficult position. So she didn’t tell the truth. She thought this much would be enough.

But fortune sometimes brought misfortune.

“Boss. There are precious medicinal herbs in a village around here.”

“If we sell those, we could make some money. Let’s go strip the place clean.”

A very small story that started in a small village. Ended up reaching the ears of bandits aiming for a quick fortune.