Requiem of the Forgotten Chapter 36:Crimson Maiden

There was sothing wrong about this place.

It wasn’t just the burned buildings, their blackened husks looming in the fading light, or the ashen sky that seed to weigh heavily upon us. It was deeper than that—sothing colder, older. It felt as if the air itself was watching, holding its breath, waiting to see what we’d do next.

I walked slowly, my feet crunching softly on charred earth. Every few steps, the ghostly silhouette of a building erged from the gloom, skeletal and broken, barely recognizable. Wood crackled faintly as embers still smoldered, sending thin trails of smoke curling upwards, weaving through the sky like whispers.

"Another village," Toma muttered bitterly, breaking our silence. "Another graveyard."

Leif, beside him, frowned. "Whatever did this, it wasn’t long ago."

I swallowed, mories of Grava flooding back in waves. My side ached, though the wound had healed, leaving only a deep scar as a cruel reminder. I touched it lightly, feeling its shape beneath my shirt, a permanent symbol of my failures.

"Over here!" Mira called, pulling our attention toward what once might have been a barn. "There’s soone alive!"

Instantly, we moved closer. Mira crouched, carefully pushing aside debris to reveal a small figure curled against a blackened wall, trembling violently.

"It's a girl," Brynn murmured, gently kneeling beside Mira. His voice softened, fatherly and calming. "Hey, you're safe now. We’re here to help."

Slowly, the girl raised her head. My breath caught. Despite the soot smudging her delicate face, she was strikingly beautiful—hair like flowing fire cascading around her pale skin, lips full and crimson as fresh blood. Her eyes, deep erald green, locked onto mine. My pulse quickened inexplicably, and a faint flush spread across my cheeks.

"What... happened here?" I asked softly, unable to tear my gaze from hers.

She stood slowly, shakily, her eyes never leaving mine. "They ca suddenly. I hid and heard everything. The screams…" Her voice broke, tears tracing silent lines down her soot-stained cheeks. "I thought I’d die here, alone."

"Who?" Brynn asked quietly, his eyes serious. "Who attacked your village?"

"Monsters," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Always monsters."

I flinched. Her pain mirrored mine so clearly that it hurt. I stepped forward impulsively, reaching out my hand.

"My na’s Aleks," I said gently. "You’re safe now. We won't let anything happen to you."

She looked up at , her erald eyes widening slightly before softening. A fragile smile ford on her lips, making my heart leap oddly.

"My na’s Evelyn," she breathed, her voice warming in ways I couldn't understand. "Please… don’t leave here."

I nodded imdiately, without thought. "Never."

Toma exchanged a wary glance with Mira, but Brynn simply smiled knowingly and stood. "Let's find a safe place to rest tonight. This village… isn't safe."

I guided Evelyn carefully, keeping my arm close in case she stumbled. Her closeness filled with warmth, even though guilt gnawed at the edges of my mind, reminding how I'd failed to protect others before.

"Thank you, Aleks," Evelyn whispered softly, her hand gently touching my arm. "I don't think I'd have made it without you."

I blushed harder, suddenly feeling awkward yet strangely proud. "I—uh—it's nothing, really," I mumbled, my heart hamring louder than ever.

Evelyn giggled softly, her laughter lodic and soothing, brushing away so of the darkness that hung over like a shroud. "You’re a terrible liar," she teased softly. "But that's okay—I like that about you."

My face burned hot, and I stared down at the blackened earth beneath my feet, grateful for the fading twilight that hid my embarrassnt.

We camped just beyond the village, beneath towering, ancient trees whose branches intertwined like old fingers clutching at the stars. The group sat around the fire, tired eyes fixed on the flas, exchanging occasional murmurs. Evelyn sat near , quietly listening, smiling faintly whenever our eyes t.

I felt oddly calm around her. Despite everything I'd been through, her presence made it seem as though, for a mont, my life had sohow returned to sothing approaching normality. Perhaps it was the way she listened, really listened, her erald eyes locked onto mine as though nothing else in the world mattered.

Eventually, exhaustion overtook the others, and they began drifting off into sleep, their breathing slow and rhythmic.

"Aleks," Evelyn whispered suddenly, leaning closer. "Can I… ask you sothing privately?"

My pulse raced again. I nodded quickly, my throat suddenly dry. "Sure."

She smiled shyly, standing gracefully, offering her slender hand. I took it hesitantly, my face growing warm as she pulled gently toward the shadows beyond the firelight, into the thick embrace of the forest.

We walked slowly, the sounds of the night whispering around us, her fingers delicately intertwined with mine. My heart pounded louder with each step, confusion and anticipation wrestling within .

Finally, she stopped in a small clearing, bathed in silver moonlight filtering through leaves. Evelyn turned to , her eyes intense, reflecting the pale glow. A teasing smile curved her lips.

"Close your eyes," she whispered softly, her voice like silk.

My heart stumbled over itself. "Why?"

She tilted her head playfully, squeezing my hand softly. "Trust . Please?"

I hesitated, but her eyes were impossible to refuse. My pulse thundered in my ears as I obediently closed my eyes, breath held tightly in my chest.

"Now open them," she murmured, barely audible.

My eyes flicked open slowly, and my heart froze mid-beat.

Evelyn stood before , her clothing pooled at her feet, pale skin glowing gently in the moonlight, hair cascading like liquid fire down her shoulders. My face exploded with heat as my jaw dropped, words completely failing .

"W-wait— Evelyn…?" My voice cracked awkwardly.

She giggled softly, stepping closer, gently taking my trembling hands in hers. Her eyes shimred playfully yet oddly intense.

"Relax," she whispered. "It's alright…"

My head spun. This couldn't be real. I felt a weird combination of panic, excitent, and overwhelming embarrassnt.

"I-I don't… Evelyn, maybe—maybe we shouldn't—" I stamred desperately.

But then, in an instant, everything changed.

Evelyn’s smile twisted grotesquely, her erald eyes suddenly empty and dark. Her mouth stretched impossibly wide, revealing rows of needle-sharp teeth. Her tongue slithered forward, impossibly long, dripping with venomous saliva.

A monster stared back at where Evelyn had just been.

And then, before I could scream, she lunged at with blinding speed.

I barely had ti to react.

She—no, it—lunged toward , mouth impossibly wide, jaws snapping inches from my throat. I stumbled back, heart hamring so violently it drowned out every other sound.

"What the fuck—?!" I gasped, my voice trembling.

She hissed in response, the lody of Evelyn’s laughter twisted into sothing monstrous, dripping venom. The moonlight caught the slick surface of her too-long tongue as it whipped out toward like a serpent. I twisted my body desperately, but it grazed my cheek, burning like acid.

Pain flared, hot and sharp, searing my nerves. I stumbled, clutching my face, trying to put so distance between us. My vision blurred as panic tightened its grip.

"Co back, Aleks," the creature whispered mockingly, her voice shifting grotesquely between seductive sweetness and hideous malice. "You promised you wouldn't leave ."

I turned and ran, branches clawing at my skin as I crashed through the darkened woods. My heartbeat echoed wildly in my ears, each breath a tortured gasp. I didn’t dare look back. Didn’t dare slow down.

But I didn’t get far.

A crushing weight slamd into my back, knocking face-first into the ground. I tasted dirt and blood as claws sank painfully into my shoulder blades.

"Let go!" I scread, thrashing violently. My fingers desperately clawed at the earth, but she held firmly, strength unnatural.

She flipped effortlessly onto my back, pinning down. Her beautiful face stared down at again, flickering in and out between human and nightmare, erald eyes blazing cruelly.

I stared at her, fear freezing solid. Her hair swirled around her like crimson flas, yet her mouth, filled with razor teeth, smiled chillingly.

"Did you like better like this?" she purred, voice syrupy sweet as Evelyn’s, but with a sinister undercurrent. "Or would you prefer as your innocent little victim?"

I struggled uselessly beneath her, breathing ragged, heart pounding so hard it felt like it might explode. "Why…why are you doing this?"

She leaned in, running a sharp claw gently down my chest, slicing neatly through my shirt and leaving a thin, bloody trail. "Because I enjoy it. Because you’re so trusting, so foolish. And your essence, Aleks…" She inhaled deeply, eyes closing in twisted pleasure. "So pure… so delicious."

"Get…off ," I choked, desperately twisting beneath her weight.

She laughed, low and cold. "Make ."

Anger surged suddenly, hot and violent, flooding my veins like molten iron. I clenched my fist and swung at her face with everything I had. My knuckles connected—but the impact felt as weak as hitting water. She laughed louder, cruelly amused.

I punched again, harder, faster, desperate to break free. Each strike felt useless, like punching through shadows. Panic rose, choking . Until—

Sothing snapped inside . A surge. A flood of energy, raw and unchecked, boiling up from deep within my chest.

My fist connected again, and this ti, light exploded outward. Holy Essence surged forth, bright and blinding, radiating heat and power unlike anything I'd felt before.

The creature shrieked, thrown backward, crashing violently into a nearby tree. She twisted and spasd as tendrils of glowing energy consud her form, dissolving her beauty into a nightmare of screaming agony.

I scrambled back, stunned, watching as her flesh burned away, leaving nothing but blackened ashes drifting through moonlit air. Silence fell, heavy and deafening.

My body trembled uncontrollably. I stared at my shaking hands, feeling a nauseating mix of horror and awe.

"What… what am I…?" My voice broke.

Then darkness rushed in, stealing consciousness before I hit the ground.

Soft warmth caressed my face. Slowly, my eyes fluttered open to brilliant morning sunlight spilling gently over a clearing of vibrant green grass. For a fleeting mont, I almost believed everything had been a twisted nightmare.

But the sharp sting of fresh scars across my chest and shoulders told a different story.

"You're finally awake," Mira said gently from sowhere beside . Her usual sharp edge was softened by genuine concern.

I sat up slowly, groaning as my head spun. Brynn knelt beside , carefully examining the fresh scars with a thoughtful frown. Toma stood a few feet away, arms crossed grimly, his eyes unreadable, while Leif leaned silently against a tree, tension lining his usually carefree face.

"What the hell happened back there, Aleks?" Toma asked, his voice low and cautious.

I hesitated, swallowing dryly. My throat burned as mories flooded back—the beautiful girl, the twisted smile, the claws. "Evelyn...she... she wasn't human," I rasped, eyes fixed on the grass as sha burned hotly in my chest. "She turned into sothing else. Sothing monstrous."

Brynn's expression tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What exactly did she look like? Any details you rember clearly?"

"Her face—it changed suddenly," I said quietly, still shaken. "Sharp teeth, a long tongue, claws…she moved faster than anyone I've ever seen. It was like fighting pure shadow."

Toma exchanged a heavy glance with Mira, who nodded slowly in silent agreent.

"Sounds like a Crimson Maiden," Leif murmured thoughtfully, pushing himself away from the tree. His usual humor was entirely absent. "I hoped we'd never et one, honestly."

"A Crimson Maiden?" I echoed numbly, the words bitter and foreign on my tongue. "What is that?"

Brynn exhaled deeply, placing a steadying hand on my shoulder. "They’re cursed beings, Aleks. Born from the tornted spirits of young won who suffered violence at the hands of n. They feed on the lives of those they lure close, exacting their vengeance. Your 'Evelyn' was no victim—she was a predator."

I clenched my fists tightly, anger and confusion swirling inside . "So that destroyed village…?"

Toma nodded gravely. "Almost certainly her doing. Not the first, either. I've heard tales of Crimson Maidens wiping out entire settlents before vanishing into the night."

Guilt twisted painfully in my chest, making it hard to breathe. I had trusted her, believed her lies. She'd almost killed —just like she'd killed countless others before. My stomach churned with self-loathing.

"How did you manage to kill her, Aleks?" Mira asked carefully, eyeing closely. "Did you…use your Essence again?"

I hesitated, glancing at my own trembling hands. The mories blurred, flashes of brilliant light exploding from my fingertips. "I—I think so. I just reacted. I didn’t even know what I was doing."

Brynn’s face darkened with quiet worry. "It's dangerous, Aleks. You have Holy Essence—but it isn’t ant for soone like you. It wasn’t made to be wielded by ordinary people."

I looked at him, my heart thudding anxiously. "What do you an? Why is it so dangerous?"

He sighed deeply, his eyes serious. "Holy Essence is incredibly powerful—too powerful for a human body. It wasn’t created for mortal use. Each ti you release it, you risk your own life. Your body simply can't handle the strain. Last night, you lost consciousness because your body reached its limit. If you'd gone even slightly further, you might never have woken up."

A chill ran down my spine, cold fear gripping tightly. "Then…why the hell do I have it?"

"That's sothing none of us know," Leif murmured softly, a rare mont of seriousness darkening his expression. "But you need to learn to control it, or it'll control you—probably to death."

Brynn squeezed my shoulder gently, trying to reassure despite his grim warning. "We’ll figure it out. But right now, you need rest. We should reach the next town as soon as possible. You need proper care and guidance, Aleks. Before it's too late."

I sighed deeply, staring up into the painfully clear blue sky. Bitterness rose sharply in my throat, tinged with dark irony.

"Why couldn't I have just woken up in a peaceful fantasy world?" I muttered, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Why do I keep waking up nearly dead, every godsdamn day?"

Leif gave a dry chuckle, a flicker of his usual grin returning briefly. "Peaceful fantasy worlds don’t exist, Aleks. Reality just keeps getting worse. Lucky us."

"Of course," I muttered bitterly, pushing myself up to my feet with Brynn's help. "That figures."

I glanced back once at the clearing, where the charred remains of Evelyn's monstrous form lay scattered among the grass, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. Questions hung thickly in the air around , unanswered and oppressive. Each step forward felt uncertain, yet necessary.

I had no choice but to keep moving—even if the road ahead was paved with blood and shadows.