Noa still did not understand what was truly happening, but before long, a gentle voice reached her ears.
"What are you doing here?"
The girl spoke softly, gazing down at Noa from up close.
Before her stood a beautiful woman, crouching without any visible expression. Her eyes were a vivid crimson red, and her golden hair, though striking, looked slightly unkempt. Dry leaves were tangled among the strands, as if she had been wandering through the forest for quite some time.
Slender fingers, pale skin tinged with faint exhaustion, and neatly cared-for nails one by one, the woman picked up fruits that had fallen into the mud, seemingly unconcerned with her hands getting dirty.
"These are still edible. You just need to wash them first," she said, handing Noa a small bundle of redberries.
Yet Noa could only remain silent. This time, it was not fear that bound her tongue, but confusion and awe.
"Are you alone?" the woman asked flatly.
"Hm…" Noa nodded faintly.
"Stand still. I'll clean you."
With just a single touch of her finger, shimmering light enveloped Noa's body. In an instant, every trace of mud vanished without a mark.
Noa's eyes widened in amazement.
"How did you do that, big sister?,"
"This is Mystic....."
"So cool!, This is magic." Noa exclaimed happily, staring at her now spotless clothes.
"You could call it magic, so....Do you want to go home?"
Noa nodded slowly. "Mm… but I'm scared to walk alone."
"Then I'll walk with you."
Walking through the Ragra Forest, Noa followed the narrow path with a bag of redberries clutched tightly in her hand. This time, she no longer felt afraid. The beautiful woman was walking beside her, accompanying her home.
"What's your name, big sister?"
"I'm Rea. And you?"
"Noa."
"So why were you picking fruits alone in the forest? Aren't you afraid your parents might get angry?" Rea asked.
"I'm scared Mom will be mad," Noa replied honestly. "But I wanted to sell them. I thought she'd be happy if I could earn some money."
"Next time, go with someone else. It'll be safer that way."
"I understand."
Rea did not ask any further questions. She knew that Noa was not one of the fortunate children who lived without worrying about money. Noa must have already considered the danger of entering the forest alone but there were things more important to her than fear itself.
Once they emerged from the forest, they followed a dirt road toward the village. Tall trees lined the path, their shadows shielding them from the harsh midday sun.
Rea lifted her gaze to the clear blue sky, watching clouds drift lazily across it. To her left stretched golden wheat fields, nearly ready for harvest. To her right flowed a small, crystal-clear river where freshwater fish thrived peacefully.
A spring breeze, soon to give way to autumn, blew in from the south. It brushed the leaves above, then flowed downward, fluttering the white cloak patterned with black that she wore.
Birds chirped merrily in their nests, enjoying the warmth of spring as they prepared to raise the next generation.
That harmony was abruptly broken by the sound of a horse-drawn carriage approaching from behind.
A red phoenix clutching a sword was emblazoned on the side of the carriage a symbol marking its occupants as nobles of the kingdom.
The carriage passed by swiftly, without slowing down. There was no reason for nobles to pay attention to a lone woman walking casually at the roadside with a small child.
When they reached the village gate, a thin, middle-aged woman in worn clothing came running toward them in a panic.
Her breathing was ragged. The stern worry etched across her face quickly transformed into anger.
Her gaze locked onto one person only the little girl beside Rea.
At the sight of her, Noa's face lit up. A bright smile spread across her lips as she clutched the bag of redberries tightly. In her heart, she was certain the fruits would make her mother happy.
But that hope was shattered.
Without a word, the woman grabbed Noa's arm roughly. The bag of redberries nearly slipped from her small hands.
"Where have you been, Noa?!" she shouted. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"
"I…" Noa's voice trembled. She raised the bag hesitantly. "I… picked these."
Instead of praise, her mother snatched the bag and threw it to the ground.
The red fruits scattered across the dusty earth, rolling in every direction.
Noa's face drained of color. Her eyes widened, filled with shock and fear.
"I've told you so many times," her mother continued, her voice shaking with anger. "Never go into the forest! What if you were attacked by wild animals?!"
"I'm sorry, Mom…" Noa whispered, lowering her head.
"Don't just apologize!" her mother snapped.
"Hurry home and do your chores!"
Rea remained silent. She clenched her hands, holding herself back from interfering. This was a family matter, and from the beginning, Noa had disobeyed her mother's instructions.
With small, trembling steps, Noa walked away alone, holding back her sobs. She did not dare look back even once.
Only then did the mother finally notice Rea's presence.
She bowed deeply. "Please forgive me if my child caused you any trouble," she said in a quieter voice. "Thank you for bringing her home safely."
"No need to worry about it," Rea replied shortly.
The woman reached into her pocket and pulled out a single, worn copper coin. "I don't have much. Please accept this as a token of my gratitude."
Rea's gaze drifted to Noa's small figure disappearing down the road, her head lowered, crying silently.
"Please keep it," Rea said softly. Then she added, "But… may I buy those redberries?"
The woman looked confused. "You may take them. There's no need to pay."
Rea shook her head. "I can't do that. Noa worked hard for them."
She took out five copper coins and placed them into the woman's hand. Rea could have given far more she possessed hundreds of gold coins but she chose not to. Not to mock, not to criticize, but to honor the effort of a small child who wanted to help her family.
Before leaving, Rea asked one last question.
"Is there an inn in this village?"
"No," the woman replied. "But there are a few empty houses that have been abandoned for a long time. You can ask the village chief for permission to stay by paying rent."
"I understand," Rea answered.
Her eyes drifted once more toward the road where Noa had disappeared, as if hoping the little girl might turn around just once.