It was late evening, the sun was diminishing behind the horizon, with the full moon rising and taking the sun’s previous place in the sky.
Small cries echoed throughout the village from a small cabin. It had a few thin cracks around the door on its’ edges. A huge tree was hovering over the cottage, the wind whizzing by with a light touch on the tree’s branches and green leaves. Smothering over the house, the wind continued carrying the painful cries, to nearby villagers
A woman on the street stopped in her tracks, “A child is crying again?”
Another woman halted her steps as well and answered, “The child has been crying none stop the past few days. I don’t think it will stop anytime soon.”
The first woman glanced over towards where the sound came from, “Poor child. Maybe the villager’s priest could help?”
The second woman shook her head lightly, “The priest is too expensive for the mother. She lives alone with her child in a small house and can barely survive alone.”
The first woman’s eyes widened slightly, “All alone?”
“Yes.” The second woman nodded.
It is said that the priest of this village had healing powers and can help the villagers if getting enough gold for his services…
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The cries inside of the cottage has been endless for a couple of days.
The mother sat on the floor, leaning against the wooden walls and held her crying baby close. The tears were strumming down the baby’s cheeks, mouth open wide, and eyes shut tight. A lone candle positioned in front of them was their only light in the darkness.
Just a few days ago, was it silent in the woman’s home. She was all alone, doing her normal routines of chopping wood and selling them on the market.
Her life was plain and empty, until she came across a baby girl laying in the river on her way to retrieve water in her bucket.
Hands lost its’ grip of the bucket, letting it land with a loud “thud” on the grass. A golden light was shining around the baby’s body and keeping the snakes that surrounded her, away. It was like the snakes got drawn to the baby girl, but couldn’t get close enough because of the light, the older woman noticed as she stared with small amazement glinting through her hues.
The baby girl was sound asleep and had no idea of the danger that was lurking around herself.
The woman suddenly grabbed a hold of a stick from the ground and made her way into the water, with determination in her eyes. “This must be a blessing from the gods. They gave me a child, just as I have always wished for!”
She had prayed every night in her home, to the gods. To not be alone anymore, to have company, to have someone to live with and care for. Did the gods finally heed her prayers?
As she made her way through the heavy flood, the snakes swum away quickly. Water splashed towards the sides, as she reached out with her arms towards the baby. As if the gods were giving her a sign, the water seemed to nudge the baby towards her reach. Grabbing a hold of the baby, she dropped the stick and the light from the baby's frame decreased and disappeared from sight.White eyes flickered open, staring into her own brown ones. A curious glance came from the baby, while the woman returned a gentle smile.
The child was her blessing from the gods, but when they came home to her small cabin, her now found daughter would do nothing but cry and be silent once asleep.
“Shhh, I will protect you my Mingzhu.” Her mother would say in an hushed tone whenever Mingzhu cried.
Sudden knocking sounds came from the doorway, surprising her greatly as she looked up from the still crying Mingzhu. “Come in,” she called and eyed the door cautiously. The door creaked open hesitantly from the outside.
A woman and the villager's priest came into view. The woman hurried towards the two and crouched down next to them, by the candle, “Are you alright?”
The priest still stood by the door, wearing a gloomy expression across his face. ‘This child…’
“Death,” slunk out from the priest’s lips, making the two women stare at him with slightly widened eyes. “She will die. Death is seeking her. Death wants her, a path filled with darkness, filled with death.”
“NOOOO!!” Her mother screamed horrifyingly. “THIS CAN’T BE TRUE!!!”
Tears glimmered at her eyes, as she met Mingzhu’s own teary eyes.
“There must be something you can do, Priest?” Said the other woman with hopeful eyes.
An evil smile danced his features for over 2 seconds. Couching, the priest remained his composure, “Go and pray to the moon Goddess' shrine. Ask for her blessing and it might change the fate of this poor child.”
“Thank you priest!” She thanked and quickly rose up with Mingzhu in her arms, rushing out of her home and heading for the Moon Goddess' Shrine.
When she had left the cottage, the priest held out his hands and received 20 gold from the woman who had brought him here. The priest left first, while the woman still stood there and stared absentmindedly at the small space of the cabin.
'I hope they will be fine...'¨
She walked silently towards the candle and bent down. Her head decreased the space between her and the candle; blowing out the only source of light in this space. The woman turned around and left, back into the village.
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