Salem found the forest she was in to be perfect. She had never liked nature before, but right now, she had never felt more grateful to be outside in nature. The sound of the trees, the feel of the grass against the soles of her feet, the fresh breeze free of the stench of blood, and even the cautious stares of the wild animals wary of her presence brought a wave of peace to her mind long forgotten. 

Salem looked down at her hands. They were thin and extremely dry. Her arms were just as thin but had several hundred lacerations. She could not spot any of the various tattoos she once proudly owned. This was either due to the fact that she was caked in dirt and her own blood and feces or because of the numerous scars she held.  

Salem stood still and closed her eyes. The plain she found herself in was empty and wide. She liked it. She could not dare to live in something small again. With her eyes closed, her nose and ears were wide open. Salem ignored the smell of wood and grass and focused on the sound of running water. It was subtle but there. She made a decision. She wanted to wash herself. She wanted to get a good look at herself. She wanted to see what she had become in what she had learned to be centuries when she was locked up.

Salem began her cautious trek through the forest. She hadn’t noticed it before, but now that she was outside she had. 

I have no balance… Probably because I spent centuries curled up in a ball.

Salem let that thought linger and before long, she found herself in front of the river. The nearby trees stopped several yards away from the water due to the pebble-like ground. The riverside terrain was far more unstable than the dirt path she just walked, but the stones she stood atop of were smooth and cool. Salem took in the river before her and found it glistening. It was not far from the plain she had designated as her new home. The ripples of water could only calm a small portion of her rage as she watched it. The sound of the river and the clear color of the stream cleared her mind and with little to no effort, the rag dress she wore slid off her bare and malnourished body. Salem looked up at the full moon in the sky before she put one foot in the water and shuddered.

“So cold…” It was summer now but the stark contrast of the cold water made her body curl into itself. She hadn’t felt the sensation of water, let alone moving water for far too long. She had to stay close to the edge so as not to be drawn in deeper.

I have no strength so I will instantly drown if I go too deep…

Nevertheless, Salem got about waist deep and dunked herself. The feel of the water surrounding her from head to toe brought back a sense of reality to the runaway. It was still dark, but the moon provided enough light for her eyes that had long since adjusted to the night to see her reflection. What stared back haunted her. 

Hollow cheeks cracked lips, hair far too knotted and tangled to be saved, skin far too dark and caked to be considered live flesh, and blood-red eyes. She didn’t have to look at her reflection to know the sharp things she felt whenever she touched her stomach and waist were her bones jutting out. She looked at her hands closely for the first time and saw all her nails were caked in dirt. 

“I don’t even recognize myself…” Salem closed her eyes once more and wrapped her arms around her body as if to hug herself. Her rib cage hurt her similarly thin and weak arms. Tears rolled down her cheeks and they stung. A sob similar to a wounded animal erupted from Salem's ragged and dry throat. Salem stood still and let the river run past her for what felt like an eternity before she opened her eyes again.

Looking around her, she could see many eyes belonging to the forest creatures staring at her. She did not care. She struggled to walk back to where her rag dress had fallen. With one hand she picked up the hem of the dress and with the other, she mustered up what little strength she had left and ripped off a small chunk the size of a bath rag The ragged dress was not cotton but some material between wool and that used for scouring pads. Hence, it was perfect for scraping her body clean. 

So there Salem stood, in the water for nearly three hours, deep scouring her entire body. After the first round, she dunked herself in the river again. Once back up for air, she noticed the water had patches of black, brown, and a stream of red. She ignored it and continued this process. Before long, she could see a semblance of the deep brown skin she loved and not the layer of dirt and feces that resembled burnt flesh. 

Her skin felt on fire and sensitive to touch, but she didn’t care. Her body was chilled and the summer air did little to warm her up. She walked out of the river slowly with narrowed eyes. 

The ground beneath her turned muddy as she walked dripping wet to the center of the field she had originally landed in. The river was north from her current location by nearly half a mile and it was no joke to say she was desperately out of breath. She dropped the rag dress on the ground and sat on it exasperated. The eggs still floated near her everywhere she went. She looked at them for a moment. They were large. About the same size as a teddy bear but still a traditional egg shape. They were a dark gray matte in color and felt warm to the touch. She cradled them in her lap as she looked around.

The space was wide enough that she could build a dirt house. She had no energy to go looking for sticks and leaves. 

I can use magic, but I don’t know what type… does magic even come in types, or is that simply a fantasy? So far I have only used wind, space, and creation...

Simply too tired to think any longer, she stretched out her hand and tried to imagine a small square earth cabin. And surely enough after an awkward pause, she felt the mana moving through her body and watched as the ground moved to create a pitiful little hut. But even this brought a forgotten small smile to her face. In front of her stood an entryway meant for a door and she gladly walked through it, with the eggs in her arms. It was dark and the only light came from the open windows high up on the walls. Inside the ‘home’ she simply raised the ground once to make a flat ground to make a bed. She then ripped the lower half of her dress’ skirt to make a soft pillow for the eggs she stole to rest on. 

She had gotten used to sleeping on hard surfaces, but she did not want the eggs to grow used to such treatment. She had the door she created closed and only kept some windows high up in the walls to let air and wind pass through. 

Everything about her current situation was no better or worse physically than the last 300 years of her life. But mentally, Salem was at peace and found the idea of slumber welcoming for the first time because she knew that when she woke up, she would not be in hell, but in this forest.

‘I’m sorry. My sweet child summoned on my behalf... Your struggle will never be forgotten. I release you from my will… live for yourself.’

The voice came back to Salem as she closed her eyes and her breathing stabilized. Salem’s eyes were closed and she could feel her consciousness slipping, but a warm sensation she had not felt in a long time surrounded her again. It started from her stomach and reached to the tips of her toes and the top of her head. Had her eyes been open, she would notice that her body was glowing like it did 300 years ago. And had she had a mirror or something to see her reflection, she would notice her eyes were not the brown she was born with, nor the red she had transformed to, but a bright and shining gold. So beautiful, it seemed divine. 

When that sensation was gone, and Salem felt warm and comfortable enough, she felt something leave her body. She couldn’t tell what, but she knew based on the voice, that it was something related to it. Salem knew who the voice belonged to and could only utter these parting words to it. Deep down, even in her barely conscious state Salem knew had a feeling what had left her was not divinity but the shackles of responsibility.

This was something Salem appreciated more than anything in this world. 

So with nothing to do but truly sleep, Salem said, “Thank you.”