Year 723, Imperial Age
Klarisse had just finished her day’s work in the fields. Evening was falling, bringing a welcome coolness. Bathed in the last golden rays of the sun, she made her way toward the ?lhandrel River, seeking a moment of tranquility.
At the river’s edge, Klarisse gently shed her clothes, letting the breeze carry away the heat clinging to her skin. The crystalline waters of the ?lhandrel sparkled under the fading sunlight. She slipped delicately beneath the surface, savoring the soothing coolness of the water, letting the day’s worries drift away with the current.
She floated, carried by the gentle flow of the ?lhandrel. After lingering for long minutes, she finally climbed back onto the bank to dress. It was then that she noticed a motionless figure a little farther upstream. Her curiosity piqued, she approached cautiously.
A young man lay there, sprawled on the shore. His angular face was framed by disheveled chestnut hair, stirred by the wind and streaked with mud. He looked young, likely in his twenties.
She shook him gently by the shoulder.
He let out a groan and slowly opened his eyes, looking dazed. His gaze settled on Klarisse, and a flash of embarrassment crossed his face before he averted his eyes. It was then that Klarisse realized she was still naked, her clothes scattered along the bank. Blushing, she quickly gathered her things to dress and returned to the man, who had since sat up.
Sitting, the man scanned the landscape as if trying to recognize something. A weary sigh escaped him.
“Where am I?” he asked in a hoarse voice, his throat still heavy with sleep.
Overcoming her embarrassment, Klarisse answered softly.
“By the ?lhandrel River.”
He frowned, still disoriented.
“?lhandrel…” he repeated, as if tasting the word on his tongue. Then his eyes met Klarisse’s again. “And you are?”
She offered a shy smile.
“I’m Klarisse.”
The man didn’t respond immediately. He seemed to be piecing together scattered fragments of his memory.
“I… I can’t remember anything,” he said at last. “Just… flashes. Images… but nothing clear.”
“And your name?” she asked.
The man shook his head with a frustrated sigh.
“I… I don’t know,” he said, exasperated.
“Until it comes back, I’ll call you ?lhandrel,” she suggested.
A faint smile tugged at the man’s lips.
“?lhandrel… That works,” he agreed.
Klarisse extended her hand.
“Come with me. You must be hungry.”
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After a moment’s hesitation, the man nodded silently and followed Klarisse.
Together, they took the path winding through the fields to her home.
When they arrived, she opened the door with a familiar creak.
“Make yourself at home,” she said, stepping over the threshold and gesturing for the young man to follow.
She led him through a vestibule scented with wax and into a dimly lit kitchen.
She gestured toward a wooden chair by a round table covered with a checkered cloth. As he sat, Klarisse set to work—pots began to clatter, and soon the delicate aroma of fresh soup filled the room.
Curious, he let his gaze wander around the space.
“Do you live alone?” he asked suddenly.
Klarisse paused in her task, then answered with a sad smile.
“Yes, I’ve been alone since my parents left.”
“Have they gone far?” he asked.
Klarisse shook her head gently.
“They’re gone,” she said softly. “It’s been four years now. They walk the Creator’s paths, free from all burdens.”
When the meal was ready, she placed a steaming bowl of soup before ?lhandrel, who thanked her with a nod and a broad smile before diving into his soup with surprising vigor.
After swallowing his first spoonful, ?lhandrel looked up at Klarisse, his face lit up with surprise.
“This soup is incredible,” he said, before devouring the rest of his bowl as if he hadn’t eaten in days.
Klarisse’s smile widened at his enthusiasm.
“Would you like more?” she offered, eyeing his empty bowl with amusement.
“Yes, please,” he replied sheepishly.
She served him a generous second helping, feeling an odd satisfaction in offering him this simple comfort.
“You could stay here for the night,” Klarisse suggested once the meal was done.
“I don’t want to impose on your kindness,” he said, a touch of embarrassment in his voice.
Klarisse gave him another smile.
“Don’t be silly. You’re welcome as long as you need. Besides, where would you go in your state?”
After a moment’s thought, he accepted her invitation with gratitude.
“Thank you, Klarisse, from the bottom of my heart,” he replied.
Together, they prepared a spot for the night in the main room. Klarisse pulled fresh sheets and a pillow from a cupboard while ?lhandrel helped spread a mattress on the floor.
They set up the makeshift bed where the silvery moonlight slipped through the half-open shutters, casting a soft, reassuring glow.
Once everything was ready, Klarisse headed to her own bed but paused to look at ?lhandrel.
“If you need anything, wake me,” she told him.
?lhandrel nodded.
“Thank you. Good night,” he murmured.
She offered a friendly smile before slipping under her covers.
The day’s fatigue tugged gently at her eyelids until sleep claimed her.
A piercing scream jolted her awake in the middle of the night. She leapt from her bed, her heart pounding wildly. Guided by the cries, she rushed through the house to find ?lhandrel thrashing in his sleep, seized by spasms.
Panicked, Klarisse knelt beside him and shook him firmly, trying to pull him back to reality.
“?lhandrel, wake up!” she cried, frantic.
The young man’s eyes snapped open, wide with terror, his breaths ragged as he fought to calm his fear-stricken mind. In a trembling voice, he whispered, “The sky… the sky was on fire…”
Klarisse stared at him, perplexed, a shiver of unease running down her spine.
But before she could ask more, ?lhandrel had already slipped back into a restless sleep, his face taut with fear.
Klarisse stayed by his side until dawn began to seep through the windows.
