* * *
Task completed. Everyone is dead.
There was a young woman in a blue dress in the wagon. She wore a lot of jewelry.
Cursed iron.
I perfectly remember Aio's rules. No metal in the sanctuary. I begin to strip them of their equipment.
I hide the discarded items in the thick brush away from the trail. I leave behind the weapons, armor, and all the heavy gear they carried with them.
That was the most tedious part of this slaughter. Searching the corpses consumed the most time.
It is good that the horses survived. They will facilitate the transport of the victims.
I load every corpse onto the wagon and head toward my companions.
The journey to the sanctuary passes without disruption. I ride close enough to reach the very edge of Aio's territory. The wagon wheels are forged with iron, so I cannot drive any deeper.
I do not want a repeat of yesterday's fury.
For this reason, I decide to take one body as proof of the completed mission. I choose the woman. She is the smallest and lightest. The rest will wait on the wagon.
I go to meet the dryad.
* * *
I froze in my tracks. The blood drains from my face, and my legs refuse to obey. The warrior is holding a dead woman in his arms.
That's exactly the one I saw in my nightmare!
I notice a massive wound on her chest. She was pierced by the spear.
I try to maintain my composure and an indifferent expression.
"Wh-why did you bring her here?"
I force myself into silence. I've never been overcome by such terror before.
But he merely tilts his head with genuine astonishment.
"I have the offerings. You were supposed to show me where I am to place them."
"Ah... Yes, that's true. Wait. Offerings? Not just one?"
"In total, there are seven human bodies and two horses. The carriage has metal fittings, which is why I left it with the rest of the cargo at the border of the sanctuary. The horses are still alive."
"How many...?"
I can't believe what I'm hearing.
So many humans rarely venture here over an entire year, and he accomplished this on his second day?!
"And this woman...?"
"She was in the wagon. She is the smallest, which is why I brought her first. They formed one group."
So she was an enemy!
My hands are trembling.
This means one thing! That first woman must have been his enemy too. If we want to survive, we have to completely change our approach to him!
For the first time, I feel such an overpowering fear of a mortal. We must ensnare him by all possible means.
*If I want to live, no more haughtiness!*
* * *
"I-I'm sorry."
I open my eyes wide in astonishment.
*Why is Aio apologizing?!*
"I thought you had neglected your task yesterday. I unnecessarily let my emotions carry me away."
When I was approaching the dryad, her posture betrayed fury. She clenched her fists and teeth. It turns out that I misinterpreted it.
So... I did not do anything wrong...
A weight falls from my heart. A smile surfaces on my face. I bow my head before her. Suddenly, she approaches and places a kiss on my cheek.
"Rest easy, I'll never treat you like that again. Carry the girl to the wagon and wait for me there. I will go get the Rusalkas and tell them everything."
I am glad that the conflict has been averted.
That does not mean I will stop trying, however. I will make them proud of me.
I return to the wagon.
After a moment, my companions appear. I notice their shy smiles. I approach and enclose both of them in a strong embrace.
I want them to know that everything is fine.
They tremble delicately under my touch, but after a moment, they return the embrace. It is time to return to work, however.
Aio points out a place on the outskirts where we are to place the offerings. Together with Reika and Keira, they intone a song. Massive tree roots rise, exposing a deep, earthy pit.
I perceive that inside the pit there are significantly more remains than I had assumed. One of the bodies particularly catches my attention.
Completely fresh. Decomposition has barely begun.
My companions quickly tear me from my reverie. I throw all the corpses into the darkness of the pit. I do the same with the horses—they will not be needed anymore. I hide the wagon in the thick brush. It might still be useful. When I return, the roots have already managed to conceal the mass grave.
When everything is sorted, Aio, Keira, and Reika lead me to the heart of the sanctuary.
They lie down with me on the mossy bed. We unite, forgetting yesterday's misunderstandings. The forest rhythmically sways its leaves as we sink into blissful oblivion.