Dark Embrace [Hoseok FF] [SOF Prequel 0.2] ✔

Chapter 4

Aaya entered the forest in a hurry, trying to walk a little faster. She was out of breath as she started the climb over the small hillock to reach the passageway to the clearing of the river.

She looked above to see the sun shining directly overhead. A curious sense of urgency gripped her as she sped up again, still trying to navigate through the terrain without twisting her ankles on the treacherous ground.

For the past week, she had been coming to this place before the sun rose in the horizon, with all that was needed, packed in her basket. This was an activity that no one really opposed to.

The Priests and the Physicians were only interested in the herbs she brought and to see its miraculous effect. As long as she could brew the medicines and ointments, they did not complain about how long it took or how much of an endeavor it was to collect them.

None of them could stay for long in the forest. And the ones who could, were selfish enough to rest their bodies and push her up to complete the job.

They wanted their luxury of being the most renowned physicians of the kingdom, the most praised and sought after healers, with even the Imperial Family bowing down to their whims but they did not want to exert the hard work of collecting the herbs.

Why would they, when she was present to carry it out perfectly?

It wasn't as if they would ever let the outsiders know that it was her who created the incredible medicines.

In spite of knowing their mentality and motives, Aaya never really thought poorly of them. She had never entertained the ambition of being recognized.

It was the opposite for her, she wanted to remain obscure. She just wanted to help the people who needed her abilities, without the fame. The greed of the Physicians helped her with her wish.

Except the Head Physician. Aaya smiled as she pushed against the stone boulder she had placed in front of the passage to go down.

Carefully, she made the trek to the bottom of the clearing without covering the entrance.

She did not pause in her steps to take in the beauty of the dazzling and fresh clearing of the sparkling streams over the scenic tranquility of the vivid trees and plants, but hurried past it to a deeper way.

"Sister! You are late!"

A youthful bright voice greeted her as soon as she entered the dense forest. Lips automatically curving up on hearing his voice, Aaya looked in the direction to a beautiful boy running to her.

"Did your evil mother keep you to serve her again?? Why don't you leave the family?? I told you I shall travel with you too!" the youth scolded her as he came to stand before her.

Her eyes softened in a helpless indulgence, Aaya lifted her hands to rub the head of the 11 year old boy angrily bellowing his hatred while hiding the concern and pain he felt for her.

"Tang, don't say that. How many times have I told you to not speak ill about other people?" she scolded him gently.

"Hmph! I am not speaking ill! I am just stating the truth! That woman IS evil!"

Aaya patiently bent down, "Did she ever hit me?"

With a stubborn glint in his eyes, Tang refused to answer.

Hiding her smile, Aaya asked again, "Did she ever starve me? Scream at me? Humiliate me?"

Tang folded his hands over his chest and huffed angrily at the barrage of question, not wanting to admit defeat.

Aaya further gentled her voice, and placed a kiss on the boy's head, "No, right? So is it right for you to speak of her in this manner? She is not my biological mother, but she has always clothed me, fed me, and let me stay in her house as if I was her own. When I insisted in bringing you to stay with me, she never refused. Its due to her kindness that we both are living a better life than being orphans on the streets. Don't insult her that way, okay?"