The Sleepwalker (english ver.)

The Wanderer

- OK, I'll tell you my story... When I arrived here I was wandering alone for a few days at the east side of the forest, nearby. I was hoping to find a rare herb, which is said to enhance tracking spells...

- What is a tracking spell? - Gahyeon suddenly interrupted Handong's story, whose face reflected the roaring fire between them.

- It's a type of spell used to trace down a person, or just find them somehow.

- Right! I remember JiU saying that once, she told us about this kind of magic. Seems like she can actually use her oracle powers to improve these spells. Or maybe it's the opposite, I'm not sure - the girl's youthful features outlined a funny expression.

- Well, then you ask her. - Answered Handong - Now let me continue the story.

- Of course, I'm sorry...

- So... I've left my village a long time ago in search of that herb. It is said to be found in a vast garden by the eastern lands, near the Nohau Valley, inside the Ophidian Mages' domains.

- Wait a minute - the youngest interrupted her again - where exactly did you come from? I don't remember you saying anything about the place where you lived with your family.

- You're right, I'm sorr., I ended up forgetting to tell you this. - she cleared her throat before going back in her story - Me, my parents and my older brother lived together by the river in the northern Helium Hills. When I was a child our village was devastated by the East Mangawlese elves due to the Seventh Age war. They wanted to expand the kingdom down the river but our fishermen had already occupied that region. We won the battle on the river but it was just a matter of numbers. They came back at night, with twice as many soldiers, and decided to invade the village.

"We were not prepared for a night attack. Our people have always been very peaceful, actually. Mom and dad left me in the care of my older brother, Wenjun, to join the soldiers. My father was a fisherman, by the way, and mom was a very powerful witch. Dad was about to be hit by one of the enemies when Mom managed to help him with a spell, causing huge roots to grow from the ground and tie the enemy to a tree. They just couldn't see the archer who shot them both in the back. My brother was already taking me to the forest, but after watching our parents die in front of him he lost it. Wenjun decided to follow the elf and avenge our family. He handed me mom's grimoire and asked me to run away as fast as possible, walk as far as my legs could handle and never to look back. I ran, but I disobeyed his last order and turned around to call him. I saw his body hanging from an enemy spear from afar."

The girls could see Handong crying as she progressed through the story.

- I didn't know what to do so I just kept running. I ran a lot, until my body just shut down. I fell in the middle of the forest: tired, hungry, cold and thirsty. Two girls about the same age as me approached me. My vision was blurred but I managed to see their faces, even though it was hard for me to distinguish anything or even talk. When I opened my eyes again I was lying on soft grain. The scratches on my skin were covered in green moss, and a small package was neatly tied in my lap, on top of my mom's magic book. I untied the knot and found that the package was filled with a lot of food and a note.

'Eat slowly so you don't get sick. Try not to get the green paste off the wounds, it's a natural healer. In case you need shelter, there's a small village at the end of the road, behind the mountains. It's no fancy city but the locals are very kind. They will surely take good care of you there. Be careful and good luck. May our paths come across once again.'

I didn't know how to react at the time so I just felt the tears I had been holding back for a long time run loose down my cheeks. I cried a lot, but then I dried my face and decided to eat - after all, I was still very hungry. I looked around the village and found a very kind old couple who ended up adopting me as their granddaughter.

Many years have passed. By the time I turned twenty-one I've lost them too and I didn't have any family left to go after. I was determined to learn how to defend myself since I've started to study the book my mother had left. As it's the only memento I have of my family I keep that book with me to this day as my personal treasure."

Handong smiled, aiming her dark eyes at the crackling fire.

- Then what happened? How did you end up here anyway?

- Calm down, Gahyeon! I'm already getting to that part, I promise.

- Okay... - the girl listened impatiently.

- Well, I started to live in the forest as a wanderer, with no home or company. I've learned a few things during this solitary life, reading a lot about medicinal herbs and potions in my mother's grimoire, may the Goddess bless her smart notes. Thanks to that book I discovered the herb for tracking spells. The one I mentioned, remember? I wanted to use it to find those two girls who helped me earlier. I felt that they would be important to me in some way... That's why I started to walk through the eastern lands, which is only possible now because the war is finally over.

"I spent many days walking in search of the plant but, one night, I decided to hunt some owls with a small slingshot - which I usually used to catch squirrels and, very rarely, rabbits. I ended up running into a wolf. I tried to slowly walk away but I was surrounded by two others behind me. They attacked me, and I only survived because they were suddenly bumped against the rocks. Two witches have done a powerful defense spell, driving the animals away from me. They arrived closer and I recognized their faces. I was right about the two girls: the ones who saved me once were now saving me again."

- And who are these mysterious girls anyway? - Gahyeon asked.

- You know them very well, I should say. - Handong laughed - JiU and Dami brought me to the Clan to treat my wounds so they offered me food and shelter too. To be honest, JiU welcomed me into the Clan without even thinking twice. I spent the night sleeping soundly while the famous "green paste" acted on the most superficial wounds. Dami managed to close the deepest wounds with healing magic she had created herself, as she told me before I fell asleep. The next day I was introduced to the rest of the Clan as the new member, and that's exactly when you met me.

- Wow... JiU and Dami must be really brave. - said the youngest, impressed by the story.

- Exactly, and they're both very kind too. I owe them my life, twice over.

Yoohyeon came out of the old house, heading towards the fire with wide eyes and a worried face. She sat next to Gahyeon and Handong, drawing their attention.

- I have to tell you something important so listen carefully. It's about Siyeon... And it envolves JiU as well.