Allure Of The Witch

Threads Of Fate

Aria huffed as she finally set down the long wooden board she had been dragging. Sweat trickled down her forehead, and she wiped it away with the back of her hand, taking a moment to catch her breath. Her heart raced, not only from exertion but from worry as her gaze shifted to the figure lying motionless on the board.

She had checked on him multiple times, and though his breathing was faint, it was there. His body was growing cold, a sign that time was not on her side. The sharp object still embedded in his chest sent a chill of panic through her. She knew she couldn't risk disturbing the wound further, so her plan was set: she would need to go down the hill, retrieve the wooden board from her grandmother's old bed, and return to him as quickly as possible.

Now, with the board finally in her grasp, she began the painstaking process of dragging him down the steep incline towards her hut. The path was familiar, but that didn't ease the burden of pulling a bulky man. Every step felt like an uphill battle, and her muscles burned with effort. She frowned, stealing another glance at his body. Why did he have to be so tall and heavy?

But there was no time for self-pity. Aria swallowed her frustration and pushed on, her mind focused solely on the task ahead.

The sun was still out, its light warm but deceptive. Aria's face flushed from exertion, and she felt the strange contrast of winter air biting at her skin while her body was drenched in sweat. Finally reaching the threshold of her hut, she rubbed her arms to ease the tension before stepping inside.

Once within the walls of her sanctuary, she placed the wooden board down gently, her heart racing as she assessed the man's condition once more. The urgency of the moment set in, and she set to work without delay. She knew she had to remove his shirt to access the wound, but a wave of embarrassment washed over her as she recalled her grandmother's teachings. It felt wrong to expose someone else's body, even in the direst of situations. Yet, the thought of his injury overshadowed her modesty, compelling her to focus solely on her task.

As she peeled away his shirt, she was struck by the stark contrast between their bodies. His chest was solid and defined, while she felt small and fragile in comparison. She blinked rapidly, forcing herself to look away and concentrate on the wound. The jagged metal piece embedded in his flesh was a stark reminder of how precarious life could be.

With a determined breath, Aria ventured into her grandmother's room, her heart pounding as she pushed the door open. The familiar scent of aged wood and old linens greeted her, and memories flooded back, but she had no time to reminisce. She needed supplies. She bypassed the nostalgic clutter and headed straight for the wooden shelf where her grandmother stored various medicinal concoctions.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for a bottle filled with a sweet-smelling liquid—alcohol, as her grandmother had called it, made from ripe fruits. She recalled her grandmother explaining how it could cleanse wounds, and she took the bottle along with a needle, thread, and a soft blanket before returning to the unconscious man.

Sitting beside him, she poured a small amount of the alcohol onto a clean cloth and began to gently clean around the wound, her hands shaking slightly as she worked. With a deep breath, she grasped the metal piece and, with a surge of courage, slowly pulled it from his chest. Blood oozed from the fresh wound, and panic washed over her as dizziness threatened to overwhelm her. She pressed her palm against the injury, whispering a spell again and again as she closed her eyes, summoning all the focus she could muster.

Moments felt like hours, but gradually the blood slowed, revealing a deep but relatively clean cut. Aria opened her eyes, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over her, but she knew she had to continue. The sight of the injury was alarming, but she steeled herself and picked up the needle and thread, beginning the delicate process of stitching him up.

Every movement felt laborious, but after what seemed like an eternity, she finally knotted the last stitch and cleaned away the excess blood. Exhaustion wrapped around her like a heavy blanket, but she forced herself to stand, covering him with a warm blanket to keep the chill at bay.

As she staggered back to her own bed, the world swayed around her. Once she collapsed onto her mattress, her body felt heavy and unyielding. Sleep enveloped her instantly, her mind finally granting her the respite she so desperately needed.

---

**Two Days Later**

The night had settled in, and the air outside was frigid. A cold wind howled through the trees, and dark clouds loomed ominously overhead, promising rain. Inside the hut, silence reigned, punctuated only by the occasional creak of wood settling.

In the span of two days, Aria had not stirred from her sleep, but the man on the wooden board was beginning to show signs of life.

His eyelids fluttered, and confusion clouded his features as he blinked at his unfamiliar surroundings. A deep frown etched his brow as he struggled to make sense of the situation while a sharp pain throbbed in his chest.

After a few moments, he attempted to sit up, pushing the blanket aside. Pain rippled through his body, but he gritted his teeth and persevered, drawing in heavy breaths as he gathered his bearings. His eyes roamed the small hut, trying to piece together how he had ended up here.

'Am I still in Ulrik?'

He wondered, confusion swirling in his mind as he took stock of his surroundings. The room felt small, intimate even, and he could sense the presence of another, though he was alone for the moment.

With cautious movements, he swung his legs over the side of the board, grounding himself as he stood. Every step was a challenge, but he pressed forward, approaching a door on his right. He opened it slowly, half-expecting to find someone, but the room was empty.

Frowning, he closed that door and turned to the adjacent one. As he pushed it open, he felt a stirring on the bed behind him. He turned just in time to see a small lump shift beneath the blankets, revealing a sleeping figure nestled in the covers.