Episode 7

After Raven departed, he lay back on his bed releasing a long sigh. Now the only task left was to persuade his father to accept the girl as his betrothed; he needed her to continue avoiding Daisy and soon he might have to dodge Colin as well. According to his recollections, the boy was due to return from his study abroad in a month. He only hoped this event wouldn't occur prematurely, as it had with Raven, whom he was supposed to meet when the war with the neighboring country commenced.

He still remembered the first time he saw her vividly. It was when he was fleeing from the enemy who had ambushed them. Being his first real battle, he was scared; that time he ran through the forest, lost in the darkness. That's when the enemy surrounded him. Just as they were about to slit his throat, the forest itself began to assail them—roots moving on their own wrapped around the enemy soldiers until they perished, while he lay there on the ground, bleeding from his wounds. Then, from amidst the trees, that girl with green hair and eyes as bright as the sun appeared before him. She approached and helped him stand, leading him into the depths of the forest to her hideout in a cave. There, she had him lie down on a small bed and aided in treating his wounds with healing herbs. The girl shared that she ended up in that place after being chased by enemy soldiers while she was gathering herbs. Because of the war, she helped many who suffered injuries; though her magic was offensive rather than healing, she could use her herbal knowledge to concoct medicines that helped close wounds and stop the bleeding. From that day, Aiden knew he had to give his all to end the war once and for all to prevent more suffering.

Once Aiden had recuperated, he asked Raven to join him, arguing they had to fight together to save the people of their country. Raven was skeptical, but she agreed, wanting to prevent the war from reaching the city where the family who raised her after she lost her parents resided. Thus, a deep friendship was formed. Raven always did her utmost to aid him. That’s why, when he learned that she was behind the disappearances in the Mountain of Shadows, he couldn’t believe it. She had always been a generous girl; he couldn't comprehend her radical change. Yet, because of the fondness he had for her, he definitively lacked the courage to kill her.

“Why, Aiden? Why do you do this to me?”

Raven had looked at him with profound sadness the day he defeated her and placed the chains on her that restricted her power.

Aiden awoke flustered; it was day again, but as he lay staring at the ceiling, the only thing that he could remember was that look in the eyes of the witch.

Could it have been a trap set by them as well?

That was the only thought on his mind, considering that the Raven he knew would never harm an innocent. The only people who suffered at her hands were those heartless soldiers who mercilessly killed the innocent. This time, without a doubt, he would not be deceived by that pair of betrayers.