Everlasting dream (18+)

Chapter 5 — If only she were real

[Silvia]

Silvia is a charming five-year-old girl, the daughter of Nivalis Silverfrost. She has long, silver hair that seems to shimmer and sparkle in the light, an amazing feature inherited from her mother. She has a slight build and tends to be shy, a trait that comes with being a child in a world where adults can be unpredictable and dangerous. Her soft face is a striking contrast to her father's rugged and weathered one.

Despite her young age, she was quite small, even for her five years, her tiny figure barely reaching her mother's waist. Silvia gives an innocent and childlike impression, which is only natural given her tender age.

But what truly made Silvia stand out from her mother, and what made her even more enchanting, were her eyes. They were unlike any others – a rare shade of gold that resembled the very first rays of sunlight peeking through leaves in a forest. Silvia's eyes didn't just shine; they emitted a gentle warmth and a sense of innocence. In stark contrast to her mother Nivalis's icy blue gaze, Silvia's eyes gleamed with a comforting golden hue. These eyes, which she had inherited from her father, served as a constant reminder of the human blood that flowed through her veins.

And then there were her ears. Sylvia's elven heritage was evident in her ears, which, although shorter than the full elven long ones, had a slight point to them, a graceful echo of her mother's ancestry. These unique features combined made Silvia a remarkable fusion of two incompatible worlds.

Silvia's favorite thing in the whole wide world was the moments when her mother tucked her into bed and began telling enchanting bedtime stories. Whenever her mother's soft voice filled the room, Sylvia would settle comfortably in bed, with her heart brimming with anticipation.

In those precious moments, Silvia would drift into a world of dreams, far away from here, a world where she imagined herself as someone extraordinary. She yearned to be as important as the valiant heroes and heroines her mother spoke of in her tales. In her fantasies, she saw herself wielding a gleaming sword, wearing a brilliant suit of armor, and embarking on daring quests to save the day. Silvia just closes her eyes, and her mind gets filled with visions of facing dragons, rescuing lost kingdoms, and making a difference in the world. In her dreams, she wasn't just a regular girl, no. She was someone as important as the heroes in those stories. And someone as brave.

She is a true treasure, a ray of sunshine in a world filled with darkness and despair.

***

The night had settled, and a heavy silence filled the air of Silvia's room. The darkness enveloped Silvia like a warm blanket. But the darkness could not warm her body nor ease her mind.

Outside the window, the stars sparkled like little diamonds, and the moon cast a gentle, pale glow. But all that beauty stayed trapped beyond the curtains, unable to sneak into Silvia's room. But even with the window shut tight, the crisp, freezing air somehow managed to sneak in and find its way to her, caressing her skin like a gentle whisper. She wrapped herself in blankets even tighter, drifting in and out of sleep.

In the cozy little room where Silvia spent her nights, there were just a few things. First, there was a small bed with a lumpy mattress, a wooden dresser to hold her few clothes, and a plain desk made of simple wood. The walls of her room were completely bare, without any pictures or decorations. The floor, though, was made of sturdy wooden planks that creaked under her feet when she walked.

Silvia often found her bed uncomfortable, like a bumpy sack full of potatoes, which sometimes left her with a sore back in the mornings.

Inside her room, there were no toys or stuffed animals to keep her company. The absence of books or artwork left the room feeling empty.

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She also had no friends her age to play with. It seemed like nobody in the village wanted to be friends with a half-elf like her. Since the day she was born, the other children had always shunned her.

Silvia's life was quite dull and followed a monotonous routine, but she had grown used to it over the years. But things had become even more challenging lately. Her mother had been pregnant, and for the last several months, her belly was especially big, and that meant more daily chores for Silvia. She tried her best to help her mother, but it was getting harder with each passing day. Really hard.

Every morning, Silvia would wake up early, even before the sun had risen. She would put on her worn-out clothes and drag her tired feet down the creaky wooden stairs. There, at the table, she would find her father waiting for his breakfast.

"Where's my food, girl?" he would grumble, his voice filling the silent house.

Silvia would hurry to prepare her father's morning meal, which usually consisted of leftover bread and a few bits of meat. The best part, though, was that she could sneak a little bite for herself without her father noticing. It was a small secret pleasure that brightened her otherwise lonely mornings.

Meanwhile, Silvia's mother, Nivalis, had her morning ritual. She worked tirelessly, devoting herself to the difficult task of cleaning the entire house and washing clothes. Silvia couldn't help but notice her mother's condition, her swollen belly and her pale skin stretched taut over the growing child inside.

In the soft light of the morning, Silvia stood next to her mother in the kitchen, helping with washing the dishes. Silvia's little hands, covered in foam and soap, struggled with a particularly stubborn stain on the plate. A glimmer of curiosity danced in her eyes. She had been carrying a question inside her for a few hours, and she couldn't keep it to herself any longer.

— "Mommy," she asked, her voice dripping with innocence, "when will my little brother or sister arrive?"

Nivalis, her mother, turned to her with a weary but loving smile. "Soon, sweetie, very soon," she replied, her voice gentle and soothing.

This exchange had become a daily ritual in their lives for the past few months. Silvia would ask the same question, and her mother would respond with the same reassuring words.

After finishing their morning chores in the kitchen, Silvia and her mother often received their next task from her father: fetching water from the well. But today, she had to go alone. This routine had become quite familiar, so she knew what to do, but Silvia couldn't help but wonder why her father never did it himself.

— "Why can't he do it himself?" Silvia often wondered aloud, making sure no one heard, her young voice tinged with a hint of frustration. With a playful imitation of her father's voice, she added, "It is because it's not a man's job!" She shook her head. — "It's not fair. Those buckets of water are heavier than me, " she pouted, a frown forming on her face.

Silvia had learned to push these thoughts aside, however. She knew there was no use in complaining, and so she carried on with the task despite her aching arms and legs.

The walk to the well was very short. Silvia, a little girl with small hands, held onto the handle of the bucket tightly. She glanced around the edge of the forest, half-expecting to see glowing eyes peering at her. The tall trees stretched high above, making long shadows on the ground. In her young, childish mind, the rustling leaves sounded just like whispers, sending a shiver down her spine.

Usually, after that, Silvia, along with her mother, spent a lot of time fixing the clothes that her father brought home from who knows where. Her mother had taught her how to sew, and they would sit for hours stitching clothes to sell. It wasn't so bad. She cherished the moments they spent together, sharing stories and laughter as they worked. But there was one thing she hated – those sharp needles.

However, most of the money they earned went straight to buying food and other important things. There was hardly ever any extra money left. And even if she did have some, Silvia had no way to spend it.

Her life was quite sad and seemed without hope.

Silvia knew that her father would not treat her new sibling kindly as well. She feared for her new little brother or sister, and she didn't know what to do about it. The thought haunted her.

She could see that her mother was worried too, even though she tried to hide it. Silvia could see through her mother's smile and knew she was scared, too.

On top of all this, Silvia felt guilty about not being able to help her mother more. She understood that everything was much harder for her mother, especially with this round belly of hers. So, every day, Silvia tried to push herself to do more. More chores, more tasks... and it made her even more tired.

After the daily chores were finished and it was long past sunset, Silvia would curl up in bed with her heart heavy and her mind troubled.

Silvia would stare at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts of what the future held. She would imagine herself escaping this terrible place and becoming a brave adventurer, like the ones in her bedtime stories.

In her wildest dreams, she could picture herself exploring the vast wilderness, climbing mountains, and swimming in rivers. She would be free to go wherever she wanted, and she wouldn't have to worry about anyone hurting her or her mom.

But as she lay there, gazing up at the cold, unfeeling ceiling, she knew that these dreams might never come true. She might never escape, and she would always be trapped in this terrible place.

Silvia's heart ached with a deep, hollow emptiness, and she wondered if this was her destiny.

But then she remembered her mother's words, "If you pray hard enough, anything can happen."

One night, when Silvia was especially tired, and her mind was clouded with sadness, her mother tucked her into bed, pulling the blankets up to her chin. Silvia's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and her mother could see the weight of the world on her small shoulders. It was at that moment that her mother decided to share a story, a story about the goddess Elysia. A goddess that the Silverfrost family once served.

Elysia, with no doubt, was a beautiful goddess whose love for music was known throughout the land. She had a magical instrument, and when she played it, the melodies were so enchanting that they could chase away even the darkest of clouds and bring a smile to the saddest heart.

"You see, my little snowflake," her mother said in a soft, soothing voice, “Elysia was not just the goddess of music, as many people think. She is much more than that. She is the keeper of hope and light, and she was the one who taught us to appreciate the beauty of life," she said softly.

Silvia listened intently, her wide eyes fixed on her mother's face.

"Even though we have suffered so much," her mother continued, "we must never forget the joy that we can still find in our lives. Elysia reminds us that there is still good in the world and that we can find happiness even in the darkest of places."

Her mother paused, her fingers gently brushing Silvia's cheek.

"It's like how stars need the dark sky to sparkle or how music needs quiet moments to sing," Nivalis said, her voice soft and calming, "we can also find joy in our lives."

Silvia's heart felt warm as she absorbed her mother's words. It was as if a tiny spark of hope had ignited within her.

"So, maybe, if we pray hard enough, we will find a way out of this. Together." her mother added, her voice breaking slightly, "I'm sure our prayers will reach her, and she will hear us."

Now, as Silvia lay alone in her dimly lit room after a long day of work, those words replayed in her thoughts.

Silvia was a clever girl, and she couldn't help but think this was just another fairytale for kids. There were no gods. Where was this goddess when her mother got a bruise on her face from her father because of a silly snowman Silvia had made?

But still, something deep inside her stirred. A tiny flame of hope flickered in her bright eyes, even in the darkest moments.

On that particular night, Silvia lay wide awake, her hands clasped tightly together.

She whispered a prayer, a plea, to the only goddess she knew.

She prayed to Elysia, silently hoping for a miracle to come their way.

A quiet prayer whispered under her breath, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Please, Elysia, please hear me. We need your help.

Please, please save us. Please.

I'll do anything. Anything.

Just save us.

Mom doesn't deserve this.

We are good people.

We are good people.

Please, save us."

As the tears streamed down her face, Silvia whispered the prayer again and again.

Silvia's heart was full of hope, but her mind was filled with doubt.

She waited for a sign, but nothing came. The only sound she heard was the wind whistling through the trees outside her window.

Her mother's words echoed in her mind, "Pray hard enough, anything can happen.". Those words raced through her mind for some while, but eventually, of the tiresome, she fell asleep.

That night, Silvia's dreams were filled with the goddess. She could hear the weak echoes of her magical instrument, the gentle notes soothing her weary soul. She could see the goddess's face, beautiful and serene.

If only she were real... If only it wasn't just her imagination...