Lighten

Sophia waited patiently for her mother's return trying to keep herself busy staying inside the small space with not much to do since she was told not to leave the residence. She had read a book she often enjoyed when she was younger and also got ready for the day wearing her usual plain clothing.

She continued to look out the window, which she noticed her mother closed the blinds to earlier, to see if her mother would arrive walking on the pathway to the front door, but nothing happened for what seemed like hours. Sophia eventually placed the book down next to her noticing a figure approaching her residence, but it definitely was not a the small figure of her mother making her scrunch her brows.

A knock was placed on the door making Sophia quickly jump to her feet running toward it. Feeling nervous about opening the door since her mother was strict about not leaving the home, Sophia raised her voice questioning the guest. "Who's there?"

"Sophia, please open the door." Came a familiar voice from the other side. After realizing who it was, the girl took a breath of relief.

Opening the door quickly Sophia saw the same blind woman from the day before. However, unlike other days, the seer did not seem happy since she had a serious expression. Sophia at first had a smile plastered on her face but it faltered.

"Child, I fear we need to head to the marketplace immediately. I received a prompting from the skies that I should escort you." Clarice said turning around. "I will wait for you to grab your cloak and shoes. We must get going now."

Fear filled the girls chest knowing her mother had gone to the marketplace not too long ago. And the distant voice of Clarice made her feel something could be seriously wrong.

She went into her room grabbing a cloak before running toward the entrance walking with Madam Clarice down the path to the town center. She then stepped out of the home closing it behind her while the seer started walking toward the direction of the other villagers.

Her heart was racing while neither of the two spoke. Had something happened? Sophia had noticed her mother being extremely weak this morning… perhaps she should have done more to prevent the woman from leaving the household. And even though she could ask the seer, she couldn't open her mouth to form words.

So many anxious thoughts filled her mind that she didn't notice how quickly they arrived in the middle of the village. It seemed a crowd had already gathered mourning in a circle why a man tried to space the people away in an irritated tone.

Randel had expanded the small area wanting the villagers to give Ruby space knowing that this would not look so pleasing to their eyes since she was so close to his residence. Death itself was never a good topic to the people of the village and the people had superstitions if someone died inside another's home.

Before anyone could notice the old woman on the ground by his front door, the councilman had moved her several feet hoping some wouldn't connect him too closely.

Once her mother came into view, Sophia let out a scream seeing the woman everyone gathered around scrawled on the dirt in an uncomfortable position. She immediately ran toward the unconscious Ruby as tears streamed down her pale clear cheeks.

The scream made the councilman raise his head annoyed since too many people were around him, but once he saw the girl who had stolen his attention, he immediately conducted his expression showing her absolute concern and care. He tried to come up to her to stop her, but Sophia maneuvered around him kneeling by Ruby.

"Sophia, I-"

But Randel's words fell on deaf ears.

Sophia checked the woman's pulse not feeling a heartbeat making her fears become real. Even though her relationship with her mother was not the typical one, she loved and cared for her sick mother since she was able. Sophia knew deep down that Ruby was the only one who truly loved her while being an outcast among the people. And now the girl knew she couldn't say any words of apology now to her mother.

Ruby Red was dead.

Tears started to fall down the girls face at a fast pace as she began to beg for her mother to come back with whispers. She hugged the woman's body tightly as everything around her become blurry. She prayed to the gods for some miracle not wanting her mother to die in such a public way in front of people who treated her so badly. Her mother should just be surrounded by her.

The crowd continued to watch while some cried with the poor child who not only lost her parents, but also would die due to the hunt. Even though they had sympathy, not one person approached Sophia even though she was in obvious pain.

"Sophia. Please. Let me take you somewhere out of the public eye." Randel said softly holding her shoulders not wanting to see the woman cry. He had approached her from behind noticing how the dark haired girl couldn't contain herself. Her pain was overwhelming him with great sadness only confirming how strongly he felt for the girl.

"Please leave me." She said brushing his arm holding tighter into her mother's body sobbing uncontrollably.

A soft hand reached for the girl which wasn't the rough hand of the man earlier. In fact, the touch of this hand seemed light and almost friendly which wasn't something Sophia was use to. This made Sophia glance up staring into green eyes of a redheaded woman who had a kind smile. Although everything around Sophia blurred, she could make out the sparkling eyes.

"Sophia, I realize this is very hard for you to do. But I need you to listen to me right now. Do you understand? Let's get you to a place where you can mourn properly."

The voice was laced with sweet honey and somehow gave Sophia hope. And that was something Sophia truly believed was gone.

The dark beauty slowly nodded and received help standing up by a woman who didn't seem to notice the whispers coming from the crowd surrounding them. She was a small figure who was known to be extremely kind with a pure soul.

"Avery! What are you doing?" Came the question from Avery's mother.

"Relax Beth." Madam Clarice chastised walking toward the girls using her cane. "Your daughter is simply serving her fellow people. Such a kind soul she is." Clarice praised while referring to the pretty redhead with much praise which the seer never gave anyone.

Avery wasn't one to stand out in a crowd, but she was a decent looking woman who had caught eyes of men for a moment, but nothing that lasted since she was more plain looking than the others. She was growing older and her mother wished for her to become engaged soon, but unbeknownst to Beth, Avery had already rejected proposals that came her way not satisfied with the men in the village who were simply too corrupted.

Randel too seemed a bit upset at the redhead to was comforting the woman he considered his. Although he wanted to shoo the rest of them away and take Sophia to his residence, he stepped back gritting his teeth knowing this was not the time to intervene.

"Relax mother." Avery began to say as she guided Sophia to Madam Clarice's residence not looking at her mother. "I will return home soon. Do not worry."

Beth however was not pleased with her daughter. Her child was a kind soul, but she had jealousy over the Red girl who somehow outshined every girl in the village including Avery. Beth was a very jealous woman and seemed to personally have a competition with Sophia even though her own child didn't have worries.

"Hurry home once you get her to a proper place to grieve." Beth huffed walking away from the town center. She had taken note of villagers watching Avery and she thought that perhaps this could make the men of the village more interested.

"Come Sophia. Let's go somewhere safe." Avery whispered trying to help the poor girl who had lost both her parents. Sophia again nodded keeping close to Avery as though she was a source of light.

Madam Clarice lead the way while the two girls followed the sound of the blind woman's cane. The seer had decided to join the two not wanting them to be alone.

Eventually they made way to another small hut that fit perfectly to the seer and her needs. Sophia, although overcome with so much grief, looked confused on why they came to this house. She looked up at Avery who gave her a reassuring smile urging her to enter the home.

"Thank you Avery." Clarice said to the redhead. "Your kindness is truly seen by the skies. They have a plan for you and a future filled with much happiness."

Avery smiled toward the comment made by the seer. "There's no need to thank me Madam. I just wish for Sophia to feel taken care of." She guided the girl to a couch allowing her to sit. She then glanced back at Clarice. "Is there anything else I can do for you two? I only wish to help."

"No my sweet girl, leave me with Sophia. I will help her from here."

Avery glanced at the girl giving her a look filled with empathy using all her strength to leave knowing the seer could comfort the girl.

"Clarice will keep you company at her home while the crowd calms down outside. I will take care of your mother's body right now." She whispered to Sophia.

The redhead left the residence quietly while Sofia continued to hold her face in between her hands. The feeling of despair was overwhelming and she seemed to be slipping into a deep depression.

"You asked what was sacrificed to become the seer once my dear." Clarice began while she approached the girl kneeling in front of her placing her hand onto her shoulder. Her eyes didn't look at Sophia, but this did not cause any awkwardness. Right now the seer decided to share more with the girl.

"The gods don't wish for the chosen to suffer especially when they are giving their lives for so many others. The ones in the past have not felt the fullness of pain when they died on those fateful nights. You see my sweet girl, I am the one who takes the pain away. The seer loses they eyesight and takes on the pain from the chosen as a sacrifice. That means, as they are killed, they feel nothing but complete numbness. Only I feel it."

Clarice took a deep breathe closing her eyes as the burden began to feel lighter upon Sophia's shoulders. Sophia's heart was still heavy, but it seemed that the hope that disappeared was suddenly returning back to her soul. Her breathing began to slow down and Sophia was able to open her eyes that suddenly stopped shedding tears.

Sophia's eyes widened when she noticed the seer begin to sob as though she lost someone extremely dear to her.

Clarice let go of Sophia's shoulder still closing her eyes tightly hoping the painful feelings could past by quickly.

"I can also take away some of your burdens. But it's important for you to know, I can't take it all. It causes me to grow weaker."