Capture her!

Amelia was saddened when Alexander acted differently to her, she thought Alexander was mad at her.

She would return to the lake to wait for Alexander every day but he didn't come at all and whenever she called for him, he wouldn't answer.

Little did she know, from afar, Alexander would watch her but he was being wary of himself, after all, he didn't want to hurt her and cause her harm now that he felt himself losing the control of his own self.

He watched, every day, from afar until the little girl started growing up beautifully, reaching her teenage years.

Amelia's golden hair grew long until her waist, her body gaining figure. Her blue eyes were like the clear blue sky. She became a fine and beautiful maiden one could ever imagine. She grew up to be such a lovely girl who has been taught a lot by the old man Julius ever since he picked her. Alexander witnessed how she grew from afar and would watch over her without her knowing.

Being bound in the lake, his spirit could only wander near it without harming an ant. He was powerless without his body.

...

The day where Julius grew weak came, his old age started to trouble him with his housework until he started to become bedridden.

"Grandpa, here is your medicine," Amelia said as she placed the tray beside the bed and helped her grandpa sit down.

She helped Julius on drinking his medicine before she assisted him in lying down again.

"Amelia, I have taught you everything I know..." His gentle voice was almost like a whisper as he looked at Amelia. "I hope one day... it can help you live well."

"And I am very thankful for all of the things that you did for me... I... I... don't know how to repay you, grandpa... for everything that you did to me..." Tears started forming at the side of Amelia's eyes as she help his hand. "Grandpa..."

"Oh dear child, I am happy that I was able to know you... You made my life livelier with you being around... I couldn't ask for more..." He smiled weakly at her. "Now listen carefully to my last instruction, okay?"

Amelia couldn't help but cry, hearing what he just said, she didn't want him to leave her. He was the only person who treated her well. He treated her like his own, unlike the people who adopted her when she was little. He was the only person who showed kindness to her.

"Child, don't cry... It doesn't suit you at all..."

"B... But grandpa... "

"Shh... You'll be fine... Tetsumi, once I close my eyes... I might not be able to open them again..." Julius could feel the heaviness of his eyes so he wasn't sure that he would wake up after today, "So listen carefully to what I will say..."

"Grandpa..."

"Once I kick the bucket... I want you to cover me with a white blanket and burn me... Let my ashes be blown by the wind... This place has always been my home. I want to stay here even after death."

He has guarded the lake for a long time. He didn't want Amelia to know the truth about the lake. He stopped her from approaching the lake or swimming in it for the sake of her safety.

"Where would I go? This is my home too... I have no one other than you..."

"You can't stay here, Amelia. You have to live with others. On the north side of the forest's end, there's a town... In the town... Look for a person Kanna... Live with her..." Julius took off the ring from his finger and gave it to Amelia, "Tell her... I'm sorry."

Tears continued to flow down her cheeks, she was sobbing hard, her eyes were red and puffy. Why can't he live forever with her?

Julius patted her head one last time before he closed his eyes and breathed his last.

When Amelia realized that he already left, she mourned and cried, she cried her heart out until she fainted beside the old man.

The next thing she knew, it was already morning when she gained her consciousness. She remembered what just happened that night and her tears started flowing down her cheeks.

Julius' body was cold when she touched his arm, he was not breathing. But despite that, he looked like he was sleeping peacefully.

This time she decided to follow the instructions of the old man. She covered him with a white blanket before she went to the forest to gather some woods for his body.

"Well, well, what do we got here?" A man with a scar on his face, smirked as he looked at Amelia

"What a beautiful lass, she would surely cost a lot! Hahaha! Lucky~"

"But Boss, we should enjoy ourselves before selling her off, right?"

Amelia felt the danger she was in as the bandits appeared so before they made a move, she threw the woods to them and started running the other way, running as fast as she could.

"She's escaping!"

"Capture her! Don't let her escape!"