The Cracked Guiding Lantern

My eyes were starting to adjust to the dark. I waited, still, focusing entirely on what was before me, as I heard panicked sobs and loud gasps for air. As its shape became clearer, I began to better grasp what was happening.

A trembling girl, perhaps between 10 and 11 years old, was crying, all alone.

Her breath was ragged, her face buried in her hands. Her arms were so thin, like a stick figure on paper.

Her helpless state reminded me of my own past. Of when I called for help, only to be ignored and left to cry alone. Seeing her like that left an aching pain in my chest.

She didn’t seem to notice my presence, but she was no longer shouting, as if accepting her fate.

The pain and disgust I endured became unbearable. Hesitant, I took a step forward, words barely leaving my mouth.

“H-hey, are you alright?” I stuttered softly, already knowing I wouldn’t get an answer.

Her head suddenly jerked towards me, our eyes briefly locking. Fear flickered in her tear-streaked expression as she watched me for a few seconds, trembling.

Then, lowering her gaze without a word, she cautiously approached. Her pace quickened slightly until she reached me. She hesitated, stealing one last look at my face, then flinched just before tightly embracing me.

Her sobbing intensified as she tugged at my shirt.

I could feel how skinny she truly was, made of nothing but skin and bone.

Her frigid touch gave me goosebumps. Her skeletal arms clung tighter around my waist, shaking as she rubbed her face against my shirt. Her bony fingers refused to let go.

Unsure of what else to do, I swept her off her feet and started carrying her in my arms, careful not to hit her with the spear in my hand. Taking her to my base camp for the night seemed like the best choice.

She felt awfully light in my arms, as if the wind might carry her away. From the outside, it might even have looked like I was kidnapping her.

I sighed.

As I walked towards the campfire, the only strong source of light around, the sobbing slowly stopped. Her initially stiff body loosened up, and she slowly drifted asleep.

She probably hadn’t gotten much sleep either. I was relieved she felt comfortable enough to doze off in my arms.

I felt rather conflicted. I was glad to find another human. I finally confirmed I was not alone here. But at the same time, seeing someone this young having to go through an experience like this was heartbreaking.

Enveloped by the warmth and the blaze of the fire, I could finally get a proper look at the girl.

She had a pale complexion and long, dark-brown hair, closely approaching black. It felt greasy in my hands and was full of knots, seeming unkempt.

Her face was strikingly slender, with a small nose and tiny ears. Her soft skin had started to peel, and her lips were cracked. She had bags under her eyes and bruises all over her arms and legs.

Cuts covered the soles of her feet, and a rash spread between her big and second toes. She had probably been using some kind of toe-strapped sandal.

Her light white dress was torn, exposing her belly and part of her thighs. Dirt stained the lower skirt, streaking up to her knees and smudging the sides.

An existence so fragile it could shatter if I looked away.

I sat down beside the fire, hoping its warmth would reach her. She slept soundly with her head resting on my lap.

I dropped my spear and lost myself in thought, staring at the campfire’s flickering light.

Should I keep going east? I should probably try to find where this girl came from and get her back safely.

Her language was unfamiliar to me. Communication will likely be hard.

My journey alone had ended, but having her with me was oddly comforting. Taking care of both of us would be challenging, yet I was determined to protect her.

Gently getting up, I lifted her legs once again and adjusted her position on my arms without waking her up. I walked over to the place I had chosen to sleep in and laid her down on the leaves, the farthest possible from the opening.

I then went to retrieve the squirrel’s hide I had placed next to the fire to dry. It was fully dried and heated. After carefully checking for any pests, I put it over the young girl.

To be safe, I also decided to extinguish the fire.

Kneeling beside it, I poured two handfuls of dirt over the flames. They danced and hissed as they struggled to breathe. The glow gradually dimmed, its warmth dissolving into the night.

By the end, the blaze had turned to ashes, leaving me in darkness.

I returned to my resting spot carefully, making sure not to step on her in the dark. I crouched and lay down next to her, facing outside.

Falling asleep beside someone felt both comforting and unsettling, softening my usual anxiety with a new sense of protectiveness.

Was this the kind of worry my parents once felt for me? My mind felt lighter, yet heavy all the same. I felt incompetently unfit to protect her. It was definitely a tough feeling to explain.

I turned to face upwards and closed my eyes. The subtle sound of her calm breathing as she sleeps near my left ear was joined by the gentle whistle of the wind on my right.

I wasn’t sure if I snored in my sleep, but if I did and caused her to wake up, I would make sure to kick myself for it in the morning.

Despite everything, the tranquil atmosphere slowly lulled me into slumber.

Although I still struggled sleeping, continually waking up during the night, it seemed as if it happened less often this time, leaving me feeling slightly more rested.

When I woke up, she was still napping, shaded from the sunlight.

My stomach ached slightly, probably from eating meat after so long without it.

I silently got up and grabbed my backpack, sitting down next to the doused campfire.

My mind was drained. My eyes drooped, as if I were struggling just to stay afloat. I lacked all motivation.

I initially considered eating the saved-up meat cold, but a sense of responsibility overwhelmed my inner turmoil when I looked back at the girl.

Her frail body weighed heavily on my mind, pushing me to relight the fire and reheat the meat. I wanted to give her something warm to eat.

With the campfire rekindled, I waited patiently for her to wake up, wanting her to rest as much as possible.

Remembering the bruises on her feet, I decided to make a pair of sandals. Avoiding any toe-strapped design, I thought of using simple bark soles and a strap across the top.

Using the same herbs as last time, I wove two medium-length ropes. It took a few tries, but they turned out reasonably tough.

I measured her feet and carefully carved four bark pieces for soles, leaving extra room and following the curve of each foot.

At first, the soles looked rough, so I trimmed the edges with my spear, then punctured four holes in each sole, spaced evenly to hold the straps.

I pressed the bark halves together and threaded the rope in a crisscross, forming rough X-shaped straps for both sandals.

When I finished, the young girl was still fast asleep. I set the crude sandals beside her and sat back down, closing my eyes to meditate for a bit.

I turned inwards, focusing on the expanding mana inside, which seemed to grow slightly each time.

The mana around me also became easier to interact with. I could gather it around me and even guide it where I wished.

Absorbed in the sensations, time slipped by unnoticed.

When I came to my senses, I felt something lightly pressing against my back.

The girl had woken up during my meditation, probably confused by my stillness and lack of response.

I turned around and gently smiled at her, hoping not to startle her. She backed up while quietly looking at me and sat hugging her knees.

I then opened my bag and took out some meat and a stick, poking it through and placing it over the fire. After waiting for a moment and watching the fat start to bubble, I grabbed the stick.

Not sure how to tell her it was hot, I turned to face her and gently blew on the meat, locking eyes with her, then extended it to her and lightly nodded.

She frowned, tilted her head, then hesitantly took it. She sniffed it with a faintly pleased expression before trying to eat it right away.

With the touch of the meat on her lips, she swiftly moved it away, startled. She then began blowing on it, like I showed her, and ate it once its temperature had cooled down a little.

After heating the rest of the meat, I gave her most of it, keeping a small portion for myself. Her face lit up with a dazzling smile, and I couldn’t help but return one.

She seemed increasingly at ease around me, shifting into a more open, relaxed way of sitting.

She let her knees drop to the ground and placed her feet atop her thighs, similar to sitting cross-legged, but with more pressure on her knees and hips.

She looked comfortable, probably in her usual way of sitting.

After finishing the meat, I took out some of the berries I had saved. I decided to give her the sweeter ones, most likely to please her, like the bubbleberries and dentateberries, while I ate the others.

Her smile widened as she ate them.