The Stellate Vortex

"Cold… it's cold…"

Kieth opened his eyes, the soft fall of snow greeting him. Snowflakes dusted his face as he stared up at the gray sky, clouds heavy with more to come. He groaned, his body stiff, and glanced down. The girl was lying on his stomach, fast asleep, her small frame rising and falling with his breath.

Brushing off the thin layer of snow that had accumulated on him, Kieth sat up slowly. The trees around him were barren, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. He gently shifted the girl to cradle her in his arms, careful not to wake her. Her dress was stained with blood—his blood.

He examined his side. The makeshift bandages had slowed the bleeding but hadn't done much to heal the wound. He winced as he adjusted himself, grabbing the spear lying beside him.

"What… was that?" he murmured. His voice echoed faintly in the cold silence of the forest.

The memory of the glowing void flickered in his mind. "I think… I teleported."

His body felt different, weaker somehow, yet lighter. Then it hit him. Hannibal's protection had worn off. The realization brought an unexpected flood of emotion, and tears welled up in his eyes. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he wasn't trapped.

He smiled weakly, brushing the tears away. He was finally outside.

The world was cloaked in a gentle snowfall, its serene beauty marred only by the uncertainty of where they were. He couldn't tell what time it was—clouds obscured the sun, and the forest stretched endlessly in every direction. But he knew one thing: he had to keep moving before the cold became unbearable.

Kieth adjusted the girl in his arms, tucking her closer to shield her from the cold. She stirred faintly but didn't wake. He began walking aimlessly, his boots crunching softly against the snow-covered ground.

"Well, this is bad," he muttered to himself, glancing around. "No paths, no signs, nothing."

His legs ached as he walked through the dense forest, the quiet snow muffling even his thoughts. Hours passed, or at least it felt that way, before he stumbled into a clearing.

It was a field of lilac bushes, their deep purple petals standing out vividly against the white snow. The sight was breathtaking, and for the first time in a long while, Kieth felt a sense of peace. He knelt down, picking a single lilac and holding it delicately.

The weight on his shoulders seemed to lift in the stillness of the field. He looked down at the girl in his arms, noticing her stirring. She rubbed her eyes sleepily, blinking as she looked around.

"Papa…" she mumbled, her voice groggy. "Where are we?"

Kieth smiled gently. "We left that place."

"But… wasn't that home?"

The question hit him harder than he expected. He wanted to tell her the truth—that place was no home. It was where she'd lost her mother without even understanding what happened. But he held back. Instead, he said something his own mother used to tell him.

"Home is where you have family. It can be anywhere."

The girl tilted her head, considering his words. "So… this is new home?"

"We'll see," he replied softly, placing her down in the snow.

She stared at the ground, curious about the soft white blanket covering everything. She shuffled around, giggling as her tiny fingers brushed against the snow. But then she quickly pulled her hand back.

"Papa, what's this? What's this?" she asked, her excitement bubbling over.

Kieth chuckled. "That's snow."

"Snow?" she repeated, tilting her head.

"Yeah, snow."

She hesitated before reaching out to touch it again, giggling at the cold sensation. "Papa! Snow!"

"I know," he said, smiling as he watched her.

"Papa! Snow!" she said again, her voice bursting with joy.

This was the first time she'd ever seen snow, and her excitement was infectious. Kieth found himself smiling more than he had in a while. He knelt, scooped some snow into his hands, and shaped it into a small ball.

"Here," he said, handing it to her.

She took it, her small hands cupping the snowball. "Cold!" she exclaimed, laughing as she held it.

Kieth sat back and watched as she played, her laughter ringing through the clearing. For a moment, the pain, the fear, and the uncertainty faded away. The sight of her discovering the world, so full of wonder, was enough to warm even the coldest day.

Kieth watched the small girl play in the snow, her laughter echoing through the serene field of lilacs. But his peaceful moment was interrupted by a voice behind him.

"Who are you?" The voice was demanding, yet soft, and carried a strange authority.

Kieth turned his head, his body tense. He saw a beautiful woman standing a short distance away. Her long, white hair cascaded down her back, and her striking yellow eyes bore into him. She wore a dress that seemed to shimmer like fresh snow, blending with the wintry surroundings.

"I'm a nomad" Kieth said, keeping his tone calm. "I'm lost."

The woman's sharp gaze didn't falter. "Lost? How? There's no way anyone could have made it here."

"Why? Is it dangerous?"

She tilted her head, studying him. "Say, are you from some rural area?" Her eyes trailed down to his torn and bloodstained clothing, her expression softening. "My goodness, you're a mess!"

Without hesitation, she rushed to him, her hands carefully inspecting his bandaged wounds. Kieth blinked, startled by her sudden shift from cautious to concerned.

"You didn't even bandage yourself properly," she muttered, her voice laced with worry. "Did you get attacked by a bear?"

"Close enough," he replied dryly.

The woman shook her head, muttering something under her breath as she continued to examine him. Her fingers brushed his cheek gently, and Kieth found himself momentarily distracted by her striking features. Her hair glimmered like frost in the sunlight, and her yellow eyes seemed to hold a depth he couldn't quite place.

A soft giggle from behind him broke the moment. The woman looked past Kieth and gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Oh my god… Is she related to you?" Her voice was filled with awe.

Kieth turned to see the little girl peeking out from behind him. When the stranger's eyes met hers, the child quickly ducked behind Kieth, hiding her face in his legs.

"What happened?" Kieth asked, getting to her level.

lifting the girl into his arms. She buried her face in his chest and murmured something, still avoiding the stranger's gaze.

"What did she say?" the woman asked, her tone tinged with anxiety. "Is she scared?"

Kieth chuckled softly. "She says you're pretty."

The girl peeked out for a moment, her big eyes darting to the woman before hiding again.

The woman's expression softened further, and a warm smile spread across her face. "Your daughter is so cute." She stepped back and curtsied lightly. "My name is Evelyn."

Kieth nodded. "I'm Kieth."

"And what's the little miss's name?" Evelyn asked, tilting her head with curiosity.

Kieth hesitated, his face falling slightly.

Evelyn noticed his silence and quickly changed the subject. "Well, for now, how about I take you to my village? You must be cold."

"Yes, please," Kieth replied.

Evelyn picked up a basket of lilacs, cradling it carefully. Kieth glanced one last time at the field before following her.

As they walked, Evelyn glanced back at him. "So, how did you end up here?"

"I don't know," Kieth admitted.

She frowned. "Did you lose your memory?"

"I think so."

"Oh, you poor soul…" Evelyn's voice was filled with genuine sympathy.

They continued talking casually as they trekked through the snow-covered forest. Eventually, Kieth began to see houses in the distance, smoke rising from chimneys. The village appeared small but lively, with people moving about despite the cold.

Evelyn led him to a house on the outskirts, far from the bustling center. "No one will bother you here," she said, opening the door.

The inside of the house was cold and bare, but Evelyn quickly gathered firewood and lit a fire. Warmth began to fill the small space, and Kieth sat down with the girl near the hearth.

"I'm sorry I can't take you closer to the village," Evelyn said as she placed a blanket over the girl. "our village is a village of bandits. They likely wouldn't take kindly to you."

Kieth raised an eyebrow. Bandits?

He glanced down at the kid nestled against him, her tiny form clinging to his side for warmth.

Evelyn smiled gently, though there was a hint of nervousness in her tone. "Don't worry. I'll go get some food. We have plenty." She stood and walked out, closing the door behind her.

With the house now quiet, Kieth turned his attention to their surroundings. Dust blanketed the furniture, and cobwebs hung in the corners. He grabbed a cloth and began wiping the surfaces clean while the girl sat cross-legged in front of the fireplace, watching the flames dance with curious eyes.

Once he finished, the place looked considerably better. Kieth dusted off the bed and gave it a testing push. It was surprisingly soft, and exhaustion overtook him as he lay down. As he began drifting into a much-needed sleep, the girl climbed up, bouncing on the mattress.

"Hey, don't jump on it," Kieth chided, pulling her close. "You'll stir up dust and start sneezing."

The girl giggled and flopped down beside him. "Soft..."

Kieth smiled faintly, stroking her hair until her giggles faded and her breathing softened. For the first time in what felt like ages, drowsiness settled over him.

---

When Kieth woke, Evelyn was back, a basket of rye bread in hand. She placed it on the table, her expression calm but observant.

"Thanks," Kieth said, sitting up and stretching.

Evelyn took a seat on a nearby chair, her hands folded neatly in her lap. "Now that she's asleep, do you want to talk?"

Kieth glanced at the girl curled up under the blanket, her small chest rising and falling steadily. He looked back at Evelyn, his gaze heavy.

"Yeah..." He hesitated before admitting, "She's not my daughter."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? I was expecting something else, but this is… surprising."

"She calls you 'Papa,' though. Why?"

"I don't know." Kieth sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Her mother's dead, and her father... He might still be looking for her. Or maybe he's dead too. I can't be sure."

"That's awful," Evelyn said softly, her expression clouding. "But you're taking care of her now."

"I know." He hesitated, his voice quieter now. "But I can't."

"What?" Evelyn blinked, caught off guard.

Kieth leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as he stared at the floor. "I can't be her father. I mean, I literally am not." His voice wavered, though he fought to keep it steady. "I'm... I'm hoping that my own parents can help me when I find them. I can't take care of her. Please, Evelyn. I need you to take her in, to keep her safe."

Evelyn's face softened, but her tone remained firm. "She clearly cares about you. Are you sure about this?"

"I am." Kieth's voice was resolute, but the weight of his decision pressed heavily on his shoulders. "I have to keep moving. I need to find my own way home. She'll be safer here, with someone kind."

Evelyn studied him for a moment before standing. "I'll see what I can do. For now, just eat something."

She left the room, leaving Kieth in the quiet again. He sat for a moment, staring at the basket before forcing himself to move. He walked over to wake the girl, putting on a faint smile.

"Hey," he whispered, nudging her shoulder gently. "Are you hungry?"

"Mhm..." she mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she sat up.

Kieth handed her a piece of bread, and she took a hesitant bite before her eyes lit up. The joy on her face was palpable, making Kieth realize she might have never had a proper meal.

As she ate, Kieth quietly chewed on his own piece, the bread feeling heavier in his stomach than it should. He watched her laugh and savor every bite, and deep down, a pang of guilt pierced through him. He didn't want to leave her, but his mind told him it was the right thing to do.

He forced a smile, but the sadness in his eyes betrayed him. The thought of leaving her with Evelyn was bittersweet, yet he clung to the hope that this was the best way to keep her safe.

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