— I am utterly lost.

Hildegard started to get into the habit of talking to herself. It was already four days and no settlements, Eldian or not, were found during her seemingly endless walk northwards. There was only the wilderness around; the grass, the mountains, the trees, the small animals, and occasionally some large animals, such as deer. She had been sleeping on the ground, using only her toga as a covering during the cold nights, and feeding on berries she occasionally found around.

— It's a wonder no bears or wolves caught my scent yet. Well, I think a visit to the strange girl would distract me for a bit.

She sat on the grassy ground, relaxed, and accessed the Paths once more. Hildegard couldn't avoid being in awe every time she visited the "strange land", as she called it. The tree and the starry sky were simply astounding. The little girl approached her, carrying a heavy bucket.

— Hello, little girl.

No response.

— I'm still lost, so I came here to talk to you, even though you never answer me.

Silence.

— Thinking about it well, I've never properly seen your face, have I? — She said as she got closer to the girl.

With a gentle movement of her hand, she lifted the girl's bangs and saw deep blue eyes. The nose, the chin, the facial structure… The girl's entire face resembled her relatives' faces and her own.

— That is certainly strange. Are we related in any way, little girl?

As usual, there was no reply. "I think I better get walking. My legs ache a bit, but I still have willpower." She went back to the real world and got up from the ground. Surprisingly, with a quick glance on her surroundings, she saw smoke rising from the northwest, just past a small grove over a slightly more elevated location. It was not possible to determine whether the source of the smoke was a fire or the chimney of a house since it was hidden by the treetops. Only by getting closer would she know for sure.

— At long last…

A newfound energy flowed through her body and she walked at a fast pace, practically ignoring the aching on the legs she had been feeling before. After almost an hour of walking, she finally arrived at a small shack made of wood and stone, smoke rising from its chimney. From the open front door, two dogs came and barked at Hildegard, protecting their owners' house as they had been trained to do. A tanned man wearing a leather tunic and fur boots soon followed the animals, who stopped barking and looked expectantly at their master. He held an axe on his left hand and some kind of contraption or trap on his right. Scars covered all of his body and face.

— Who are you, woman? And why are you so dirty? — He asked in Marleyan. Luckily, Hildegard could get the gist of it due to her previous studies and practice with Octavia.

— I am Marleyan slave from Eldia! Escaped captivity alone and ended up here! — She replied in a clumsy attempt to pronounce the words correctly.

He analysed Hildegard's physical condition. Her cheeks and eye sockets were sunken, her hair and clothes dirty, her knees bruised, and the sandals seemed like they would break at any moment. He sighed deeply.

— Come inside, my wife will help you while I'm out hunting. — He gestured for her to come closer.

Hesitantly, she took slow steps and approached the open door.

— Here's an escaped slave from Eldia, my love. Will you please take care of her? It seems she will starve sooner or later.

A black-haired woman peered at her with kind eyes. She was wrapped in a white animal skin, with only her face and legs exposed. Seated on a small chair, the woman tended to a hearth, cooking some indistinguishable soup inside an iron cauldron.

— Oh, you poor thing! Come here, take a seat by the fire. The soup's almost ready! — The woman said with a warm smile.

Hildegard sat on the floor near the fire and warmed herself up for some minutes. The man had gone away without a sound a moment before. The woman tried to strike up a conversation.

— What's your name, young girl?

— Octavia.

— And what brings you here, far away from civilisation?

— I was born slave of Eldia. Parents taught me little Marleyan. I managed to escape, but parents still captive. Now I was in wilderness but better than being slave. — She replied in an almost rough accent.

— First they enslave us, then they forbid us from speaking our own language? — She scoffed. — You walked quite a lot to get here, didn't you? Please, rest for at least two days. Even if you have a reason to leave, you need to get some meat on those bones.

Hildegard made a puzzled expression trying to translate all that the woman said. She smiled softly and nodded.

— Your name? — Hildegard asked.

— Where are my manners? I am Saturnina and my husband is called Vitellius.

They spent some more time talking and Hildegard even learnt a few new words. When the soup was served, she forgot all the rules of etiquette she had learnt in the past years, even asking for a second serving. Strangely, Saturnina never took off the animal skin and manipulated objects with only her right hand.

— You remind me of my late daughter... Me and Vitellius lived in a Marleyan successor state not too far away from here. Then the Eldians attacked. Luckily, Vitellius was out hunting. My daughter saved me, but it cost her life and my left arm.

Her eyes welled up. Hildegard was only getting the gist of her story.

— I was lucky to have only one arm bit off and to have fallen inside a well. The titans couldn't reach me down there and soon retreated under the order of their king.

— I'm sorry... — Hildegard muttered.

— Don't be sorry, young one! She gave up her life so that I could live on and I am grateful for that. — Saturnina said as she wiped off the tears.

— Things will change.

— On Eldia? I once heard they're demons and I'm beginning to believe it. I am prepared for my eventual death on the filthy jaws of a titan, but I'd prefer to die by old age.

Hildegard was in silence. Saturnina kept on talking, but she didn't understand most words. Perhaps she needed someone to talk to, even if they couldn't understand her. "Wasn't I doing the same with the little girl? I'm not even sure if she listens." When the night fell, Vitellius came back holding two hares. His dogs happily wagged their tails just behind him.

— Skin these and give the entrails to the dogs. I'll be back soon. I'll prepare some traps for tomorrow and bring the firewood inside.

He left again. Saturnina sighed and grabbed the hares. Hildegard felt their situation was similar to her own parents' before her father's death. Eldians and non-Eldians were not so different. Saturnina laid the hares on a wooden table and grabbed a knife.

— Hard to skin with one hand. Let me help you. — Hildegard suggested.

Saturnina simply smiled and handed her the blade.

— Cut here and here. — She pointed to certain spots of the animal's torso. — I'll be cutting some vegetables. Call me if you need any help.

Hildegard managed to do it, although clumsily. Vitellius came back with the firewood and lit the hearth. Later that night, they had soup again. Despite not being as refined as what she used to eat, Hildegard felt like the gamey taste was in fact quite appetising. "Would Octavia like this soup? I just wish there was a way of escaping without sacrificing my only friend…" She held back tears. Vitellius seemed to notice but remained in silence. He could only wonder about what slaves went through.