Everlasting Dream

Chapter 5: If only she were real

[Silvia]

Silvia is a charming five-year-old girl, the daughter of Nivalis Silverfrost. She has long, silver hair that seems to shimmer and sparkle in the same beautiful way as her mother's. She has a slight build and tends to be shy, a trait that comes with being a child in a world where adults can be unpredictable and dangerous. Her soft, delicate face is a striking contrast to her father's rugged and weathered one.

Height-wise, she is quite small, even for her five years, her tiny figure barely reaching her mother's waist. Silvia gives an innocent and childlike impression, which is only natural given her tender age.

But what truly sets Silvia apart from her mother, making her even more captivating, are her eyes. They are unlike any others—a rare gold shade that resembles the first rays of sunlight peeking through leaves in a forest, contrasting her mother's icy blue gaze. These eyes, which she inherited from her father, are a constant reminder of the human blood flowing through her veins.

And then there are her ears. Silvia's elven heritage is evident in her ears, which, although shorter than the full elven ones, have a slight point to them, a graceful echo of her mother's ancestry. These unique features combined make Silvia a remarkable fusion of two seemingly incompatible worlds.

Silvia's absolute favorite thing in the whole wide world was and always will be when her mother tucks her into bed and starts telling all kinds of bedtime stories. Whenever her mother's soft voice fills the room, Sylvia lies comfortably in a warm bed, her heart brimming with anticipation while the howling winds of winter rage outside her window.

In those precious moments, Silvia would drift into a world of dreams, far away from here, a world where she imagined herself as someone extraordinary. She yearned to be as important as the valiant heroes and heroines her mother spoke of in her tales. In her fantasies, she saw herself wielding a gleaming sword, wearing a brilliant suit of armor, and embarking on daring quests to save the day. Whenever she closes her eyes, her young mind gets filled with visions of facing dragons, rescuing lost kingdoms, and making a difference in the world. In her dreams, she wasn't just a regular girl, no. She was someone as important as the heroes in those stories. And someone as brave.

Her innocent dreams and boundless imagination are her escape, her sanctuary, where she can be anything and anyone she wants. She, just like her golden eyes, a ray of sunshine in a world filled with darkness and despair

...

The night had settled, and a heavy silence filled Silvia's room. The darkness enveloped Silvia like a warm blanket, yet it could not warm her body nor ease her mind.

The stars sparkled like diamonds outside the window, and the moon cast a gentle, pale glow. But all that beauty stayed trapped beyond the curtains, unable to sneak into Silvia's room. But even with the window shut tight, the crisp, freezing air somehow managed to sneak in and find its way to her, caressing her skin like a gentle whisper. She wrapped herself in a tighter blanket, trying to fall asleep.

The cozy little room where Silvia spent her nights had just a few things: a small bed with a lumpy mattress, a wooden dresser to hold her few clothes, and a plain desk made of simple wood. The walls were completely bare, without any pictures or decorations. The floor was made of sturdy wooden planks, creaking under her delicate feet when she walked.

Silvia often found her bed uncomfortable, like a bumpy sack full of potatoes, sometimes leaving her with a sore back in the mornings. Inside her room were no toys or stuffed animals to keep her company. The bare walls and the absence of artwork, which would typically adorn a child's room, left it feeling empty, unnaturally so.

Unfortunately, she also had no friends her age to play with. It seemed like nobody in the village wanted to be friends with a half-elf like her. Since the day she was born, the other children had always shunned her or called her words her mother forbade her to remember.

Silvia's life was dull and followed a monotonous routine, but she had grown used to it, having no choice but to. However, things have become even more challenging lately. Her mother had been pregnant, and her belly had grown especially big for the last several months, which meant more daily chores for the young girl. She tried her best to help her mother, but it was getting harder with each passing day. Like, really hard.

Silvia would wake up early every morning, even before sunrise. She would wear her worn-out clothes and drag her tired feet down the creaky wooden stairs. At the table, she would find her father waiting for his breakfast. Why he needed to wake up so early was something her mind couldn't figure out even to this day.

"Where's my food, girl?" he would grumble, his voice often louder than the rooster's crow, filling the otherwise silent house with his stupid demand.

Silvia would hurry to prepare her father's morning meal, her small hands working quickly to arrange the leftover bread and bits of meat on a plate. The best part was that she could sneak a little bite without her father noticing. Or spit into his food, which always felt nice. It was a small secret pleasure that brightened her otherwise dreary mornings.

A few weeks ago, when Silvia was especially tired and her mind clouded with sadness, her mother tucked her into bed, pulling the blankets up to her chin, and decided to share a story, a story about the goddess Elysia, a goddess that the Silverfrost family once served.

Elysia is one of the most beautiful goddesses out there. Her love for music was known throughout the land. She had a magical instrument, and when she played it, the melodies were so enchanting that they could chase away even the darkest clouds and bring a smile to the saddest heart. Was it a coincidence or not, but the girl's heart was sad, alright.

"You see, my little snowflake," her mother said in a soft, soothing voice that night, "Elysia was not just the goddess of music, as many think. She is much more than that. She is the keeper of hope and light, and she was the one who taught us to appreciate the beauty of life. Even though we have suffered so much, we must never forget the joy we can still find. Elysia reminds us that there is still good in the world and that we can find happiness even in the darkest places."

"It's like how stars need the dark sky to sparkle or how music needs quiet moments to sing; we can also find joy in our lives," Nivalis said, saying those wise words that the girl barely understood. Yet it still ignited a tiny spark of hope deep within her nevertheless. "So, maybe, if we pray hard enough, we will find a way out of this. Together." her mother added, her voice breaking slightly, "I'm sure our prayers will reach her, and she will hear us."

Now, as Silvia lay alone in her dimly lit room after a long day of work, those words replayed in her young mind. Silvia was a clever girl; she couldn't help but think this was just another fairytale for kids. There were no gods. Where was this goddess when her mother got a bruise on her face from her father because of a silly snowman Silvia had made?

But still, something deep inside her stirred. Even in the darkest moments, a tiny flame of hope flickered in her bright eyes. That little flame caused her hands to clasp tightly together.

She whispered a prayer, a plea, to the only goddess she knew. The little girl prayed to Elysia while looking at the dirty ceiling, silently hoping for a miracle to come their way. A quiet prayer whispered under her breath, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Please, Elysia, please hear me. We need your help.

Please, please save us. Please.

I'll do anything. Anything.

Just save us.

Mom doesn't deserve this.

We are good people.

We are good people.

Please, save us."

As tears streamed down her face, Silvia whispered the prayer repeatedly until she was too tired to do more. Silvia's heart was full of hope, but her mind was filled with doubt. She desperately waited for a sign, but nothing came; she only heard the wind whistling through the trees outside her window.

That night, Silvia's dreams were filled with the goddess. Was it a coincidence? Maybe. She could hear the weak echoes of her magical instrument, the gentle notes soothing her weary soul. She thought she even saw the goddess's face, which was so beautiful and serene. If only she were real... If only it weren't just her childish imagination...