Chapter 1
It waste August in the deep mountains where Jadonia and Valdend met. A young woman in a
snug dress and an olderdy stood before a nameless grave.
The young woman, Hera Youngworth, was born into the Everett family of Norburgh. However, she
was given to the wrong family due to a mistake at the hospital 17 years ago.
Just a week ago, the Everetts located her. Today, they were here to bring her back to the city.
Catherine Youngworth shifted her gaze from the tombstone to Hera. “Let’s start heading downhill.
The Everetts will arrive shortly. Once you’re back in the city, you’ll be recognized as an Everett. It’s
time to leave the past behind.”
“Okay, Grandma. You go ahead. I’d like to stay a little longer,” Hera replied.
Catherine took onest nce at the tombstone, let out a sigh, and said, “Don’t keep them waiting.”
Hera stood alone, silently gazing at the nameless tombstone.
Suddenly, she heard rustling in the woods behind her and nced up. Something was stirring
among the trees and approaching her.
Turning around cautiously, she caught the glint of sunlight on her long eyshes. A figure dressed
in dark camouge dashed out from the woods, stirring a heavy scent of blood into the air.
The tall man had camouge paint on his face, making it hard for Hera to see his features. Yet, she
spotted a g on his right arm.
Meanwhile, Hera could still hear rustling sounds from the woods behind him.
Bernard Killian hadn’t expected to run into anyone in these deste mountains. With a growl, he
cautioned, “It’s dangerous here. You should go!”
Drained of energy, he stumbled and copsed before Hera. Hey motionless, his blood staining
the grass beneath him.
Hera frowned. The smell of blood was overpowering, leading her to believe that Bernard had likely
lost consciousness due to excessive bleeding. He might not survive if she didn’t act fast to stop the
bleeding.
Suddenly, two men dressed in light camouge suits emerged from the woods.
The first man, Edwin Elrod, who had curly hair, spoke in Terranish, “There’s a woman over here!”
The second man, Albert Barlowe, had a crew cut and thick lips. He nced at Hera and said, “Let’s
take her with us.”
It seemed that Albert hadn’t seen a woman in a while. His gaze turned lustful as soon as heid
eyes on Hera.
Hera’s heart pounded. She had lived in this bordend for 11 years and was aware of its dangers,
but this situation was new.
Despite her anxiety, she silently thanked her lucky stars that Catherine had gone down the
mountain before her.
Hera calmly looked at the weapons they were holding, then spoke in standard Terranish, “Please
don’t harm me. I’m just a viger.”
Albert stepped forward, using the barrel of his gun to lift Hera’s chin. Her face was beautiful and
soft. He imagined that touching her would be pleasant.
He licked his lips and grinned. “Miss, you speak Terranish quite well. Come with us. I’ll take you
everywhere and we’ll live a good life.”
Hera fixed her gaze on the ominous gun barrel, her throat tight with fear. “Fine, just please don’t
hurt me. I’ll do whatever you say. I’ll pack my things and go with you right away.”
Her timid response only fueled Albert’s dark intentions. He smirked with a hint of malice. “Since
you’re so agreeable, let’s begin with making me happy!”
Edwin chimed in with a simrly unsettlingugh.
Albert dropped his weapon and seized Hera’s right hand, pulling her close.
Quick as lightning, Hera ran her left hand along the side of her tight dress, revealing a silver needle
between her fingers. She then thrust the needle into Albert’s ST 9 acupuncture point.
Albert froze, his head dropping to meet Hera’s icy gaze. The fear that had been in her eyes
moments before was now gone.
Edwin sensed trouble and muttered curses under his breath. He pointed his gun at Hera but
hesitated to shoot, fearing he might hit Albert instead.
Once Albert fell unconscious, Hera shoved him aside and rolled swiftly toward the tombstone. She
grabbed a handful of white powder from a basket and flung it at Edwin.
Edwin hurried to reload his gun, but it was toote. The powder filled the air, and as he breathed it
in, his vision blurred. He felt his senses dulling. Within moments, he copsed unconscious, just like
Albert.
The powder Hera used was her own mix, designed to repel wild animals. Without an antidote, they
wouldn’t wake up for at least an hour.
Hera got to her feet and looked down. She noticed that the dress Catherine had tailored for her was
stained and ripped from the stones. She frowned, feeling a pang of regret.
N?velDrama.Org is the owner.
Then, she moved closer to check Bernard’s injury. He had been shot in the right shoulder de,
and blood was flowing from the wound.
Hera undid the intricate camouge uniform Bernard wore and lifted the slit of her dress. Along the
edge of the slit, rows of silver needles of various lengths and thicknesses were found.
She picked a few and carefully inserted them into Bernard’s acupuncture points, which aided in
stopping the bleeding.
Next, she tore off a fabric from her torn dress and used it to bandage Bernard’s wound.
Unfortunately, given the circumstances, she couldn’t remove the bullet.
As Bernard slowly woke up, he felt a numbness in his right shoulder. He was still feeling dazed, but
he snapped wide awake when he felt someone’s hands on his chest.
Hera had just finished wrapping a bandage around his wound when Bernard grabbed her right wrist.
“Don’t worry I’m just tending to your injury,” Hera reassured him.
Bernard finally got a good look at her face and was surprised. “C-Cecily?”
Hera was shocked. She looked at Bernard’s face, which was smeared with camouge paint. Then,
she pulled away from his grip and distanced herself.
The name Cecily was known only to the Killian family. Hera wondered if the person standing before
her could be one of the Killians.