(2 weeks ago)

"That man .... and your mercenary companions were massacred by orcs? "Noir, the man in his late forties repeated his question for the third time, to calm his erratic heart as his long-lost daughter is undressing before his eyes. 

His daughter, Sylvia told in cold concise narration how her mercenary group went for an adventure in the northern edge of the continent, encountered rare pig headed humanoid called orcs and were defeated. He heard tales about how demi humans such as orcs, goblins, and ogres rape human females. Although she had not mentioned that yet, he instinctively knew where the tragedy was heading. 

His simple but noble clothing was drenched with sudor as his heartbeat accelerated.

For the past month, three idiotic nobles, Viscount Liudger, Baron Herenborg and Baron Badegisel had persistently begged at his doorstep to change allegiance to this new King from Redcliffe in return to various aids to their region.

At first, Noir just dismissed them, treating what they said with a pinch of salt. As they came everyday and even waited for hours with bags of grains, he was forced to take them seriously. Furthermore, his region was suffering from food problems without any help from higher aristocrats and royalty. He even distributed the grains to his serfs but changing allegiance is out of the question. 

One day, the trio reported to him that Sylvia, his daughter who he had not seen for almost two years was still alive. The more shocking news was she was said to be a very high ranked noblewoman in the new kingdom!

Then, today Sylvia suddenly showed up at his doorstep. 

She had become a cold and silent girl despite becoming more athletic and beautiful. 

After silent staring between them for an hour, she opened her mouth. She narrated the tragedy that killed the Reskina young man and her companions. 

"Father, look!"

His furious imagination was ceased by her voice.

Now, the seventeen years old Sylvia had become fully nude before her father. Noir had not seen her naked body for eight years. Her daughter was indeed grown up. His dead wife was reminisced about in a flash.

Her daughter didn't wear so much as a thread of clothing, but she didn't try to cover herself, nor show any concern for her nakedness. 

She was well-endowed that not even her blood related father could quite bring himself to look away. Her sole covering, a small thin piece of cloth covering her private part, somehow made her more alluring. 

The atmosphere was almost reverent; her body, dappled in sunlight and shadow, made her look unique and freshly gorgeous at every moment. 

But...

"Those are.."

The father's voice faltered. His body started to tremble uncontrollably.

"Yes, father. I want to show you these.."

Faint white lines ran along Sylvia's otherwise perfect body. Many, many of them layered upon one another. Some narrow, some thick, long and short. Some ran straight as an arrow, while others made patterns as though they had been tugged and pulled. The slight pink tinge to her skin made them stand out all the more. 

The girl traced a crooked line, that ran across her arm with a slim fair finger. As her fingertip is pressed into the soft flesh, she almost seemed to be stroking it lovingly. 

Noir instinctively wanted to avert his eyes but his fatherly love insisted on looking at his daughter's pain. 

"The marks of a mistake."

For the first time since their reunion, she smiled but painfully, speaking of the scars all over her body as though they were hardly worth watching. The expression seemed to bubble up of its own volition.

"The monsters...they hit me on the head, from behind..that was over a year ago now." 

Her father understood it all too well what that meant. What should he say? How should he say it? His voice grew strained, he only stared helplessly at each scar on his daughter's body.

"This body was made a plaything by those disgusting monsters....I don't deserve to be with any man..."

Hearing the sad tone, Noir bit his lips and clawed his hand unbearably. Without realizing it, he is already on his knees.

"Don.. don't worry, Sylvia. Your father will find a son of a good noble family to marry you..no one shall know your past!"

She shook her head.

"No, father. It's cruel for a man to be with without knowing my dirty past. And how are you going to explain these..even if they know, no man wants to sleep with a woman who was gang-raped by pigs. " She touched the scars again. Tears started to flow from Noir's eyes.

"But I have a man. His name is Hiro. He was the one who risked his life to save me from the monsters."

The words just now greatly eased the pain engulfing Noir. He notice her daughter started to smile sweetly when she talked about the man.

"He is..."

"Yes, father. Hiro saved me from the orcs. I then became one of his lovers. We went through thick and thin together, survived many life and death situations together. He made love to me until I managed to forget about my past."

Noir finally had the strength to stand up.

"We have finally built a kingdom, ranging from Redcliffe in Ferelden until north of Dioral and northern region of Korcari Wilds. Hiro is the King. He made me a marquis. I am happy with him now."

While sobbing, Noir strode to his daughter and embraced her. 

"Father, I have a request."

"I will do anything, I will die for my only child!"

"I want you ledge allegiance to my king. Then, help me to subjugate lands in Castall."

Releasing his embrace, Noir looks at his daughter's serious face.

Silence engulfed the room while the father and daughter stared at each other.

After a while, he broke the silence,

"I will do it. I will fight the Castall king, no, I will wage war against the whole world for you!"

"Thank you, father."

They hug each other.