[Nivalis Silverfrost]

The moon hung high in the sky, bathing the world below in its silver light. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the surrounding trees, carrying with it the scent of pine needles and wildflowers. Crickets chirped their endless song, and owls hooted softly in the distance. Everything was peaceful and calm, both inside and outside the cave — just another ordinary night in their home. Nivalis was peacefully sleeping with her two kids in their cozy bed, dreaming sweet dreams.

However, the silence was soon broken by a sudden whimper from her daughter, who slept between her and her son. Nivalis stirred awake, blinking her eyes tiredly. "What's wrong, honey?" she mumbled sleepily, touching the girl's shoulder. Nivalis glanced at Aster to see if he was awake. The boy was asleep, breathing softly.

"M-mommy..." Silvia murmured, her voice hoarse and pained. She looked at her mother and sniffled, tears glistening in the corners of her golden eyes. "Mommy..." she whispered again. "My stomach hurts... And I think I peed myself," she added, looking down, embarrassed.

— "It's okay, honey," Nivalis reassured her daughter, lifting the blanket and peeking underneath. To her surprise, a crimson trail ran down Silvia's inner thigh, staining the bed beneath her. 'Oh,' Nivalis realized, understanding what was happening. "Oh, sweetie... Don't worry, everything is alright," she whispered to her daughter, smiling warmly.

Silvia looked down at the liquid on her thighs and gasped, touching the red substance with her finger. She brought her hand up and examined it closely. "W-wait, is this blood?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "What's wrong with me? Am I sick again? Oh no, is-" she rambled, her panic rising.

— "Hush, relax," Nivalis whispered, touching her daughter's soft lips to silence her. Aster stirred slightly beside them but didn't wake up. "Everything is alright. You aren't sick," she continued. "You are just growing up. It's perfectly normal," she added, caressing her cheek reassuringly.

"Normal?" Silvia asked, her expression confused and uncertain. "How can this be normal?" she questioned, glancing down at herself.

Nivalis smiled fondly at her daughter, kissing her forehead lovingly. "This means that you are a woman now, my little flower," she said, her eyes twinkling with pride.

"I don't understand," Silvia frowned, staring at her mother's face. "What do you mean?"

— "Let's get you cleaned first, sweetheart. I will make you an herbal tea to soothe the pain, then explain it all to you. Okay?" Nivalis suggested, brushing a lock of hair out of Silvia's face.

"O-okay," Silvia nodded slowly. She got off the bed and started walking towards the kitchen, holding her tummy.

Nivalis glanced at the bed where Silvia had slept and noticed a small dark patch of blood, about the size of her palm, marking the spot of the accident. Quickly, Nivalis covered the stain with her own tunic, which was lying nearby, and then followed her daughter to the kitchen.

"Ugh," Silvia winced, a painful cramp tearing through her insides. Nivalis rushed forward, grabbing her daughter's waist and supporting her. Together, they hobbled towards the fireplace, where the warm embers still glowed brightly.

— "Here, let me help you," Nivalis said, lowering herself and grabbing a wet cloth from nearby. She started wiping the blood off Silvia's thighs and private parts, careful not to cause any discomfort. "Are you okay, my sweet girl?" she asked worriedly, looking up at her daughter's tearful face.

"I-I think so," Silvia said, sniffling. Nivalis rotated her, gently wiping her butt cheeks and what was between them, making sure not a single trace of the blood was left. The girl's face turned redder, but she didn't complain or try to stop her. After a few moments, the girl was clean.

Nivalis rose to her feet and made her way to the corner of the room, where she retrieved a clean piece of fabric and a smaller cloth that could be folded and used as a pad — items she relied on during her monthly cycle.

Returning to Silvia, Nivalis knelt before her once more. The girl stood there obediently, watching as her mother wrapped the fabric around her hips in several layers, forming a makeshift underwear. The process reminded her how they made diapers for Aster when he was little.

"Hold this," Nivalis said, handing her daughter the ends of the cloth. Then, she folded the smaller fabric several times before sliding it between her daughter's legs. The girl gasped quietly as she felt her mother's fingers but didn't say anything. "Good. Now, we need to tie the knot," she continued, taking the ends back from her daughter.

Nivalis slowly and skillfully tied the ends together, making a cute ribbon. "Done. See? Easy as that," she said, smiling at her daughter's bewildered expression. "This will prevent the bleeding from staining your pants or bed," she added, rising to her feet. "We will need to change the pad every now and then to keep everything clean."

"Oh, I think I saw you were wearing it before," Silvia commented, touching the fabric of her makeshift underwear, which resembled a diaper too much. "So this is what it's for... I didn't know you wore it because of... that," she added, shifting uncomfortably in place.

Nivalis smiled patiently, kissing her forehead lovingly. "Yes, sweety, exactly. I will explain everything later, alright?" she asked, ruffling her daughter's hair. Silvia nodded hesitantly. "Good. Now put on your clothes while I make you tea. Then, we will go outside and talk, and I will answer any questions you may have. Alright, honey?" Nivalis said, rubbing her daughter's cheek tenderly.

"Uhm, alright," Silvia mumbled, quietly walking back to the bed and dressing up in the clothes she wore before bed. Meanwhile, Nivalis started heating water on the fire for her daughter's herbal tea.

Aster was sound asleep and didn't react to any movements or noises in the room. He was lying on the bed, his limbs sprawled out wide, resembling a starfish. The blanket was kicked to the side, and his long silver hair was scattered across the bed in messy locks, partially covering his face. Silvia couldn't help but sigh at the sight, and even Nivalis heard it.

...

 

Outside the cave, the moon was still high; The stars twinkled above like thousands of tiny diamonds scattered across the black sky. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, filling the night with soothing sounds for both girls to enjoy.

Nivalis was sitting on the grass, her back leaning against an old pine tree trunk. She was holding her daughter in her arms, with legs to the side, while her daughter's head rested against her shoulder. Nivalis reached for the steaming cup on her right and handed it to Silvia. "Here you go, darling. This should ease the pain a little," she said, gently stroking her daughter's back.

"Thanks," Silvia said, taking the cup with both hands and bringing it to her lips. She blew on it a few times, trying to cool down the drink before taking a sip. "Tastes nice."

— "Mhm," Nivalis smiled, drinking from her cup. A few minutes passed as they enjoyed their drinks in silence. Nivalis was waiting for her daughter to ask questions, but none came. The girl simply stared at the distant stars, enjoying the peaceful night with her mother. As more time passed, Nivalis finally decided to start first. "Do you feel better now, sweetie?" Nivalis whispered, gently stroking her daughter's knee.

"A little," Silvia nodded, staring at the cup in her hands for a few moments before turning to look at her mother. "So... what is this... thing?" she asked quietly, her golden eyes shimmering in the moonlight.

Nivalis placed their cups on the ground and wrapped her arms around her daughter's waist, holding her tightly. "Well, my darling... Remember when I had a big belly before Aster was born? When I was pregnant?" she asked, brushing the strands of silver hair from Silvia's face.

Silvia frowned, looking confused. "Yeah?" she nodded slowly. A moment later, the wrong realization hit her. "Wait, am I pregnant now!?" she exclaimed, horrified by the news. "Is this why my belly hurts? Because the baby grows inside me?" she panicked, touching her stomach.

Nivalis shook her head, giggling softly at her daughter's panicked expression. "No, no. Nothing like that, honey," she said reassuringly. "The reason why it bleeds from... down there... signals that your body is ready to be pregnant," Nivalis explained. "It's a sign that you're becoming a woman now," she said, kissing Silvia's forehead.

Silvia didn't reply. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she processed the information, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Ready to be pregnant?" she repeated her mother's words, confused. "How do you know I'm not already pregnant?" she asked, staring at her mother.

Nivalis smiled warmly, shaking her head. "You aren't, honey. It doesn't work like that," she assured.

Silvia sighed with relief, relaxing a little. "Whew, good... But how does it work, then?" she asked curiously.

— "Ahem," Nivalis cleared her throat, her cheeks warming with a hint of embarrassment. "Well... You see, sweetie... How should I explain it to you..." Nivalis muttered, averting her eyes.

It took a moment for her to start. "When you grow up and find someone you love, and after you get married, you'll start sharing a bed with your husband," she explained, searching for the right words. "How should I put it, um... The man has to... insert his seed into you. That's how babies are conceived, and only then can you become pregnant and grow a child in your womb," she said, her explanation laced with awkwardness.

Silvia's head tilted to the side as she tried to process the information. "Putting the seed inside?" she wondered aloud, attempting to grasp her mother's meaning. "Like a vegetable or something?" she asked, eyeing Nivalis with curiosity and confusion.

Nivalis chuckled nervously, scratching her cheek. "Ah, no, honey. You see, when the husband and wife are alone together, he has to..." Nivalis paused for a few seconds, trying to figure out how to describe sexual intercourse without making it too graphic for her daughter's mind. "Um... he will stick his private part into your private place. Then, the seed will come out from his thingy and enter your womb, where it will grow into a baby. Do you understand what I mean?" Nivalis asked, unsure if her explanation made sense.

Silvia didn't reply instantly. She thought about her mother's explanation momentarily before asking another question. "Do you mean the thing Asty has between his legs?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

Nivalis coughed awkwardly, surprised by her daughter's question. "Um, yes. Exactly," she replied, nodding her head.

"Oooh, okay," Silvia said, her eyes lighting up as she connected the dots. "What if it happens while I'm not being married?" she asked innocently.

— "Uhh," Nivalis swallowed, "Well, you will get pregnant anyway," she replied, rubbing her daughter's back comfortingly.

Silvia nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "Then why do I have to marry a man?" she asked, looking confused.

— "Because to do something like this, you have to trust and love the other person dearly," Nivalis replied, her gaze soft as she looked into her daughter's eyes. "It must be someone you care for so much that you're willing to have his children and raise them together. It's a sacred and intimate act." Nivalis explained. "It has to be someone dear to you, not just anyone," she added, brushing her finger along Silvia's cheek.

Silvia blinked, silently contemplating her mother's words for a few moments. "Then... why did you agree to do it with... him?" she asked quietly, referring to Haldor. Even to the young girl, it was clear there was no trust or love between them.

Nivalis tensed; her lips trembled slightly as she averted her gaze to the ground. Silvia noticed her mother's mood shift and immediately regretted asking. "I'm sorry, Mommy..."

— "No, it's okay, sweetie," Nivalis muttered, regaining her composure. She took a deep breath and hugged Silvia tightly, pressing her daughter's face against her chest. "I-I... didn't have any choice..." she whispered, but her voice began to tremble, and she could not find the right words to continue.

Silvia didn't dare to say anything, feeling terrible for asking this question. She simply held onto her mother's waist, listening to her heartbeat and not daring to move. The moments stretched out before Nivalis spoke again.

— "Sometimes, life gives us impossible choices... I had to bear it to survive," Nivalis confessed in a hushed tone. "It's not important anymore, my love... It's all in the past now," she said, gently running her fingers through Silvia's hair. They sat in silence for a while, holding each other close.

— "This is why you can only do it with the right person, my little flower," Nivalis whispered again, placing her chin on her daughter's head and looking at the moon.

"How do I know if it's the right person?" Silvia mumbled, her voice muffled by her mother's chest.

Nivalis closed her eyes and sighed softly. "I wish I could tell you, honey," she said, hugging Silvia more firmly. "Sometimes people can hide their true feelings. Many want to take advantage of young women... So you should be careful. It's easy to mistake someone's intentions."

Silvia remained silent, listening to her mother's heart beating. "I know! If I ever decide to have a baby, I will ask Asty to do it," she declared, sounding completely sure of herself.

Nivalis couldn't help but laugh. "Pfft," she covered her mouth with her hand, her body shaking as she attempted to stifle her giggles. "Oh, my silly little girl," she said, shaking her head with a smile.

Silvia blinked, looking up at her mother, confused by her reaction. "What's so funny, Mom?" she asked, pouting.

Nivalis couldn't help but continue laughing. "Sweetie, Asty is your little brother," she pointed out, trying to stop herself from giggling.

"So? I will just convince him to make me pregnant. Easy," Silvia answered as if it was obvious. "There is no need to worry about finding the right person. Besides, he kinda proposed already?" she added, recalling the incident with the Moonflower.

Nivalis blinked, feeling a headache coming. She tried to make sense of what she just heard. "You can't have children with him, honey," Nivalis said, patting her daughter's head.

"Why not?" Silvia pouted, staring at her mother.

— "Oh, dear..." Nivalis sighed heavily, wondering how their conversation had taken such a turn. 'Shouldn't these things be self-evident?' she thought, feeling her headache in full glory. There was no way a mother could be prepared for such a conversation. "It's just not right, sweetie. You can't do those things with your little brother. It's not natural," she finally managed, shaking her head.

"But why?" Silvia persisted, stubbornly crossing her arms.

Nivalis pinched her daughter's nose, eliciting a giggle from her. "Because he is your brother," she explained. "It's different. Brothers and sisters shouldn't do something like that."

"Ow," Silvia whined, rubbing her reddened nose. "But what about the moonflower, remember? The marriage tradition?" she pressed, her gaze locking onto her mother's.

Nivalis sighed, rubbing her forehead tiredly. "No matter how much we love to joke about this, honey, it doesn't mean anything. You have to promise me that you won't... EVER... consider doing that with Asty. Do you understand?" she said, her tone serious.

"Fiiine," Silvia capitulated, rolling her eyes. "It's not like I want to have babies anyway," she said, leaning against her mother's chest again. "I don't think I could survive another few years of changing diapers," she mumbled quietly.

Nivalis chuckled, caressing her daughter's back. "Yeah, neither do I," she confessed, earning a smile from her daughter. They sat silently, enjoying each other's company, until Silvia interrupted with another question.

"Hey, mom?" Silvia whispered without looking up from her mother's bosom.

— "Yes, my love?" Nivalis replied, resting her chin on top of her daughter's head.

Silvia nervously shifted her weight from side to side before finally asking a question that bothered her. "Is it also wrong for you to do that with Asty?" she asked curiously, finally looking up; a silly smile formed on the girl's face as she waited for an answer.

Nivalis let out a long and loud sigh, one of the biggest she had ever made. This conversation did not turn out the way she had expected, and she was now starting to understand her own mother better. It made her realize why her mother used to have so many headaches back when she was a kid. Nivalis smiled at her daughter, pinching her little nose once again.

...

 

[Gûl'rökkýnêth]

Somewhere on the other side of the safe island where the Silverfrost family resides, strange creatures emerged from the depths of the ancient forest. All four of them looked exhausted and incredibly skinny. Their skin was sickly grey, their bodies hunched and twisted, and their teeth sharp and stained with filth. They were small in stature, wearing ragged clothes and armed with crude stone spears. All four of them looked at the distant shore with envy. But one was a head taller than the rest and looked stronger.

Hunger... Pain... Cold. These were the sensations that dominated the mind of Gûl'rökkýnêth. He could no longer feel his fingers or toes, and his stomach growled fiercely, demanding food. He looked around at the faces of the women with him: his three wives, their eyes dull and lifeless. He knew they would not last much longer without food.

But the gods were kind to him and his wives. On the third day of their flee from the slaughter, one caused by the humans in iron armor who had destroyed their entire tribe, they stumbled upon a river. On the other side was a forest — not the ancient and dangerous one he had called home, but a different one... full of game. His instincts screamed at him that this was a place where they could thrive. He pointed a finger at the river and yelled, "Vrænn-r!"

It didn't take long to cross the cold river and find a proper cavern to call their new home. This place was full of them, enough to shelter hundreds of his sons. It would take many winters to rebuild what was lost. Then, he would find those who had murdered his brethren and avenge them. No one would be spared, and no one would stop him.

...

 

 

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"Introduction to Adventuring" by Hrogar Stonehammer. Chapter 1, Page 5.

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In the annals of our world's history, there exists a tale as ancient as the stones beneath our feet. It is said that the goblins, those vile and loathsome creatures that haunt the darkest corners of our world, were not always as they are now. No, they were once kin to us, descendants of the proud dwarven clans who delved deep into the depths in search of riches and glory.

But heed this warning, dear reader, for the path of ambition is treacherous, and the depths of the world hold secrets darker than the blackest night. It is said that those dwarfs who delved too greedily and too deep, consumed by their lust for gold and power, were cursed by the very stone they sought to master.

Children born in the darkness grew into adults, never knowing the warmth of the light, never tasting a mug of mead or the freshness of a mountain breeze. All things that make us dwarves were forgotten by them until they were no more. When they emerged from the tunnels, they were no longer dwarfs but monsters, twisted and foul, and their eyes burned with the light of madness.

Centuries underground made their forms curved, their once sturdy frames becoming thin, their muscles wasting away to nothing. Once proud beards fell out, their skin became pale grey from not seeing the sun for too long, usually coated in a sticky, foul-smelling liquid from their mouths, the same liquid they use to preserve the meat of their prey.

Their eyes grew larger and wider so they could see better in the dark, and their teeth became sharp and vicious so they could devour any flesh that came their way. Do not forget: if you see one, there are many more. The goblins travel in tribes and reproduce rapidly. Don't leave one alive when dealing with them, or they will return in greater numbers the next time. Show no mercy because the innocent ones will pay for your mistake.

And remember their lesson well, for in our pursuit of adventure and glory, let us not be consumed by the same darkness that befell our ancient kin.

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