Chapter 4 Akira Met Ember

Akira's eyes slowly opened, and she gazed up at a ceiling, her mouth whispering, "water." The girl quickly brought water, and Akira tried to sit up slowly, her movements labored. The girl's expression was one of concern, her eyes soft and gentle as she handed Akira the cup of water. "Here, drink up," she said, her voice soothing. Akira's expression was one of gratitude as she drank the water, her eyes locked onto the girl's face. As she finished drinking, Akira turned to look at the girl, her gaze searching. "Did you save me?" she asked, her voice weak but curious. The girl's expression was one of kindness, her smile warm and genuine. "Yes, I did," she replied. "You were bleeding in the forest, and you were unconscious, so I carried you here." Her eyes sparkled with pride, and her voice was filled with a sense of accomplishment. "This is my home, you're safe here," she added, her words meant to reassure. Akira's expression softened, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you for saving me," she said, her voice low and sincere. "Can I know the name of my savior?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. The girl's smile grew wider, and she said, "Ember. My name is Ember, what's your name?" Her eyes sparkled with interest, and her voice was friendly. Akira's expression was one of relief, and she smiled slightly. "My name is Akira," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Ember's eyes lit up with curiosity, and she asked, "What were you doing alone in the forest, Akira?" Her voice was gentle, but her gaze was piercing. "Where do you live? Your family must be worried about you," she added, her expression concerned. Akira's expression turned sad, and she looked down, her eyes welling up with tears. "I no longer have a home," she said, her voice barely audible. Just then, a voice echoed through the room, "Ember!" The lady's call was loud and authoritative, and both Ember and Akira turned to look in the direction of the voice. Ember's expression turned panicked, and she quickly got up. The woman came into the room, her face stern and disapproving. "Ember, I told you to fetch water, but you haven't done anything," she shouted, her voice rising in anger. Her attention turned to Akira, and she asked, "Who is this girl?" Her gaze was cold and calculating. Ember's expression was worried, and she looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "She... she fainted on the road, and I decided to bring her home," she said, her words tumbling out quickly. The lady's expression was disgusted, and she said, "You're living off me, and now you brought a dirty girl to my house? Huh!" Her voice was loud, and her words were laced with disdain. Akira's expression was one of embarrassment, and she looked down, feeling unwanted and unworthy. Ember's eyes pleaded with her aunt, her expression soft and desperate as she said, "Aunty, please let her stay, she doesn't have anywhere to go." Akira's face fell, her sad expression a testament to her hopeless situation. The lady's irritation was palpable, her expression twisted in annoyance as she asked, "Are you going to feed her?" Akira's head drooped, her eyes cast downward in shame. Ember's face contorted in reluctance as she retrieved a beautiful jade from her purse, her expression a mix of sadness and resignation. She didn't want to part with the precious item, but she was willing to sacrifice it for Akira's sake. Her aunt's eyes widened in surprise and delight as she took the jade from Ember, "Wow, so you had this beautiful jade and you hid it from me?" The aunt's voice was laced with accusation and anger. Ember's eyes welled up with tears, her expression sad as she said, "My mom gave it to me, it's the only thing I have that belongs to my mom." Akira's face reflected her sadness, her eyes filled with empathy as she watched Ember give up her treasured possession. The aunt's expression turned cruel, her face twisted in anger as she hit Ember with a broom, "Is there anything you've been hiding from me? Huh!" She shouted, her voice rising in fury as she continued flogging Ember. Akira stood up, her determination evident as she shielded Ember behind her, "Stop! Why are you beating her?" she said, her voice firm and authoritative. The lady's expression turned ugly, her face contorted in rage as she turned to Akira, "Who are you to stop me?" She asked, her voice dripping with disdain. The aunt's anger seemed to intensify, her expression twisted in fury as she continued to flog both Ember and Akira, "Because you're the minister's daughter, you think I won't beat you?" She asked Ember, her voice laced with malice and contempt. Ember's face reflected her pain and fear, while Akira's expression remained resolute, as she tried to protect Ember. The aunt's anger still simmering, she dropped the broom on the floor with a loud thud, her expression twisted in fury. "The both of you will starve today, you won't eat anything," she declared, her voice firm and authoritative. With a final glance of disdain, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Ember and Akira looking at each other with concern. Ember's expression was one of worry, her eyes scanning Akira's face for signs of injury. "Are you okay? You were hurt and you still took a beating for me," she asked, her voice filled with gratitude and concern. Akira smiled weakly, her expression softening as she replied, "I'm okay, you saved me, I thought I should stand up for you as well." Ember's face lit up with a warm smile, her eyes shining with appreciation. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She quickly walked to a drawer and retrieved a plate of food, her expression conspiratorial. Akira's eyes widened in surprise, and her expression turned sad as she realized Ember had been hiding food from her aunt. As they sat down to eat, their faces lit up with smiles, the tension in the room dissipating slightly. Akira's expression turned curious, and she asked, "Why are you helping me?" Ember's face reflected her kindness, her eyes warm and genuine as she replied, "Because you're just like me, you don't have a home." Akira's expression turned thoughtful, and she said, "But we're not the same, you're the minister's daughter." Ember's face fell, her expression turning sad as she revealed, "Yes, I'm the minister's daughter, but my mom is just a maid, and they said I was a jinx because I was born in mid-February, they said I'll bring bad luck." Akira listened intently, her expression empathetic as Ember shared her story. Ember's eyes welled up with tears as she continued, "My father banished me from the family, and now I'm staying with the midwife, I wish I could see my mother." Akira's expression was one of deep understanding, her eyes filled with compassion as she listened to Ember's words.