Chapter 33: The Village's Shame.

One Thousand Years Ago.

In the dense forest, the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves filled Steven's nostrils as he sprinted through the underbrush, the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs beneath his feet echoing through the air. A tiger's thunderous roar reverberated behind him, propelling him forward with fear.

As he ran for his life, he suddenly asked himself, "why is a skilled warrior running from a tiger?"

With that he stopped running and faced the tiger with determination, building up a strategy of victory in his head.

Out of nowhere, an arrow flew out, shooting deep into the tiger's neck and the tiger fell dead immediately.

Steven looked at the direction the tiger came from and he saw someone standing on a hill. He couldn't see the person's face clearly because the sunlight covered up the face, making it difficult for one to see the person's face.

Even with this Steven sulked, "oh come on, I was applying a strategy."

"Yes, I could see the brilliant strategy." A feminine voice rang out from the hill.

"A woman?" Steven was surprised.

The young woman jumped down from the hill, landing on the floor with her back facing Steven. She turned and Steven was stunned by her beauty. He had never seen such a beauty before. (This woman looked exactly like Dua.)

The young woman stood tall, her ninja attire a testament to her agility and stealth. Her bow and arrows, slung over her shoulder, seemed an extension of herself, as if she were born to wield them. A hint of mischief danced in her eyes, betraying a sharp intelligence and quick wit.

"I hope you're not hurt in any way," she spoke, her voice mesmerizing Steven.

"I...I'm not. A skilled warrior can't be hurt by a mere tiger," he replied.

"Mmmm, I can see how skilled you are," she nodded.

"I'm serious, I'm really a skilled warrior," he tried to convince her but she just chuckled.

As she approached the tiger, she skillfully extracted the arrow from its neck. "You eat tigers?" she asked, her gaze sparkling with amusement. Steven's eyes widened in wonder.

"No, do you?" He replied, his tone laced with incredulity.

"I eat all kinds of meat," she replied, tying up the tiger with a rope.

Steven watched her, amazed by her boldness. Wondering if she was really a woman, she was too fearless to be a woman.

After tying the tiger, she held the end of the rope, ready to pull the tiger with her. "Bye," she wished him, bringing him out from his world of thoughts.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"You don't know me? I'm quite popular," she was surprised.

"I don't," he replied, trying to recall if he really hadn't seen her before.

"But I know who you are, young master Steven Levi," she smiled, and he looked at her with eyes widened in shock. "You know me?"

"Who doesn't know you?" She chuckled. "You're the youngest son of master Levi, vice councilor of this village. You're the village's most handsome man and every woman's dream."

"You really do know me," he chuckled. "And it's a shame I don't know who you are."

"I'm the village's shame," she replied.

"The village's shame? What...what do you mean?" He was confused.

"Ask anyone," she smiled but his face was painted with confusion.

"Okay, good talk," she began to pull the tiger with her, but he stopped her.

"Wait, please... when do I see you again?" He asked.

"Although I come here everyday, but if we're destined to meet, then we'll meet again," she replied.

"Bye," she smiled and left, pulling the tiger with her.

Steven's eyes lingered on her disappearing figure, drinking in the sight of her. He couldn't help but notice the way her hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of silk, or the way her smile seemed to light up the entire forest. His gaze was glued to her shilloutte, as if mesmerized by an unseen force.

As Steven walked back to his home, the encounter with the young woman replaying in his mind, he couldn't shake off the feeling that his life was about to change. Upon entering his bedroom, he found his older brother, Shane, waiting for him, a look of concern etched on his face. "You are so dead, little brother." Shane spoke.

"The princess was here and you weren't. Discovering this, father is very angry," he continued.

"Oh, please, why does she keep bothering me?" Steven rolled his eyes, sitting tiredly on another chair opposite Shane.

"She's your betrothed, little brother." Shane reminded him.

"And so what?" Steven was frustrated. "If she pisses me off to the point I can no longer take, I'll call off the marriage."

Shane sighed, "you can't. Father won't let you," he said and Steven laughed.

"You know me, brother, when I'm ready, even father won't be able to stop me." Steven said, his voice lacking emotions.

Shane sighed, he knew what Steven was capable of doing when he's driven by determination.

The siblings stayed still in silence, each of them in their different pool of thoughts until Steven broke the silence. "What's the village's shame?" He asked Shane.

Shane chuckled, "it's not a what, it's a who."

Steven raised a brow and Shane began to explain. "The village's shame is a a story about a young woman who as people say is a very beautiful woman. Every man wanted her. No one really knows what happened, all they know is tfae she suddenly got pregnant out of wedlock, and that was when she was put aside and given the title, 'the village's shame'."

"What's her name?" Steven's tone was low, broken by the story he just heard.

"They say her name is Crystal and though I've never seen her before, they say she's just as her name implies." Shane replied.

"She really is." Steven testified.

"But why are you suddenly asking about the village's shame?" Shane was curious.

"I saw her today." Steven replied, making Shane spring up in shock.

"What? How?" He asked and Steven narrated everything to him.

"Wow, that is...interesting...very interesting." Shane commented.