Synonym

You were an ordinary girl from a poor family. Poverty seemed a natural part of life, and everything eventually became a mess—until the day your village was attacked by enemy soldiers. People fled in panic, trying to save themselves, and you were among them. But luck ran out: you tripped while running, fell, and seriously injured your leg.

Then everything became foggy. The screams faded, the pain receded into the distance, and your body stopped obeying you. The only thing you managed to hear through the haze of your fading consciousness was the stranger's calm, velvety voice:
"Another victim... Will you come with me? " he asked softly, though he knew there would be no answer. Carefully lifting you into his arms, he whispered barely audibly, "Oh... how light."

You clearly didn't wake up on the cold ground. Opening your eyes, you saw only impenetrable darkness. It took you a few seconds to realize that your eyes were tightly bandaged and your wrists were tightly bound. Nearby, you could hear the soft rustling of paper pages—someone leisurely leafing through a book. The rich, calming aroma of dried herbs and apothecary potions hung in the air. Noticing your awakening, he looked away from his tome of medicinal plants and looked at you.
"Are you awake? " he said softly. His voice held his usual responsibility and reserved concern. You recognized that voice immediately—it was the one that had sounded above you on the ruined street. "Sorry, I had to tie you up just in case. I didn't know how you'd react when you came to."