- 8 hours ago
- #spirit
Her body is gone, but her spirit continues to guide her family. #Spirit
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Short filmTranscript
00:00my mom up and sell it as pork before she died she told me to find my uncle she said
00:04he was some
00:04powerful general and he'd feed me but when i stopped him on the street he was holding my
00:09cousin he looked down at me and scoffed trash like you should just die need money tell your
00:14mom to come beg me then he took my cousin and bought her gold bracelets i'd never seen anything
00:20so beautiful on her wrists they shined brightly my uncle glared at me what are you looking at
00:26keep staring and i'll gouge your eyes out then he walked away i stared at his back unable to move
00:32i held my empty stomach and lowered my head my mom was wrong he would never feed me he was
00:37so rich he
00:38didn't even blink buying my cousin gold bracelets but when i asked for money for a bun he told me
00:43to
00:43send my mom but my mom was already dead my dad chopped her up and sold her as pork the
00:47streets
00:47of the capital were crowded but the sky slowly darkened it started to drizzle i curled up under
00:52an alley awning i rolled up my sleeve and stared at the knife scars on my wrist i thought of
00:56my
00:56cousin's gold bracelets so pretty if i wore them my dirty blood would ruin them still i wished i had
01:02one i could trade it for lots of buns mom said buns were soft and fragrant really delicious i licked
01:09my
01:09cracked lips and forced myself to stand i hadn't eaten in two days i was starving maybe selling myself
01:14was the only way to live i tried to sell myself to a rice shop the owner drove me off
01:17before i even got
01:18to the door where'd this beggar come from get out bad luck i walked through the rain numb and empty
01:22i went to shop after shop no one wanted me i didn't even want pay just one bite to eat
01:27in the
01:27end only the brothel would take me in a woman named ms lane pinched my cheek and smiled nice face
01:32you're
01:32pale and scrawny now but give it some time you might turn into a real beauty she made me sign
01:36a page full
01:37of writing she thought i couldn't read she tricked me into signing for food but i knew it all my
01:42mom taught
01:42me to read it was a contract selling myself and beside it was a plate of fresh buns
01:46ms lane tore one open the smell hit me right away what choice did i have but to sign i
01:51stared at the
01:51bun and swallowed hard my hand lifted from the red ink just as i was about to sign it someone
01:56grabbed
01:56me it was my uncle he glared at me disgusted you're just as cheap as serena same dirty tricks too
02:03disgusting how did our family end up with someone like you selling yourself to a brothel even lower
02:08than your mom now move take me to her he shook me until my vision spun i knew i'd starve
02:13if i didn't
02:13eat before i blacked out i bit off a piece of his flesh and swallowed it right after that he
02:18kicked
02:18me away i slammed hard onto the ground a sharp pain hit my chest and everything went black went quiet
02:23well at least i got to eat meat once too bad it tasted awful cold water woke me up when
02:28i opened my
02:29eyes i was in a beautifully built courtyard before i knew it a fierce old woman pinched my nose and
02:34forced sour porridge down my throat then they dragged me into my uncle's study inside my uncle was talking
02:39about me with a doctor frowning my uncle said so she bit a chunk out of me because she's starving
02:43the doctor nodded yeah any later and she'd be dead i was hauled in front of my uncle his face
02:49looked
02:49awful white bandage wrapped the wrist i'd bitten he looked at me like i was an ugly rat he turned
02:54his
02:55head away speaking without looking at me you were starving and you didn't say anything or was that
02:58revenge i looked at him quietly and softly said sir the first thing i told you was i'm starving could
03:04you give me some money for a bun he froze for a moment clearly remembering then his brows knit in
03:08displeasure why aren't you calling me uncle now i pressed my lips tight and lowered my head when we
03:12first met i called him uncle but now i didn't want to he lifted his foot and tipped my chin
03:17up mute
03:18he curled his lips coldly still want to eat if you want to eat take me to your mom i
03:22want to see what's
03:23so great out there that she stayed away for nine years now she's broke and sends you back to beg
03:27i
03:27nodded and said give me white buns i'll take you to her fresh out of the oven not like that
03:33cold sour
03:33porridge from earlier that'd mess up my stomach the old woman behind me dropped to her knees at once
03:37sir i clearly fed her hot meat porridge she's lying my uncle looked at me with even more disgust just
03:43like your mom utterly disgraceful i looked at the old woman jammed my fingers down my throat and threw
03:47up the cold sour porridge my uncle staggered back in shock i jammed my fingers down my throat and threw
03:54up the cold sour porridge my uncle staggered back in shock i looked at him calmly see that porridge in
04:00my stomach for a while and it was still cold my stomach isn't made of ice he looked at the
04:04mess on
04:04the floor and recoiled at the sour smell how could something she just ate go sour so fast the old
04:09woman was already on the floor shaking all over it's clear now my uncle snorted coldly who gave you
04:15the nerve to disobey me behind my back the old woman trembled about to speak when a gentle voice
04:19came from outside i told her to feed it serena's daughter should be grateful for a bowl of rotten
04:22food the voice arrived before the person woman in fine robes walked in servants around her when i saw
04:28her face i froze i almost called out mom but i knew she wasn't she looked a lot like my
04:33mom but
04:33softer more graceful my mom looked older and worn out she'd never had a good life after being sold
04:38to my dad and aunt clara's always had it easy she walked in with a dark face the mess on
04:42the floor
04:42made her cover her nose in disgust yet a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes she looked at me
04:46and said you really do look like serena same little vixen face where is that bitch now i looked down
04:51and spoke quietly give me food and i'll lead you to her she snorted coldly what right do you have
04:57to
04:57make demands my uncle frowned he had servants bring in a plate of hot buns eat don't die in my
05:01house
05:02it's bad luck my aunt shot him in unhappy glare you feel sorry for this bastard my uncle shook his
05:07head
05:07he said nothing but his gaze grew heavy i was starving i grabbed a bun and tore into it so
05:11soft
05:12and sweet mom hadn't lied to me buns really are delicious way better than those dry corn cakes but i
05:16didn't dare eat too much i stuffed the rest into my torn sleeves my uncle watched me do it his
05:21frown
05:22deepening your mom didn't feed you i shook my head she saved the best food for me my uncle sneered
05:26face full of disgust then why do you still look so poor still putting on a show i didn't answer
05:31i just said let's go aunt clara snorted she told them to prepare a carriage but she wouldn't let me
05:36get on she said i made her sick wherever i went the air turned sour i watched my nicely dressed
05:41cousin get into the carriage envy rose in my chest mom rarely held me she said sometimes she wanted to
05:46strangle me said i was a mistake but when she was locked in the cellar i was the only one
05:51who stayed
05:51and she was always kind-hearted when she was in a good mood she taught me how to read she
05:55told me
05:56many stories about home she even taught me martial arts but i was useless i could never learn it well
06:00she said the women in her family were just as strong as men she once earned merit on the battlefield
06:03herself if she hadn't been framed and had her tendons cut she wouldn't have ended up like that
06:07she tried to kill herself many times but her hatred kept her going my uncle rode ahead on a tall
06:12horse
06:12he asked if i could ride on my own i shook my head what did your mom teach you are
06:16you useless yes
06:17i am useless i lowered my head i saw my mom being cut into pieces by my dad he even
06:21tried to make me eat it
06:23and i was too useless to save her my uncle laughed in anger how did our family end up with
06:27a coward
06:27like you don't call me your uncle outside i nodded he looked at me as if there was nothing he
06:33could do
06:33in the end he had a guard put me on a horse the guard couldn't refuse so he covered his
06:37nose with a
06:37cloth to block the smell but halfway through the ride he couldn't hold it and threw up my uncle frowned
06:43asking how a girl could smell so bad at a roadside inn he got a room and had his maid
06:47clean me up
06:48as soon as she stripped off my rags she screamed my uncle thought something was wrong
06:54he kicked the door open and rushed in as soon as she stripped off my rags she screamed my uncle
07:00thought something was wrong he kicked the door open and rushed in he rushed in calling out to iris
07:05asking what was wrong iris covered her mouth and looked at him tears running down her face sir
07:09please take pity on this ava miss ava she doesn't deserve it then he saw me without clothes and froze
07:15i think
07:16my back was covered in fine knife scars but i couldn't reach it or see it it's probably ugly
07:20iris seemed soft-hearted she gently touched my wounds tears falling non-stop she smells because
07:25the wounds are rotting and she's been burning with fever my uncle stared at me for a moment then
07:28realized i was a girl he quickly turned his back he took a deep breath before saying clean her wounds
07:34first i'll send for a doctor iris agreed but i shook my head and refused no need a little clay
07:39will do
07:39that's how i healed before i forgot the last two days iris stared shocked how can you use clay
07:45after my uncle left iris cleaned my wounds and put some medicine on them because treating me took
07:50extra time aunt clara's face darkened why waste time and money on her she's just like her mom always
07:56pulling tricks my uncle was about to hug my cousin but he paused when he heard that and pulled his
08:00hand back she pouted and whined uncle hug me she was only four she was the child aunt clara had
08:05long
08:05hoped for of course she adored her seeing her feel wronged aunt clara immediately got upset what are you
08:10doing can't you see annie wants a hug my uncle sighed i'm tired then he walked toward me for the
08:16first time he crouched in front of me he was really tall if he didn't crouch i couldn't even meet
08:20his
08:20eyes did your mom abuse you often i shook my head mom was good to me she got beaten more
08:25than i did
08:25my uncle froze his expression cracked how could that be she clearly then his brows knitted tightly again
08:30you're lying did your mom tell you to lie to me so i'd feel sorry for her i stared at
08:34him
08:34remembering mom's words her brother was a great hero a brilliant general wise and incredibly smart
08:41my mom was wrong again turns out her brother was just a fool if this was all just to fool
08:46him then
08:46how do you explain the old scars on my body was i beaten all my life just for this lie
08:50maybe the way
08:51i looked at him pissed him off he snorted coldly he really liked doing that as if it made him
08:55feel
08:56superior lead the way let's see what she's up to this time he didn't make a guard take me he
09:00lifted me
09:00onto the horse himself pressed me into his chest i sucked in a sharp breath in pain only then did
09:05he remember my back wounds he gently helped me sit upright don't you have a mouth why didn't you say
09:08it hurt i clenched my teeth tight it hurt too much to speak so i pretended to be mute the
09:12horse moved
09:12fast two days journey was done in half a day when we reached rivermore village my dad was still
09:17selling pork when he saw the horses in carriage he froze and didn't dare look up everyone in the
09:21village knew not to look up cross someone like that and death would be the least of it but i
09:26pointed at
09:27him and told my uncle that's my dad he's selling my mom when we reached rivermore village my dad was
09:33still selling pork when he saw the horses and carriage he froze and didn't dare look up everyone
09:38in the village knew not to look up cross someone like that and death would be the least of it
09:43but
09:43i pointed at him and told my uncle that's my dad he's selling my mom my uncle's face darkened you're
09:47saying that butcher is your dad and your mom was sold by him at your age you're already lying like
09:51that i sighed ever since meeting my uncle i've been sighing non-stop talking to him was exhausting
09:56how did mom ever think he was smart i tried to get down but he held my waist tight so
10:00i shouted
10:01to my dad dad i'm back when my dad heard my voice he looked up fiercely but when he saw
10:06me on the
10:06horse being held he froze he glanced at their clothes then quickly set down the knife he smiled
10:13kindly ava where have you been i've been looking for you two days my uncle stared at his old ugly
10:18face
10:18his expression turned dark his eyes were dark full of something i couldn't understand he held my waist
10:23tight so i couldn't slide off the horse is he really your dad i nodded my dad stood below the
10:30horse looking pleased uh you fancy my girl
10:36this girl's very obedient she won't fight back or talk back ten tails of silver and she's yours
10:40my uncle sneered really didn't you just say he was selling your mom dad cut in right away she's just
10:45a
10:46kid talking nonsense no one's selling her mom i'm keeping her for myself i pointed at the meat scraps
10:51mom's right there he cut her up and sold the pieces and boiled her bones and fed me the soup
10:55i felt sick
10:56and bolted oh right that piece has three red dots that's her arm mom said that's the carter family
11:01mark when dad heard that he snapped you little brat what nonsense is that ungrateful little brat my
11:07uncle just stared at the meat he didn't say a word for a long time but i could feel his
11:10muscles tense
11:11hand trembling dad saw my uncle staring at the meat he blinked nervously and tried to smile at my
11:16uncle that's musk deer from the mountains the meat's nice and tender sir don't listen to her
11:20just then aunt clara leaned out from the carriage behind why are we still stuck here or are we there
11:25already dad turned at the sound the moment he saw her face his legs went weak then he took off
11:30running
11:30he was a butcher he was big and strong plenty of stamina but my uncle's guards were trained soldiers
11:35he barely ran before they pinned him only then did my uncle help me down he walked to the stall
11:40in
11:40silence he picked up the meat iris walked over took a look and her eyes welled up sir this is
11:45human flesh
11:46just like on the battlefield there were two slabs of pork on dad's stall too he was clever mom's meat
11:52was chopped up for extra most people wouldn't notice aunt clara came over with my cousin looking
11:57confused at my uncle in the meat stall are we there yet where's serena my uncle said nothing by the
12:02time
12:02dad was dragged back hands tied by two guards i had already taken off my coat and started gathering
12:06mom's meat it was late autumn the meat hadn't spoiled but it didn't look fresh anymore after all two
12:10days had passed my uncle watched me silently after a moment he sneered quite the convincing act fine take me
12:15to
12:15her or i'll kill you held mom's meat and nodded then led them into the village along the way the
12:21women we knew stared at us strangely some of the braver ones asked me ava what's going on why are
12:26they pinning your dad down i thought for a moment then i told them he killed my mom and sold
12:30her meat
12:30if you bought any from him please bring it back i want her to rest in peace you damn butcher
12:35how could
12:36you do that one woman leaned on the wall and threw up god i gotta tell the old man no
12:41wonder clark was so
12:42generous today he gave us a huge chunk of meat my dad's face darkened he shot me a vicious glare
12:46like he wanted to tear me apart too bad they stuffed his mouth he couldn't even curse my uncle
12:52kept his lips tight and followed me in silence my aunt seemed deep in thought her eyes kept darting
12:56around sometimes even sneering like she was secretly pleased at the gate i looked back at the yard
13:01it suddenly felt unfamiliar i'd only been gone two days but something felt different i gently pushed the
13:07gate open everything inside looked the same i tightened my grip on the bundle the cold scraps
13:11pressed to my chest chilling me to the bone once inside the yard i looked at iris and told her
13:15to
13:16get something to eat we'd been walking half a day everyone was hungry iris didn't answer right away
13:20she glanced at my uncle until my uncle nodded then she headed to the kitchen i lit a candle led
13:26my uncle
13:26and aunt to the cellar entrance i lifted the wooden hatch the smell of blood hit us i pointed into
13:31the dark
13:31tunnel mom's down there in the cellar she usually stays there my uncle's face turned cold he had them
13:36drag my dad down the tunnel my aunt held my cousin her eyes scanned the yard two huge butcher tables
13:41dark red blood everywhere she clenched her jaw and stepped into the cellar at the end of the tunnel
13:46was a large cellar almost every house in the village has one but ours had a much longer tunnel the
13:51cellar
13:52wasn't under the yard it stretched into the mountain dad said it keeps the sound out no one would hear
13:57a thing the cellar was huge there were all kinds of supplies and a carved wooden bed my mom's skeleton
14:02was
14:02hanging on the wall her flesh was already gone only her head still looked the same
14:08all those years of suffering made her look nothing like her twin sister see mom's right here i set the
14:14minced meat by the skeleton's feet and raised the candle so they could see her clearly see i didn't
14:19lie my aunt quickly covered my cousin's eyes she gagged and turned to leave then two stone slabs dropped
14:25the cellar was sealed even the guards couldn't push it open what's going on my aunt screamed
14:30then she realized something and glared at me you lured us in here on purpose what are you planning
14:36before she finished she got dizzy her legs gave out she collapsed my cousin hit the ground hard
14:41she burst into tears my uncle rushed to pick her up but before he reached her his legs gave out
14:46he could
14:46only watch as her crying faded away he and my aunt stared wide-eyed their eyes filled with terror i
14:52looked at
14:52them faint smile curled on my lips relax she just took too much she's just knocked out i looked at
14:58the three on the floor the candle flickered on the damp wall stretching the shadow of mom's skeleton
15:03like a lone bird with its wings spread guarding this dark corner all these years i crouched down
15:08and brushed my fingers over her wrist there was a faint mark there mom carved it when she taught me
15:13my name with a small knife ava my name is serena it means peace all i want is peace in
15:19this life
15:19why is that so hard i was just a kid back then i didn't see the sorrow in her eyes
15:23i only knew her
15:24hands were warm the mark she carved on the bone was like a tiny flower now that flower stays with
15:28her bones weeping silently in this cellar i turned to my passed out dad when he chopped mom up did
15:34it
15:34hurt so bad she couldn't even scream remembered every time dad beat her she'd hold me her voice
15:40hoarse ava hang in there when i get the chance i'll take you away we'll go find your uncle he'll
15:45help us
15:45but he never did i stood up and walked to the corner a small wooden chest was hidden there mom
15:50treasured it most i dragged it out it was locked but i knew where the key was mom hit it
15:56in a crack
15:57under the bed she said it was all she had left i dug out the key and opened the chest
16:00inside was a
16:01layer of blue silk a few yellowed letters lay on it and a silver hairpin a magnolia was carved on
16:06it
16:06just like mom taught me to draw picked up a letter and read it by candlelight it was from mom
16:10to my
16:11uncle the writing was neat but trembling felix i know you resent me but i never touched clara's
16:16husband clara set me up she was jealous dad said i was the most promising one and you always protected
16:20me so she got peter drunk then put me next to him to make dad think i wasn't pure felix
16:25i wasn't
16:25promiscuous dad drove me out he said i shamed the carter family he even wanted my legs broken i had
16:30no
16:30choice i could only run i ran to rivermore village and traffickers sold me to the butcher clark he's a
16:34devil he beat me every day but i couldn't die i have ava now i'll raise her myself let her
16:38return to
16:39the carters let her know her mom wasn't a slut my tears fell and blurred the ink on the letter
16:43so mom
16:43was telling the truth she wasn't the loose woman uncle called her or the homewrecker aunt claimed
16:48she was framed driven away by her own sister and dad and my uncle this so-called hero hated her
16:55for
16:55nine years over a few words never even giving her a chance to explain uh dad groaned softly his eyes
17:01slowly opened he had just woken up his gaze was still foggy but when he saw the skeleton his face
17:06turned pale
17:07like he'd seen a ghost ghost there's a ghost he struggled to get up but i stepped on his chest
17:12dad look closely that's no ghost that's mom my voice was soft but ice cold the same mom you chopped
17:19up and sold as pork dad started shaking his eyes filled with fear no that's not true ava don't listen
17:25to them she she died of illness he's still lying just like before when he made me drink mom's bone
17:30broth not a hint of shame she died of an illness i laughed through tears then tell me why is
17:35mom's
17:36skeleton here why do the scraps on the meat stall have the carter family's three red dots and why
17:40does your soup smell so foul it reeks i crouched down and grabbed his hair i shoved his face toward
17:46mom's skeleton look you'd better look carefully his screams echoed in the cellar he shook his head
17:51wildly his teeth rattled i didn't mean to she wouldn't listen she kept trying to run wanting
17:56to find the carters i beat her but she never gave in i had no choice i let go he
18:01crashed onto the
18:02ground so you killed her is it because she wanted to escape you because she wanted me to live enough
18:07a shout came from behind uncle had woken up he struggled to get up but the drug hadn't worn off
18:12yet his legs gave out he collapsed back down his eyes were full of shock and anger staring at me
18:17ava what are you doing he's your dad i turned to my uncle a mocking smile on my lips i
18:23turned to my
18:24uncle a mocking smile on my lips general don't forget my so-called dad killed your own sister
18:30chopped her up and sold the meat back then you hated my mom and said she shamed the carters but
18:34now look who really brought shame it's you uncle you never even knew the truth that aunt who framed
18:38her own sister and this beast of a father my aunt woke up too she covered her nose looking into
18:43the
18:43cellar her face twisted with disgust and fear you little bastard how dare you treat your dad like
18:47this and serena even dead she's still causing a mess look at this disgusting mess what a curse curse
18:52i walked up to her and threw mom's letter to uncle in her face and take a good look see
18:57how you framed
18:57my mom see how you made uncle hate her for nine years mom believed till her dying day you were
19:02her
19:02sister she always hoped the truth would come out one day but you you wanted her dead my aunt picked
19:07up the letter the more she read the paler she became no that's not true serena was the shameless
19:12one she seduced my husband first this letter is fake she kept arguing like someone cornered and losing
19:17it fake i pointed at my mom's skeletons can her skeletons be faked can dad's confession be faked
19:22can the villagers be faked too you thought your plan was flawless but you forgot mom had three
19:27red marks on her arm assign only the carter's bears you forgot my dad sold meat with her skeletons
19:31mixed in my uncle picked up another letter it was written to the carter ancestor it detailed how my
19:35aunt framed her and the suffering in rivermore village the more he read the darker his face
19:41became his hands clenched the letter and his knuckles turned white clara it really was you his voice
19:45was hoarse filled with shock and pain no it wasn't me felix don't listen to this bastard she's turning us
19:51against each other and getting revenge on us my aunt screamed and rushed at me but i easily dodged
19:56mom taught me some basic skills i was never very good but dealing with a pampered woman like her
20:01was easy my cousin woke up too seeing everything she burst into tears she ran into my aunt's arms
20:06mom i'm scared i want to go home i want uncle to hold me my aunt held her tightly tears
20:10streamed down
20:11her face not from regret but from fear annie don't be scared i will take you home we'll go home
20:16right
20:16away she looked up at my uncle felix let us out this little bastard is crazy she wants to kill
20:21us
20:21my uncle said nothing he walked over to mom's skeleton and slowly knelt down serena i was wrong
20:26his voice choked tears fell onto the cold skeleton i believed others too easily i never looked for you
20:30and i let you suffer for so long he knelt and bowed three times each bow was hard his forehead
20:35soon
20:36swelled red serena don't worry i will avenge you i will clear your name he stood up his eyes turned
20:41firm
20:42he looked at dad and aunt clark you killed my sister cruelly i will make you suffer before you
20:47die clara you framed your own sister you ruined her life i will send you to the clan temple you
20:52will
20:52live there as a nun dad collapsed in fear he couldn't say a word and my aunt screamed no felix
20:58you can't do this i'm your sister annie is still so young she can't lose her mom you still remember
21:03annie can't lose her mom i said coldly what about me i grew up without a mom dad abused me
21:07uncle despised
21:08me you called me a bastard what did i ever do wrong just then loud banging came from the cellar
21:12door
21:12my uncle's men had arrived general are you inside we're here to save you my uncle took a deep breath
21:19he shouted toward the entrance i'm fine wait outside without my order do not come in the banging
21:24stopped my uncle turned to me ava i know no matter what i do i cannot make up for what
21:29i did to you and
21:29my sister but i hope you can give me a chance let me do something for you what do you
21:33want wealth
21:33or status or the carter's inheritance i can give it all to you i shook my head looking at mom's
21:38skeleton i said softly i want nothing i just want my mom to rest in peace and those who hurt
21:42her
21:43to pay the price all right my uncle nodded i'll give my sister a proper burial clark and clara will
21:49face the harshest punishment then will you come back to the carters with me i will treat you like
21:53my own daughter give you the best education you will be the real miss carter i hesitated mom's greatest
21:58wish was for me to return to carters to know i was not a bastard but a member of the
22:02carters
22:03but when i thought of the carters of my uncle's past indifference and my aunt's cruelty i felt
22:08uneasy i i want to keep vigil by my mom's grave so in the end i refused after mom's matters
22:12are
22:13settled i'll decide where to go my uncle didn't force me he nodded all right i respect your choice
22:17whenever you want to return you'll always be welcome in the following days my uncle sent people
22:22to handle the cellar dad was thrown into the county jail my uncle ordered no food for him
22:27let him starve to death just like what he did to mom and me my aunt was sent to the
22:31clan temple
22:31she shaved her head and became a nun she would never stir trouble again mom's remains were
22:36carefully collected uncle had a fine coffin made her skeleton and the scattered flesh were placed
22:41inside when the villagers knew the truth they all pitied her many came to her funeral miss jane held
22:46my hand and cried ava your mom had a hard life now she can finally rest in peace mom was
22:51buried on
22:52the hill behind rivermore the view there is beautiful i can see the whole village my uncle personally set
22:56up her headstone it bears her name serena carter beside it are smaller words sister clara brother
23:01felix in mourning i stayed by my mom's grave for three months during those months my uncle often
23:05visited me he brought food and supplies he had tutors teach me reading writing and marshal skills
23:08he said mom was the carter's most talented daughter skilled in both arts and combat he hoped i would
23:13carry on her legacy so i studied very hard because i knew this was what mom wished to see when
23:17mom
23:17first taught me to read she said ava girls must study too learn many skills only then will no one
23:22bully you now i finally have the chance to fulfill her wish three months later someone from the carters
23:26arrived he was my uncle's dad and mom's own dad he was already very old his hair and beard were
23:32white
23:32he leaned on a cane but his eyes were sharp when he saw me tears filled his eyes girl you've
23:37suffered
23:37your mom suffered too it was my fault i wrongly believed clara back then your mom was wrong he brought
23:42me a carter token a jade engraved with carter only heirs of the carters may carry it he asked me
23:47to return
23:48to the carters reclaim my place and inherit everything i looked at mom's grave softly i said
23:52mom grandfather came for me should i go back to the family a gentle wind passed leaves rustled
23:57softly as if she was answering me ava return to the family and live with dignity make me proud i
24:03nodded then followed grandfather and uncle back the carters are a powerful family the estate was
24:07enormous even grander than uncle's general mansion grandfather arranged a grand ceremony for my return
24:12so everyone would know i was serena's daughter a true young lady of the carters on the day of the
24:16ceremony the carters was decorated in celebration many guests arrived they looked at me with
24:21curiosity scrutiny and even awe i wore a splendid dress and a jade hairpin from grandfather standing
24:27before everyone i still felt uneasy i was used to the rough clothes of rivermore used to the damp
24:32darkness of the cellar this kind of wealth felt unfamiliar to me grandfather held my hand and
24:37introduced me this is my granddaughter ava her mom was my daughter serena from today on ava is the
24:43eldest lady of the carters no one may bully her everyone voiced their agreement but i could feel
24:47some looks of disdain and contempt they still remembered i was the girl from the countryside
24:51the little beggar abused by dad and scorned by uncle but i didn't care i only wanted to live well
24:57and live a wonderful life for mom during my days in the carters every day i studied and trained the
25:02teacher who taught me was a learned old scholar he taught me the classics poetry and painting the one
25:07who trained me was my uncle's officer he was highly skilled and very strict with me at first i
25:11struggled when studying the difficult texts drove me crazy and the training left my body sore but i
25:17did not give up i remembered what mom told me in the cellar the suffering she endured for me and
25:22i
25:22found the strength to keep going my uncle often visited me he was no longer cold there was guilt and
25:27care in his eyes sometimes he trained me himself and told me stories about mom your mom was once the
25:32pride of the carters my uncle sat beside me his eyes lost in thought she followed your grandpa to war
25:37at 15 and won great victories even i could not match her swordsmanship but she was framed by clara
25:42and she ended up like that listened quietly my admiration for mom grew even more so my mom was an
25:49amazing woman ava i'm sorry my uncle suddenly spoke his voice was full of guilt back then i shouldn't
25:55have believed clara i shouldn't have been so cold to you and your mom if i had found you earlier
25:59your mom
25:59wouldn't have died and you wouldn't have suffered so much i looked at him and gently shook my head it's
26:03in
26:03the past but deep down i still resented him if he had believed mom back then if he had given
26:08me just
26:08one meal mom wouldn't have died and i wouldn't have endured so much suffering but i also knew
26:13hatred solves nothing it only brings more pain the days went by i gradually grew used to life in the
26:18carters my knowledge deepened my martial skills improved grandpa was very pleased with me he said
26:22i had mom's spirit my uncle saw me in a new light he said i was the carter family's future
26:26but i knew
26:27i did all this for mom i will live a wonderful life for her would prove that serena's daughter
26:34wasn't worthless but a person who stood tall one day my uncle told me dad starved to death in prison
26:39he died miserably like trash i felt neither sad nor happy it was simply his fate a few years later
26:45i grew
26:46up into a graceful young woman grandpa entrusted me with part of the business i managed it well
26:50everything in perfect order even better than uncle grandpa often said if mom were alive and saw me like
26:56this she would be very proud i often returned to rivermore to visit her grave every time i went
27:01i brought fresh steamed buns it's mom's favorite food and what i once longed for most i would sit
27:06by her grave and tell her how i'd been lately what i had learned and how kind the carters were
27:11to me
27:11one time i returned to rivermore i met mr taylor who once bought the meat when he saw me his
27:16face
27:16filled with guilt he dropped to his knees ava i'm sorry i didn't know it was your mom if i
27:21had known
27:21i would never have bought it i helped him up and said softly it's over my mom wouldn't blame you
27:27in truth the villagers were innocent they were deceived by my dad i asked them to return the
27:32meat only so my mom could rest in peace after returning from rivermore i heard some news my
27:37aunt had gone mad in the family hall every day she muttered my mom's name she said mom came for
27:42revenge i never went to see her i felt this was her fate she ruined mom's life in the end
27:47her guilt
27:48drove her mad years later grandpa fell gravely ill he held my hand and said ava my time is up
27:54the
27:54carters will depend on you remember this no matter what happens be as strong and brave as your mom
28:00i nodded tears ran down my face grandpa don't worry i will he smiled then he slowly breathed his last
28:07after grandpa passed away my uncle handed the power to me became the head of the family took charge of
28:12everything i launched a series of reforms the carters businesses flourished i also formed a
28:17women's army so women who suffered like i did can learn to protect themselves my reputation grew
28:22people began to say the carters now had an amazing female leader but i knew everything i achieved came
28:27from mom's strength one day i received a letter from the frontier it was from my uncle he said the
28:32border was in danger he would lead the army himself asked me to guard the carters keep things stable at
28:36home i agreed without hesitation i wrote back to him leave things at home to me go fight without worry
28:42after my uncle left for war i managed the businesses while keeping an eye on the frontier i knew the
28:46burden on him was heavy i couldn't let him worry a few months later good news came from the frontier
28:51my uncle had won the battle i led the carters to greet him seeing him return safely i finally felt
28:56relieved when he saw me his face was full of pride ava you've worked hard i smiled uncle it's what
29:02i
29:02should do that night the carters held a victory banquet at the feast my uncle raised his cup today
29:07i want to toast my niece ava if it weren't for her running the household i wouldn't have won ava
29:13you
29:13are the pride of the carters and your mom's pride too everyone raised their cups to me i stood up
29:18lifting my cup toward the distance it felt like i saw my mom's smile mom can you see i did
29:23it i lived
29:24a brilliant life for you and proved your innocence after the banquet ended i walked into the courtyard
29:29alone moonlight fell over me soft and bright rolled up my sleeve and looked at the scars on my wrist
29:35like
29:35rings of time they're etched on my body and in my heart these scars hold every hardship i've endured they
29:40also mark how far i've come they are my greatest treasure they remind me never to forget the past
29:46to cherish the present and face the future bravely memories of my childhood returned i remembered how
29:50my dad butchered my mom my uncle's cold gazes my aunt's cruel words and the sickening smell of blood
29:56in that dark cellar those memories are scars too etched into my life never to fade but i no longer
30:01hate
30:02hatred solves nothing it only brings pain so i chose to let it go and move forward carrying my mom's
30:08hope
30:08and my scars i will live well and make a life of my own another late autumn came i returned
30:14to
30:14rivermore weeds covered mom's grave i knelt down and slowly pulled the weeds away then i placed fresh
30:19magnolias there they were mom's favorite flowers just like the one on her hairpin the wind rustled
30:24through the leaves as if mom were smiling at me i stood up and looked into the distance sunlight fell
30:29over me warm and bright i know i still have a long way to go but i was no longer
30:34afraid because i knew
30:35mom would always be with me in my life and in my heart never leaving i turned and walked away
30:40my
30:41steps steady and calm knew i would grow into a woman as strong and as brave as my mom will
30:45make
30:46something of my life people who hurt us would never dare to look down on us again that winter a
30:51rare
30:51heavy snow fell the city was wrapped in silver the rooftops of the carters were heavy with snow from
30:55afar they looked frosted white i was checking the accounts in my study when iris spoke from outside
31:00her voice hesitant miss carter a girl is asking to see you she says she's from rivermore i sat down
31:05my pen my fingers brushed over the crowded lines in the ledger rivermore always stirred something
31:10soft inside me let her in moments later a thin girl followed iris into the room she looked about
31:1613 her hair was dull and a bruise still marked her forehead her eyes were full of fear her hands
31:21clutched her clothes tightly shivering from the cold miss carter my name is mina miss jane told me to come
31:26at the mention of her i remembered the kind woman in rivermore so i asked gently did miss jane send
31:32you here for help tears instantly filled her eyes my dad my dad lost money gambling now he'll sell me
31:38to an old bachelor to his debt miss jane said you're a good person who might save me her voice
31:42faded
31:43it trembled with despair i don't want to marry him i want to study i want to live looking at
31:47her i saw
31:48the girl i once was huddled under a cold eve hungry and freezing the same helplessness the same hope for
31:53one
31:54chance to survive i stood and walked to her taking off my fur cloak and placing it on her shoulders
31:57it was a gift from grandpa the warm fur wrapped around her frozen body she flinched slightly and
32:03looked up at me eyes full of surprise don't be afraid i said softly now that you're in the carters
32:07no one will force you again i arranged a room for mina called a doctor for her wounds and hired
32:12a tutor
32:12to teach her reading and writing but a few days later the steward came to report that several elders
32:16were displeased they said i shouldn't have taken in some stray girl wasting the money they said i was
32:21still too rough not fit for the family that afternoon several white-haired elders blocked
32:25the hall leading them was my second grand uncle the most senior of the family leaning on his cane
32:30he said grimly miss carter we are a noble family how can you take in a stranger we don't even
32:35know
32:35her if trouble comes who will be responsible i stood on the steps the cold wind lifted my skirt and
32:40the scars on my wrist began to ache i looked at them in their eyes i saw doubt and the
32:44same disdain
32:45i had seen years ago from those who called me a bastard but i was no longer that helpless beggar
32:49girl
32:50i said calmly grand uncle iris is not a stranger she is a child from rivermore she has suffered
32:55all her life like me the carters wealth may come from our generations but our family creed has always
33:00been to help those in need if someone had helped my mom when she fell on hard times it wouldn't
33:05have
33:05ended this way i know what it's like to go hungry and be bullied i know the despair of having
33:09nowhere to
33:09go now that i have the means i just want to give girls like me a way out isn't that
33:14what the carters
33:15should stand for grand uncle froze the other elders exchanged looks i continued mina is bright
33:19and eager to learn in just days she memorized over one thousand words one day she may become
33:23someone useful money is never wasted when it's spent where it matters as for trouble if anyone
33:28dares bring it to the carters i'll handle it my voice was calm but unwavering years of sword training
33:34had strengthened my body and given me the courage to face whatever comes the elders fell silent
33:38grand uncle sighed leaning on his cane he turned away you are the head of the carters now this decision
33:44is yours after they left iris handed me a cup of hot tea softly she said miss carter you looked
33:49just
33:49like your mom from years ago holding the warm tea my fingers felt its heat but my heart ached
33:54mom do you see i can finally protect others just like you protected me back then days passed
34:00mina grew more cheerful she studied hard and even learned bookkeeping from the accountant she improved
34:05quickly before long more suffering women came some were abused by their husbands others abandoned by
34:10family i took them all in i placed them in the women's guard and trained them to fight
34:14so they could defend themselves and serve the carters when spring arrived i brought iris and
34:19several sisters back to rivermore before mom's grave the magnolias had bloomed white petals against
34:24green grass pure and graceful i placed steamed buns by the grave and said softly mom i brought the
34:29sisters to see you they were once like me but now they have peace and the strength to protect
34:33themselves mina said miss serena deeply before the headstone with tears in her voice iris said
34:37miss nina thank you for your daughter she gave us a second life a gentle breeze passed petals
34:43drifted down like mom's soft reply i crouched down and traced the words on the stone my fingers felt cold
34:49i remembered mom teaching me to write i remembered her holding me and saying ava be strong i remembered
34:53her last wish to find my uncle now i had not only survived i had become the person mom hoped
34:58for i was
34:58not consumed by hatred instead kindness and mercy i did not forget the suffering i turned it into the
35:04strength to move forward after returning from rivermore news came again from the frontier the
35:08northern enemy had returned my uncle's army was trapped at yanel the news threw the carters into
35:13panic some elders panicked some proposed peace others suggested moving the capital i sat at the
35:18head of the hall watching them argue endlessly yet inside i was completely calm i remembered what my
35:22uncle said before he left for war ava leave things at home to me i trust you remembered mom's
35:26bravery on the battlefield and our daughters are just as formidable everyone please stay calm i
35:31stood up my voice was clear and steady yanel is easy to defend my uncle is resourceful being trapped
35:36may not be a bad thing what we need now is not panic but supplies and reinforcements from my uncle
35:42i immediately ordered half of the granaries opened and carts sent to yanel from the women's guard i
35:48selected a hundred of the most skilled would lead them to the frontier myself before leaving i returned to
35:53mom's grave and bowed three times mom i am going to aid uncle do not worry i will protect myself
35:58i will
35:58protect the carters and our homeland the day we departed the sun shone bright the convoy rolled out
36:03of the capital i rode at the front wearing the armor my mom once wore it was found among her
36:08belongings the armor still carried the faint scent of gunpowder i traced the patterns on the armor it felt
36:13like mom's presence the scar on my wrist ached with every jolt of the horse it was a mark of
36:18growth
36:18a source of strength i knew the road ahead would not be easy the battle at yanel would be fierce
36:23but i was not afraid because i knew mom was watching from above our ancestors were watching
36:27too and the women i had helped were watching as well i ava am no longer that helpless beggar i
36:32am
36:33the one who leads the carters i will stand for my homeland the road ahead is long and the journey
36:37won't be easy but i will carry mom's love and her hopes along with my scars and strength i will
36:41keep
36:41moving forward i will show the world that the women of the carters are never weak i will also show
36:46mom
36:46that her daughter did not fail her last wish i will live with honor and walk in the light wind
36:51swept the grasslands hooves thundered i look toward yanel with unwavering eyes i will give everything
36:57to protect my country and the carters and to protect women like me who long for
37:01light and freedom so they will never again be bullied or suffer
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