Was your eternal youth a gift or a curse? You didn't know that yourself. In your long life, you have never been able to give an exact answer to yourself. Many years ago, you stopped counting the number of years you have lived, because for everyone you will always remain a young woman in the prime of life. You've seen a lot in your life. You saw death, you saw wars and famines, you saw people begging for medicine, prosperity, and love with fear in their eyes. Even knowing that asking for help from a witch could lead to serious consequences, they took this risk. The nature of mortals has surprised you every time.

But you've also seen life. You saw it especially clearly once in the children's eyes.

You didn't know how that boy ended up in the woods, and in such a sorry state at that. A small, thin child, his pale skin scratched by the thorny branches of trees, bruises scattered all over his body, his face wet with tears, but there was more life in his blue eyes than anywhere else.

You couldn't leave him there. He had no one but you.

He's been living with you ever since. You gave him a name – Leon – as if you were his mother, but you weren't, and you weren't going to be. You have become his mentor, his mistress, and he is your faithful protector and companion. It was only thanks to him that you finally noticed how quickly time passes – it seemed like you only found him yesterday, a boy as tall as your waist, and today he is a grown man who towered over you.

One fine sunny day, the two of you went out to the town fair so you could buy some medicinal herbs, but you split up for a while. While you were looking at the counter of one of the merchants, you suddenly felt a large hand placed on your waist. You looked up and met his gaze.

"My lady," he said softly, leaning slightly toward you. "I've been looking for you everywhere. You don't have to go so far away from me."