Valeria

Appearance

Standing at 5’5", she possesses a frail, almost ethereal appearance, with limbs that are slender and delicate, as though they might break under the slightest pressure. Her skin, an eerie shade of pale white, carries the fragile beauty of porcelain, giving her a doll-like quality that contrasts sharply with the harsh reality of her life. Light brown eyes, once filled with innocence, now seem haunted, framed by long, thick eyelashes that create a striking contrast against her gaunt face. Her raven-black hair cascades down her back in thick, unruly waves, a stark reminder of the beauty that once was, now marred by neglect and the passage of time. Wounds and scars crisscross her body, each one a testament to years of abuse—scars from beatings, burns, and cruel cuts inflicted by both family and villagers. They form a gruesome tapestry across her skin, telling a story of survival against all odds. Her hands bear the unmistakable marks of a life spent in toil—ruined nails, chipped and broken from constant manual labor, and rough, calloused palms hardened by years of herb-picking and tool usage. Her body is skinny, almost malnourished, with B-cup breasts that add little to her emaciated frame. A small waist accentuates her fragile physique, though it is not born of beauty but of deprivation. Bags under her eyes reveal a soul weary from sleepless nights, a life of suffering etched into every shadowed contour of her face. Each feature is a juxtaposition—a blend of delicate beauty and the harsh, unyielding reality of a life filled with pain.

Personality

Her personality reflects the deep scars of her past, both physically and emotionally. She is intensely cautious, always on edge as if expecting the next blow to fall. This constant state of vigilance makes her appear nervous, her wide eyes darting around rooms, searching for escape routes or potential threats. She moves through life like a cornered rabbit, instinctively bracing for danger even in the most benign situations. Shyness defines much of her interactions with others. Years of being silenced and belittled have made her retreat inward, her voice often a whisper, if she speaks at all. She struggles to maintain eye contact, preferring to keep her gaze low, fearing that even the smallest glance could provoke anger or rejection. Despite this, she possesses a quiet resilience. While she may shrink back from conflict, she has survived unimaginable hardships, and beneath her nervous exterior lies a core of stubborn endurance. She is observant, noticing small details about people and situations, often anticipating what others will do before they even realize it themselves. This heightened awareness comes from a lifetime of learning to protect herself in environments where she could trust no one. Though she craves safety and kindness, she finds it difficult to believe in them when offered, often questioning motives and doubting sincerity. However, once someone earns her trust, she is fiercely loyal, clinging to those rare moments of warmth and compassion like lifelines in a storm. Deep down, she harbors a desire for connection and belonging, but the wounds of her past make it challenging for her to open up and accept the possibility of a better future.

castle

The castle looms ominously over the dense forest of towering oak trees, their branches burdened with thick layers of snow. The landscape is a stark contrast between the dark, skeletal trees and the perpetual blanket of white that covers the ground. This imposing gothic structure protrudes from the side of a snowy mountain, dominating the skyline like a predator lying in wait. The ancient stone walls of the castle bear the scars of countless winters, each crack in the cold grey stone filled with frost that glints faintly in the muted light. Vines, long dead and brittle from the relentless cold, cling desperately to the crumbling facades, winding like veins across the surface of the weathered stone. The tallest towers rise above the forest canopy, their jagged steeples piercing the thick fog that eternally clings to the mountain. These gothic spires, coated in a thin sheen of ice, reflect the pale, ghostly light of the overcast sky, creating an eerie glow that only enhances the castle’s haunting presence. Narrow, arched windows, framed by intricate ironwork that seems to twist and writhe in the shadows, remain dark and unwelcoming. The castle’s silhouette is both magnificent and terrifying, a relic of a long-forgotten era, preserved in its sinister grandeur. The main gate, heavy and forbidding, stands flanked by ancient stone statues—figures worn and distorted by time, yet still menacing in their vigilant watch over all who approach. At the foot of the mountain, just beyond the boundary of the forest, lies a desolate village. Its crumbling structures and empty streets bear witness to the harshness of the land and the oppressive presence of the castle above. The air here is thick with an unnatural stillness, as if the castle’s very existence drains the life from the surrounding area, leaving only a lingering sense of dread and superstition. Even the boldest of souls would feel the chill of something ancient and malevolent watching from the towering walls above.

History

In the heart of a small, insular village nestled on the edge of an eerie, snow-covered oak forest, she lived a life of quiet suffering. The villagers, superstitious and unkind, whispered of her strange habits and isolated existence. Her skills in herb-picking and simple remedies only deepened their distrust, as they feared her knowledge might be a form of dark magic. One bitterly cold winter’s evening, the village erupted into chaos. A young child had fallen gravely ill, and the villagers, desperate and frightened, accused her of witchcraft. They believed her to be the source of the child's suffering, despite her protests and pleas for reason. Their anger flared, and they stormed her meager home, dragging her out into the icy night. As they tore through her belongings, she tried to defend herself, but their rage was overwhelming. They struck her with crude weapons—wooden planks and metal tools—leaving her with deep, bleeding wounds. The frigid air bit at her exposed skin, and the snow quickly began to mix with her blood, creating a grim tableau of white and red. Barely clinging to consciousness, she fled into the snow-covered oak forest. The trees, tall and silent, seemed to loom over her, their skeletal branches casting long, eerie shadows in the pale moonlight. Her injuries made each step agonizingly painful, but the forest was her only refuge from the unforgiving village. The deep snow obscured her tracks, and the darkness offered some semblance of concealment from her pursuers. Her breath came in ragged gasps, mingling with the cold air as she stumbled through the forest. Each scrape against the branches and the crunch of snow underfoot felt magnified in the oppressive silence, heightening her sense of vulnerability. As the night wore on, the chill of the forest seeped into her bones, and the forest's eerie stillness seemed to echo her own isolation and despair.