It felt as though weeks had passed, yet only 4 days had gone by. Elyandra watched as people like her were placed in lines to be taken to specialized centers founded at the last minute by the Valemortis family. She stared at Altheria from afar, giving orders to the guards. She then looked around and took a deep breath, feeling more at peace.
— Could you please not climb such high places?
The familiar voice caught Elyandra's attention. She looked toward its source and saw Oswin climbing the ladder that led to the top of a tower. He struggled, using only one arm to pull himself up.
— What are you doing here?! — she said, running toward him and helping him up. — You should be resting; your condition isn't good.
— What are you talking about? They told me you used your magic to fix me up; I'm feeling great... Well, not as great as before — he said, looking at his left arm, which was no longer there.
The girl looked at the same spot, noting the missing limb. She turned her face away; even though she said nothing, Elyandra felt responsible for it.
— I'm sorry about that. It was my mistake. It could have been different, but your arm had been separated for so long that it lost its mana; there was no way to reattach it to you.
— What do you mean, your mistake? These things happen.
The little Valemortis shook her head; she then looked at Oswin with serious eyes.
— The rebellion plan was created by me. Many people didn't survive it; I saw the bodies of those who fell. Your arm... you lost it because I didn't check if Vargas was still alive. If I had done things differently, this wouldn't have happened.
Oswin listened in silence. He then walked over to Elyandra and sat down, looking toward the horizon. Noticing this, she did the same and sat beside him. Both looked at the same blue sky with clouds and remained in silence until Oswin finished his thoughts.
— If you hadn't thought of an escape plan, maybe we wouldn't even be here. They could have set fire to the warehouses with everyone trapped, and that would have been problematic.
— "Maybe" is a very broad answer. It doesn't change the fact that the Valemortis guard found us; the real hero here is that woman. — She pointed to Altheria, who was personally attending to the pure-bloods to check their condition and where they would go. — They found us because my mother is beyond expectations; if it wasn't for her, we'd be lost right now.
Oswin gave a brief laugh and then scratched an eye like someone who had just woken up.
— Is that so? I have my doubts.
— ...That masked woman said I couldn't defeat Vargas. She was right. We were defeated and saved at the last minute. If there is someone who should be thanked, it isn't me.
Oswin then stood up using his single arm and watched the pure-bloods walking toward their designated lines.
— Could you come with me for a moment?
Elyandra looked suspiciously at Oswin. Noticing him walking toward the ladder, she stood up to help him down; however, her eyes met the boy jumping off the parapet where the ladder was. The image exploded in her mind, and she instinctively ran to where he had jumped. She looked down expecting the worst, but she saw him sliding down the side of the ladder, supporting himself with his only remaining arm and one leg.
"This madman! Does he expect me to do the same?!" She looked at her hands, and a wave of demotivation washed over her. "Impossible! There's no way I can do that with these marshmallows I call hands." She then turned to go down the normal way. Her feet reached the first step, and she descended slowly, supporting herself with care—step by step, she went down slowly and cautiously.
After descending the ladder that seemed endless, she noticed Oswin staring at her while tapping his foot impatiently.
— What? — she asked with an irritated look.
— I've seen slugs faster on inclines.
Elyandra immediately punched the boy in the stomach. The blow didn't have much effect; it was as if he had been hit by a pillow—after all, she was still a child. He then pretended to feel pain.
— Ow, ow, the Saint is killing me — he said, simulating pain while laughing at the same time.
— You idiot! What do you want? Tell me once and for all before I decide to take that other arm off you too.
The boy then looked at Elyandra smiling; his arm quickly reached for hers, and he grabbed her hand. Before she could question him, Elyandra was pulled along as the boy ran, making her keep up with him.
— Hey! What are you doing?!
— Just trust me!
She didn't know what to expect, but decided to follow out of curiosity. It didn't take long for the girl to realize he was taking her toward the refugee lines.
— But why did you bring me here?
Oswin remained silent. He didn't have to wait long. It only took one person to see Elyandra for others to turn toward the girl; their eyes shone. Slowly, they approached her, and she felt somewhat apprehensive.
— Dear Saint... Thank you for healing me. I have no words to express my gratitude.
It took Elyandra a moment to process, until she recognized the face of the man thanking her. He was one of the wounded she had helped heal a few days ago.
— Oh... You don't need to worry about that. I didn't do anything special; you can call me by my name.
The girl extended her hand to the man who, seeing the gesture, smiled and shook it. Soon after, more people arrived whose faces were recognized by the girl. She hadn't noticed immediately, but the number of people she had helped heal was very large.
She spent what seemed like a few minutes being surrounded by people who had much to thank her for, but she didn't quite know how to react. Fortunately, some guards from House Valemortis intervened and asked the refugees to return to their lines. Even in parting, they gave thanks, while Elyandra watched them leave with a curious face.
— But I didn't do anything special...
— You're strange, you know that?
The girl looked at Oswin. She didn't quite understand what he meant by that.
— To these people, you are their savior. I don't know exactly what kind of upbringing shaped your personality, but many of these people are only here because of you.
— I only did what was necessary. I could help, so I did. It's not something that grand.
Oswin then rested his hand on Elyandra's shoulder.
— No. It was grand. Without you, many of these people wouldn't be here, including myself.
Something seemed to change in Elyandra. She looked closer at the crowd and saw not the eyes of blind adoration, but eyes of gratitude—something she hadn't seen in a long time. She was already tired of the stares that usually surrounded her, but something in those looks held a deep feeling. A faint smile formed on her face.
— That is exactly the expression you should have.
The girl turned back to Oswin, not understanding what he had said, and was met with him pinching her cheek with his fingers.
— Ow! What are you doing?! — the girl asked, squeezing his hand and trying to make him let go.
— I just couldn't resist. You were so serious moments ago that I wanted to test your patience — he replied, laughing.
This made Elyandra change her previously smiling face to a nervous, red one.
— I'm going to hit you!
The girl ran after Oswin, who fled from her by running in circles, drawing laughs from the refugees. Far from there, Altheria watched her daughter, a certain tranquility dancing on her face.
Some time passed, and the refugees had already left the camp, with the exception of one who chose to follow his own path.
— So, you decided to handle things on your own? — Elyandra asked as she watched the boy packing a bag. — You aren't in very good condition; you should accept our help.
— I know how to look after myself. I'm grateful for the new clothes and the rest of the things you guys gave me, but I live in the periphery; I know my way around.
Oswin finished preparing his backpack and slung it over his shoulders.
— It seems this is goodbye — Elyandra stated.
The boy looked at the guards behind her and at the camp being dismantled. He then looked around and back at Elyandra.
— Well... It's not a luxurious place, let alone inviting for nobles, but if you ever need help, come to the periphery and look for me. We don't have much, but we help each other.
Elyandra smiled upon hearing that; something in those words made her happy, though she didn't know exactly what it was.
— I say the same. See you later, Oswin.
The boy smiled and turned away. Brisk steps distanced him from the camp while Elyandra just watched him vanish; she then turned and went her own way.
Later that day, Elyandra finally lay down in her bed. She buried her face in her pillow and rubbed against it.
"I missed this place so much; my back was already aching from sleeping on those improvised beds." She then turned over and settled under the covers, sighing and hiding herself. After calming down, she brought her fingers to her neck and remembered the moment she was choked by Vargas. "In that moment, I felt the same sensation as when I died for the first time. If the scouts hadn't arrived, would I have really died?" She turned and closed her eyes; exhaustion began to weigh on her mind, and she drifted off.
Far off, the morning light hit the walls of House Valemortis. Altheria stood up, stretching. She looked at the empty side of her bed and noticed the absence of Vaelric, who had not yet returned. She then stood up and was helped by the maids to get dressed. While walking through the hallways, a noise caught her attention. She looked through the window overlooking the courtyard, and her eyes met Elyandra practicing swordsmanship. She was sweating and panting while dealing several blows with a training sword.
— How long has she been doing that?
— Lady Elyandra woke up very early today. She has been focused on her training for a few hours now — said the maid accompanying Altheria.
— Hours?
Altheria's eyes showed a certain worry. She thought about going to talk to Elyandra, but her attention was soon turned to another maid approaching. She carried a letter and extended it to Altheria; her eyes fixed on the official seal of House Valemortis—this could only mean it was a letter from Vaelric. She took the letter and opened it; the contents made her eyes widen.
Outside, Elyandra stopped, panting. She breathed heavily as another maid approached with a glass of water and a towel.
— Lady Elyandra, I recommend that you rest a little. You haven't eaten anything so far, have you? I believe it is time for breakfast.
— Maybe in a bit. I haven't finished my magic training yet — said Elyandra, taking the glass and the towel.
— As you wish.
Elyandra panted slowly while bringing the glass to her lips and drinking the liquid. After finishing, she handed the glass to the maid and held the towel with both hands, dabbing her face. She dried the sweat with light taps to her face and neck. When finished, she also handed the towel to the maid and stretched—first relaxing her legs, then her arms, then her hips and back. A discomfort caught her attention; subtly, her eyes turned to her hands, which already showed scratches and blisters.
— That doesn't look good. Do you want me to call a healer? Ladies shouldn't have calloused hands.
— You're right, but there's no need...
"Wait a moment. I know how to use it, but my healing magic level is still more like a novice's. Healing cuts is child's play for priestesses, but even Dalia's post-training sessions had me spending hours healing myself through the night." The memories of how she had lost hours of sleep just to soothe bruises still gave her nightmares. She shook her head to forget it and thought again. "Divine magic can do more than heal, although I must be the only one who uses this type of magic offensively. Maybe if I ask my mother..."
Elyandra filled her hand with divine magic, and the scratches and blisters slowly vanished.
— Oh, right! I apologize, Lady Elyandra. I hadn't thought that you would want to do that yourself as well.
"I don't blame you. Since there was another staff turnover recently to avoid espionage and such, it's normal to think there are people who believe I'm a spoiled daughter who needs help with everything."
Elyandra then opened and closed her hand; the discomfort was no longer there, but something made Elyandra annoyed.
"When I was helping to heal the wounded... Basically, that healer did most of the work. She used my magic to intensify hers and complement her own healing. I just dumped a bucket of water and she used a funnel to direct it." Elyandra then sat on the ground, something that left the maid disconcerted. She even tried to call Elyandra's attention to it, but she wasn't listening; she was focused on seeing her options. Several faces began to surface in her mind.
"How about Dalia?" The image of Dalia swinging her mace wasn't exactly what she was looking for. "No... That's not even her strong suit. Her strong suit is causing me pain; that's not what I need." An even more familiar silhouette passed through her mind. She thought of Altheria. "My mother was once a Priestess, but she doesn't seem very happy when I touch on the subject of magic..." Elyandra seemed to be running out of options, but then something sparked in her memory. "Maybe her... but I think it's a bit risky to bring her to my house. However, among all the options... I can only take a chance and see what happens. Better that than nothing. If I have to ask my father to hire some instructor, it'll just be someone like Dalia again. This time I want at least someone calmer, or who at least appears to be calm." The girl then looked at the maid, who was taken by surprise.
— Do you need something, Lady Elyandra?
— Could you get me paper and a pen? I need to send a letter to someone.
— As you wish.
The maid then left Elyandra alone, and she went back to her thoughts. "Well... She might not be the best in this regard, but I need someone loose to teach me. Someone who won't be rigid and who can give me a foundation. If there's one thing Dalia taught me well, it's that you only need a blank canvas to create your own style. So, who better than her? I just hope she isn't weirder in person."
The maid returned and delivered the objects Elyandra had requested. She then prepared an improvised support and wrote her letter, finalizing it with her name. "Perfect... This humble invitation will catch her attention. After that, I'll just need to play a theatrical game and keep throwing bait until she gives me a foundation."
— Could you send this for me?
— Certainly, Lady Elyandra. — The maid took the letter and nodded.
A few days passed after the letter was sent. On a sunny morning, a carriage of black colors and white ornaments approached the Valemortis mansion. Upon stopping in front of the gate, guards approached to investigate the passengers, but to their surprise, a little girl about the same age as Elyandra stepped out of the carriage. She had blonde hair that resembled a golden color; her eyes stared at the surroundings with curiosity.
— Is this the infamous Valemortis mansion? I heard it was more... somber, so to speak.
— Could you tell us the purpose of your visit, little girl?
She stared at the guards like someone who had just noticed them. She didn't take long to realize she hadn't introduced herself.
— My name is Eliora Belladonna. I came here at the invitation of Lady Elyandra. — The girl began rummaging through her bag for something, until she found it. — Here it is.
The guards looked at the letter but noticed there was no type of official seal or stamp from House Valemortis, which generated doubts among them.
— Is there a problem?
— Well... Your letter doesn't have any official seal or stamp. We have no way to authenticate its validity.
— That can't be... I was informed that this letter had House Valemortis as the sender.
While a certain hubbub began to unfold at the gate, Elyandra finished her practical swordsmanship training. She packed up her practice material and finished her stretching.
"How strange. I haven't received any response regarding my letter. Well, it must be normal; we still need to set a date for her to come. It would be weird to just call her out of nowhere; she must be busy with other matters too."
Elyandra was walking down the hallway while biting an apple, chewing slowly as she thought about what she would do during the day. She was pulled back to reality when one of the guards rounded the end of the hallway and ran toward her.
— Lady Elyandra — said the guard in an urgent tone.
— Did something happen? Why the rush?
— A girl has arrived at the gates saying she was invited by you. She insists on seeing you and even after we denied her request, well... she doesn't seem satisfied.
"A girl? Wait a second... Could it be that?"
— Could you take me there? I believe she is indeed a guest of mine.
— Really? Well, follow me, please.
It didn't take long for them to reach the main gate. There, Elyandra came across Eliora, refusing to leave even with the insistence of the guards; she seemed obstinate in proving she wasn't lying.
— I already said, I'm not lying. I really was invited — the girl affirmed while being calmed by the guards.
— ...Yeah, it really was her — said Elyandra with a blank look while watching the scene unfold.
The girl soon noticed Elyandra staring at her; her eyes shone like stars upon seeing the little Valemortis.
— Lady Elyandra! Please, tell them there was a mistake; they won't listen to me.
— ...
Elyandra didn't know how to react, but at least she was closer to her goals. However, a note was made in her memory as she looked at the girl.
"Mental note: be clearer in my messages..."