Amelia was a strong woman, and she didn't believe it just because she knew how to use the aura and had several high-ranking precious essences. Not once had I seen this woman be afraid of anything. But now, that same Amelia was shaking, even if whoever that father in the kitchen was, she no longer had any reason to be afraid.
Would it be a trauma?
It's not that I couldn't understand it. I also had a similar experience in the past. Although I knew it was safe in my head, I couldn't ride a car for several years and the smell of something burning woke me up from sleep and made me go around the entire building to find the source. Regardless of the will, it was recorded in the subconscious.
¡A slap!
This was fear.
"... Are you okay?» Amelia didn't answer my question, so I grabbed her trembling wrist. «Emily.»
Finally he came to his senses and responded. «Oh, I'm sorry. I haven't heard you... What did you say?».
«I asked you if you were okay.»
Yes, you're not well.
Until the noise in the kitchen subsided, Amelia did not speak again. «...How unsightly of me.»
«Hey? What are you talking about?» I did not see anything. Even if I did, I would never think it was unsightly.
Just then, a man appeared from the kitchen. «Ugh, those bitches get me going every day». Although he had a somewhat hardened and stocky body, his height was around five feet sixty. Contrary to what I imagined, his impression was very common.
«Aren't you being a little harsh today?».
«Hard? Those ungrateful bitches don't know when to be grateful. Enough frustrating talk, let's drink». The man sat at a customer's table and began drinking and chatting.
Amelia watched him for a long time from a corner seat and then said: «That man was my adoptive father».
«Adoptive father?»
«It's a common story here. A child without parents needs a place to stay, and there are people who want to take those children in all over the city.»
«All over the city, huh?» I thought I already knew the reason. It would not be for a reason as noble as providing a home for children left alone. Amelia said it was a common story too. Those stories used to be hyperrealistic.
«It's a kind of symbiotic relationship. Children are protected until they are of working age and adoptive parents get cheap labor».
In this city, all rights to the adopted child belonged to the adoptive parent, and that right was absolute, at least until the children grew up and became adults. Killing the adoptive father or escaping was impossible because it set a precedent. They would call them ungrateful and receive retaliation from others.
«...Ya veo.»
«But my sister's and my situation was a little better. Our bodies were intact and we were robust enough to never get sick. That's why we were able to avoid being separated».
«How old were you then?»
«Five. My sister was three years older».
Amelia said it wasn't bad at first. Unlike when he was in the labyrinth with his wounded and weak father, they fed him on time and he was not cold. However, already at that age they pressured her to do all kinds of tasks.
«That wasn't that difficult either. Everyone lives like this. I even considered myself lucky to have an older sister to trust». At that time, Amelia only had a vague dream that once she grew up and became an adult, their lives would begin.
«But I guess it didn't work».
«...It's all my fault.»
It was when Amelia was about nine years old. While helping at the tavern, a drunk tried to strangle Amelia. The reason? Because his food fell out.
«It was my sister who intervened at that moment».
Amelia's sister saw what was happening while serving customers and ran to the kitchen. Then, taking a knife, he slowly approached and lunged at the drunk's back to precisely cut his carotid.
«I found out later, but apparently none of the tavern scouts felt my sister's presence until she grabbed a knife and approached the bastard's back.».
The drunk did not die that day. He was treated with a potion just in time to save his life. However, thanks to that incident, a girl's talent was exposed to the world.
«The next day, someone came from the castle. They said they would cover up this incident if we turned my sister in».
Surprisingly, his adoptive father rejected the offer. He used all his money to deliver the cost of the potion and an apology to the drunk and cleaned up the incident on his own.
«From that day on, my sister became a pastor».
Her adoptive father had decided that since she was a talented girl, she could be raised to earn much more money than working in a tavern.
«My sister was also very talented. Within a year of joining a team of looters, his contributions were recognized and he received a small amount of distribution.»
When things got this way, the adoptive father thought that since these children shared the same blood, it was possible that Amelia had talent too.
«It wasn't long before I became a shepherd and was sold to a team of looters. And it wasn't long before they recognized my talent».
Amelia briefly explained what happened next and moved on, and I didn't dig too deep. I didn't have to ask to find out what kind of life the Rainwales sisters led as pastors. They would have just held on and held on, counting on the only blood they had left in this world.
«Anyway, that's how we ended up being part of a telekinetic gang, and also working as slaves while we worked in the city tavern». Amelia concluded the story of her life from childhood to adolescence. «What do you think, does that resolve your curiosity about me now?».
«Yes, that's enough». I found out what more or less happened next while we were making plans.
These sisters' hopes of being free as adults would be trampled in about five months, due to a common tragedy that would occur.
***
Soon noon passed and the number of people entering the bar slowly increased.
«...Excuse me.» A girl in her twenties with long, red, curly hair approached our table. Her face was slightly bruised, but she used her hair to cover it, so it was very messy. «Do you want a little more alcohol...?».
This was what workers used to say if you stayed in one place too long. It meant: «Ask for more things or get lost».
Amelia couldn't look the young woman in the eyes, she wasn't able to make eye contact. It wasn't that he couldn't understand how he felt.
«What's your name?»
«...Amelia Rainwales.»
Yes, anyone felt uncomfortable facing their childhood self. Since he knew what was going to happen, he must also feel guilty.
«Let's go.»
Amelia tried to leave, but I stopped her. «One moment. I was finally facing Amelia's fetus mode. I couldn't pass up this opportunity. «Boy, how old are you?»
«I have... fourteen...»
Oh? If I was fourteen years old twenty years ago...
«So you're thirty-four». When I murmured this, Amelia turned her head and glared at me. It seemed to bother him that his personal information had been leaked.
«Thirty-four...?» Young Amelia didn't seem to understand what was being said, but she still maintained a bright expression in front of the customers.
«And this is what you look like when you smile».
«Excuse me?»
«Oh, I wanted to say it's nice to see. You should smile more».
«Oh, sure...»
While the adult Amelia seemed to have stepped on dog shit, the young Amelia seemed bewildered and not knowing what to do. And so the jokes ended here.
«We'll pay and leave now».
«Oh, sure!»
I didn't think I could bear the aftermath if I continued, so I hurriedly paid the bill and left the tavern. Just as we returned to the accommodation, Amelia, who had had a sour expression the entire way, murmured bitterly: «Maybe it's like you say».
«What do you mean?»
«Hearing that, I remembered that I had had that conversation before».
Ah, the sour expression was my fault. I thought she was definitely mad at me.
«¿Amelia?»
«Emily.»
«Ahem, yes, Emily. Do you want another drink?» Saying that, I took out the drinks stored in the subspace. All of these were taken away by looters.
«No. There's no point in him drinking, anyway.»
«By your essence?»
«Yeah.» Simply put, his tolerance for poison and psychological resistance were too high to get drunk.
«Then why did you drink in the tavern before?»
«That's right... because you look suspicious if you don't drink in a tavern.»
«You never lose a single word».
"¿What?"
«Don't get so serious. What's so difficult about having just one drink? It's lonely to drink alone».
When I took out a glass and poured the drink, Amelia asked, «What do you want to drink for in the first place?».
Did you really think I just wanted to drink?
«We still have things to talk about». I had found out about his childhood in the tavern, but there was actually something else I wanted to hear now that he was out and all.
«Things to talk about?»
«Why do you pretend not to know? We no longer have secrets».
«...Don't act nice. It's annoying.»
«Really? So tell me this and I won't do it. When we made our plans at the beginning, you never said anything about Nivelles Enze. Yesterday was the first time I heard that Auril Gavis was there too».
At that time, Amelia refused to contact me. Although we cooperated, we did not plan to tell each other everything and trust each other. But seeing as he talked to me like that about his past, it was safe to say that he had gained some credibility.
«How does saying that change anything? You already believed that nothing could change, anyway».
That was true, and that belief remained the same. «But yesterday you cried and said it was too late to give up».
"...no lloré. ⁇
Tsp, detail menor.
«Didn't you cry? Anyway, since you said you wouldn't give up, I plan to help you too.»
«Will I help you like this?»
«Well, that's part of my reasoning».
«So there is another part?»
I answered sincerely: «I want you to be indebted to me».
Amelia looked like she didn't understand. "... Why?»
If I had to say every reason, there were many. First, Amelia knew my weakness. I had to put her in debt somehow to keep her quiet. Plus, Amelia was strong. From my experience, she also seemed to have a good heart and, having a lot of experience, I could trust her in some way.
So, in summary, I told him: «To be honest, our first meeting wasn't great, but I like you».
"... ¿Which? ⁇
«Ah, don't take me the wrong way. I don't want to say that I like you like the opposite sex».
«I... have not taken you the wrong way.»
«So I'm glad». I cleared my throat and continued: «Anyway, now I know what kind of person you are. If I owe you something, I'm sure you'll pay me. So if I can, I want to save your sister too. Since then you will grant me some of my favors».
«F-favors? What kind of favor do you plan to ask of me?». Amelia took a step back, looking at me with suspicious eyes.
Geez, I'm not going to eat you. This will only lead to misunderstandings.
«Amelia Rainwales.» As soon as she stepped back, I took another step and spoke. I originally didn't plan to reveal my wishes so soon, but it should be okay to call dibs at least. «If I can save your sister and resolve all the restrictions once we get back to our present...»
"... yes?»
«Then join my clan.»
Mhm, a quest has to have a reward.