Milla's last two weeks have been chaotic, as she's helping to deliver the increased orders from the forge. Working almost the entire day at the forge exhausted her, and finally, all the work was done. It is a beautiful morning, and after doing the house chores, she decided to stay outside and relax under a tree in a nearby park.
The architecture of Minarian city is a well-planned project. Thinking about the quality of life of its inhabitants, Lord Boltu hired engineers who could solve a problem that plagues many cities in Orlos. As the cities grow, there is less space for recreation and leisure, which increases the cases of disturbance and delinquency. So it was decided to create a park surrounded by eight blocks of buildings, creating a more tranquil and appealing scenery.
Accompanied by Aimel, Milla was enjoying the fresh breeze and warm sunbeams. Equipped with a basket full of snacks and beverages, she was at peace. Aimel was playing with other kids, which always brought a smile to Milla's face. Lately, many of Manila's memories are mixing with her own.
When she remembers their childhood, the hardships and cruelty they encountered, seeing Aimel having fun, laughing, and with no worries, gives her feelings of peace and happiness.
Aimel joins Milla near the tree to eat the basket's contents as the sun is at its highest point. Thanks to her many years as a maid, her food is delicious. Today they will have a commoner delight, a pie filled with meat, peas, potatoes, and carrots; A few sandwiches of cured ham, tomatoes, lettuce, and Dorghol's Cheese. Dorghols are gentle quadruped creatures covered in soft scales, with flat top tusks in their mouths, and their milk is fragrant and red colored.
"Did you bring something to drink, Mimi? I'm thirsty." Aimel asks while Milla cleans her face with a wet cloth.
"Sure, I brought apple, persimmon, and alaris juice. Which one do you want, dear?"
"I want the Alaris one first! I love Alaris!" The Alaris fruit is common in Orlos, and the sweet and sour blue juice is well-received on hot days. One of the little Aimel's favorites.
Together, they enjoy the drinks and food. After an enjoyable meal, all the previous activities made Aimel feel drowsy. Milla then lays her down on her lap.
"I don't want to sleep, Mimi..." Said the stubborn girl, almost shutting her eyes.
"There is the right time for everything, my dear. You played, you ate, and now it's time for you to take a little nap. Do you want me to sing to you?"
"Sing? Why have you never sung to me before?"
"Well, you were always sleeping when I arrived from the tavern, and we rarely had any opportunity for me to sing to you."
"What song are you gonna sing?"
"It's a song that a very important person sang to me like a kid. She was a wonderful woman who made me smile whenever she could. Ready?"
"Yes! Can you tell me more about this woman later?"
"It will be my pleasure, dear." Milla started to cuddle her hair and sing the song of her memories.
Look at the time, the sky is dark.
The stars are showing, look as they spark.
It's time to rest, my little star.
The morning light it's not so far.
Take a bath, wear your nightclothes.
Have a little kiss on the nose.
Go to bed, my little star.
The morning light it's not so far.
Let the pale lady guide your dreams,
Until the first morning sunbeams.
Close your eyes, my little star.
The morning light it's not so far.
Your dreams will be filled with joy.
All nightmares she will destroy.
Sleep tight, my little star.
The morning light it's not so far.
The slow rhythm of the lullaby was one of her most tender memories. She remembers the cold nights after a long day of work as a kid, and the gentle hand of Laura, her carekeeper, was always the only lovely warmth she had. The small room where she lived was an awfully cold place for a child to live, so Laura would not just bring her a warm bowl of soup, but also blankets and a warm nightgown.
After the warm meal, a warm bath was waiting for her. She was washed with care by the old maid who treated her as her child, with clean and warm clothes. She would lie in bed and wait for the last gesture of love from her caretaker. The gentle lullaby to ease her sleep.
Aimel was soundly sleeping in her lap, but she continued with the cuddles and song until she saw, at a certain distance, Elzen watching her sing. Immediately, she stopped and prepared to leave with Aimel in her arms.
Elzel approached her in despair; it was palpable. His eagerness put Milla in a state of readiness that made him lift his arms as a sign of goodwill.
"Lady Milla, I'm sorry if I scared you or made you suspicious of my intentions, but I don't know how to explain this...I wanted to see you again."
"I heard this kind of talk from a lot of drunk customers; I didn't expect a member of the guard to be like them." He could feel the anger brewing in her voice.
"I swear for all that is sacred that is not like this, I just want a chance to talk to you. Even though I don't understand this need, something is pulling me towards you. I'm sorry if my words are making it worse, but I prefer to be honest."
She looks at Aimel with worry; the last thing she wants is to let her be in the middle of something she is not a part of. The way Elzen is trying to contact her is annoying; she doesn't share the same feelings as Manila, even if she feels weird in his presence.
"I'm truly sorry, my selfishness brought you distress, and this is the last thing I want. Could you agree to meet tomorrow at this park? I know I'm asking too much, but I just want to talk to you." His eyes exude confusion.
"Okay... meet me here tomorrow evening. Never do something like this again. I'll do anything to protect those I care about, no matter what I need to do." Her lost words sounded more feral than her normal voice, bringing a shiver down his spine.
He felt like a weight was off his chest; even with her aggressive behavior, he got what he wanted. This may be the only chance he has to figure out his feelings. If his intuition is right, he will finally understand.
Milla was furious. She walked away with a thought in mind: She needs to get rid of him if he becomes a problem, but this thought made her head hurt, and she knew the reason. Manila.
Even dormant, Manila's thoughts and feelings are still mixed with her, creating shackles that hurt. Every time she has a thought that goes against what Manila was once, her body and mind react violently, and getting rid of Elzen made her head almost explode in pain.
Aimel is now resting in her bed while Milla fights her unbearable headache. She soaks herself in the warm bath, trying to relax, but many conflicting thoughts drain all her energy. Then darkness came...
No sound, no water, nothing, the embrace of darkness and the projection of Manila in front of her. She was smiling, fully awake, different from what Millas was expecting.
"Hello, Milla. It's been a long year. Are you enjoying it?"
"What do you want? I thought you were sleeping." Her angry voice lit up the surroundings in red.
"Calm down, you don't need to be so angry, I'm here just to talk." The room became dark again.
"We don't have anything to talk about. If you are awake, I will be back in this darkness again. I don't want that, I like what I have." Her voice trembled in despair, and the entire atmosphere became tempestuous.
"You don't need to go back to this place..." She smiles and gently hugs Milla. "I've been awake for more than ten months already."
"Wh-what?" Milla was confused. Why does she continue to be in control if Manila is awakened? This makes no sense to her; she never felt Manila in her thoughts or actions. It was always her choice what to do or what to say.
"I know it's confusing, but you don't need to worry. Unfortunately, our time is out for now; talking to you directly is tiresome. Just promise me that you won't hurt Elzen. I know you don't feel anything about the people I care for, but please, don't hurt them." With a smile on her face, Manila kissed her forehead before the entire surroundings lit up, and Milla could feel herself back again in the bathroom.
She sighs worriedly; Manila's comforting words did not appease her mind. The headache is gone, a pleasant feeling followed by the dread resentment that her time is up. Looking at the small window in the bathroom, the sunlight is gone. She stands up quickly and changes into new clothes. Tonight was a day of rest, but she couldn't stay quiet with her thoughts; she needed a distraction, so she decided to go to the tavern to work.
While she was passing through the living room with an anxious face, Ghord and Alliah spotted her, and worried, they tried to stop her before she left, but she was too fast for them. Her urgency made her arrive in half the time she normally takes. The place was full as normal; it's time to work.
Gossip, loud noises, drunkards, bard songs, and much more. This lovely atmosphere erased her worries through sheer work and determination. While working, she heard about new creatures appearing in the city's surroundings. This could be a good chance for her to earn extra money through the guild to eliminate this threat. Other topics got her attention, a new restaurant will open this weekend, a famous restaurant brand from Orlosian, The Golden Boar, known for its variety of meats and astonishing desserts.
There will be an application test for the guard in the next month, so many adventurers are thinking about trying it to get a stable income and a fixed residence in the city. Many other small topics were heard, marriages, fights, the weather, but one topic was the center of her attention, the visit from diplomats coming from the Archduchdom of Felnatus. This visit is still only a rumor, but each day more people confirm the possibility of this happening soon. There are talks about this diplomatic visit everywhere in the kingdom.
That's when an idea started brewing in her head. Elzen is part of the guard, and maybe by approaching him, she could learn more about this visit. If she prepares correctly, this visit could be her golden chance to finally achieve her revenge.