Lydia's POV
Me and Mia were still talking when a woman approached us. She wore an angry expression. "Is that what you are meant to do?" she said, her voice laced with anger. I was lost for words, so I had to bend my head low. I remembered when I was still in the human world if a servant is caught doing something that's not pleasant to their masters, they'll act timid so I pulled up the act not to gain further punishment.
The woman held our ears and dragged us out of the corner, bringing us to the center place of the kitchen where everyone could see us. "I caught these sluts gossiping during work hours. What should I do to them?" she said in an angry tone, her fingers clung to our ears tightly, making me almost scream in pain.
There was no answer, and her next speech surprised me: "Take them out and give them fifteen strokes!."
She left us, and some muscular men came in and dragged us outside to a secluded area where our hands were tied behind our backs. Me and Mia were positioned, and two men began to whip us. With every whip touching my back, my skin burned in pain a thing I had never felt in my life. And for a minute, I questioned why I had to reincarnate into a world of suffering.
After whipping us, they left us on the floor, and I was literally crying, but I tried my best not to cry louder. But the pain was too much, making me sob louder.
"Hey, shut your filthy mouth!" came the woman's voice who caught us in the kitchen. She wore a fine and fitted cloth, but I guessed it's a uniform, because the first woman who showed me the kitchen also wore the same cloth, but it's just that the writing on her cloth was different.
The woman in front of me her cloth had bold letters of "CM 1" on it, and I wondered what it meant. But I had to shake off those thoughts. One thing I know is that she's fierce and wicked!
I closed my mouth when she approached me, fearing she'd order them to whip me again. "Better..." she said with a smirk.
"Take them out of my sight," she said, directed to a woman who had a "PH 3" indication on her cloth. The woman bowed slightly and turned to us.
"Follow me," she said gently, and I was surprised. She was the first woman in such uniform to talk to me calmly. We gently followed her behind, and she took us to a building built like a hostel where many rooms were located. When we got to a particular door, she removed a key from her pocket and opened the door.
"Go in. It's your room now," she said, and both me and Mia entered inside. The room was not really big, but it was normal and spacious enough for four people to stay in. I looked around and saw two bunks, but I didn't know where to stay.
"Here," Mia said weakly, pointing at the second bunk. "They brought my things in here. I guess we'll be roommates now," Mia said with a little smile.
I nodded and went to the bunk. "Um... are you taking the upper space or lower?" I asked, and she pointed that she'd take the upper bunk space, which I agreed to.
Immediately I sat on the bed, I felt a sharp pain shoot from my back, which made me feel uncomfortable. I felt exhausted and wanted to sleep badly, but what if I dare sleep and face worse punishment later?
I thought, and the door opened immediately, pulling me out of my thoughts. Two young ladies came with a bag.
"Lay on your chest," one of them said, and I did that. I watched her with my side eye as she removed scissors from the bag and cut the back of my cloth, revealing the wounded area. Then she picked up a herb from a jar and applied it on my back, making me flinch in pain because it was stinging.
I tried my best not to scream because the pain was too much. After she was done, she spoke, "Don't go outside. Just stay in here and sleep."
Sleep? Hearing those words, I was surprised and also happy. Me thinking about them caring for an obryn brought me a little joy, but I shook it off immediately.
They administered the same thing to Mia and told her the same thing they told me. When they left, the room was silent. No one spoke, and the atmosphere was getting awkward before Mia spoke, breaking the awkward silence.
"Park Hand 3 is very nice."
"Is that supposed to be the woman who showed us here?" I asked, because earlier I saw "PH 3" on her cloth, so I guessed it was her.
"Yes, she's the one. I'm happy she changed my room. Now I won't face my toxic roommates anymore," Mia said, and I smiled.
"I'm happy for you," I said and closed my eyes. Mia seems stronger than I thought. During the time when we were whipped, she didn't cry out loud, but she flinched in pain anytime the whip got in contact with her skin. And when the medics were applying the herbs to her skin, she didn't cry; she was just silent all the time, making me think of how strong she is. Or maybe she had endured it for so long and it has become part of her. Thinking about it made me scared. Do I have to face such hardship until I am used to it?
I asked myself as I drifted asleep. When I woke up, it was already dark outside. I sat upright and felt a slight pain on my back. At least the pain had subsided.
"Hey, obryn Lydia," a girl called, and I looked across the room. My eyes widened in amusement.