"Come in, let's talk inside," Seraphina welcomed them, gesturing toward her small hut, which they had provided so she could have her own space and not feel awkward around them. Her polite tone and the small smile on her face captivated both Emily and Jane. Even though they were known as the top beauties of the village, compared to Seraphina, they seemed dull. Seraphina's stunning beauty attracted many in the village, and she had received numerous proposals from young admirers, all of which she had politely declined. Even so, her admirers had not given up hope.
As Jane and Emily observed Seraphina's radiant smile, they recognised the stark difference in their beauty. They had never truly appreciated how gorgeous Seraphina was, and her voice seemed to draw everyone in, making them want to be near her. Her conversation skills enchanted them; it felt as though every word she spoke carried significant meaning.
Both Jane and Emily nodded in agreement with Seraphina's invitation. "Yeah, let's go," Emily replied awkwardly, glancing back at the group of children who stood watching them, their eyes wide and ears perked up, eager to hear every detail of their conversation.
Noticing Emily's discomfort, Jane paused for a moment, realising that the children were indeed watching them. Understanding her friend's unease, she nodded and reassured them, "Yeah, it's too noisy outside." With that, she placed her hand on Seraphina's wheelchair and gently pushed it into the hut.
Emily followed closely behind as all three of them entered the modest dwelling. Once inside, Jane and Emily took note of their surroundings. The hut was small, containing only a single four-legged bed without a mattress and a few chairs scattered around. As they examined the space, they found nothing particularly appealing or noteworthy about it.
"Nothing has changed; it looks the same as before," Emily remarked, surveying the hut and realising it seemed untouched, as if no one had lived there. Surprised, she turned to Seraphina and asked, "Sera, how are you managing to live here with so little?" She felt a pang of pity for her friend and wanted to offer some comfort to her.
"Hmm," Seraphina said, noticing Emily's awkward expression. She looked around the hut and realised that she hadn't done anything here because she was trying not to appear suspicious. However, she realised that it might actually seem suspicious if she didn't leave a trace of her presence in this place. This revelation hit her, and she made a mental note to avoid future mistakes like this.
"I had nothing before, and I only need to eat," Seraphina explained, hoping they would believe her. She felt it necessary to provide them with a logical explanation to minimise their doubts. "So, when I go out, I eat. That's why I didn't think much about this hut."
As she excused herself, even Jane felt a pang of pity for Seraphina. Her words resonated painfully with them. They could see her struggle, especially when they looked at her wheelchair, and it pained them to realise they had never offered her any help.
"I'm sorry, Sera," Emily said, feeling regretful. She recognised that, even though they had saved her, they had never inquired about her healing process or considered ways to support her.
"Yeah, I'm sorry too. I should have checked on you from time to time. I got busy and almost forgot about you, Seraphina," Jane admitted, looking at her friend. She felt guilty; she knew she could have made time to visit, but had chosen not to. Clenching her fist, she realised that Seraphina might have healed faster if she had stuck to a regular schedule. People need each other's support to survive, and that's why they seek connections.
"You two are too kind," Seraphina said with a smile as she looked at them. "You don't have to apologise to me. You've already saved my life, and I want nothing more than that. People like you are rare in this world, and I appreciate both of you. I will always be thankful, and if the time comes, I will help you with all my heart." Genuine gratitude shone in her eyes as tears fell down her cheeks—she wasn't sobbing; her tears simply streamed down her face.
"You don't have to think too much about it; it's the duty of all humanity to help each other," Jane replied. She felt warmth in her heart hearing Seraphina's words, grateful that someone appreciated her efforts.
Seraphina noticed that things were starting to feel more normal, and she could tell that the others were beginning to open up to her. With this realisation came a sense of relief and opportunity: 'I can ask them about the Magic counterattack. I had been beaten by the Prince, so if I find this out, I can solve my query about the counterattack and return. Perhaps I can let a mortal know my name through this small achievement.' As the situation began to tilt in her favor, she felt that she could influence them to help her with her questions.
"So, why did you come to meet me?" Seraphina asked, pretending to be confused. They visited her every day, but they rarely spoke and often left without asking her much.
Seraphina sat in her wheelchair while they occupied the chairs with four legs. Emily and Jane heard her question and paused, looking at her awkwardly as memories of their guilt's peak flooded back. Their voices were momentarily stuck in their throats.
"We came to say farewell," Emily said, lowering her head to look at the floor, feeling ashamed and wishing she could hide.
Seraphina, perplexed by Emily's words, replied, "What do you mean?" Her confusion was evident on her face.
Emily couldn't bring herself to meet Seraphina's gaze, burdened by guilt for leaving her behind while she still struggled to recover from her injuries.
"We are leaving the village," Jane interjected, looking directly at Seraphina. She tried to cover for Emily's discomfort, though she felt only a twinge of guilt regarding Seraphina's condition. "The master has been invited to the capital, and we might not return." Jane provided this brief explanation, careful not to share everything, just enough for Seraphina to understand.
Seraphina turned her head toward Jane, unable to grasp what she had just heard. The news that they were leaving for the capital was shocking. 'If they leave, how will I be able to learn the technique from them? I need to learn before they leave me behind,' she thought to herself desperately, realising the urgency of her situation. She had observed them training, and if she didn't learn soon, she wouldn't be able to seek her revenge.
"When are you leaving?" Seraphina asked, ensuring her priorities were clear. She needed to know their departure time if she hoped to learn and practice the magic techniques in time.
Jane could sense her urgency and, confused by it, replied, "Tomorrow, we will leave tomorrow." Jane told her the truth as she could see the urgency on Seraphina's face. "Why do you ask?" Jane questioned as she could tell from her expression that something was not right.
Seraphina felt increasingly desperate upon hearing their departure time. 'What the hell? I can't learn anything in just one day. What should I do?' She contemplated her situation, feeling hopeless about learning how to counter the Prince's attacks.
"Oh, sorry," she explained with a heavy sigh, trying to convey her sadness. "The person who did this to me had the same power as you. He could counter magic, so I wanted to learn how to do it. That way, I know how to defend myself in the future."
Both Emily and Jane were stunned by her statement, their mouths nearly opening in disbelief. They couldn't believe what they had just heard—something they hadn't even thought to ask her about, but that now changed everything.
"How could that be possible?" Emily asked in shock. Jane stared at Seraphina with a similar expression of disbelief. "That's not possible. Without a master to teach you, no one could learn. There's no way he could use our skills," she replied, her denial evident.
"Yeah! That's not possible. You must have seen something else, or maybe he used something to make it look that way," Jane added, supporting Emily's assertion.
Seraphina looked at them, sensing their shock, and for a moment, she almost believed them.