The front door of the Veyne house creaked open as Lys pushed it with his shoulder, the weight of the bags making it a bit awkward for him. The familiar scent of woodsmoke and herbs greeted them, mixing with the cool evening air that slipped in behind. Mira stepped through first, her arm linked with Mitsu's, guiding her like an old friend. "Come on in, Mitsu. This is our new home, nothing fancy, but it's ours now. It's nice, isn't it?"
Mitsu hesitated at the threshold, her eyes wide as she took in the warm glow from the lantern inside. The scratches on her arms still stung a little, but the new green dress felt soft against her skin. "It's... nice," she murmured, her voice soft, as if afraid to disturb the peace.
Elara looked up from the kitchen table where she was mending a shirt, her needle pausing mid-stitch. Her face lit up at first, then furrowed in confusion as she saw the extra face. "Where did you both go, without letting me know? And who's this? Mira, you didn't say you'd bring company. She seems very familiar for some reason."
Lys set the bags down with a thud, rubbing his hands together. "Mom, this is Mitsu. You forgot her already? She's our neighbor, remember, from the old hut?
Elara gasped at her forgetfulness, "Oh, ahhhh. Oh god. I'm so sorry, Mitsu. I really didn't recognize you with these new clothes and hair done. Sorry about that."
Mitsu just gave her a smile, but said nothing.
Seeing her feeling awkward, Lys spoke again, "Mom, something happened at the market. So, we thought she should stay with us from now on."
Mira jumped in, her words tumbling out. "Yeah, Mom, you should've seen it. That Selene, the priest's daughter, was dragging her through the mud, slapping her over some spilled water. Lys stepped in and sorted it out somehow."
Elara's eyes widened, setting the needle aside. "Drugged through the mud? Oh, you poor thing. Come here, let me see those scratches." She stood from the chair, crossing the room with quick steps, her hands gentle as she tilted Mitsu's chin. "That's no way to treat anyone. Selene really crossed the line today. You must be exhausted, right? Mira, draw a bath for her. The tub's clean, I filled it this afternoon."
Mira nodded, tugging Mitsu's arm. "Come on, let's get you washed up. You'll feel better after."
Mitsu blinked, her cheeks flushing. "I... I don't want to trouble you."
Elara waved a hand. "Nonsense, Mitsu. You're no trouble. Go on, girls."
The bathroom was small but cozy, steam rising from the tub as Mira poured hot water from the kettle. "Strip down, don't be shy. I'll turn around if you want." Mira busied herself with cheap soaps Elara had bought earlier, handing Mitsu a bar that smelled of lavender. "Here, this one's my favorite. Scrubs off the day nicely."
Mitsu undressed slowly, the cool air raising goosebumps on her skin. She sank into the water, the warmth seeping into her aches. "Uhh, thank you," she whispered, eyes closing for a moment.
Mira sat on the edge, dipping a cloth. "No thanks needed. Now, let me help with those scratches, don't want them to get infected." She dabbed gently, her touch light. "You know, Lys was all fired up for you today. Even I haven't seen him like that before. He's usually the quiet type. God, what happened to him? He was so cool, right?"
Mitsu's eyes opened, a small smile tugging her lips. "Yes, he was. He... he was kind. Both of you are."
Mira became a little embarrassed at her direct compliment. She hid her face while wringing the cloth. "Yeah, I get it. Now, relax. We'll get you settled in my room after."
-----
They dried her off after her bath was done. Mira lent a clean nightdress of hers that hung a bit loose but felt soft on Mitsu's slender body. Mira's room was simple as always, a bed with quilts, a small table with a candle. Mira fluffed the pillow. "Here, sleep on this side. We'll talk more tomorrow."
Mitsu lay down, the mattress sinking under her. "Goodnight," she murmured, eyes heavy.
-----
Back in the kitchen, the lantern glowed softly on the big table, casting a circle of light. Elara poured tea, steam curling up as she set mugs down. "Alright, you two. Spill it. What really happened out there?"
Lys leaned on his elbows, starting from the market stall. Mira chimed in, describing the jewelry scam, then the crowd at the market square. Elara listened, sipping her tea, her face calm until Lys got to the part about Selene.
"He caught her wrist and stopped the slap," Mira was saying, mimicking the scene as best she could. "Then made her pay up, literally. Tossed a gold coin and took her dress as 'payment'."
Elara's mug hit the table with a clink, her eyes wide. "HUH. What did you say? He made her strip? In front of everyone? Lys, what were you thinking? She's Selene…"
Lys shifted, rubbing his neck. "Mom, it wasn't like that. She was beating Mitsu, dragging her like an animal. Of course, I had to do something."
Mira nodded quickly, trying to cover for her brother. "Yeah, Mom, Selene was way out of line today. Bullying a poor girl over spilled water? And the crowd saw it all, too. Lys just turned it back on her, made her feel what Mitsu felt. It was necessary, really."
Elara's shoulders eased a bit, her fingers tracing the mug rim. "Well... when you put it that way. Still, that's the priest's daughter. What happens now? You've poked a hornet's nest. Will they come after you? Kick us out of the village, or maybe worse?"
Lys reached across, patting her hand. "It'll be fine, Mom. Don't overthink it yet. I'll figure it out. Plus, the villagers also saw that Selene was wrong, half the square was cheering by the end, right, Mira? We won't get punished for standing up to a bully. So, no need to panic just yet."
Mira watched him, catching the slight tightening around his eyes, the way his smile didn't quite reach them, when he was telling Elara to ease up. He was a little tense himself, even if his words were steady.
Just as Mira was about to say something to Lys, a knock echoed from the door, sharp, urgent. Elara froze, glancing at Lys. "Who could that be this late?"
Mira stood, peering through the window. "Wait, I'll get it." She opened the door, and Sara stepped in quickly, her coat still on, and Bertha was close behind her.