Idle chatter, soft murmurs and loud shouting.
All of those sounds contrasted each other deeply, fading into the background, bringing the busy atmosphere together.
Amanises stepped over the small ladder that aided people disembark the train, vintage heels clicking over pavement.
The somber ambiance of Backlund, coupled with the smoky air from nearby factories reminded the woman of the first few days of her transmigration.
Evelyn's family, servants and home—now everything gone, buried into the ground.
Her friends, her past—all will remain forgotten on that endless river.
She wasn't sure what exactly that 'sacrifice' meant, but one thing was for sure—Evelyn was still there.
Amanises sighed, and instead of walking the way to her apartment complex she made a sharp turn, heading to rent a trackless carriage.
***
Backlund, Grimm Cemetery.
With her large suitcase in hand, Amanises didn't even feel its weight as she climbed up the stairs that separated two halves of stacked graves.
She checked the name and epitaphs of the ones closest to her, noting how her field of vision has been thoroughly enhanced after becoming a Midnight Poet.
The woman stopped by a grave in one of the recently added rows; the quiet wind slowly played with her unbound hair.
With a heavy exhale, she set the suitcase down and took out a small number of flowers she had purchased on the way here.
Four white chrysanthemums tied together by a black silk ribbon were placed in a dark ceramic pot near the grave, carefully positioned so as to not hide the name of the deceased.
Victoria Duskborne.
The name was the one before they lost their title. Evelyn wanted so that she will be remembered by her past glory.
Amanises drew the Steam's Sacred Emblem on her chest in three motions with her fingers.
"Mum, I'm back."
She sat down near her, carefully tending to the accumulated dust and wiping off the streaks that were left after rainfall.
***
Audrey Hall was once again with her noble friends, the mysticism fanatic ones.
"Glaint is missing today... Miss Audrey, do you know what happened to him?"
Audrey, who was quietly observing her friends in her Spectator state, suddenly stirred but then quickly calmed down.
"I believe he was tending to some matters at his own estate. Being the one in charge of the family must keep him busy. Who knows how long the poor man will be able to hang out with us."
He had been unable to find the Apothecary Formula so far. No matter how hard he searched.
Lady Clair, who asked her the question, placed both hands on the table—catching the full attention of Audrey and Miss Dushten.
"Anyways, we will fill him up on this later."
Audrey's ears perked up. This meant that Clair had something interesting to share.
She's enthusiastic and a little bit nervous. Maybe even afraid?
She tried her best to get some clues based on the young lady's expression and mannerisms.
"Recently, word has been running around the commoners, word that a Sorceress has been haunting the streets."
Audrey nearly winced at the way she addressed regular people, but kept her face in check.
Noble ladies have always seen the lower class as below them, treating them with disgust.
Not all of them—but a good chunk did.
"Where did these rumors begin?"
"I'm not exactly sure. I've dug a little bit deeper and found out somewhere in Cheerwood Borough, but other than that nothing."
"Cheerwood Borough? I would've believed it more had it been East Borough!" Miss Dushen called out.
It was indeed true. The aboundant mysterious deaths and suicide cases could give rise to an evil spirit easily.
Moreover, no Beyonder should be careless enough to leave traces like that in Cheerwood Borough—a place well-rounded with police and Church force.
Audrey silently analyzed those baseless rumors, dismissing them entirely.
If anything else comes up, then maybe this would be worth it to be brought up during the Tarot Meeting.
She looked at Susie from the corner of her eye; the golden retriever was always keeping an ear out to her.
Susie nodded in return, meaning she got the memo.
***
Unit 3 Cheshire Street, in a small modest set of rooms on the third floor.
Before Amanises could wonder where her own keys were, she checked on the maroon door that overlooked hers.
She knocked thrice on it, mirroring the way she did when she first left.
Just like back then, the door opened with a soft click, and the old Mr Clark scanned the visitor.
His aged, gray eyes went up and down a few times, before the old man broke into a small smile.
"Miss Evelyn, you're back. Why don't you come and tell us about your time for a little bit."
Before Amanises could even think to refuse, Mr Clark had already opened the door and stepped back, making way for her.
She put on a pleasant smile and followed him in.
So this isn't something that could be washed by time, hehehe. Their lodgings had the typical smell of old people, coupled with a little bit of burnt wax and roasted beef.
Her senses have been heightened by the potion, even if it wasn't night-time.
Once the door closed behind her, Amanises was guided by the man towards the small kitchen on the right.
"Look, dear! Miss Evelyn is back!" Mr Clark happily announced to his wife, who was engrossed in cooking.
"Oh dear, I didn't even hear the sounds of knocking! My hearing must be getting worse."
Just like my memory. Amanises internally mused.
"Hello, madam."
"Hello, young lady. Would you care to enjoy a bite with us?"
"Of course." She nodded. "I didn't eat when I left, so this would spare me some time."
"Hehehe, a young lady like you should fatten up! I don't get the gist these days. Women would even cut up their stomachs to become thinner!"
"Unfortunately, beauty is a pain nowadays. If you want to follow the trend, you must suffer the consequences." Amanises responded with a wry smile.
"Ugh, back then people wouldn't mind this that much! I swear! The plumper the woman the more to love!" Mr Clark added in his part of the joke too.
Although Madam Anri was rather thin now, back in her days she used to be quite chunky. That was the sign of wealth and good health!
Unfortunately, with her children slowly being eaten by the plague and low funds, she had lost a considerable amount of weight due to stress and famine.
"People should be glad with what they have."
"Yes, I agree." Amanises knew what it meant to work and starve, she knew the difficulties of the lower class even if she wasn't exactly one.
"Let's end the somber discussion." Madam Anri cut-off the topic as she turned around with the frying pan.
"Let's enjoy this meal."
After she finished setting up the plates, all three clicked their utensils once on the ceramic plate and spoke in unison.
"By Steam!"
Following that, each dug in their meal, enjoying the savory taste of the roasted beef and the added spices for flavor, occasionally getting a bite of rye bread to even it out.
"It's really tasty." Amanises commented, being sure to make it apparent that she liked it and to complement the chef.
"Hehe, this can only be achieved with time and experience." Responded Madam Anri, clearly pleased.
"So—how has your trip been? It's been quite a while."
"Yes, yes! I'm sure it has been filled with liveliness and happiness!"
Death and suffering you mean. Amanises resisted the urge to correct her.
"Tingen is almost the same as Backlund. I don't really see much difference. But I can say that the atmosphere is much more pleasant there—perhaps because the weather is nice and sunny during late summer."
Now it was autumn and the leaves hadn't yet rusted off—however the wind had clearly picked up. Soon enough, Amanises will have to wear her coat, scarf and hat.
I much prefer wearing these kinds of clothing than summer ones, it makes me feel classy.
She remembered how one of her favorite coats had spotted.
Ugh, I have to go buy a new one... Or use Evelyn's. The woman internally winced.
"We have to start getting ready for winter. I hope it won't be as bad this year. I sincerely don't wish to bother Mr Miller for a better heating system again."
Mr Miller was the landlord, also known as the short gentleman that liked to patrol the area during the early hours before work or the 'angry chihuahua' by Amanises.
"I'm actually waiting for winter. It's the best time to snuggle up under the covers with a hot chocolate and a good book, second only to rainy days."
"Oooh, rainy days are the best! They used to be even better during summer, when you know you don't have to water the fields."
"Fields? You owned fields?"
"Hehehe, of course! Where do you think all of this money comes from?" Mr Stanley was already reminiscing about his old days.
"We sold them a few years back. They're in better hands now."
"Such a shame. People fight tooth and nail for bare land nowadays." Amanises commented.
"That's true, but what could this old couple do with them? My back kills me when I have to get up in the morning. I don't think I would survive another harvest."
She knew that they would've kept the fields for their children, but stayed quiet—letting the topic die on its own.
...
"Thank you for taking good care of my home, Madam! I shall return the gesture one day!"
Amanises bid farewell to the couple, returning back to her own apartment with the key in hand.
Once she opened the door, Amanises dropped the heavy suitcase on the ground and ran straight to the bathroom!
"Oohhh lord. I don't think I could've held it in any longer!"
With her own house nearly in sight, her bladder cried out the whole meal!
Once she was done easing herself, Amanises rolled up some toilet paper but after wiping her mood hit rock bottom.
Blood! It's my blood!
Bloody hell! She threw the toilet paper in the bin next to her toilet and looked at her incomprehensible reflection on the tiles.
Thankfully I didn't get it during my mission. Curling up mid-fight would've been embarrassing.
She might've felt some preemptive cramps during the week before—but Amanises was in a coma, so the warnings were useless.
Instinctively, she reached out for the space under the kitchen sink to take out a box of pads, when her hand froze.
They don't have them.
One of the best inventions in the modern era for women—disposable pads were gone...
This is madness!
She became even more gloomy.
Here, women used rags or sewn home-made pads that had to be washed repeatedly, there were no alternatives for that.
I could use more rolled up toilet paper, but that's wasteful and worse…
It was completely unhygienic, and not to mention dirty and disgusting.
Moreover, none of this can be brought up to men or even other women—as this was almost considered shameful.
Damned society!
With a heavy sigh, she retrieved a washed cloth from under the kitchen sink and neatly placed it on her underwear, getting up from the toilet bowl with high difficulty.
Following that, Amanises quickly left her home, going to the nearby store.
She bought a number of things such as potatoes, meat, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, cornmeal, oatmeal, buckwheat porridge and, most importantly, bread.
Then she made a run for the pharmacy to stock up on Laudanum—a painkiller substitute.
...
It was almost evening when she returned, the sun was setting and her stomach was already wishing for more nutrients.
"Calm down, calm down, I'll feed ya." She patted herself down while putting the groceries away.
With her clumsy cooking skills, Amanises settled for boiled potatoes for tonight, mixing in some cheese for flavor and pairing with fried bacon that had only few spices on it.
Together with the rye bread, it added up to a nice meal, something she would enjoy even at home.
Amanises felt the small ripples in her lower area, already prepared for what was about to come.
After the meal, she brewed herself tea, and used the flame to also heat up a salt-filled sock.
She changed her makeshift pad, took her stuff to the bedroom and placed it on the nightstand near her bed.
Amanises then approached her bookshelves and chose three different books that she had been procrastinating to read ever since she came to this apartment and snuggled in her sheets.
With a small gulp of Laudanum—she was good to go.