The next day for Cali began not at all in the morning.
After an eventful day, her comrades remained only for dinner. Cali's relatives, feeling that she needed some time with her friends, stepped aside, giving them space.
In the meantime, Aunt Valeria plunged all her energy into preparation for their departing. Lestor and Paris retired to the counts' office to discuss everything that is happening, and if possible to recover from the shock somehow.
And the company of the former Stone Beasts could not talk enough, discussing past adventures, which have now begun to play with new colors.
Cali was even glad for the absence of her father and brother that evening. She was well aware of how big a blows they got from all this. She did not want them to know who she really was for all these years.
Of course, they could have guessed a lot, but as long as they do not have real facts, they will definitely sleep better.
The gatherings lasted until late at night. And only by dawn did the second ten of the seventh row of Gunulbin's outer circle disperse, and most of them went about their business.
So tight Cali has not slept for a long time. Previously, sleep was required only when the body could no longer withstand the load. But it often took her just a couple of times per week for 2 to 3 hours to recharge fully. Sometimes they didn't sleep for more than a week. Therefore, it was very strange just to lie down to rest at night and sleep 4-5 hours.
When the sun was already high in the sky, Cali opened her eyes in surprise.
No, nothing unusual happened around her, but a strange feeling settled in her chest. She seemed to vibrate from the inside. She wanted to do something. The sun seemed brighter, and the disgusting pink room, which she could not get used to just yet beckoned with offers of rearrangement.
Breathing deeply and trying to calm herself, Cali jumped out of bed and first went to the mirror. A bunch of jars and flasks that once belonged to her, but now seemed so alien, completely covered the surface of the dressing table. And the reflection in an elegant mirror framed with carved golden flowers did not at all fit into the overall interior.
Her old nightgown fit perfectly. And although the overall curves of her body have changed a little, it looked entirely different. The skin had darkened and was not so soft anymore. There were not so many scars on the face, the Gorgon could heal not only new but also old wounds.
But the face, in general, has lost some aristocratic arrogance and refinement. And the rest, a chiseled figure, a gentle and airy lady, transformed into a battle-hardened warrior with callused palms.
She tried to recall and repeat several gestures that she had managed so elegantly before. But soon the smooth movements turned into confident strikes.
The hand obeying the reflexes has bent as if a familiar sword was squeezed in the palm of the hand. Like this, Calisto hardly would win the heart of the admirer, but rather cut his head off.
Noticing this, Cali immediately halted, stopping her hand with the other one and pressing them to her chest.
Deciding not to get upset and not to think about it, the girl went to the closet. Behind the graceful door, dozens of dresses were neatly hung. Velvet, silk, dresses made of brocade and what only flowers were not there.
Cali walked along a string of dresses touching the lace sleeves, or the long skirt just with her fingertips. She remembered some of them.
In this one, she danced at her first ball, in this she was at her first royal hunt, and this one still left a stain on the wine, which one of the small aristocrats poured at her as an act of revenge for another trick.
Then the memories seem to be sticking together in a solid mess of monotonous duties and her evil deeds on the way to the goal that stood before her.
Cali stopped, recalling it was hard. As if she was looking at everything from the outside. Now it seemed to her that at that time she was insane. All her actions were so stupid and had no meaning.
All these intrigues, lies and deception now in the memories looked like silly fun of a handful of insane.
The girl stopped and did not want to be here again. She returned to the room without taking a single dress with her. How much she did try to drive away this thought from herself, but it returned to her head again and again.
All that now surrounded her was the life of Countess Calisto el Marsters, but she was no longer her. And everything here was alien to her.
Distracting her from gloomy thoughts, the maid entered the room with a thud.
"Lady, I heard the sounds and decided that you were up," - said the maid, crouching in the bow and looking uncertainly around the room.
The girl was still quite young, about 16. Cali had never seen her before.
"What's your name?" - Calisto decided to distract herself from her thoughts and began to examine the maid carefully.
"Berta, madam! I was hired just a couple of days ago, I came to work from the outskirts of the capital, and then I heard that the former head of the Greens was hiring and immediately rushed here. And then the fuss that started..."
She chattered off without a break. Then, having realized it, the maid pressed her palms to her lips, apparently so that nothing more escaped from her mouth. The cute behavior of the little maid made Cali smile a little.
"Very well, Berta! You are a lovely girl."
"Thank you, madam. - slightly flushed girl. - "So what can I do for you?" - she finally realized.
Cali considered.
"I wanted to wear something ..." - She drawled, - "but not the one in the wardrobe, something simpler. Can I borrow a dress from you, and better even pants and a shirt?"
Berta stared at Calisto in disbelief for several minutes, as if that second head had grown on her shoulders. Then she suddenly suspiciously narrowed her eyes.
"This is a test, right?" - said the maid, suspiciously peering into the face of the mistress. - "Well, as you wish. I am here only to please you." - she continued with a shrug.
"If it's not difficult for you," - Kali added seeing as the maid was about to leave.
But apparently, Cali's plans were not destined to come true. As soon as Olivia, and then Aunt Valerie heard about the strange wishes of her niece. As if an explosive of red-faced had burst into the room.
Despite the protests and pleas, Kali was caught, cleaned, perfumed, combed, curled and stuffed into some kind of dress. Fortunately, Valeria, at the last moment, seeing the girl's pale face, took pity and chose a simpler dress without corsets, piles of petticoats and deep cleavage.
It was plain, strict with wide sleeves and a slightly low waist. Kali carefully examined herself in the mirror while her aunt and the housekeeper Olivia were quarreling and at the same time trying to decide what to do with her hair.
It seems they decided to revive the former greatness of their young mistress in the shortest possible time. Olivia, the former nursemaid of Cali and Paris, and now the housekeeper, insisted that hair should be soaked in nettles, and then smeared with bread crumb.
Valeria, on the other hand, twisted her nose and insisted on balm from blue orchids and even some sand from the Lorian desert mixed with some oil from who-knows-where.
Cali already prepared for the worst when she heard a knock on the door.
"Cali, you are already awake?" - Came the voice of Paris from the other side. - "I came to escort you to breakfast."
"Yes, coming," - the girl hurried to answer, mentally sending all her gratitude to her savior.
Paris entered curiously looking around.
Only now Cali has noticed in what chaos the two professionals in the field of beauty turned the room. Carefully moving through a heap of skirts and some kind of ribbons Paris came closer now considering the sister
"You look great." - He said, stretching his hand. Cali confusedly looked at Paris's hand for a second, trying to figure out what he wanted.
"OH!" - Finally, she realized what that was.
The girl took his hand carefully and tried to relax, making it look like she really needed help to get up. Previously, this trick came out so naturally, but now she somehow clumsily lifted up, first pulling her brother's arm too hard. When Paris leaned forward without expecting such a force, she abruptly let go and almost collided with his foreheads.
"Sorry, I think I'll go ahead." - Calisto mumbled quietly, pulling away and trying not to look her brother in the eye. Without waiting for his answer, she headed for the door.
When the door slammed shut behind the girl, all three of them in the room looked at each other.
"Poor girl," - Valeria cried, - "She was such a delicate flower, and now ... What to do?!"
Olivia in response only sighed heavily. Paris, however, frowned his eyebrows and turned to the two ladies.
"Nothing to do. Whom she was no longer important. Now it is different. And we have to show her that we need and love her as she is. And you will not try to make of her the one she was." - He finished with pressure.
"But Paris, my boy, what nonsense." - Valeria was indignant, - "She should be returned to society as soon as possible. The girl is almost 23 years old, a little more and she will become an old maid. Cali ran wild with them all these six years, but now it's time to return her to her rightful place. She will again shine on the palace balls and will soon be surrounded by a dozen fans. Only in this way can she forget all these horrors."
"Aunt, she didn't run, as you put it, "wild" around. Don't you understand? Didn't you hear her story or what Konrad said?" - Valeria wanted to protest, but Paris did not give her a word, continuing, - "She was sold in Glako. Where human and nonhumans are forced to fight each other, to death. The fact that she survived means that many of her rivals did not survive the encounter with her."
Assuming something is one thing, but apparently hearing directly is quite another. Valeria turned pale, clutching her hands to her chest, but even her wet eyes and quivering lips did not make Paris stop.
"Yes, aunt, Cali, our Cali killed more than once. Humans and nonhumans. And later. Do not forget, she spent 5 years as a Stone Beast. What tasks do you think they do? Before my eyes, Cali fought with a dozen enemies alone. Do you seriously think they were just playing? Do you think it can be so easily forgotten?"
"But what do we do? Very soon, rumors that she had returned will be scattered around the capital. If she doesn't appear at court, people will start talking. And what? Should we hide her here as some kind of shame?!"
"Aunt, just let her find out for herself what she wants right now. If she wants to return to the balls and fancy dresses, well, we will do our best to give her that opportunity. If she wants something else, we will try to accept it. Okay? She has gone through too much. I just want her to be happy here with us."
Valeria did not answer, wiping the tears that suddenly came out with a handkerchief. Olivia from behind was no longer shy, crying, and sniffing with full force. Paris took aunt's hands in his own and spoke softer already.
"Just don't push it. Let her find herself, and I am sure she will blossom again and learn to smile sincerely."