Time to go towards the well-lit hallway! Yay~ less chances of dying where there's light, obviously.
Although, she has a feeling something will show up. She dusts herself off and fixes her hair. Just because potential ghosts might look like a mess, doesn't mean that she has to!
As she's walking down the well-lit hallway she finally finds what seems to be the sitting room. It's actually still in pretty decent shape. Meaning, that it's still in one piece. Still dusty though. Alas, it's mostly empty. Only a few things remain, some books carelessly tossed on the ground, a few chairs mostly intact, oh and a little lamp on the ground that's illuminating the room. Wow, this is kinda sad to look at. It's just so empty and also the air is extremely heavy.
Something is definitely here.
Sophia wants to try and actually reach out to the ghosts. After all that's why she's here. She thinks back to the advice Ms. Ipruk gave her earlier on how to contact ghosts. She's assuming that Ms. Ipruk meant to try and speak to them first and then if that fails, use the charm.
She sits on one of the chairs and creaks under her but thankfully doesn't break. She sits in complete silence trying to ease her nerves and thinks about a way to approach this.
How does one even start a conversation with spirits? This is actually a lot more awkward in reality than on TV shows and books. Guess an introduction shouldn't hurt? She's great at those!
"Hello there, ghosts. Let me introduce myself. My name is Sophia Fauve, an apprentice under Master Ipruk and future fashion designer! I am the one to go to when it comes to magic and looks. I am going to be even more legendary someday so remember the name!"
Silence.
Maybe she got a tad carried away. Bragging about how great you are doesn't really make for an inviting conversation.
She coughs a little and continues, "Well anyways. You all have a lovely little mansion here. I really love the decoré! Also, I mean no harm and apologize for barging in unexpectedly. But I would really love to know more about whoever you are?"
She waits a few more minutes in silence before trying again.
"Hmm, my day has been very eventful, how was your day?"
More deafening silence.
This is ridiculous! There's still no response of some kind! If this was a show surely the audience would be laughing at her.
"Please give me something to work with. If you can't speak then perhaps some sort of sign?"
Just as those words left her mouth, something did end up happening, she hears someone humming.
The humming doesn't seem to be any particular tune, it's just mindless humming to pass the time.
Sophia gets up from her creaky chair and tries to follow the sound. It seems to be coming from outside the sitting room and ends up leading her to a bigger bedroom. A master bedroom. Could it be the Johnsons? The door is slightly open already so she has no trouble getting inside. The room still looks to be in decent shape. It's a lot cleaner than the other rooms upstairs. Also, there's still some furniture, including a bed. The bed is not that big… Not as big as it should be for a master bedroom. The pillows and blankets look freshly made.
She steps inside and asks, "Is anyone in here?"
The humming gets louder!
"Okay, clearly you're trying to talk to me but is there a better way? I have questions I need to ask. Please, I'm just here to help you."
She hears something fall with a thud. She looks over and it's a book?
It looks so worn out which shouldn't be shocking but it looks more like some kind of journal. She picks it up and opens it. The writing looks messy beyond comprehension but the main problem is that it's all smudged! Most of the journal has been stained with ink, maybe it got wet at one point. Some of the pages are torn as well. The only thing she can make out is the writing on the first page.
[If found please return to Darmae Farona.]
Sophia has no idea who this is.
//Could it be the ghost's name?//
She tries skimming the journal for clues but most of the writing is illegible! Ugh, why do they have to write in messy cursive! Also, why writing on paper? Just write your thoughts on the internet where people will ignore you. Duh?
Sophia does manage to find a passage that seems sort of clear with just a few smudges.
[Work is hard and draining?. I will never tell Madame? my feelings because I don't want to stress her out but at least I can vent using this. Perhaps, my old therapist ?? gave good advice. I'm craving chocolate.]
Hm, so they worked here? A servant most likely. She keeps skimming:
[The baby is cute but very loud. I wish he would stop crying. I wish she would stop crying. I wish I could stop?]
[Mr. Hobbleton broke my phone. Why is he so clumsy! Madame said she would get me a new one. I want to die from embarrassment.]
[It's cold. Too cold. It's summer; act like it. I miss the sun.]
[I wish I could of made my family happy. But I'm just a maid. I wish i could make Madame happy but I'm just her maid. But at the very least. I made Bradley?! smile today. It was the chocolate.]
[He hates me. But it's fine. I don't like him but he pays me so it's fine.?]
[I've been here over 5 years. I miss my mom. I miss the bread. Maybe, I'll ask for a vacation soon. Maybe, I can ask Madame? to come with me... No that's dumb.]
[I think I can count the few things that make me feel emotions, on my hand alone. Ah.]
[Work is hard. But things will get better. I miss my bakery. I love chocolate bread?! So tasty.]
[Madame... she said that. Why? Why me?]
[No no I??can't do this. Anymore Why why??It's not real. It can't be?]
[Come back!?]
[Sorry I'm sorry.]
This maid actually writes a lot more than what Sophia could make out but alas a lot of it has been lost or is too illegible. She keeps flipping more pages and a few more lines stand out to Sophia.
[Humming calms me. Sir finds it annoying but who cares what he thinks! I love it. She loves it too. I think I love????]
[Legendary Master Ipruk arrived in Regis! I don't care much for magic but it's still exciting. I wonder if Madame or Sir will meet a big shot like her.]
[I owe her everything.]
Okay, so she definitely is the humming maid! She knew about Ms. Ipruk, did they meet when she visited? And 'I owe her everything' sounds so ominous, this loyalty goes beyond these words. Darmae Farona was 'Madame's', Mrs. Johnson, personal maid. At least it seems so. All the legible entries line up with the timeline.
"So you are Ms. Farona?"
She hears a low hum in response.
"Okay, this journal of yours is lovely and I wish I could read it all but, there are some things I want to ask you directly. Is there a better way to-?" The pages of the journal in her hands start flipping by itself! Until it lands on one passage:
[I dream of nothingness on most days but today I remembered my dream of being held tenderly by the person I love the most. If only my dreams would come true. All of my dreams filed with nothingness.?]
Dreams.
Does she want her to fall asleep?
Oh! Entering someone's dreams, she's heard of that. Entering a Dreamscape, she's read that some supernatural beings are able to do that but it seems kind of dangerous. Although, Sophia can't sense any ill intentions.
What's life without some little risks? Haha.
Oh no, she's starting to sound like Ms. Ipruk.
//I'll do it! But before I do…//
Sophia pulls out her light staff and the charm her teacher gave her!
//I won't go in completely defenseless.//