"You'll pay for this, you stinky brat!" the man hollered before scurrying away like a frightened duckling.
"That's right! Scram along, dillweed."
Violence is just a big 'no-no' to me, so I decided to master violence myself.
It's ironic, but it does come out handy at times like this. I was taught how to physically overwhelm a much stronger opponent when I was younger.
Mother wasn't against me learning self-defense as well, but I'd still get scolded when I used them on trivial matters such as getting my candies taken away from me by the other kids or when I was cheated on during a tree-climbing competition.
That's all in the past now, though. I already have a young woman's common sense and a normal human's anger management at this point.
"Umm... Miss..."
I then swerve around to find the receptionist lady's face filled with flummox and incredulity.
All I can spout out at this awkward situation is a small 'Oops', thinking that I may perhaps have meddled too much. But then, much to my surprise, she just invites me back to the inn and finally introduces herself.
"My name is Madeline, by the way. Thank you for the save, Miss. I also think he deserves that, so don't be too nervous," she blurted out, an amused smile splattered on her face.
Madeline is the inn's receptionist and has a brother who manages a diner. She has a long, straight jet black hair and forest green eyes, often seen wearing an apron over a simple brown dress. She also seems to be a good-natured person, though she can be a bit too straightforward and candid.
Madeline kept assuring me that I didn't do anything wrong as I remained a bit shaken by my previous intrusion.
For all I know, there's actually a sensible cause for the recent cascading chain of events. She still looks quite troubled about something either.
Then, when she heaved an exhausted sigh, I could no longer keep my curiosity in check and just decided to meddle some more.
"Well... Our staff at the restaurant left earlier after confronting that madman. He'd been wreaking havoc there before switching to my place. We now have to find new ones... Really, he messed us up good time!"
I just watch Madeline get caught up in her fit of pique and break into a fuming mess, thinking that she can actually manage to defend herself earlier with how hostile she looks at the moment.
That's until gears start to turn in my head. Rubbing my chin with my finger, deep in thought, I silently mull over what she said.
A few seconds later, I then find myself hoping that Mother will forgive me for what I'm about to do.
"Work in the diner, you say?"
When I ask Madeline about the details, I begin considering to take it even though I should focus on my search for an apprenticeship instead.
It's not like I really want to be a waitress. I'm not good with entertaining people, much less serving them. However, this job is open even to a soon-to-be apprentice.
In other words, I can apply as I am now.
"Well, all you have to do is wait orders and jot down notes, anyway. But are you sure about this, Miss? You're here for an apprenticeship, aren't you?"
I understand why she sounded concerned when she said that. In the eyes of many, being a mere waitress means abandoning the goal to achieve higher education. Any occupation that doesn't have educational attainment as a qualification is treated to be the lowest of the working class in Ellicht.
That's why if Mother were to find this out, she'd probably sue me. After all, the main reason why she sent me here instead of letting me stay there was so that I could have a brighter future.
"Even if I look for an apprenticeship now, it's still no good. I don't know what I should strive for. I'm lost…" I pondered out loud, much to Madeline's surprise.
It's true that even if I'm able to train in a workshop, it's only for sustaining my everyday needs.
There's no meaning to that.
Now, if I only want to earn money, I can just search for a work that's easier to get. That way, I won't have to bear with the instructors' nitpicky attitude or worry about running out of allowance.
I hadn't noticed Madeline's intent gaze while I was having my inner monologue, so I am taken aback when she suddenly clears her throat as if asking to be noticed.
"There's a new qualification, Miss," she started out of nowhere to which I only blink in confusion.
"You can apply for it under one condition. That is, you have to use this brief interval of working as a waitress in order to figure out what you really want to take as a future career."
"What?!"
Flummoxed, my jaw only drops at that, eyes as wide as saucers.
Her words sound like an offer of challenge. But then, I wonder why she seems to be looking out for me all of the sudden.
"You didn't look like you wanted to quit when you said that," she added out of the blue, surprising me even more.
Perhaps, she's right about that.
Though I feel like giving up for now, I didn't want to let this opportunity slip by or be a disappointment to Mother. It's not just because of her as well. I also sincerely want to search for myself and write my own future. I long to see the day I'll be someone I can be proud of, after all.
Then, with these in mind, I eventually come up with the resolution to start anew.
I may have to begin from the top again.
"Thank you, Madeline. By the way, I'm Lillian Daffodil. You can just call me Lily if you want," I voiced out with a delighted smile, which she only mirrored.
"Glad to have you in the house, Lily. You can also just call me Maddie or anything you like."
"Okay then, Maddie. Thank you for having me."
With that, I set my mind to use this short span of time as a waitress in order to find out what I really want to be from here on out. I'll also be able to earn money along the way, so it's a win-win situation.
It might take a while, but I'm certain that it's going to be worth it. This also a good opportunity to have an eye-opening escapade about life here in Ellicht.
On the next day, Madeline introduced me to her elder brother and the diner's owner, Ruben.
He's this tall, buff guy with dark red hair and olive green eyes whose facial frame somewhat resembles his sister's.
Ruben warmly welcomes me to his place even though I have no promising capabilities when it comes to food serving. He's friendly and outgoing overall, though he does look intimidating with his huge figure being on par with a castle's knight.
"I heard from Maddie. You're stuck, right?" Ruben suddenly asked to which I just nodded.
"It's alright! Doesn't that only mean you're thinking this through? Unlike us who had clearly given up on pursuing greater education, you're still young and full of life. Give it your best shot!"
I then beam at him in reply, thinking that Ruben and Madeline are really siblings.
Then, for the next days to come, I serve tables, wash dishes and greet guests at Ruben's humble eatery. It's a wooden-walled two-story building, less spacious than the inn.
Ruben always remains behind the bar counter and deals with customers who come to drink. I attend to the rest along with two other wait persons. It's an arduous work, but I'm able to manage with them around.
As I do so, I also take my future plans and new goals into account.