Belle was anxiously twiddling with the edge of her dress. She had been like this since two days ago when everything changed for her.
She was a refugee from the Kingdom of Everwinter. She and her family were the first ones to board the ships to Neverwinter. They had heard good things about the King from the soldiers and messengers roaming about the port. It was all too good to be true at first but listening to the different stories of the soldiers who were once refugees themselves further reinforced that what they heard might actually be the truth.
After two days of contemplating they finally decided to leave everything behind and migrate to Neverwinter. The journey was rather uncomfortable for they had the concrete boats filled. They had to share rooms with others and unfortunately for belle for a big family like hers with her three siblings and both of her parents they could not fit in a single room so as the eldest daughter she had to leave for another room.
She stayed in a room of strangers who barely had a family with them. In the room, she had a girl named Sarah who was exactly her age and they quickly became friends. Throughout the journey, they learned of each other's circumstances. How Sarah and her mother had fled from Everwinter to escape from their abusive landlord and how they were looking forward to their new life in Neverwinter.
Belle hoped she could be as excited as Sarah was but all she felt was uncertainty.
When they arrived at Neverwinter they were interviewed individually. She could not see the purpose of this interview and viewed it as a giant waste of her time. She should be out there right now trying to find work immediately while it was still the first wave of refugees.
Later on when she and her family arrived at their designated housing. She was not disappointed by the lodging instead she found it comfier than their previous place. Due to them being a large family they were given a more spacious lodging.
Her previous thought of her family starving was actually not a cause for concern. In the boats, they were assured that meals would be provided daily for the refugees until they find a stable job. She previously thought of this as impossible because of the number of refugees. She thought that after the first time they would charge them for the rest. This was how they would exploit the refugees for more money she thought.
Another thing that surprised her was that her father was able to find a job in just a week of their stay in the refugee camp. To follow this she and her three sisters were all enrolled in the elementary education program. Her mother then got a job cleaning the streets of the newly established refugee camp.
A week had passed since Belle started attending school. To her every day was so much fun. She does everything with her group of friends which included Sarah from the boat although they don't meet that often due to them having different classes. Also, the teachers were very kind to them and treated them all equally.
Her family was now stable due to her mother and father both having jobs and their futures were almost guaranteed thru their education. Her parents plan to save for the next year or two and buy their own house where they can permanently settle down. This increased their family's determination and renewed everyone's vigor to work and study.
When they announced the end of the war everyone celebrated for days. They announced the new ruler of Greycastle Her Majesty Queen Tilly. They also named the week in which the war ended as 'Triumph Week' which they said would be celebrated annually hereafter.
After the official celebration in the town square had ended the people went on to their own homes and invited their neighbors and friends to have their own celebration. No expensive food or drinks were needed they celebrated with even cheap beer and snacks just to share the merriment they felt now that the war was over. All in all, life was good since coming to Neverwinter.
Belle laid sleepily in bed. Feeling excited about the coming weekday where she would once again meet her friends in school. She was unable to sleep as she felt a strange sense of liveliness. She thought it was from eating pancakes that she bought this afternoon but after hours of tossing and turning she finally knew something was up.
She heard about it from school as she admired the witches from her teachers' stories she listened attentively every time there was even a mention regarding them. She remembered that awakening witches would feel a tug from their stomachs before the event and that they should warn others near the vicinity as to not harm anyone.
She did not fully believe that this was what she was feeling currently but living with her family she thought it would be safest to run outside and wait it out if it ever came to pass.
Sure enough, when she was grabbing the door she suddenly felt it. A converging feeling in her stomach like something was being stuffed inside her. She hurriedly undid the locks and ran outside.
Her father seemed to have thought there was a break-in happening for he ran towards the door. She warned her father when she saw him come near her.
"Stop! Stop! Don't come here"
"Why? Belle what's wrong?" her father asked in confusion
"I think I'm-"
She wasn't able to finish her words as she felt a sudden force with her as the center. Her father fell back a few feet from where he stood but was otherwise safe. Even he now understands what had just transpired.
She walked towards her father who was still in the middle of getting up. Looking at her hands she felt something different about her. She looked towards her father with teary eyes. She knew her life had just taken a sudden turn.
"We must go to the City Hall together tomorrow. They'll know what to do. Don't be scared child it is going to be okay" her father reassured her while hugging her now slumping body. As if all the energy had been sucked out from her she fainted.