The inside of the home looked nothing like what one would have expected from the run-down exterior. Had Aurora not stepped inside on her own, she would have never believed that something like this was even possible.
"Put the maid there. I'll go and prepare the supplies" the old woman replied as she stepped behind a curtain. Aurora could feel the heavy cloak of magic being stored behind that curtain but she held her curiosity in.
Mainly because Rita looked like she was about to puke her gut out due to her nervousness and Aurora did not want to make things any worse for her. Aurora was sure that this maid had some kind of connection with Rita but she did not want to push the other into telling her.
"You know, I just realized that I was a fool. I only thought about myself when I decided to leave. In the end, someone else had to pay the price for it" Rita started as her eyes moved toward the female in the bed.
It gave away about the kind of relationship she had with the female. Still, Aurora did not want to go ahead and make assumptions on her own.
"I'm sure you are curious about the identity of the female we saved and I feel like you deserve to know as well. She's a maid that was assigned to look after me. I guess they did not like it that she let me leave, even though she could do nothing to prevent me from leaving. And I don't know what they were thinking as well since she was new and we didn't even have a bond or anything and -"
Aurora stopped the speech by placing a hand on Rita's shoulder. It was tense and hard under her hand. Rita was going to hurt herself if she did not relax.
"I understand your guilt but you need to relax. It's not your fault, nor is it hers. But if you really have to blame someone, blame me. You'll have to go back home eventually ao blaming those people would not help you" besides, Aurora was used to being hated and blamed for things she did not do.
It would not be anything new but it would make Rita feel better (hopefully).
But the glare she got back clearly told Aurora that it was not going to be the case. Rita was stubborn like that so Aurora did not take it to heart.
"I would much rather be optimistic in this scenario. Also, what is taking that blasted doctor so long? It's been ages" Rita sounded annoyed but fond as well. Aurora felt that it was mainly the worry that was making her lash out.
However, this was another connection Aurora never knew Rita had. Not that she had paid too much attention to Rita the first time, but they had been friends.
"I wanted to come out but you people were being too lovey-dovey for me to feel comfortable. Now, if you've done then I would like to come out" the voice spoke from behind the curtain.
But it was young. Far too young to have belonged to the old woman. The shadow of the figure behind the curtain also looked taller and younger than before.
Aurora could only guess that the old lady had decided to put her glamour away when she went back. It would make sense as well since keeping glamour up took precious magical resources.
"Hurry up and come out here. I'll even pay if that's what you want from me" Rita sounded almost as if she was begging. Even if her voice sounded sure and hard, it was easy to hear the desperation in her voice.
"As if you'll be able to pay me. I don't lack money, kid and it does nothing for me. What I want are essences. Like, your friend here" Aurora knew the elder was talking about her.
As much as she tried to hide her aura, she just did not have enough control to be able to hide it from an expert. And this female doctor sounded like an expert if she could detect Aurora.
"But I'm calling in a favor. You can't refuse me like this" Rita almost shouted but the doctor seemed to have made up her mind.
"Yeah you did and that's why I let you in. You saved me from getting discovered once and now I did the same for you. As far as I know, we're already even" the lady replied. She sounded bored with the conversation.
Rita almost looked like she was fuming but held herself back. It must have taken considerable effort on her part but she somehow did it.
It seemed to not have mattered to the doctor at all.
"You're the one asking me for help because you know you cannot go anywhere else. You better be polite if you want my help. And send your friend in once you decide on your option but don't take too long either" the doctor informed.
Aurora didn't need an interpretation to guess what she meant. Their rescue did not have a lot of time left. Aurora might not have seen the wound but she could feel the light dimming inside the maid.
And it made her itch to help out. Her magic could help, it could heal. Aurora could feel the pulse of such magic but she still hesitated. After all, healing magic was a tricky thing. Aurora has seen a lack of technique to kill people when using such magic.
And as much experience as Aurora had with the magic and the abyss, she never had the opportunity to learn such magic in any capacity. If she had, then she would not have died and left her wife behind.
And that also gave her an idea. If this doctor was half as good as Rita made her out to be, Aurora knew she could make use of her.
"Rita, how good is this doctor?" Aurora asked, knowing she would get a biased opinion. Still, she needed to hear it before making any decision.
"She's good, so good that it's scary. I've heard that she can bring people back from the brink of death. And as much as I hate to admit it, she's the only one who can help us" Rita admitted.
And it prompted Aurora to finally make her decision. Rita sounded like she knew what she was talking about and Aurora's magic also told her that this doctor was powerful. This doctor was the real deal.
And that was what prompted Aurora to walk up to the curtain and slip to the other side.