Lila looked around the small corner that was assigned to them. The conditions were far from what they could have hoped for. The room was dimly lit and a bit cramped, with two bunk beds and a wooden table. The walls were peeling off, and the floor was coated with layers of dust, indicating that it had rarely been swept or maintained properly. Lila sighed and dragged herself inside, looking even more grateful.
"Oh my goodness, this bed is so rusty and old!!" Mia said, her anger and frustration pouring out of her like a water faucet. "It creaks and sinks under my weight every time I move a little bit, and it's very uncomfortable. Did they really expect us to sleep on this thing?" she continued, her tone growing more bitter and furious with each passing word.
Lila shrugged and sat on the opposite bed. "It's better to be grateful, Mia." She said, her tone serious but calm. "We've been wandering through the woods for days since our parents were killed by the hunters. This is the first time we have a roof over our heads."
Mia went silent and realized she was right. She had been so fixated on her frustrations and discomforts, and she hadn't stopped to think about how fortunate they were to have a place to sleep, no matter how bare or uncomfortable it was.
Mia frowned and diverted her gaze away from her. She knew that she was right about the current situation, but she felt too much pain and heartache to accept it completely. They had lost everything they loved and cared about, and they had to hide their magic and pretend to be normal while relying on the goodwill of strangers.
"How can you tell me not to be bitter?" she finally spoke, her tone full of sorrow and anguish. "We've lost everything."
Lila then attempted to provide some cheering up for her. "Hey, look," she said, pointing out a small bucket of water. "Maybe we can wash up a bit and clean ourselves up enough to look presentable. We couldn't do that for days without having a shower."
Mia considered her proposal, and with a sigh, she agreed and gave in because she wasn't interested in fighting with her and knew that a quick shower could indeed help refresh her mood.
Mia got up and walked to the corner where the bucket was. She saw a little door at the end of the wall and tried opening it. When she did, she witnessed a very old and rusted bathroom, its fixtures and plumbing in terrible shape. The sink was cracked and dripping constantly, and the toilet was stained and broken. The shower was covered in mold, and the curtain was torn. The mirror was shattered, and its pieces were scattered about, and the tiles were chipping off the walls.
Lila wrinkled her nose when they stepped inside the wretched bathroom. "On second thought," she told mia. "maybe not."
Mia laughed and agreed with her. "Come on, it's better than nothing." She smiled and added, "Let's just use the bucket and ignore the rest."
They entered the bathroom and shut the door behind them. Sharing the bucket of water, they tried their best to scrub themselves clean. They used a small rag to wipe their faces and also brushed their teeth with their fingers and toothpaste. They combed the hair with a broken comb and changed into some old clothes left on the bed. They wanted to present a more presentable and cleaned-up version of themselves before going outside and trying to interact with the other servants.
After their makeshift bath, they felt a bit better. They slowly opened the door and went outside. However, while Mia was coming out, she accidentally scratched her thigh on a nail on the door. The wound was bleeding profusely and soaked through her pants. Lila saw her sister's bloodied up thigh and grew worried, quickly offering to rely on her magic to heal the injury.
"No, don't." Mia said, holding her wound. "Someone might see you."
Lila looked around and noticed that the room was completely vacant. She grabbed Mia's arm and pulled her towards the bed. She lifted Mia's pant leg and saw that the wound was pretty deep, which meant that it could easily get infected if not treated properly.
"Please, Mia. Let me help you. It won't take long. I'll be careful." Lila requested, begging with her eyes.
Mia hesitated for a moment, but she did trust her more than anyone else. She was certain that Lila wouldn't do anything to harm her or put her in a precarious situation. Having made her peace with the situation, she finally nodded her head, consenting to be treated by her.
Lila smiled and laid her hand over the wound. She closed her eyes and focused on the situation, channeling her magic into Mia's skin. She felt a warm glow in her palm and tingling sensations in her fingers. Her magic was gradually flowing into Mia's body, healing the cut and helping it heal quickly and completely. She felt the flesh slowly knitting itself together until the cut was no longer a gaping wound, but just a faint-looking scar.
Mia reached down to touch her thigh, which now didn't hurt anymore and felt like it had healed entirely by the warmth and magic radiating from it. "Thank you, Lila." she said, giving her a hug that was full of gratitude and affection. "You're amazing."
Lila embraced her back and also smiled, feeling that she had been a great help to her. The warm fuzzy feeling in her heart was one of complete joy and adoration for her sister. They both appreciated having each other in their lives and were glad that they could rely on each other for support.
They had their backs to the entrance, so while the healing took place, they had no idea that anybody was outside. During this, they heard a little voice speak, saying "Wow, are you an angel? You are glowing."
They turned around to see the source, finding Gaby at the doorway, wearing a raggedy gown that hid her silhouette and gripping tightly to a small teddy bear. She was looking at Lila with awe on her face, a sense of happiness and surprise in her eyes, like she had just witnessed a miracle.
They were taken aback by her surprise encounter with her, not having a clue as to when she entered the room. When Lila inquired about her reasoning here, she smiled back and replied with a simple "I'm just here."
The girl stepped into the room, taking a seat beside the pair and immediately beginning to ask questions regarding the magic and the healing that she had observed. Her inquisitiveness would not be denied or delayed, and they found themselves having to answer her inquiries with honesty.
Lila and Mia did their best to answer her as genuinely as they could without revealing too much. They fabricated their past and gave generic reasoning for their presence here. They made up a sob story of the recent passing of both their parents and added some interests to make their story more believable. They both claimed to enjoy reading, drawing, and playing games while simultaneously hating bullies, spiders, and excessive noise.
They convinced the young girl to promise not to share what she had witnessed with anyone else, telling her that it was a secret and that she needed to keep it. They said it was better for her own safety and theirs, and that the information couldn't go public.
Gaby gladly pledged not to reveal the incident or their identity to anyone. She agreed that secrets were great fun, and that they were now in a private club. She also promised their trust and assured them that their friendship was one that was unbreakable, and that they would meet again.
They noticed a knock at the door and expected Marie, the woman managing the orphanage. She had a compassionate gaze and a gentle voice with which she greeted them. She informed them that she had brought some linen and pillows for their comfort and happiness. She expressed the delight she felt regarding their companionship with Gaby.
Marie provided the covers and pillows, expressing her delight at their comfort. She declared that she would depart and allow them to rest. she then left with Gaby.