It takes more than a bell for Effy to follow Chisa all the way from the central district to the north gate. Then Chisa circles above the hill a couple times, before returning to perch on the town wall. Effy clearly gets the point, and walks up the path to the north. Thanks to all the other people using the gate lately, the guards pay her no mind, and she comes right over to the grassy spot where I'm still practicing with my special mana. I've burned through a couple of my copper slag chunks, but I'm taking it slow so I don't give myself a terrible headache with all the focus this takes.
When she approaches, I finish up with my practice and return the chunks to my basket. Then she passes by the hill, and doesn't seem at all surprised to see me. In fact, her first question is, "How does that thing always lead me to you?"
"It's a called a bird," I explain first, "and..." but I hesitate. It's not that I don't trust Effy. I'm just not really comfortable telling anyone about soul magic without a good reason. "It's a long story. Her name is Chisa and she helps me out a lot." Effy doesn't ask anything else, and sits down next to me.
"Yes?"
I can't help but smile. She's so straightforward compared to humans. "The next battle will be eight days from now. I wanted to talk to you before then and get ready. So first, how much mana do you have left?"
"Release." With a bright flash, her divine gear appears. I'm momentarily worried that it will be visible to the gate guards, even with the hill between us, but Chisa doesn't see any of them responding. It is pretty sunny at this time of the morning, so I guess we're safe for now. I squint into the light to read off the number on her gear. Twenty six thousand two hundred fifty nine.
"Here, let me see..." I murmur, touching her hand and pushing mana over to her a few times. With some work, I find out my own mana capacity has increased again. It's about five point one right now, so it's definitely beginning to grow faster. How much older will I need to get before I can use mana like the other rail units though? I've seen them go through thousands of it in moments...
"Ok, so..." I look at my well, which has refilled about halfway over the last month and a half - since the last battle. That should give me... I think my mana well holds about two hundred thousand. "A hundred thousand..." I murmur. It's pretty crazy to think about, that's more than four or five times what other rail units start at when they reach combat age. At least I have one thing going for me... "I have about one hundred thousand mana, how much do you want?"
"A hundred thousand..." Effy repeats, with her eyes narrowing by the tiniest amount. She doesn't say anything for some time, so she must be thinking it over. When she finally speaks, she requests, "forty nine thousand mana for the next battle." I would have thought she was simply asking for half, except the number's a bit lower than that. I wonder how she came up with it...?
Despite my question, I simply nod, and take her hand to begin giving her the mana. If I can do it now rather than next week, it will help a lot. Even if it's just other rail units around before the battle, it still makes me nervous when I think how they'll see us touching for so long. The rail units won't care, but I never know what the handlers will ask them about after the battle and what will make them suspicious. So I'm more than happy to give her all of the mana right now.
As I do that, mindlessly pulling from my well and letting it all flow over in a steady rhythm, I spend some time asking her about what she's been up to. Where she's gone in town so far, if she's talked to any people yet, any particular places she likes, or things she's been confused by. For the most part, she simply shakes her head, hints of sadness in the tilt of her lips when she tells me that she hasn't worked up the courage to talk to any of the humans or anything like that.
When I ask, she isn't too sure why, mostly just because she doesn't know what she would talk to them about. That makes me feel bad. She's been wandering the city for months, but hasn't spoken to anyone or done anything. I did the same thing my first few months, but I really didn't want her to have to suffer through things, that's why I taught her about feelings and told her some stories.
But how is she supposed to interact with humans? I remember how completely oblivious I was to everything, and she's still at that point. With what I knew, I barely passed for a five year old. Everyone would expect her to be an adult... I just told her what a bird is earlier!
----------------------------------------
I continue worrying about all of that in the back of my head while keeping up chatting with Effy. She does say that she's found a few nice sunny places she can sit during the day, and enjoy the warmth, at least while it lasts. That naturally leads me into telling her about the seasons, and how people say winter is coming up and it's supposed to snow, and we both wonder what snow is like and make a few guesses together. We do end up having a pretty nice time, until I finish transferring the forty nine thousand mana she wanted.
Effy is still faintly smiling when I take my hand from hers and she dismisses her divine gear, but there's this tiny hesitance in her eyes that's painfully easy to read even on her inexpressive face. This is the most fun she's had in a very long time, and now she thinks it's over. I mentally check the time. There's still a long while left before lunch, more than three bells.
"So, I have plenty of time today," I tell her. "What else do you want to talk about?"
Effy immediately glows with happiness, which also hurts to see, before she pauses in thought. I still don't understand why her expressions are so understated, it looks like she's used to showing emotion, at least the physical movement part of it. But for whatever reason, she only does it in very small bits.
After some time, she answers. "I... don't know."
"You don't know?" I question. She should have lots of questions after walking around town, right? "Is there anything you've been wondering about? Things you've seen that you don't understand?"
Her eyebrows shift, pulling in ever so slightly in thought, or maybe confusion. "Well... yes, there have been, but..."
"But?" I prompt when she doesn't go on after a few moments.
"...I don't want to talk about anything."
"Ok...?" I blink a few times. Another tick passes, Effy doing nothing but looking at me. I... have absolutely no idea what she's thinking right now. So why does she still look happy? After just another couple ticks, I'm starting to get restless from staying still and not doing anything.
I only make it another three or four ticks before I can't hold back anymore. "U-umm, Effy? If you don't want to talk about anything, then... what are we doing? What do you want?"
This time, she doesn't have to think long to come up with her answer. "I want to be together."
"...Oh." Now I get it. She's been so lonely for so long, she just wants to be with someone else. And I'm the only one she has. It's just like how I've sat with Emily or Selena before, just being together. That makes me smile, even though there's a bite of sadness inside at the thought of what she's been through. "Here." I hold my hands out, and she shifts closer, with another one of her tiny questioning expressions.
I take her by the arms, and she obediently lets me move her, sliding her down to put her head in my lap. Then I pat her head, running my fingers slowly through her hair. I really liked when Selena did this for me, so I think Effy will too. Her black hair is really dirty and greasy since she hasn't washed it in almost two months. I try not to mind it though, and carefully work out any snags without pulling, since I know that would hurt.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
We stay just like that, sitting and simply being together, while I give her the attention she must need, more desperately than I realized. Time passes slowly, and even though I'm not working toward anything or accomplishing anything, I don't care. This is nice anyway. I'm actually surprised that Effy doesn't eventually fall asleep in my lap. I feel like I would. I did with Selena anyway...
The wind picks up a bit. It's getting chilly now and I don't have any fire mana, but Effy is plenty warm and neither of us mind it. The sun crawls across the sky, waves of tall grass swaying. It's so quiet...
----------------------------------------
Ding... ding...
I sit up a bit straighter when the seventh bell does finally ring through town, and Effy reacts to the whistle that comes shortly after. "I guess that's time," I sigh. "This was really nice. I'm glad we got to do this, Effy." She reluctantly sits up, and we share a momentary smile.
"Yeah, it was. Her eyes shift back toward the city, another tiny show of uncertainty in her expression.
"I'll see you soon," I tell her in response to the look. "Remember, eight days until the battle."
"Right," she nods. "See you in eight days, Aria." I smile again while she stands, then wave as Effy walks out of the little grassy spot, around the hill, and back into town.
"I guess it's time for lunch, huh?" I think aloud. I don't want to be too obvious, so I wait a few extra ticks. I'll circle around the opposite side of the hill, to approach the gate from a different angle, that should help it look like we didn't come from the same place.
I stand up and brush off my skirt. Ugh, I need to wash my hands now. I can't believe Effy has to live like that... Maybe I should meet up with her to help her wash more regularly. No, winter is coming, and getting wet when it's this cold could be dangerous... There's the harvest festival coming, maybe we could meet up there if we're in any shape for it after the battle?
My thoughts continue along those tracks all the way back home.
----------------------------------------
The rest of the day passes nicely. I have to wash my hands and skirt, both more filthy than I've seen them in a long time, and the other girls use the opportunity to wash themselves and do their laundry again. If I can make it through the next battle, I should probably make it a habit to do this every weekend, it would probably be good for all of us.
After that, Emily heads downstairs to try her hand at another dish, so I follow her and sit at the table in the dining room. Even though it's the weekend and we aren't being forced to go scavenging every day for our meals, it's surprisingly empty now, only a few kids going about the house. They must be taking the winter wood gathering seriously.
Even so, it's much louder than it ever was before, now that they're talking and playing openly. The house feels so much more alive than it used to. While Kerra and Marrianne buzz about dealing with them, I notice Ella hovering around the kitchen, keeping a close eye on Emily while she cooks.
After I'm settled, I steady my breathing and close my eyes, shut out my surroundings, and begin to meditate. Time for more mana practice...
Unlike earlier with Effy, the time passes in a blink, my focus interrupted when Emily finishes cooking. She made a big batch this time, some kind of... stew? Whatever it is, it's really bright. Like a red-orange color. I'd think it looks like blood, but that's darker. When she serves bowls of it, she actually calls a bunch of different kids over, and the caretakers too, asking them to taste it and tell her what they think.
While I poke at my own bowl and blow on it to cool the thick stuff down enough to eat, she takes a seat beside me and explains. "I mashed up a bunch of winter vegetables, and chopped up ruffo too. I wanted to add in herbs, and I had some rosemary and frenin, so I used those, plus some salt, and cooked it all. I was thinking it would make a nice hot winter soup. We have something kind of like it at work."
Out of her whole description, it's the ruffo that has me raise an eyebrow. Isn't that a crunchy leafy vegetable? I don't see anything like that in the thick soup... When I ask about it, she tells me how it took a lot of work, but she chopped it up really small, mixed it with netta oil and mashed hazalia, then cooked it to get it to break down and mix in.
"Wow..." I murmur, stirring the soup. I think it looks cool enough after blowing on it a few more times, so I take a careful bite. "Mm!" I nod a few times. "Yeah, this is tasty!" I mush it around in my mouth. It has this weird... bite across the back of my tongue. "Huh..." I tilt my head as I wonder, and take a few more bites. As I do, my eyes slowly narrow, while I begin to pick up on something. It's slight, very slight, like back when I ate over at Kathy's house. Bit by bit, the food is affecting my mana.
When I look closer, it's not the same as it was back then, when it stopped obeying my will. This time, something in the food is making it more... flowy. Like it moves more smoothly. One of the noble foods I ate had the same effect, didn't it? It was... the latus, right? That one is also a leafy vegetable, like ruffo is. I wonder if ruffo has a similar effect? Even though it's a common winter vegetable around the house, I haven't had it since all of my meals are made with noble foods now...
I nudge Emily and use telepathy to fill her in on my thoughts, and she goes back into the kitchen, scrounging around until she can find a bit of leftover ruffo on the counter that missed the pot. I munch on the tiny leafy bit, but nothing happens. "Guess it's not that one...?" We both wind up shrugging at each other. Since the effect isn't actually harmful, I don't mind it too much, and we return to eating the tasty soup.
Everyone else is digging in too. The caretakers all nod appreciatively and tell Emily that she's going to make a wonderful wife some day, which has her beaming proudly. Beyond that, Noria and Kerra don't say much else. By this point, I've noticed that Noria is a pretty terrible cook, but I have no idea about Kerra. She never cooks anything and always leaves it to the others. Maybe she's even worse than Noria? Even though she has her own children...?
I wonder about that idly while looking on, as Ella and Marrianne make a number of other observations, like that biting part of the flavor coming from the tayin Emily used, and how it's less pulpy than they would expect. It's Ella who guesses that's probably thanks to the oil Emily added. Emily explains excitedly how Matthew taught her about that, and how some of the stew they serve at the bar uses that trick.
"I'm definitely going to try this at home for my kids..." Ella thinks aloud. Wait, Ella has children too? She's never mentioned that before! I mean, she's usually weirdly standoffish around us, this is probably the most open I've ever seen her. She's always the one cooking, so maybe that finally got her to open up...?
Just as I'm thinking that, she coughs into her fist and looks away awkwardly, and I can actually see her closing herself off again. Marrianne gives her a look, but doesn't say anything, and rubs Emily's head. "Good job cooking. Would you like some help cleaning up?"
"Ah, I'm fine, I clean up all the time at work," Emily assures her, which draws a small chuckle from Marrianne.
"Alright then. Now, finish up, before it gets cold. I'll gather the rest of the bowls," and she gestures around at all the other kids who are finishing up.
That's when Kerra speaks up, clapping her hands a couple times to get everyone's attention just as they start drifting away from the dining room tables. "Alright, children. Remember to thank Emily for sharing her food with you," she instructs them.
There's just a moment of awkwardness. I think a lot of the kids still aren't entirely used to having adults around. I know I'm not. But it passes soon enough, with a chorus of, "Thank you for the food, Emily!" from all around the room. Of course, I join in, giving her a big smile, and she goes bright red at all the attention.
"Now Emily?" Kerra prompts.
"Umm?" To her confusion, the woman mouths, 'you're welcome.' "Oh! You're welcome, everyone."
"Good, good," Kerra nods her approval. "Dinner is in a few bells, we'll see you all then," she addresses everyone again, and this time, the response comes easier.
"Yes, Miss Kerra." The kids all begin dispersing. After we finish up eating, Emily returns to the kitchen to clean. I help Marrianne gather up the dishes, piling them up on the counter where Emily stands on a chair, rapidly washing everything.
----------------------------------------
The rest of the night is peaceful. I meditate a bit more, but also get a chance to play a game with a friend of Mary's when she comes over to our room, where we have to come up with related words, going back and forth until one person can't think of one. I'm surprised how well I do, my vocabulary has definitely improved thanks to my lessons...
Besides that, I make a good chunk of earth mana. Emily's food was filling, and there are only a few bells before dinner, so I rely on the earth mana's effect on my stomach, so I'm hungry enough to eat when the time comes. I'm glad I know about that one now, it can actually be useful when it's on purpose, instead of it making me eat way too much all the time...
At dinner, Kerra reminds everyone that they'll be cleaning our rooms again tomorrow, and to pick up our things from under our beds, so I do that as soon as we head upstairs, since I always sleep with Emily. And our night wraps up just like that, uneventfully pleasant, even with a week until the next time I have to fight for my life. At least I have Effy to help. That makes me way more confident in my chances than I used to be...