I explain what I’ve gathered so far about Adalinda to Lillith, trying to minimize the most distressing parts, but by the end there are tears in her eyes. Basically, Adalinda’s dad has never been in her life, and she and her mom tried their best to survive on their own but her mom was unable to make a living with any skilled labor. When a street gang showed up claiming relation to Adalinda’s father and offering her work in exchange for them taking care of her and her mother, she had no choice but to say yes. The ‘work’ that they had for her was primarily thieving, since she was small enough and practiced enough to sneak in and out of almost anywhere, barring the palace, which apparently is on the other side of the city from where we entered. She never told her mother precisely what work she does for her “uncles,” and her mom never cared enough to press. The street gang leaders, whom she refers to as her uncles, provide her and her mom with food and a few gold chunks each month, enough to buy clothes and keep up with a shabby apartment. The reason she was being chased today was because her latest thieving went awry and she was nearly eaten by a giant stone tiger and didn’t manage to get the item she was supposed to steal. That part was a hazy mess of images in both Adalinda’s and her pursuers’ heads, but that’s what I understood, even if the details were vague. She’s been surviving mostly on her own for years aside from the minimal food ration her mother gives her from her wages. She spends most of her time on the streets, trying to escape grabby men and shopkeepers from whom she’s stolen things.

The bathroom door opens and Lillith sits up, quickly wiping away her tears and forcing a smile. I rub her back comfortingly. She looks over at Adalinda, who has obviously finished bathing, her hair still dripping wet. Lillith frowns at her clothes, then looks at me.

“Do you think you could make her a simple outfit? Something to wear while we wash her other clothes? Twila would probably have something if you can’t, but then she’d have to come back here…” I nod before she finishes.

“I can do that. Just a moment.” I focus, asking Alastor and my AI to find a pattern I can quickly replicate. It only takes a few moments before they find a suitable one, and I envision the end result in my head as I guide the creation process through making a simple tunic and pants, with the pants tied at the waist and calves with strings. Once finished, Lillith takes them into the bathroom with Adalinda. Adalinda comes out a few minutes later, dressed in the new clothes, and I can hear water running in the bathroom as Lillith presumably washes her clothes. Adalinda stands awkwardly against the wall, looking around the room again with awe in her eyes. I motion to a large stuffed chair near her.

“Feel free to sit. I won’t bite.” I say with a chuckle. She looks at me a little warily, perhaps hearing that it's more than a joke for me, but she sinks down into the chair, clutching her hands in her lap. I rack my brain for anything to say to her, and I’m not coming up with anything productive. We end up sitting in silence, me observing her out of the corner of my eye until Lillith comes back out of the bathroom.

“I washed your clothes and they’re hanging up to dry right now so you’ll have to wear those for a while,” Lillith says to Adalinda. “While we wait, do you want some food?” Adalinda nods, giving a slight smile at the offer. Lillith takes her hand and pulls her up from the chair, leading her to the kitchenette area. The two girls rummage around and I sprawl out on the bed, watching Lillith’s slender form as she finds some leftover snack food from earlier and summons her food replicator. She and Adalinda discuss what food they want, the best types of fruit the local planet has, though Lillith can only replicate food she’s eaten before, and other topics. Lillith makes a plate with a few crackers, sweets, and pieces of fruit on it, along with a bowl of melted chocolate, and brings it over to me. I smile and pull her down for a kiss as I accept the food, setting the tray aside to pull Lillith onto my lap, kissing her thoroughly. She giggles and tries to squirm away, protesting that we’re gonna embarrass Ada. I plant kisses all over her face and lips before letting her pull away. Her face is flushed as she hurries back to the kitchenette and Adalinda, whom she has already nicknamed Ada, it seems.

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I materialize a fork in my hand, since Lillith forgot to bring me one, then begin stabbing the fruit and dipping it in the melted chocolate. Lillith and Ada sit on the pile of cushions next to the kitchenette and eat their own food, which seems to be a cheese fondue pot with toasted bread, fruit, veggies, and meat. They chatter away, Lillith explaining where we came from, and Ada sharing funny stories about her life, including some rather scandalous tales about a pet monkey. When they seem to be in no hurry to do anything else, I load up my simulation again and get lost inside my head.

A few hours later, Twila returns. At her entrance, I refocus on the room around me as she joins them on the cushions, helping herself to some food. When all seems well I try to return to my simulation, but keep thinking about my earlier vision instead. I don’t mind the destruction so much, though I wince away from considering the number of people I personally killed. No, what disturbs me now is the feeling of absolute joy my past self felt in the memory. It wasn’t just a job for me, it seems I loved my work. And yet, I can’t imagine going back to it. Not because of myself, but because of Lillith. I’ve seen the horror on her face more than once as she realized how powerful I am. And despite my promise not to use that power without good cause, I can still feel the appeal. Today in the alley when I convinced Adalinda’s ‘uncles’ that it would be in their best interests to leave her alone, I saw how simple it would be to do so much more. I told their subconscious brains that their stomach needed food urgently. I could have easily tweaked so much more though. It was all laid out before me, and I could have convinced them that breathing was no longer necessary, overridden all other impulses, made them feel they could breathe underwater, or even just ordered them to go bash their heads in with the nearest rock and they would have done it. And despite everything, part of me wants to do it, just to see the end result. Would it work? Could I get away with it? It would be fascinating to try.

I glance over at the girls once more, catching the light glinting off of Lillith’s blonde hair as she tips her head back to laugh at Adalinda’s story. She would be so hurt if she knew I was even considering it. I purse my lips, thinking. No. Not yet. I won’t do anything to jeopardize her trust. If I need to use my power to keep her safe, I won’t hesitate, but I won’t go looking for sport. I can feel Alastor’s silence more powerfully than if he had said anything, and I mentally prod him. He knows more than he is letting on, that I’m sure. He sighs in my head.

‘As much as I’d like to see you become fully powerful again, that’s the right choice for now, Master.’ Alastor says, and I finally relax enough to return to my simulation.

‘As much as I’d like to see you become fully powerful again, that’s the right choice for now, Master.’ Alastor says, and I finally relax enough to return to my simulation.