With our hands still clasped together, me and Luna laugh happily, both of us are clearly oblivious to our surroundings.

We’re suddenly reminded of the harshness of our reality, as we don’t yet realize that there’s still a clear issue at hand...

This moment of happiness was just temporary–a fleeting memory at best.

From my seated position at the table with my hands still holding Luna’s hands, I feel an intense and painful tug on my hair, as if it were being torn out.

“O-Ow!!!"

"W-Wha?!”

In apparently confusion, I start to panic. My arms unconsciously, helplessly, flail from side to side

Grunhilda with every ounce of her strength, violently pulls on my hair, which causes me to stand spontaneously out of pain.

My grasp on Luna’s hand loosens, as I’m forced to let go.

“Mai...?!"

"Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing to her?!”

My attention is mostly focused on the physical pain, but I’m almost certain I can hear Luna scream out at some point.

Grunhilda shrieks at us.

“You stupid, unruly little brat!!!!"

"You've ruined this supper!!!!"

"Why is it that when you’re involved in the simplest of tasks, you seem to be unable to deliver on what I ask of you?!”

“A-Agh!"

"B-But…! Ma’am…!"

"I-I did everything you said…!"

"P-Please...! Stop!”

It hurts.

It really, really hurts!

Please, just let go!!!!

After a few moments of pleading with Grunhilda, It remains futile in it's attempts.

She continuously tugs on my hair, forcing me to move with her, as she drags me towards the kitchen.

Immediately knowing what this entails, I cry out in sheer desperation.

“NO!!!! PLEASE!!!!”

“I’LL BEHAVE GRUNHILDA, I PROMISE!!!!”

My worst fears are coming to pass. I already know where she’s planning to take me.

Most of all, above everything else, I know what she’s intending to do with me.

"A-Ack...!"

As I’m being dragged towards the kitchen by my hair, I glance back through tear-filled eyes in the midst of my pain.

"...!"

There, I see the remaining children except Jessabelle.

They’re all staring at me, grimacing.

Some of them seem sympathetic towards my situation, while others look relieved.

Perhaps they're thinking something along the lines of: “I’m just happy it’s her and not me…”

Seems like even now, even after I made a friend...

Nothing has really changed.

…

“Heh…”

Through my tears and despite my pain, I manage to let out a small, self-deprecating laugh.

For some reason I find my own misfortune at this point to be quite amusing.

After all, if these things are happening to me, maybe there is some higher power causing all of this to happen at my expense, just for their own amusement as well.

It's impossible not to find this whole situation entirely laughable.

“You…"

"Did I just hear you laugh...?”

This however, seems to have been interpreted the wrong way by Grunhilda, as she jerks my body with her iron-clad grasp on my hair.

She then turns around, staring me dead in the eyes.

“...I was laughing at myself…”

For feeling hopefully optimistic among other things...

What was the purpose of even lying to her at this point anyway? I knew no matter what I did, all that was awaiting me was more pain.

At this point, all I could do was to tell her the truth.

“Here, I thought that I would give you the benefit of the doubt and let you off with a very stern lecture and talk on proper conduct…”

“But that doesn’t seem suitable enough…"

"Oh no… We’ll have to do something about this little attitude of yours...!”

“…”

I remain silent.

Whatever.

Do what you need to.

I've already given up.

…

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

When I had already relinquished myself to these hopeless thoughts, words I thought I would have never heard in my life were spoken out loud.

“Hey! Why don’t you shut up already, you old hag!!!!”

“!!!!”

They were directed at Grunhilda of all people...

Then, as I pondered about who dared to raise their voice at Grunhilda...

I then see Luna, running over towards us with clenched fists.

“Let go of her!"

"What more do you want from her?!"

"She already did what you told her to do, and she’s not responsible for ruining anything!!!! If anything, that other girl is to blame for trying to pin the blame on Mai and finding faults when she's clearly the victim in this situation!!!!”

“If anything, you’re way too hard on her, you selfish old hag!”

"..."

“W-What… What did you…”

Grunhilda’s grasp on my hair gradually starts to loosen.

"!!!!"

As her hold on my hair loosens, It's plain to see that her figure has begun to tremble.

Suddenly, there’s an expression on Grunhilda’s face that I’ve never seen before.

Her face is filled with unfiltered rage as she stares coldly at Luna.

Luna’s in danger!

“Luna! Stop! Just go already!”

But it’s too late.

Grunhilda’s palm raises in an instant, as she releases all of her rage and fury within that single moment.

Shuddering, I then close my eyes tightly...

Not wanting to see my friend get hurt...

Expecting an audible sound to come...

…

But it doesn’t happen.

There's a gentle breeze, as if the air was quickly shifted by something...

The extremely quick movement of something cutting through the air.

…

"No way..."

Opening my eyes, I then see Luna...

Crouched to the ground in an animal-like manner, she reminds me of something akin to a Panther, or a Tiger.

Her posture could only be described as skillful and practiced.

"...Whoa."

At first, I couldn’t quite process what just happened.

"Hmph!"

Grunhilda tries once more to strike at Luna...

The look on her face changes from irritation to confusion, instantly.

“What the…?!”

Luna gracefully dodges out of the way, as if she already knew where the hit was coming from.

I’m utterly shocked.

Then Luna looks up at Grunhilda.

"L-Luna…?”

Her eyes…

They look ferocious. If I had a word to describe it, then "bloodthirsty" would suffice.

I’ve never seen someone around my age with such a look on their face.

Before now, I thought Grunhilda’s angry face was scary...

However, the aggression on Luna's face is on a whole different level than that.

She looks just like a wild animal...

Baring her teeth as if she’s ready to pounce at any given moment.

Luna’s face gives me the impression that she wants to really hurt Grunhilda.

But…

I don’t want that to happen either...

Even if things are like this for me right now, I don’t want to see anybody else get hurt.

“S-Sniff…”

Please… don’t hurt each other.

Don’t fight, please.

I don’t like when people hurt each other.

Tears fall in response to the silent plea in my heart.

“Hey, Mai!"

"Don’t cry! I’ll get you away from her, I promise!”

Luna’s gaze turns from that of animalistic fury to that of gentle summer's breeze.

It’s so reassuring. So peaceful.

All I can do right now is to put my trust in her.

…

Then, of all the possible outcomes that could have happened in this situation…

Something happens that I wouldn’t have ever expected from Grunhilda.

“Ohohoho!”

Grunhilda is… laughing…?

For just a brief moment, I feel incredibly bewildered by this unexpected development.

Most times if a child misbehaves, they’ll be physically punished, or be made into an example for the other children so as to deter any further rebellion against her.

She acts as a tyrant who strives for absolute control over us. She’ll use whatever fear tactics and intimidation to keep us under her thumb.

This isn’t normal at all for her.

Something really feels very wrong...

“Ohoho…!

"Forgive me! I haven’t laughed like that in quite a while!”

“What was your name again, child...?”

“Hah! Why should I tell you anything?!

"Let go of my friend, first!”

“Hmph! Such spunk...!"

"As if you have the right to make any demands of me...”

“However, I must admit that you’re quite spry!"

"You must have experienced some terrible things from where they dug out a little 'street-urchin' such as yourself!"

"Ohohoh!”

“However..."

"Rather than playing your game, you’ll be playing mine, young one...!”

“...?"

"What the hell are you talking about, you old hag?!”

“Why, it's quite simple really…"

"I’ll be contacting the main Orphanage in Saint-Grandis and have you shipped back off there by the morning, tomorrow.”

"..."

“What…?”

“I’ll just have those brutes in the city deal with unruly children like you!"

"Selfish children who think they hold more power than adults deserve to have their rights stripped from them and shown their proper place among society!”

“…”

Luna remains silent.

Unclenching her fists, she lets her arms hang at her sides, all tension seems to disappear from her in an instant.

“However...! Even given your blatant insubordination...!"

"I’m not without giving filthy urchins like you a second chance!"

"After all, I’ve given this little creature more than several!"

"Ohohoho!!!!”

Even now, Grunhilda doesn't pass up this chance to ridicule me...

“So turn around! You will head back to your room right now!"

"You will not speak another word of this, and you will not rebel against me!"

"My word is absolute!”

“If you listen to me..."

"Perhaps I will forgive these vile acts you’ve committed.”

“However…"

"If you so choose to refuse…”

Suddenly, I’m compelled to cry out, as Grunhilda tugs violently on my hair.

“O-Ow!!!! P-Please stop…!”

"Mai!!!!"

“Stop it already!!!! She’s in pain!!!!”

“Then walk away, child...."

"Let this be the end of our little 'game'.”

“…”

Looking at Luna... I can tell she’s extremely conflicted.

She's most likely prioritizing me before herself in this situation.

But why…?

Why would anyone go through so much... just for me…?

Staring at Luna with her head hung low, she stands completely still, seemingly deep in thought.

Then suddenly... she looks up smiles at me.

"I’m doing this because you’re my friend, Mai!”

“That’s what friends do for each other!"

"They stick together no matter what!”

H-Huh…?

How did you know what I was thinking...?

At least that's what I wanted to ask her...

But maybe she really does understand me.

"..."

Luna’s eyes move from me to Grunhilda.

Her expression transitions seamlessly from a smile to a much bleaker expression.

“Fine... I’ll go..."

"You better not do anything to her, you hear me?!”

Grunhilda scoffs at Luna’s remark as she gestures with her hand, like she were shooing off a pest.

“Run along, now!”

Luna turns her back as she walks calmly towards the door leading outside of the dining area.

With her back still towards us, she speaks loudly and clearly..

“I’ll come back for you, Mai...!”

“I promise!”

Slowly departing from our sight, Luna then heads up the staircase to the second floor.

“Luna…”

With her no longer in my sight...

I can’t help but feel incredibly lonely.

“Children! I take it the rest of you are finished with your meals?"

"If not, then you’ll just have to go without supper!”

“I want you all to head up to your rooms now, for I have much to discuss with this one!”

But that emotion quickly turns back to fear and doubt, as I remember where I’m at, and what's about to happen.

As a chill creeps up my spine, I watch onward helplessly as the remaining children leave their respective seats and vacate the dining room as quickly as possible.

Now… we’re alone.

I’m alone.

Just me and Grunhilda.

“Now then..."

"Come with me.”

"...!"

Those were the last words I remember her saying to me before being dragged by my hair to the kitchen.

After that…

Whatever Grunhilda had done to me…

I don’t remember what had happened at all.

----------------------------------------

As I awoke, intense bodily pain came from every physical part of me.

Not only that, but an incredibly painful and dull ache came from my head.

"..."

Somewhat conscious... I glance around the room.

The only source of light came from a dimly lit crystal that hung above the room, encased in a glass fixture...

It hardly did an effective job at letting me see around clearly.

But I suppose it’s barely good enough.

Cushioned by a sack of flour underneath me, I'm surrounded by numerous amounts of bagged grain and flour on the ground of the dry-storage in the kitchen.

Getting up slowly, I tried using my arms to prop myself up.

“T-Tch...!”

For some reason, I couldn't use my left arm to lift myself at all...

Instead, I try propping my back up against the wall and slowly inching my way up while relying on my working arm to brace myself steadily.

Using some nearby stacks of bagged grains, I'm able to find my way unsteadily back to my feet.

“Hah…! Hah…!”

Already out of breath from just standing, I don’t fully understand what’s going on.

Why is this… so painful?”

Even just speaking is a labor in of itself.

My body hurts so much!

“Need to… find my way out of here…”

Sluggishly shuffling my feet towards the only door that leads in and out of the dry-storage, with my functional arm, I twist at the handle.

…!

The door doesn’t budge.

"I-It’s... locked…"

----------------------------------------