"Sooo, what do you need my help with?" Lady Ursula asked while rummaging through bottles by her side.

"Well—" Felici started, but Jerome cut in.

"I need your help."

She looked at him, then continued rummaging. "With?"

"I need to leave the village," Jerome replied.

"We!" Felici cut in, frowning at him. "We need to leave the village."

"I thought you gave up?" Jerome whispered.

"When did I say that?" she whispered back, stomping on his foot.

"Aha!" Lady Ursula exclaimed, holding up a keg of palm wine. "Found it. Now, how do you know I can help?"

"Because you helped Felici before," Jerome answered.

"Good point." She downed a glass of palm wine.

"So, can you help us?" Jerome asked.

"A moment ago, you were so sure I could help, and now you’re asking? Are you dumb?" Lady Ursula snapped.

"My apologies, it was a stupid question."

"You know what? Felici, you do the talking while Dernewt Jr. over there gets a hold of himself."

"There's nothing more to say, we already told you why we’re here," Felici replied bluntly.

Lady Ursula sighed. "What’s with the attitude? Don’t forget, you came here for my help. Tch. Is something wrong with you?"

"We should be asking that!" Felici shot back, gesturing at Lady Ursula. "Why are you wallowing here, drinking, just because your business failed? The Godmother I know is stronger than this!"

Jerome was shocked. He knew Lady Ursula had been a big influence on Felici, but not this much.

Lady Ursula chuckled, then laughed. "Look who's talking, little miss high standards. You wouldn’t understand. My business was my life. I built it up when everyone turned their backs on me. So what if I mourn its downfall with some alcohol? It’s customary to drink when something dies, isn’t it? Don’t judge me for following tradition." She drained another glass. "I may look rough right now, but it’s nothing compared to the shameless adulterer who came begging me for help seducing a married man." She eyed Felici.

Felici fell silent, her throat dry and eyes stinging. The pain in her chest twisted her, making it hard to breathe. She turned and ran toward the door.

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Jerome caught up to her at the main door, grabbing her shoulder. She was crying profusely. He wiped her tears and hugged her. She hugged him back, then pulled away. Jerome asked where she was headed, but she didn’t answer.

After watching her disappear into the darkness, Jerome stormed back into the room. "What was that for?!"

"Keep your voice down, my head hurts," Lady Ursula groaned.

"Felici trusted you. When her own father wouldn’t listen, she came to you. She loves you, so why? Why would you say something like that?"

Lady Ursula yawned. "Are you done yapping? Sit down, and let’s talk about leaving the village with your wife and tribute of a child."

Jerome was stunned.

"Don’t act surprised. I’m an Elder, remember? We've been briefed. So, are you sitting or not?"

Jerome quietly sat down.

"I’ll explain everything you need to know about deserting the village. Desertion is a criminal act punishable by death—"

"Why?"

"No questions till I'm done. If you’re caught by the Baale—"

"Baale?" Jerome interrupted.

"You’ll be hanged. Tunnels were once dug for escape, but the Burrow-Boys who dug them were eventually caught. The Baale now act as Sanctuary Helpers."

Jerome was shocked. A mystery from his childhood was finally answered. He remembered visiting the Sanctuary, seeing the Helpers train with weapons, though they never fought. When he asked why, a Helper said, "When the time is right, we’ll use our skills for the gods."

But now another question arose: Why was leaving the village so forbidden?

"Are you listening to me?" Lady Ursula snapped.

"Yes," Jerome replied.

"Good. Luckily for you, this is the best time to leave. It's the festival period, and the Elders will be busy. Outsiders are even hired to present attractions."

"Who does the hiring?"

"Elder Giovann—I said no questions!" She slammed her glass down, cracking it.

"Sorry."

"Now, any questions?"

Jerome only had one. "Why did you humiliate Felici like that?"

"Any questions about deserting the village?" she rephrased.

"My question *is* about leaving. Felici brought me here, and she wants to leave too."

"I see you have no more questions. Sleep in one of the guest rooms. Tomorrow, we’ll meet a Burrow-Boy." Ignoring Jerome’s question, she staggered out of the room.

Meanwhile, Felici sat under a tree near her family compound, staring at her house. She imagined her father’s reaction when he found her missing and smiled. Her laughter soon turned to tears. She had been crying all night, but it wasn’t enough. There was so much to cry about—her mother’s death, her father’s absence, the loss of her pet, her failed relationships, and most of all, herself.

"Does anyone genuinely love me?" she wondered. She thought of past relationships but couldn’t remember anyone. "What a sour life," she muttered, lying down. She noticed a red-capped mushroom nearby, recalling the stories of people who died after consuming them, but this was only after she had accidentally fed it to Dimples her cat. Unsurprisingly, it fell ill a few hours later and died.

Wiping her eyes, she pulled out a handful of mushrooms and crushed them into granules. "I'll regret this," she thought, tossing them into her mouth and swallowing.

"Lady Felici!" A voice called from behind. She choked on the mushrooms.

The person ran over, patting her back. "Cough it up gently."

Felici's chest eased, and she stopped choking.

"I swallowed it!" she panicked.

"You swallowed what?"

"Mushrooms! The death ones!" she cried, squeezing her stomach.

"Why would you do that?!"

"I don’t know! I was just tired of the pain. Am I going to die?"

"No." The person offered a hand. "Come with me."

Felici looked up. "Who are you?"

The person bent down and peered closer. "Do you recognize me now?"

"Ah! You're Jerome's maid!"

"I'm his mother's maid," she corrected.

"Oh yes. Li-ima, right?"

"Yes."

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you."

"Why?"

Lima paused. "Do you really have time for questions right now? Those mushrooms are digesting."

Felici panicked again. "Right, sorry. Can you help me?"

"Yes. Come with me." Lima helped her up and led her away.