5 Ines (2)

January 5th, 1941 (Part 2)

12:02 P.M.

For a while, Sister Edith and Ines quietly walked through the many halls and corridors, with the former walking in front, leading the way.

Occasionally, Sister Edith would attempt to strike up a conversation with small talk.

"During supper yesterday, you and Odette seemed to get along well; are you two friends?"

Ines shook her head, "No."

"What about Charlotte? She seems like a nice girl," Edith asked once again.

Silence awkwardly hung in the air.

Receiving no reply, Sister Edith looked at Ines from the corner of her eye. Well, she isn't denying the idea of being friends with the older girl.

Plus, the two girls did not seem to detest each other, and Charlotte seemed quite amiable to Ines earlier compared to some of the other children.

Perhaps she should suggest to the other Sisters during their time off to pair up the two, Charlotte and Ines. With a slight push, the two would most definitely become friends, Sister Edith thought, amused.

Despite Ines' cold countenance, she's a sweet girl at heart.

"Sister Edith, where are we heading to?"

"To see Madam Clémence," Edith answered. "Remember the nice lady who cleaned up your bruises three nights ago? She requested that I bring you along with me."

"Yes, I remember." Ines nodded, her anxiety quelled after hearing Madam Clémence's name. "…The nice lady with pretty shoes."

"That's good! I'm sure Sister Clémence will be delighted to hear that you remember her; she takes quite the pride in her craft, her handmade shoes." Edith came to a halt, stopping in front of a door.

For a couple of seconds, she eyed the sign and the numerous parchment papers that hung on the door; large messy letters written in splotchy bright red ink that practically called for attention.

'Please make an APPOINTMENT before entering, or else you will be asked to LEAVE. I will be unavailable after sunset, so if there is an emergency, please consult the Head Mistress instead. Under no condition will my office be open after sunset, so please refrain from knocking on my door after that hour, or else you will be blacklisted until the next season.'

-Clémence.

What a lovely greeting sign.

"Sister Clémence?" Edith called out, knocking thrice on the door.

It didn't take long for the said woman to respond.

"Oh my heavens, who is it now? Have you not seen the sign? Read it for god's sake! Out! I'm busy, do not bother me unless you-"

"It's Edith!" She interrupted, clearing her throat. On the other side of the door, shuffling could be faintly heard as loud, thudding footsteps neared.

Then, the door swung open; a woman with dark copper brown hair and glaucous eyes stood on the other end, holding a thick stack of papers with one hand and the door with her other hand.

"Sister Edith, Ines," Clémence probed, eyeing the thin girl who hid behind Sister Edith.

"Pardon my behavior, I have been quite busy as of recently. I apologize for my indecent conduct, I had forgotten that I had requested for you two previously." Clémence apologized.

It wasn't like she was overreacting.

Clémence looked as if she hadn't eaten, slept, or rested at all for the last week or so. Her face was ghastly-pale and unnaturally gaunt like that of a wraith, and enervation colored her face with shadows all across.

Despite only being in her late thirties, Clémence looked like one of those overworked Madames nearing their late forties who worked more than fourteen hours a day.

"No, please, it's alright. Sister Clémence, you don't have to apologize," Edith insisted.

Stepping away, she revealed Ines who stood behind her.

For a moment, their eyes met and invisible sparks seemed to go off.

Soon enough, the atmosphere became glacial as the two parties (Clémence and Ines) remained in silence.

Although Ines' expression was peaceful like an ocean without a storm, her quivering-bony hands that gripped at her skirt with great iron force till the bengaline silk fabric was creased and twisted immediately betrayed her thoughts.

As for Sister Clémence, she stared right back at Ines, wearing the same expression she always did—the face of a person who was perpetually exhausted and aggravated with life as a whole.

Edith looked between the two, her bright smile twisting into a frown whilst uncertainty rippled in her eyes.

'Gosh, what is this atmosphere?'

Did… they not get along? Ines had looked quite eager to meet with Sister Clèmence just a while ago, and Sister Clémence didn't seem to dislike Ines the night they met.

"Ines." Edith nudged the young girl. Receiving no reply, she nudged the young girl again, her voice rising slightly. "Ines..!"

Finally, Ines broke eye contact. "Good afternoon, Madam Clèmence."

"Well. Good afternoon to you too, young lady." Sister Clèmence said, stepping aside. "Come on in, the both of you."

Edith looked at the two who continued on with their merry day as if what had just happened was just a figment of her imagination.

Well, at least the tension is gone, she sighed.

Leading the way, Edith followed after Clémence with Ines trailing close behind the two.

Walking inside, their nostrils were immediately assaulted by the intense malodorous scent of herbs, disinfectant, and antiseptic.

"Oh my," Edith boggled.

'How colorful.'

"Most of the items on the shelves are decorative," Clémence said, setting down her stack of papers. "The contents of those colorful bottles you're looking at have yet to be tested, so it's unknown whether or not it's safe for human consumption or usage."

"Is that so?" Stepping closer, Edith eyed the yellowed labels that stuck to the bottles. "What a fascinating naming sense you have, Sister Clémence."

'Great Emerald Sawtooth Whale's Tears.'

'The Ashes of a 'Named' Vampiric Count from The Noctem Stygia Era.'

'Purified Blood of a Dark Fae.'

Clèmence merely laughed. "Yes, thank you. The children who visit my office often say the same thing; they're quite the darlings I must say—always entranced by the sight of these polychromatic bottles."

Edith nodded in agreement, and then stepped away to look at another shelf.

Unbeknownst to Sister Edith who was focusing on the interior of the infirmary—the many small glass bottles with strangely colored fluids that adorned the shelves, Ines momentarily froze in place.

Her pupils dilated, reflecting the appearance of a young woman in gold-lined cloth.

Her shadow which once clung and trailed after her feet appeared quite animated at that moment; it writhed and convulsed viciously as if it were trying to escape the grasps of the law of light and shadow, almost as if it had been hit with a terrible revelation and agony.

But as though Ines had not noticed the oddities presented around her, she returned to normal and continued trailing after Sister Edith.

"Well then," Clémence began, pulling out a chair, "Take a seat, Ines."

Ines showed no change in reaction and sat down, her face devoid of emotions.

"I presume you've received the Head Mistress's letter, Sister Edith?"

Edith nodded, her expression no longer carefree but taut. "That's… Yes, I have. May I know where your disciples have gone? I was informed that they are the ones who will be assisting me and guiding me."

"Leave my office and step outside the infirmary; you'll know it when you see. They'll be at your side once you're there." Clémence said, leading Sister Edith to the door.

"I wish you luck. Hopefully, you will return as who you are currently and be the one to bring Ines back to the dining hall."

"…Thank you."

Sister Edith smiled, her face gradually turning dark. Then, she wordlessly stepped outside, and the door automatically slammed shut behind her.

As the sound of her footsteps slowly vanished, Clémence could feel the temperature in the room dropping as eerie silence veiled the infirmary.

"Ines," Clémence said, her voice cold. Turning back around, the young girl was no longer sitting but standing in the middle of the corridor.

Ines had somehow gotten up from her seat, left, and soundlessly snuck up on Clémence.

"Ines." She said again. "Let's sit down and talk."

Stepping closer, Clémence held out her hand to Ines. However, Ines slapped her hand away and wordlessly walked back to the chair and sat back down.

Clèmence shivered, her blood running cold.

"You seemed quite uncomfortable before when you entered the infirmary. Why?" Clémence asked. Re-adjusting her glasses, she gazed at the young girl who seemed to move in a stiff, inhuman way, almost like that of a marionette.

Ines remained silent.

"That's fine too. Would you like some tea, or would you prefer water?" Sitting down in front of Ines, she poured herself a cup of tea.

Ines did not speak, nor did she move.

"No reply? Then would you like to rest?"

This time, Ines moved. Rolling her eyeballs towards the older woman, she tilted her head slightly as if agreeing with her words.

Seeing this, Clémence put down her cup of tea and pushed back the blue medical curtains, revealing a gatch bed. Immediately, Ines got up from her seat and stiffly laid down, her eyes wide open.

Such a sight was odd to see. Ines was a young girl of only eight years of age, yet 'she' gave off the aura of an ancient creature beyond the Novus Lux Era.

"Would you like me to read you a bedtime story?" Clémence asked, picking up a purple book from the counter.

Ines nodded, closing her eyes.

Opening the book, Clémence reached for the vial in her sleeve.

"It's rumored that this story is real; an event from history made into a fable for children."

Seeing no reaction from Ines, she continued, letting a single droplet fall from the vial onto the first page of the book.

"There once was a nefarious warlock who loved a woman destined for greatness, she was someone deemed a Venerable Saintess, Daughter of the Esteemed."

The drawings and words on the page rippled as she spoke. In a matter of seconds, all marks on the page erased itself as if time had been reversed, turning the page a bloody shade of saccharine red.

Clèmence shut the book and stepped closer to Ines to confirm her hypothesis. Reaching for her wrist, the older woman held her breath, half expecting the young girl to jump off the bed and lunge at her.

But, contrary to what she was expecting, Ines remained still, her eyes shut.

"…It worked."