1 Echoes of Silence

"Mommy, mommy please help me, I don't want to die!" Wet, cold, hot. I try to gasp, my throat still closed out of sheer terror, and proceed to choke on my own breath. My body is freezing but also so hot. Inside I'm burning up, but the sweat covering my body, soaking into the covers and sheets has become stale and cold. I feel my pillow, wet and cold, most likely from tears and split. (How unladylike) I try to say out of habit, but as always, no sound escapes my lips. I miss my Mom. I miss singing. Hell, I even miss my jerk of a brother. At least when things went wrong in my last life I could curse them, here, I can't even do that. So I just sit there, feeling half dead. My body shaking from the cold, my head bleary from exhaustion. But it doesn't matter. I'm already dead. Why did I have to die so young. I was so excited for nursing school. My Mom was so proud of me for getting in. Even my brother called me up to say congratulations. I wonder how Mom is doing. I hope she doesn't miss me too much... No I, I want her to miss me but... I don't want her to hurt now that I'm gone. In the thralls of depression, shivering and parched of all the hydration now coating my bedding, I try to lay to my side. *Thump* Ugh, I missed the bed. This room is so damn dark, I couldn't even see that I was on the edge of the bed, not that I really cared. At least the floor was dry. Might as well curl up here, no point in bothering someone at this hour. I pull my frail and dainty legs to my hardly curvaceous chest and try to fall asleep. Unfortunately sleep eludes me and is replaced by a throbbing headache. An ache I clearly recognize from my days as an otaku as mild dehydration. For crying out loud. As I begin to prop myself up I hear a thudding outside my door and my door bursts open. By the light of a candle I see the acne scarred face of a kindly middle aged woman. "Milady, milady are you alright? I awoke to a loud thudding noise, what is the matter?" This sweet woman was my caretaker, Serena von Vestier. With light purple hair and sparkling jade eyes she was certainly kind, but rather brash as well. Unfortunately upon seeing my empty bed in the dim candlelight, she began to scream. *bam bam bam bam* Unable to call out to her, I communicate the only way I can, my slamming my hand against the floor. "Milady? Oh goodness Milady, are you alright?" Rushing over to me, the kindly Serena sets her candle on the vanity and reaches down to cup my face. "Are you alright Milady, I mean, I... I just" Clearly panicking at my inability to communicate the situation, I do the only thing I can. I sit up on my knees, and lean forward, hugging Serena around her waist while nodding. Ugh this is humiliating but if I've learned anything in the last month since coming here, it was that hugs are the best way to calm Serena's bleeding heart. "Ah Milady, you shouldn't um, you shouldn't be hugging me in that state of dress" Huh? What state of dress? Standing up, I back away from Serena and look down. Oh dear... My thin white nightgown was drenched with cold sweat, not only becoming see-through but also making my girls rather... perky. At this I can only stand frozen, staring into Serena's eyes trying to communicate that I have absolutely no idea what to do right now. "Ah, pardon me Milady, you have nothing to be ashamed of... oh dear but more importantly, why are you so cold... another night terror? I see. Do not worry Milady, I shall fetch fresh bedding for you at once." Serena really is remarkable. In a kingdom such as this one, a woman capable of such care and understanding for a mute girl such as myself is certainly a rare find. As I shed my gown and wipe f the sweat, Serena bring me a fresh gown and lights the fire in my room. Unfortunately I will have to wait until morning to have a bath. Even for a noblewoman like myself, getting a bath's worth of warm water was too much of a task for the middle of the night. It would require at least 3 servants, and I don't have the heart to wake anyone when they all work so hard during the day. With the fire lit, I can now see my warmly lit reflection in the mirror. An almost emaciated figure, slender as the wind itself; my face is quite boney, but not sickly. My platinum blond hair flows sleekly to my waist. Despite having only just gotten out of bed, it has very few tangles, I suppose that is the benefit of such flat hair. My eyes however, beamed in contrast against my anemic skin and pale hair. The rich mana circulating through my body lends an opalescent swirl to my irises, shifting through shades of vibrant blues, greens, and hazel. What an odd world this is. On Earth eye color was determines by genetics, but here, as far as I could tell, mana would color things in ways biologically impossible on Earth. I still have no idea what mana is, only that Serena assures me, were I not a mute, I would easily we a top wife candidate for a higher noble house. As I finish reflecting on my admittedly poor understanding of Earth's rules for how genes work in the human body, Serena finishes fixing my bed and walks over to my side, gently combing through my long silky locks. At 8 years old, I was rather tall, at least by Earth's standards, at around 4'2". Serena, being rather well built, stood a much taller than me, I estimate about 5'7". I decide to close my eyes slouching a bit as my posture is lost to the pleasant relaxation of my hair being brushed. "Oh Milady, I know not what horrors haunt your dreams, but I can promise you, so long as I and your Father live, we won't let anything bad happen to you. Whether it be those dastardly inquisitors from the church, or some monster of the Untrodden Lands, we won't let any harm come to you." I turn around and look into Serena's jade eyes. They are watery. Could it be she was really so concerned for me that she would be brought to tears? It makes me wonder what kind of girl the previous Anya was to inspire this kind of affection from her maid. Looking up into Serena's eyes I give my best smile, a gentle lift at the sides an upwards curl at the outward sides of my eyes, and lean in for a firm hug relishing the momentary feeling of security as I'm wrapped in the loving embrace of my trusty maid. Retreating I make an oval-like shape with my pointer fingers and thumbs. In this world it apparently represents the heart, although to my eye it looks more like a pear. "I love you too milady. Now get to bed, your poor eyes will be puffy tomorrow if you do not sleep well" With Serena lifting up my covers, I slip underneath feeling the crisp, softness of high quality bedding. With my eyes closed I feel Serena's fingernails gently scratching at my scalp as she hums a lullaby. Mommy... I hope you sleep well tonight. "Don't worry Lady Ariadne, I promise to take good care of her. May you rest in peace."

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