Thirty-five minutes later,
A red-haired girl had arrived with another girl dressed in white. They walked side by side in silence. As they passed through the corridor, some children who happened to be passing by in the same area turned their heads to the two women, feeling strange about the sight. Both Madame Loiston and Madame Ethnia tried to ignore all the stares.
As time passed, the two women got closer to their destination. The surrounding area had become quieter, as people rarely travelled unless they wanted to get out of there. At this moment, Loiston and Ethnia stood in front of the door, and the thick-browed woman knocked.
“Who is that?” The principal’s voice heard a bit louder and for unknown reason, it scared the Healer. However, Ethnia chose to remain calm and silent, as the girl was afraid of speaking unnecessarily and being scolded by Madame Loiston.
“It is me and Ethnia, Madame Aufrodine.” A woman who served as Vice Chairperson at the orphanage explained to the people in the room.
“You two may enter.” When they received Madame Aufrodine’s approval, the green-eyed woman opened the door. Afterward, she and Ethnia entered the room.
The full-bodied girl felt awkward as she entered Madame Aufrodine’s office. Ethnia did not dare to open the conversation first, even though Madame Loiston had already told her an outline of the problems that would be discussed together. The fierce-faced woman looked at the Healer seriously, then glanced at the coworker who was always ready to help her.
“Have a seat, Madame Loiston and Ethnia.” The thirty-eight-year-old woman was eager to begin the discussion, so she allowed them to take their seats as soon as possible. Aufrodine kept remembering the words written by Adetzha Tatrietgha, so her heart was not at ease.
“Thank you, Madame Aufrodine.” Without further ado, they sat down in the chairs, and the atmosphere became a little awkward, as the dark-haired woman had yet to open up the conversation that was so important to discuss.
“Ethnia, I know you are a Healer and the immortal goddess that your group worships is Erie.” Madame Aufrodine finally broke the ice between them, and the name’s owner spontaneously nodded because that was indeed the case.
“Besides the power to heal the sick, does Goddess Erie give the Healers other powers, such as removing something or hiding someone or perhaps being able to make others not see properly?” A woman who had been the head of the orphanage for a long time began to ask rather specific questions to the interlocutor. Loiston just listened, as she had not been asked for her opinion by Madame Aufrodine.
“As for magickal abilities like you mentioned, we do not have them. Goddess Erie gives healing power to all Healers, and it is automatic.” Ethnia answered honestly, much to the chagrin of Madame Aufrodine and Loiston. However, the blue-eyed woman seemed never to give up and already had a new idea in her mind while Loiston looked at the two women who were still conversing. She was looking forward to making a suggestion, but such an action was not yet possible, so she was annoyed.
“Does your group often contact Goddess Erie?”
“Yes, Madame. We always contact our goddess for help, especially when we find something confusing. We can communicate with her directly.”
Aufrodine nodded and then, without hesitation, looked at the table. She picked up a roll of parchment that had been opened and afterwards thrust it at Ethnia. A woman with a mole on her right cheek and nose did not dare to take it. “Read this.”
“Yes, madame.” Ethnia was forced to take the parchment, and she did not speak again, busy reading what was written there. Meanwhile, Aufrodine turned to Loiston, and her coworker did the same. They seemed to be talking silently, but their faces looked different, and in the end, they both turned to the Healer, who was still busy reading.
Before long, the silver-haired woman had finished reading. Ethnia could not comment yet, but she did not look surprised, as if she had expected this to happen. Aufrodine gave the other a flat look as if she disliked the Healer even though she did not. The atmosphere became a little awkward. “How is it? Do you have an opinion about what is written on the parchment scroll? Tell me, and I will listen.”
“Last night, I saw something strange.” Ethnia began her story, so both Aufrodine and Loiston were very interested in listening to it.
“I woke up because I felt a very strong energy vibration, so I took the initiative to look out the window. Apparently, I saw a witch outside. I did not know that the witch was a male or female because that person was wearing a cloak, and I could not see his face clearly, but the witch turned to me. I acted normal, even though I was scared.” Aufrodine and Loiston were wide-eyed, but neither dared to interrupt, wanting to hear the rest of Ethnia’s story.
“The witch stayed outside for a while and then lowered both hands. When he was done, he looked back at the window, and I was still standing there. After that, he walked away. The weird part, I got a vision that that person was not alone. I saw an eight number in my eyes. Afterwards, Menka and I came to Goddess Erie.” Ethnia was still terrified about what she had seen, which showed on the girl’s face.
“Did Goddess Erie say anything to you?” asked Aufrodine, full of curiosity.
Loiston also felt the same as Aufrodine, but the green-eyed woman was annoyed by the Healer’s previous statement. Ethnia did not tell the truth. She has other magical powers but deliberately told us their group can only heal people. If she is still reluctant to help, then I will force her to succeed! Thought the Vice President of the Ztatzav Orphanage.
“Yes, she said something to me. Goddess Erie asked how many witches came. I answered that there were eight. After that, our lady said that the ancient prophecy would happen soon, so we must not obstruct what Goddess Magia wants. After that, we were told not to panic because the witches were protecting the orphanage so that others could not see it because the Chosen One was still here,” Ethnia replied, looking at Audfrodine and Loiston in turn.
“What? Eight witches came here already, but we did not notice their presence?” Loiston said spontaneously. She was horrified and did not hide it. Aufrodine was also in a similar state. The atmosphere in that room turned tense, and Ethnia did not dare to say more, as if she was waiting for a response from the shocked interlocutor.
“I still do not believe it, but last night’s situation connected with the letter from Madama Tetrha makes sense. The witches must have known the information about the emperor’s messengers from Goddess Magia. The Queen of Witches truly protects Alexa.” The thirty-eight-year-old woman tried to digest from another perspective so she understood.
“I thought so, Madame. I have been hearing rumours that Goddess Magia’s people do not come to Zlatav. It is possible that things have changed now that something different has happened.” The woman who had worked at the orphanage for a long time could only assume, as she did not know for sure the truth of the rumours she had heard. Aufrodine and Loiston were silent, but their brains were working hard to digest the explanation from Ethnia that sounded absurd to them.
“Was Alexa also awake when the witches came?” Loiston asked Aufrodine. The principal shrugged her shoulders to indicate that she did not know. The two women returned their attention to the Healer who had been with them.
“Ethnia, can you please ask Goddess Erie about when exactly the emperor’s envoys are coming to this village? I am still worried about them getting to the orphanage and checking on the children one by one. If they found out about Alexa, we could die.” Madame Aufrodine was still worried, and the Healer understood the situation.
“To inquire with Goddess Erie, I can help to inquire, but do not promise if she will answer. We still respect our goddess’ decision. Please understand.” A woman, who had a height of one hundred and sixty-seven centimetres tall, tried to help, but she had already been told the consequences.
When she heard the explanation from the Healer, Aufrodine was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. She tried to understand Ethnia’s position, which could not guarantee that Goddess Erie would respond to her question. “It is okay. The important thing is that you have tried to ask your goddess. I do not force you, but if she answers with the exact date, please inform me as soon as possible because it is urgent.”
“Sure, Madame. If I get a result or vice versa, I still tell you immediately.” Ethnia did not want to give false hope, so she had already conveyed it to the interlocutor in advance. She also looked at Madame Loiston, who was sitting right next to her.
There was silence in the room again. The tall, slender woman began to get an idea, and she felt it was appropriate to convey it to the Healer. Meanwhile, Loiston and Ethnia were still silent as if waiting for the principal’s words. “Ethnia. There is one thing you must not forget, and you have to obey it.”
“What is that, Madame Aufrodine?” Ethnia could not hide her astonishment.
“Keep silent about our conversation from the public.”
***