“Alexa, Alexa, szhaitorich desitch arexianth.” [1] The voice sounded softly in the ears of the beautiful hazel-eyed girl.
The name’s owner felt strange because she had just closed the door but heard this unknown voice. In fact, there was only her in the room and no one else. The first daughter of the couple, Tristian Varden Writh and Lavena Isolda Keira, was circulated around the room as if looking for another human being, but to no avail.
Whose voice is that, huh? I am sure I heard a voice calling, but there was no presence at all. Could this just be a hallucination? That must be it because no one is here except me, so it is impossible I could hear the other voice, thought Alexa, calming herself.
When she was about to turn away from the door, Alexa again felt a very different atmosphere, as if she were in another world. The intelligent girl could only be alert and wait for what would happen.
“Alexa, Alexa, szhaitorich desitch arexianth.” The same voice called again.
“Who is that?” asked Alexa, slowly.
A young lady with a sharp nose was afraid that her voice would be too loud, so she could not help but use a tone that was not too loud.
There was no answer at all. The chestnut brown-haired girl became confused because she felt sure she had heard the weird voice without a body.
Hmm… it is weird. Why did the voice tell me to be careful because there would be great danger? What did that mean, huh? I really do not understand at all. Aileen and Adaline were no longer there, so it was not comfortable just hanging out with Samuel and Aiden. I would better help Madame Olslon while waiting for class to start. Alexa thought. She already felt embarrassed about hanging out with her two male friends.
“Excuse me. I do not understand what that means. Can you clarify it with the words ‘szhaitorich desitch arexianth’, so that I can understand better what do you want from me?” asked Alexa softly.
There was no answer he expected, so she was confused. Alexa did not know what would happen, but she was now separating the dirty clothes and putting them in a basket of old woven bamboo. When finished, the slim girl left the room and then closed the bedroom door tightly.
“I, Alexa Jocelyn Heart, ask the air spirits to come and guard my room. Anyone wanting to enter here without permission, especially those with bad intentions, would fail. I entrust the room’s safety and contents to the spirits in all directions and from all the elements.” Alexa said a prayer spontaneously.
Why did my lips speak by itself? Did the situation have anything to do with the dream of meeting an immortal goddess who came and blessed me? It could be like that. I will find out the answer in the library after all the work is done, thought Alexa.
As soon as possible, the beautiful girl left the room. She had already set a goal and was already excited to go there. Alexa went down the stairs carefully. A few minutes later, she had left the girls’ dormitory area and rushed to the dining room, where she would help with the cooking.
Not long after, Alexa arrived at the destination spot. The place was quiet, and only a few adults could be seen. Alexa breathed a sigh of relief and approached one of the women about to enter the kitchen.
“Good morning, Madame Olslon,” said Alexa, friendly.
The woman turned to Alexa and then smiled broadly. “Good morning, sweet child. How nice of you to come here.”
“Yes, Madame. Aileen and Adaline have left, so I am not comfortable just being friends with Sam and Aiden. I apologize because I do not come here often.” A young lady with a sharp nose said honestly. She felt guilty towards the person she was talking to, because she had not helped for a long time.
“Ah, I see. Come on, come inside! Help me peel the potatoes and cut the carrots,” said Madame Olslon, friendly.
“Yes, Madame,” said Alexa cheerfully.
In the orphanage, only a few people were good. One of them was Madame Olslon. She always asked Madame Aufrodine and Madame Loiston if I could help him regularly, and fortunately, it was granted, so I did not have time to meet the children who liked to bully me, thought Alexa happily.
Alexa followed Madame Olslon into the kitchen. There were carrots, potatoes, beets, cauliflower, fresh fish and chicken. Her charming hazel eyes sparkled when she saw all this.
It is wonderful! The more done in the kitchen, the better for me! Of course, when I leave the orphanage to live independently, I do not need to be afraid of starving because I can definitely cook. All this thanks to Madame Olslon, she thought happily.
Madame Olslon, who was observing the young girl’s face, became moved. She was despondent because she saw Alexa’s poor condition, including the loss of her two female friends who left the orphanage because Mr. Vigor and Mrs. Auslag Gavtheniath had adopted them.
I do not care what people think about Alexa. She is a good girl and does not deserve to be mistreated. They believe too much in ancient predictions, so they always act arbitrarily. Even if the prophecy was true, why not treat her as a human? After all, witches rarely bothered them unless they were disturbed first. I will protect Alexa, so she will always be safe, thought Madame Olslon.
“Today, we will have a lot of work as usual, Alexa. “Do not complain because there is a lot to be done,” joked Madame Olslon.
Alexa shook her head, then laughed a little. She already understood that Madame Olslon had no such intention. “No, Madame. Let’s get to work!”
Alexa took the potatoes that had been placed in the basket, and then washed them in the water provided there. A woman who controlled the kitchen and dining room areas felt complimented because the young girl, who was often ostracized by many children in the orphanage, did not complain at all and even did the tasks given to her well.
May the Great God of Brazakh bless Alexa. That girl will definitely become a great person in the future, and no one will look down on her anymore. May the Gods be kind enough to give me a long life so that I can see the happiness of this strong girl. Madame Olslon prays for the joy of the granddaughter of Sir Elmer Louis Writh and Madame Phoenix Lily Katira.
Madame Olslon started working, so both she and Alexa were busy cooking. There was no conversation between the two of them because they were focused on what they were doing.
Meanwhile, there was a big uproar in the health room because Odessa was found to have made water containing dangerous ingredients so that her skin blistered and even bled.
“How could you make such dangerous water, Odessa? Who taught you?” The principal asked the blonde girl.
Odessa could not answer Madame Aufrodine’s question, especially since the pain in her cheek area was painful, so it all diverted her attention from the fierce-looking woman.
The medical room was indeed busy because Madame Aufrodine, Madame Loiston, Odessa, and their four friends were there. Odessa is afraid that her beautiful face will be damaged.
“The four of you can’t leave the room. Try to explain from the start, why did that happen?” Madame Aufrodine asked one of them.
“We were waiting in front of Alexa’s room as usual, then she came. When she got close, an unusual air was present, as if someone was protecting her. We were all shaking because we were afraid, but Odessa opened the liquid she was carrying and was about to throw it at Alexa. We were all shocked because we saw Odessa dousing herself.” A fat young guy answered honestly.
Madame Aufrodine and Loiston were shocked. They both looked at each other because they had felt the same, especially when dealing with Alexa.
“Frazto, you are not telling lies, are you?” Now, Madame Loiston asked with a look of suspicion.
“No, Madame. I am telling the truth. We all panicked when we saw Odesa hit by the water she brought herself, even though it was for Alexa. She did not do anything either, much to our surprise. I swear to you. I do not know why today the girl looks like someone else.” Frazto answered again in a tone full of fear.
“Are Frazto’s words true, Drutz, Shul, and Drena?” asked Madame Aufrodine to the other three children.
They nodded simultaneously, and their expressions looked as tense and pale as Fratzo’s. Meanwhile, Odessa was being treated by a Healer. The middle-aged woman looked severe about cleaning the wound and applying potion around the face.
“It is weird. Why does this wound look like a burn? Did you make that water with whatever ingredients until the result was like this?” asked Madame Oistorin, surprised.
Odessa did not answer, just grimaced in pain. Tears fell on both cheeks, adding to the pain of the wound. Madame Oistorin was annoyed by the girl’s behaviour, who, when asked, did not answer at all.
“You are always mean to Alexa, even though she has never done anything wrong. It could be that God Brazakh had punished you,” said Madame Oistorin.
“What do you mean, Oistorin?” asked Madame Loiston, sharply.
Madame Oistorin looked at the questioner with a sharp gaze. The atmosphere became silent for a moment, as they waited for what would happen next.
“Madame Loiston, do you know that God Brazakh is the God of Truth? He always gives punishment to sinners like you, who turn a blind eye to oppression. You, Odesa, Fratzo, Drutz, Shul, and Drena, how long have you always been criminals? I noticed that you always act cruelly and feel powerful. Remember, God will not remain silent when he hears the voice of an orphan being abused.” Madame Oistorin answered thoughtfully.
Madame Loiston’s face looked bright red, with shame and anger. She did not expect that she would receive a counterattack from Madame Oistorin, a Healer. The two of them seemed to stare at each other coldly as if neither would budge.
“What do you mean, Madame Oistorin? Don’t you know that we are caretakers of the orphanage? Why don’t you show any respect?” Madame Aufrodine scolded.
Madame Oistorin turned her gaze to Madame Aufrodine. There was no visible fear on her face because it was time to say the right thing. She did not want to stay silent any longer because she was already too quiet, especially when she received reports from Madame Ethnia and Menka.
“Dear Madame Aufrodine, must we remind you again that the orphanage is under direct government supervision? Is the person you are accusing, aka me, not random? You must know that I am a trusted pupil of the Great Physician at Emperor Aufdzek’s palace, Mr. Gristz.” Madame Oistorin did not want to give in to the intimidation of her interlocutor.
“Madame Ormenthaz, the leader of all the Healers, also trusted me and was sent to Stantz Village on her recommendation? You always cover up the crimes committed by the children here and legalize these actions under the pretext of ridiculous ancient prophecies. No matter how clever you over-up, the truth will still be revealed. Today, Odessa was hit by a plague. Tomorrow, the wrath of the God of Brazakh will hit all of you!” Madame Oistorin said boldly.
Everyone there was silent, hearing Madame Oistorin’s words. The two women who were leaders of the orphanage, Madame Aufrodine and her deputy, Madame Loiston, were no exception. They were afraid of whether it was confirmed that the God of Brazakh intervened because his anger always harmed the innocent Alexa.
A pair of ears heard the conversation from outside without them realizing it. That person was surprised when she heard all the discussions of the people in the medical room.
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[1] Szhaitorich desitch arexianth = be careful, there will be great danger