Since a decision has been made, Jasper doesn't waste time immediately ending the dream. Rei and Ariellia wake up feeling a complex mix of emotions, unable to speak for some time. It's disorienting trying to separate their feelings from that of Meti and Admetus. In all her years, Ariellia had never been scolded, yet in the dream she'd been forced to bite her tongue several times while the maids of the Palace tortured her in petty little ways. Her chest kept rapidly rising and falling from suppressed anger. If only she could speak in the dream, the things she would say to that two-faced head-maid would make a soldier shrink away in shame. Never in her life has she been belittled by anyone to such extent.
"I know you're working through a lot of information but now is not the time. Your fox friend has burned through almost half of the talisman stock I gave you. I fear it truly must be a dire situation on his end."
Hearing that his best friend might be in danger, Rei quickly puts aside these messy thoughts and shakes his head. "Take us."
"No need to ask, I was already going to anyway but why does it feel like I'm slowly becoming a glorified transporter for you two." The dragon lord grumbles but invokes the spell to transport them to Riell's location as promised.
They appear in the annex building within the orphanage, surrounded by wailing kids. Ariellia and Rei don't even get a chance to shake off the lightheaded feeling that comes with this sort of instant jump. The moment they appear, the bewildered children run to their big brother, latching onto him with their faces covered in snot and tears.
"What's wrong with the little trolls?" Arie isn't exactly fond of them since they always like to compare her to Anya, constantly praising the wolf girl while calling her the bad lady. Yet despite her reservations against the naughty little tots, she's not immune to their tears. She too wants to know why they're upset.
"Something is wrong here, I sense a foul magic in the air."
"Uncle Jasper!"
She jumps, surprised to hear his majestic voice coming from the doll attached to her pouch.
"I told you before, while I'm busy hatching your father's egg I can't be moved. My powers are limited in this form, that's why we landed here and not right in front of the fox boy."
"No, this is fine, as long as we're here that's all that matters." Rei sounds distracted, his mind spinning over what could have happened.
"Brother Rei please save Lady Oya…hic…she won't move…hic."
"Please save Lady Oya…waah!"
Several of the kids press against him, making it hard to move but he's reluctant to push them away. Lady Oya has always been like a mother to them, if anything happens to her it's understandable why they would be agitated. He's torn between comforting them and moving forward to give aid to the only mother he's ever known.
"Tsk, just go and leave them to me. Find Riell and help Lady Oya." Arie can't stand the sniveling little imps, but she's not made of stone. Despite her 'wonderous' reputation Lady Oya has always been fair to her, she would hate to see anything bad happen to the kind matron. If the old dark elf is hurt, Rei's exceptional light magic could heal her while Arie stays with the kids.
"Thank you!"
He can barely conceal his misty eyes and wobbly smile. She's stunned to see this vulnerable side of him, it's clear the thought of losing the woman who raised him affects him more than he's willing to admit. Her heart skips a beat as she watches him urgently dash towards Lady Oya's room, feeling flustered by the level of trust it takes for him to leave his younger siblings in her care. Several bright little eyes turn towards her, and she suddenly feels inadequate for the first time in her life. How is she to comfort them?
'Where is that stupid wolf-girl when you actually need her?'
For someone who always pretends to be kind and more loving than her, the absence of that deceitful busybody is very odd. Graced with this pressing task she puts on her best smile, trying to embody Lady Oya's warmth as she drops to their eye level.
"It'll be okay, you've all seen how good Rei's healing can be."
"Hic…brother Rei healed my legs when the doctors said I wouldn't be able to walk again. My parents were too poor to hire a healer, so they left me here at the church." One of the smaller girls stepped forward, using her own testimony to reassure her friends. She meant well but her story only made Ariellia's heart ache. Who would abandon such a pretty baby? Is money so precious? Even if she never walked again, couldn't they just keep her by their side? Suddenly, the annoying little brats don't look so displeasing to her anymore.
"You have such lovely hair, come I'll braid it for you while we wait."
"Okay!" the child is easily distracted, momentarily forgetting her pain.
"Can you braid mine too? I want a warrior's braid." A shy boy steps forward.
"Sure, everyone gather around and have a seat." She breathes a sigh of relief, grateful Miranda forced her to learn how to braid to maintain her dignity even in times of crisis. She brought the first girl close and skillfully weaved her fingers through her hair, watching as her little face lit up in the mirror.
"I love it! I can't wait to show my hair to Lady Oya." It was an innocent slipup, but her words brought everyone's thoughts back to the old matron. The slightly cheerful atmosphere of before dipped back down to unease and worry.
"I'm sure she'll love it too." In a rare moment of sympathy Ariellia tries to lighten the mood. She carries the little boy that wanted the warrior's style to her lap and begins to braid his hair as well.
"What are you doing here?" And just as she's getting comfortable, an unwelcome voice reaches her pointy ears.
"I could ask you the same thing, if you're going to be gone in their hour of need you might as well stay gone for all of it." She glares back at the wolf girl standing by the entrance. Anya looks equally displeased to see her.
"This is my home not yours, I'm allowed to come and go as I please."
"Even when you mother is sick?"
"Sick?" Anya genuinely looks puzzled.
"Riell summoned us here, Rei is in Lady Oya's room now trying to heal her. What, you didn't even think to check on your mother before scampering out of the house on your own without an escort?" The incredulous look on Ariellia's face speaks volumes.
"Not everyone can be a princess like you with escorts trailing after your diamond studded heels. Some of us had to learn how to be independent from the start."
"You-"
"Waah!" the calm atmosphere soon sours, charged like dynamite ready to explode at any minute. The kids are quick to pick up on it and begin to cry again. It's just even with the jade scorpion deflecting the locket's curse, Arie simply can't shake off her aversion to Anya's crooked nature. Her attitude reminds her a lot of the head-maid from Meti's memories in the dream, humble when she wants something, and self-righteous as soon as she no longer needs you. It was like that with their friendship too; she was nice to her at first because she liked the gifts. Arie never had a sibling, so she took a page from her father's book and offered Anya expensive dresses and jewels right away to build up affection. Anya didn't complain then, but things changed the moment Arie returned from the capital, and they realized they both liked Rei. Since then, they've been incompatible like water and oil.
"Now is not the time for this, Arie please bring uncle Jasper." It's unknown how long he's been there, but their argument was swiftly snuffed out by Rei before it could boil over. In the face of her husband's need, Ariellia quickly put away her contempt for the two-faced wolf. Her heart immediately sinks, knowing things might be more complicated than she originally hoped for Lady Oya's recovery.
"We're coming."