Firynei and Wrel finally reached the Seul Cloud Springs at the edge of Seukine. After a forty-five-minute carriage ride, they were left in front of the entrance of the springs. Getting out of the carriage Firynei was shocked again at the sheer size of the springs. Firynei could hardly believe that the estate had Kren springs located inside. It was a rarity that only a few estate owners could boast about. Wrel looked pleased with the place and turned to the guards.

“I believe that I can handle the rest.” She said to the escorts and guards. They headed back after making sure that they didn’t need anything else. Wrel turned her attention to Firynei who was staring at the ground pulling on the sleeves of her dress.

“Unlike many others, I have no ill will toward you Fanu Fi. I do not care if you are impure or that you are a Danu. It is my duty to take care of you now so let us build up trust.” The woman went over to Firynei and gently took her hand. She let the small girl toward the entrance of the springs. The great golden arch was welcoming as they travel up a long white path full of flowers. The small housing near the spring was free for them to use.

They entered the small courtyard and Wrel led her inside the small house. Everything was already in place and they only had to perform the cleansing. Wrel let her hand go and she reached for Firynei’s hat. The girl jumped back shaking her head.

“I’ll take it off later,” she tried to avoid the woman who was coming closer again.

Wrel sighed deeply before speaking, “As a Pristine Servant I am loyal to no one but you. We are taught to serve high nobles and even royalty. You should have no fear of me as I will never betray you.”

Firynei shook her head remembering how her mother begged her to keep her hair hidden or she would be ridiculed or hurt. A panic brewed in the pit of her stomach even as Wrel tried to calm her down. Firynei pushed her away when she got too close and tried to figure a way to get away from the woman.

Wrel chuckled light before taking her hair down. “Firya taught you well.”

Firynei was stunned to hear her mother's given name from the strange woman. Still, she didn’t move closer. Wrel sighed again and took her braid out and let the wavy hair cascade around her. With her hair out she didn’t look like an attendant at all, not that she ever did. Instead, she looked like a woman of high rank.

The woman moved over to her and took her hand pulling her out to the back area of the house where the springs awaited. She went over to the spring and poured something golden into the pool of water. Then she dipped the end of her hair in the water several times until she pulled her hair out revealing the ends had turned pure white.

Firynei stared at the white hair and came over to get a closer look. She touched the wet tresses of hair. “Firya must not have the dyes to give you cover so she made sure you kept this hat on at all times.”

Wrel gently touched the hat with downcast eyes, “You have suffered for our family identity for too long. You deserve more than this painful existence at the mercy of everyone.”

The longer Firynei stared at the woman the more she realized the soft smile belonged to her mother. She had not seen her mother’s smile in years, so she had easily forgotten it. Her smile was so sweet to those that had seen it. A smile that alluded to many things all at once. It was a graceful smile fit for a woman of noble blood. It was enviable.

Slowly Firynei pulled off her Danu cap revealing the flow of pure white hair. The color of untouched snow. Her mother had called it her claim to glory. She still didn’t really understand what the woman meant, but her mother told her if she ever met one with the same kind of hair, she should treat them well.

“I am Wrel l’fei Sherieve Auinki your maternal older cousin.” She said introducing herself again to the girl. Firynei thought Wrel's name sounded like a royal name but she didn’t ask. “I have been searching for your mother for so long. I never thought I would find one of her children especially the fabled snow star.”

Firynei didn’t understand what the woman meant by that. She didn’t elaborate and Firynei didn’t ask. Instead, Wrel grabbed a hold of her and hugged her. Having lived so harshly Firynei faltered when hugging the woman back afraid to indulge in the relief building in her heart. She finally gave in when Wrel spoke again, “Gi’rea don’t be afraid anymore. I will take care of you and your mother.”

The small girl broke down into sobs as she hadn’t heard her affectionate name called since she was a child. She felt it was lost forever since her mother never used it anymore. It took several minutes for her to calm down but once she did she clung to the woman. “Come on Gi’rea let us get you cleaned up. The Snow Star must always be brilliant.

Once they were in the spring Firynei tried her best not to stare at the woman, but she was too beautiful. Like a goddess playing in a spring for fun. When the woman turned away from Firynei, she could see Wrel’s family crest. It was almost identical to her own, but there was much more to it than hers. There were designs she didn’t understand and ancient names that she lacked.

“Similar is it not?” the woman asked as she came over with a soft bristle brush.

“It is like my mother’s but there are more designs to yours.” While the woman cleaned her skin, her eyes softened at the mention of her cousin.

“Well, I am from a higher-ranked family than she. It is only natural.” Wrel explained before speaking again, “Is she in Asila?”

Firynei nodded, “The Estate Master is supposed to deliver her with the dowry. She is all that is left of our family,”

Her only memory of her other family was a carriage ride where her younger brother cried and cried the entire ride. Then there was no more crying and she didn’t know why it had stopped, her memory became distorted and unclear as she grew older.

“Of course, Lashir would buy Firya. That bastard would test his luck with me,” Wrel spat as she scrubbed away at her skin. Her eyes had hardened into a stormy gray that made Firynei wary.

“And yet Ienia has no knowledge of anything…is he blind?” The woman rolled her eyes at her words and Firynei was taken aback.

“Older cousin you must not call master by his given name or insult him in such a way.”

“Do not be concerned, even if he heard my words, he would not harm me. His Aunt is a terrifying lady and he is already on her bad side.” She said gently patting her head, “Let us finish purification then we will talk some more. Just be aware that the strain on you will be heavy. You may need to rest for many days after the purification.”

Firynei nodded and they continued. The next few hours of cleaning bordered on being painful, but she didn’t complain. It took hours for Wrel to finish and they changed springs twice. The last one was almost scalding but the woman got into that one with her too. She had to stay in it for hours sweating and washing her skin clean. The heat of the steam made her pass out but of course, it wasn’t over yet. She had to drink several tonics that cleanse her insides. It was beyond painful for her. Her guts twisting and turning making her vomit over and over. The cloud springs would never be forgotten or the restroom she spent four hours in sick.

Once the purification ended she was taken to rest in the small house. She was worn out so she slipped into a deep sleep while Wrel took care of her, only waking up to eat or use the restroom. It was hard on her but Wrel stayed by her side and Firynei felt she could give her trust to the woman. She was her family after all.

As she was sleeping there were times that she heard Physician Sa’s voice, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying to Wrel. She did remember being turned on her stomach and the pain that was there from the scar tissue slowly ebbed away. Someone continuously kneaded something into her skin. Giving her much relief until her back didn’t feel tight or hurt anymore. Even the pain from the beating she took was gone as well. She heard that Seukine had a medicine that healed severe wounds, but she doubted they would use such medicine on her. None of that mattered as she slipped away into another deep sleep.

When she finally woke up, she was in her small room laying on her small bed. Her sheets were different. She sat up slowly and felt no pain. Her hair had been gathered into a soft silky head covering. Wrel was napping at the foot of her bed. Firynei got up and went to the end of the bed settling her cousin so she would lay in the bed fully and be comfortable.

She took a seat at her table and looked down at her fingers. Her hands were clean of the years of dirt. Her nail beds were clean, and her nails had grown longer than the short and broken nails she was used to. Her callouses were also gone. She caressed her fingertips over her cheek. It was a nice feeling. It was almost as if being a Fanu could be a nice change but then she would not hold this position very long. She glanced at the black bottle on her table that Wrel must have left there from changing the sheets. She probably thought it was something brought from Asila.

Staring out of her window at the twilight sky, she sighed. Dread settled back over her heart. The feeling of relief she had died out the moment she saw the ceramic bottle waiting for her. Her throat constricted as she held back her emotions. Swallowing in vain to clear away the tightness. She was always at the mercy of others living a life that was worth nothing. Who would not grow tired of surviving?