Back at Bertaut’s home, Keela was wandering around the house, getting ready to leave. As much as she had been here, she hadn’t explored much of it, usually sticking to the basement and her own room which was by the stairs. The whole second floor had an open wall, giving way to see the central garden which was now completely overgrown without any care put into it. At the center of it sat the grave, freshly turned dirt at the upper part where Keela had buried the head with the rest of the body, offering the best she could as to a resting place. Following the mezzanine-like structure, she came to a carved oak door. Creaking it open, it gave way into an office, likely Bertaut’s. A thin layer of dust covered everything in the room, a detail she noticed, sweeping her finger on a low table by the entrance. This place was also lined with bookshelves; which made sense considering Bertaut always read while she trained. Going around the room towards the desk, she smiled. It was as proper as she thought it would be. Every bauble sitting on it was aligned, the quill sitting perfectly parallel to the writing mat next to the ink pot. A pile of various documents was perfectly aligned, tied together with leather string through evenly spaced punch holes.

One of the bookshelves caught her attention. Rather than literature, it looked like archives. Roughly bound documents classified with small tags organising them. They described his various business endeavors, stopping abruptly at the day they went to the desert, which she couldn’t help but feel a bit saddened by. Her finger coursing along the letters on the tags, she looked for major incidents that had happened while she was in his care. Reading through while sitting in his chair, she smiled at the report of the ball, frowned at the mention of the day he found her and was surprised by finding a complete report of the adoptive families of the kids. Hearing her name being called outside, she quickly folded the documents and grabbed them, going out to see who had called. Velka walked the mezzanine, looking for her.

“Velka! I found something amazing!” said Keela, rushing out of the office and grabbing her by the shoulders.

“I… uh… okay? What is it?” asked Velka, slightly shaken by the sudden energy.

“I found where the kids are! Don’t you want to see how they’re doing?”

Velka’s gaze lit up at the mention of the kids, but hardened immediately.

“I don’t know if they would want to see you…” she said, looking off to the side.

“I don’t care. Let’s go, we’re doing this now”, said Keela, grabbing Velka by the hand and dragging her along at a fast pace, not letting her protest.

As she ran through the streets, followed by a confused Saphielle, the midday sun shining down harshly on her head, Keela relished this opportunity. Following directions from Velka, she went by the documents and ended up at the house that had taken in Tessa. She had Velka knock on the door, hanging back a few steps in apprehension. The door opened on an elderly woman who eyed Velka confusedly.

“Can I help you dear?” she asked in a shaky voice that was expected of her apparent age.

“I was wondering if Tessa was here. You see, we used to live with her but got separated for complicated reasons. I know it’s a big request but we were hoping we could see her?” asked Velka, apprehensive at the response.

“I can go ask her. I can use your name.”

“Thank you. I’m Velka.”

With a nod, the old lady wandered back in the house, leaving the trio outside in awkward silence. After a minute or two, the pitter patter of quick steps descending stairs could be heard and the door slammed open, showing Tessa in a simple work attire, with a beaming smile.

“Velka!” screamed the catfolk girl, her ears perking up in excitement.

Before she had a chance to reply, Velka was nearly toppled over by the force of a running jumping hug, steadying her balance at the last second. Tessa had her arms locked around Velka, giving a tight hug.

“Where were you?!” asked Tessa, smiling wider than she had ever been seen smiling before.

“That’s… complicated. More importantly, aren’t you 8 now? Look at how tall you’ve grown!” replied Velka, steering the subject expertly.

Tessa nodded, still smiling from ear to ear. Keela stayed back, smiling sadly, resigned to not being able to hug any of them after what had happened with Ethan. But to her surprise, as soon as Tessa noticed her, she screamed her name and gave her the same treatment. Keela, being tired from the day and not as reflexively inclined as Velka, properly fell over from the hug, air escaping her lungs.

“The two of you are wearing such pretty dresses! That’s not fair! I want a pretty dress too!” said Tessa excitedly, looking up at the two of them.

“How about we bring you one next time we come over?” said Keela, still squished under Tessa’s weight which almost matched hers; a slightly vexing fact.

“That would be great!”

The trio stayed for tea, meeting the lovely couple that adopted Tessa, along with their mother that lived with them. After an hour of idle chatter, Keela noted they had to be off. After hopeful goodbyes, they were wandering the streets again, going to their next destination. Arriving at the next place in a timely fashion, Velka and Keela’s jaw dropped to the floor in front of the mansion they were greeted by. Bea being younger, she likely wouldn’t have the same enthusiasm as Tessa, seeing as she also had stayed with them the shortest. The guard at the entrance stopped them, asking them to state their business.

“We… used to live with Bea-- I mean Miss Beatrice? And we were wondering if it wouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience to meet with her?” said Velka, choosing her words carefully.

The three of them were then approved through, getting escorted by grand gardens and grand flower fields.

“I, for one, am kinda glad that we ended up coming here dressed like this”, said Keela, adjusting her crown and looking to Saphielle for approval.

“If you’d like, I could do most of the talking. Is the little one’s full name Beatrice?” asked Saphielle, straightening her formal jacket.

“I’d appreciate it. It is; Beatrice Crow, likely formerly known as. Dark skin, four years of age, messy curly hair that might’ve gotten tamed seeing the state of the family that accepted her.”

Saphielle nodded and took to the front of the procession as they arrived towards the door. As it opened, Keela dusted off her dress and adjusted her crown again nervously. They were led inside to a tea room, tea being poured for them as soon as they arrived. Shortly after, two people entered the room and sat in front of them, visibly the masters of the house. Their features were reminiscent of elves but their ears weren’t which puzzled Keela but she didn’t draw attention to it.

“Welcome to our home. You’ll understand if we want to see you before letting you see Beatrice, making sure of who you are”, said one of them, the taller one who had short combed hair.

“By no means are we worried about this. We appreciate you taking the time to meet us at all”, replied Saphielle, sitting with her back straight, putting down her cup on the table.

“So? Who have we the honor to meet?”

“I am Saphielle Mirafir, assistant to her majesty Keela Norra Aekian. She is here with her bodyguard Velka Grissi and myself.”

As soon as the pieces were put together, the two hosts immediately bowed down in front of Keela, getting down on one knee.

“Our apologies, your majesty, we meant no disrespect, we simply--” they started, interrupted by Keela.

“Raise your heads, I’m not as cruel as my mother and I’m certainly not one for formalities”, she said, taking a sip of the fruity tea.

The hosts obeyed, going back to their seat. Keela pushed her luck, getting up and coming close to observe the ears of the two. From afar, they appeared to be human but upon closer inspection, scars were visible all along the ridge.

“By the gods… who did this to you?” asked Keela, looking closely at the wounds.

“We did… We had to if we wanted to lead a successful life. We had no choice”, replied one of the two, covering the ears with their hands.

“I’ll change this all. I swear to you that being an elf won’t be shameful anymore.”

“Thank you my queen.”

After more idle chatter, Bea came to join, jumping on them in a similar fashion as Tessa had. The meeting was enjoyable but the image of the butchered ears would not escape Keela’s mind. After an hour, the group said their goodbyes and headed out. Getting out of the mansion and walking through the streets, Keela started feeling anxious.

“I had too much tea and I’m dreading the next one”, she said, grabbing on to the arm Velka offered her.

“I can’t expect it to go well either. But by principle we have to go… right?” replied Velka, who was trying to look composed but was nibbling on the nails of her free hand.

Again, they got the house without too much trouble. At the front door, Velka’s fist hesitated an inch from the door for a second before knocking firmly thrice, waiting for a response. The door opened on a middle aged woman and upon being asked to see Ethan, she simply called out to him, saying he had visitors. Ethan came from a room in the back, walking faster and smiling as he noticed Velka.

“Velka! Where were you? I haven’t seen you in so--” he started, stopping right in his tracks as he noticed Keela who still hung onto Velka’s arm.

“Hello Ethan, I just came to see how you were doing”, replied Velka, who couldn’t help but be a bit saddened at the expected reaction.

“What is she doing here?”

“She also insisted on coming to see you.”

“Well, I don’t want to see her. You’re welcome to come in to eat or something of the like. But she can just leave. And not come back.”

Velka sighed heavily.

“I can’t leave her side, that’s my job”, she said, looking at him with sad eyes.

“Well then, both of you can leave, there’s nothing left to--” he started, interrupted by Keela.

“Why do you hate elves Ethan?” she said, mustering the rest of her energy to stand up by herself.

“Because elves killed my parents.”

“No. One elf killed your parents. What did I do for you to hate me like this?”

“You’re all the same.”

“No we aren’t! I cared for you! I took beating from guards and did horrendous things just so you could end up fed. I tried so hard and still, just because I’m an elf, it all goes down the drain? Why do you hate me?”

Ethan paused for a second, looking at her with a steel gaze.

“Goodbye Velka. Please don’t come again”, he said, turning his back and closing the door.

Keela stared at the rugged wooden surface of the door for a few seconds in silence.

“I expected this. I still hurts”, she said, looking up at Velka, her eyes watering up.

Velka didn’t reply, simply wrapping her arms softly around Keela and bringing her in for a hug.

“Let’s go back. I think we’re done for the day”, said Velka, grabbing Keela by the shoulder softly and keeping her close.

Keela nodded, staring at nothing. They headed back to Bertaut’s house at a slow pace, a few clouds on the horizon obscuring the late afternoon sun.