10-17: Little Wolf

Seraph felt off, she had to say something. But she also didn't want to say it. A small thought in her head that said everyone would hate her.

So, when she could, after arriving back at the Fontaine manor, she confronted Veronica privately.

"Seraph? What did you want to talk about?"

"It's about Vael..."

"What about her?"

"How can you... How can you treat someone, something that just tried to kill us, like some lover? I-I understand it was our only option... but she's not..." Seraph struggled with her words, trying to figure out the best way to word everything. "I had to teach my body how to breathe again, Eleanora and Kazue were busy with healing us and I'm sure they're exhausted, Sirtia and Sable took a lot of damage, Sirtia's fine thanks to her being a Zombie. If you didn't... we should be dead."

"Seraph, I—"

"How can we just suddenly start treating her as if she did nothing wrong!? She tried to kill us, we had no hope of winning, and now the two of you are acting like long lost lovers. I don't get it. Why? Why is it just me that see this all as wrong?" Seraph said, her face heating up as she pointed towards a window. Aeshryvael said something that caused everyone to laugh, while she herself only looked confused. "She was going to kill us, and we're acting like nothing happened..."

"I... I don't know what to say. I'm sorry."

"It's not... it's not your fault. I just don't- I think I need some time alone." Seraph couldn't find the words lost in her throat, so she left, heading to an unoccupied bedroom, where she simply collapsed on a bed and let her thoughts loose.

Everyone was laughing in the other room, like they never left. Like they never went to that collapsed mine. Like they never fought with Aeshryvael.

It angered her, saddened her. No one checked on her to make sure she was okay. Not physically, but mentally.

Exhaustion took over and Seraph feel into a deep slumber, echoes of her memories. Her mother's touch, her voice, Daddy was supposed to be coming home soon. A joy only a little girl could feel.

Then despair. Daddy never came home. Her mother took her with her to a new city. She didn't make it. Were it not for the pouring rain, they would've heard the ambushing bandits.

"Fight, Little Wolf." Her mother's last words to her.

But to Seraph, she remembered in vivid detail the events that happened then. Her innocence taken, locked in a cage, then rescued by soldiers. Soldiers who demanded payment from a nine year old little girl.

A woman helped her out of the situation, then laughed alongside the very same soldiers, as if they were innocent.

Seraph opened her eyes weakly, grabbing her crossbow and just curling up into a ball. Silent tears her her mind recalls more events. Joining the academy, grouping up with Seraph, Kazue and Sirtia. Singing, dancing, playing around. And not one of them asked if she was okay.

There was a warmth on her back, familiar yet unfamiliar simultaneously. Like her mother's touch, but also new muscles and nerves.

She couldn't be bothered to check. She just wanted to stay balled up.

"You okay, sweetie?" Kazue was like a ghost. Seraph didn't hear her open the door or come in, but she didn't answer anyways.

"I thought something was up when you went straight to bed, and Veronica looked glum. What's wrong?"

"Vael... She nearly killed me, a-and..."

"I see. I'm sorry for not noticing earlier. Want me to pat your head?" Kazue asked as if she were Seraph's mom.

Seraph nodded, but the movement was so minimal, one wouldn't be able to tell she moved her head at all.

Kazue hummed as she move her lap under Seraph's head and gently stroked her head.

"I understand how you feel. Someone nearly killed you, and now they're acting as if nothing ever happened, and your friends are having a good time." Kazue spoke softly as Seraph relaxed. "What is it that you want to do yourself?"

"I don't know... I mean... she was clearly angry, we were at fault for that. But now she's just like any other girl in Veronica's harem. I-I'm sorry, I d-didn't mean—"

"It's fine. Please, continue."

"She... I know that she isn't bad, but I can't help but have my mind stuck on what just happened. I don't know why everyone is so... accepting of her. No one seems even remotely suspicious. She's too calm for being affected by Veronica's charm, she's picked up our language too quickly. I feel like she's hiding something. I know it's my imagination, but I can't help it."

"Would you like to speak to her yourself?"

"Not alone. But I don't want to make anyone angry..."

"It'll just be you and me. M'kay?"

Seraph nodded her head. "But not right now. I don't want to say anything. I don't even know what to say. Or how to respond."

"That's okay. We can wait. I'll check back in you again later, alright?"

"Mm."

Kazue left just as silently as she entered, leaving Seraph to stew in her thoughts. How could she befriend the very being that just tried to kill her?

How could she be like that woman who helped her put all those years ago?