12. You poor sweet innocent thing. Dry your eyes and testify. Table: Evanescence.
Omnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis
The little girl has potential. C.C. can tell. Only Marianne's child (still unborn) could match her or perhaps even overpower her. Everything goes about how much she is willing to develop her strength.
Let's say...if she signs the contract with C.C.
(it wouldn't be needed for C.C. to think in substitutes this soon if it wasn't because, deep inside, she knows that Marianne is avoiding her for a reason: her mere intentions of accomplishing with her own contract are gone since a while ago)
C.C. doesn't need to read the little girl's mind while she goes across the lake to ask her for help. Touching her hands, C.C. retrieves some color to her blue cheeks and strokes her hair soaked with snow.
"My parents..."
"Dead. Both of them. But you...with what I have for you, you may take your revenge against the killers. You're fated to be a Warrior Queen and someday, a Witch like me. Do you accept my treat?"
C.C. gives a moment for the little girl to think about it. The Britannian girl appreciates to be alive, obviously and the Order's subordinates are questioning C.C. while they look at each other silently.
This is something about an adult would meditate even for years. And a kid shouldn't even have such chance to take it into account. But C.C.'s best allies were the younger and powerless ones.
Like Leila.
"I can't accept it. I'm alive and I can do...whatever I want. By myself. And to myself. This will be my gift to my parents."
It's rare that C.C. finds someone to offer her contract and even less usual when they reject it. The common ones are too greedy or destructive to be even considered. Immortality doesn't always look like a weapon or happy resolution. For the wiser.
But this girl, who is feverish in a supernatural heat, reaches C.C.'s gloved hands before fainting.
"I'm still thankful", the little girl (who is never going to be a witch) mutters like dreaming.
When they see her arriving, the Order members go on their knees. Not even one of them argues against C.C.'s words, as she asks for Leila to be hospitalized. Marianne, disguised in a white robe as well, is not that kind which is not a surprise, since she has been moody, in the last pregnancy period. The clandestine trip was supposed to end in a ritual ensuring a healthy birth.
"What is in your thoughts, C.C.?", Marianne demands and C.C. remembers how they used to listen to each other without (silent or spoken) words.
C.C. won't explain her now, she is a Goddess who won't bless Marianne anymore.
"A gone away world just passing by our side," C.C. mutters cryptic as Marianne looks at a fainted Leila, leaving under the subordinates care.