Sylvia's prep team was understandably wary around her after being informed of what happened to the instructor. But they still had a job to do. And they were going to do it well.
Firstly, upon smelling the stench cloud that surrounded her from not having had a bath since arriving in the Capitol, they gave her an extra long one.
Secondly, they brushed out her hair into a shiny curtain, then expertly styled it into curls that bobbed about her shoulders.
Thirdly, they had her step into her dress and heels, then painted makeup across her face.
Finally, they stood her in front of a full-length mirror so that she could see the results of their hard work.
Sylvia's dress was composed of a plain white underdress with a simple cut, and a partially see-through outer layer made from a floaty baby-blue material. Her feet were slipped into silver sandals with straps that criss-crossed up her legs. Her lips were a bright cherry-red colour and her eyelashes were thick with mascara.
This neat, perfumed girl was a far cry from the messy, unhygienic one back home.
Sylvia was pretty. She liked pretty things.
She touched her reflection with gentle fingers. "Are you seeing this?" she asked the Fire Spirit.
"Yes, I see you," the Fire Spirit responded, and that was all she wanted to hear.
The stylist, thinking that Sylvia was talking to her, said, "Of course! You look lovely!"
Sylvia looked at her, confused. "I wasn't talking to you."
"Then who were you talking to?"
"The Fire Spirit."
Now it was the stylist's turn to be confused. "What's the Fire Spirit?"
Sylvia gave a small, genuine smile. "My best friend."