I made it.
After bathing in sheep's milk, the maids are rubbing each part of my body with pumice stone. My skin needs to be perfect for the wedding's consummation.
The procession was so magnificent, I am sure that the others he did were never so great. There were so many elephants, each with a different decoration, luxurious and colorful. Hundreds of musicians played while I was next to my husband, waving to the people of the kingdom of which I no longer belonged.
My mother was very satisfied, now she will be able to visit the palace and be part of the nobility. She has prepared me for that moment since I was a child and he was only the successor.
Now I stand in front of the largest silver mirror I have ever seen, with a gold frame of precious stones, which was now mine. I could see my entire body while the maids passed perfumed ointment on me. They smile, they know that his new wife is beautiful.
However, the most important thing, besides virginity, is a simple and naive smile. My mother said that if the man is a tree, the woman is the vine that coils around its trunk, day after day, until it is completely possessed. I was going to the river carrying a camphor, always at the same time of day, waiting for the opportunity to see him riding on the other side, waiting for him to see that smile that is reflected in the mirror now.
My mother taught me well, but where her ambitions end, mine just starts. Jewels and bracelets adorn me, a diadem with a transparent veil covers my half-naked body, I am ready.
He is considered a god in that kingdom, but I will lie with a man. Your strength is as great as your insecurity. On my way to the room where I must wait for him, I am escorted by guards. The same blades that maintain that kingdom can bring it down. I will be his confidant; he will find in my lap the security that he does not have on his throne.
I stay alone in the room and lie down on the numerous pillows, one more comfortable than the other. There is wine, fresh fruit, and the air filled with the aroma of incense, everything we need to spend the entire night.
According to what my mother said, when she was young, she saw kingdoms and gods disappear. Everything that seems eternal and true, changes or dies. Is that the only truth that does not change? If I have children, my lineage may outlive this kingdom, but it will be their story, mine will have been forgotten...
For now, I need this night to be more unforgettable for him than for me. He will forget the other wives; their offspring will be neglected. He will have in me the love he has always sought.
He will have my body and I will have his soul.
Inconfidence
Madre opened her eyes in the darkness for another day. She left the mattress and turned on the light.
Her small room was almost devoid of everything, her clothes and personal belongings were in the common bathroom for the sisters. On the wall was a small mirror and an ancient cross, partially burned.
She stood in front of that object and made the sign of the cross. Then she put her hands together, wrapped in her red rosary. She thanked for another day alive, she had a very special mission to fulfill.
She left the room to go to the bathroom. The corridor lights came on automatically, it had been a long time since anyone had passed around there, it was likely that she had been the first to wake up.
"...santificato..."
She heard the muffled voice coming from a metal door she was passing by, it was Inquisitor's room. Madre approached the door and looked both ways to confirm that she was really alone in the corridor, so she put her ear close to the cold metal surface.
"...i rimetti a noi i nostri debiti, come noi li remittiamo ai nostri debitori, e non c'indurre in tentazione, ma libraci dal male. Così sia."
Madre stepped away from the door and, with a smile, she continued with her routine.
／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼
In her comfortable armchair, her eyes reflecting the lights of the screens, Invader followed the movement of the novices and sisters through the security cameras.
Lunch time was approaching and most of the novices were already in the refectory, setting up tables and chairs. Meanwhile, Lucky and Revenant were in the kitchen.
Normally, Madre would be with them too, but at that time she was in the classroom, apparently preparing the lesson for the day.
Inquisitor was on the middle floor, more specifically in the stockroom. He was carrying a clipboard and opening boxes to see what was inside.
The bottom floor was quiet as usual, Matryoshka was in the reactor control room and Nano must be working on the project.
And Generalíssima was about to arrive.
The metal door opened and Invader heard the footsteps. She glanced, seeing the dark-pink-haired woman. "What do you need?"
"Willa," Generalíssima said, "have any signals from her?"
Invader shook her head, "No, if only there had been an attempt of transmission, I would have warned you."
Generalíssima looked at the myriad of screens, "How's the situation outside?
Invader nodded and her gem on the top of her head flashed.
The images from the security cameras have been replaced by television channels from around the world.
News, movies, soap operas, sporting events, cartoons... Nothing escaped the blue ballerina's icy eyes. "Everything looks normal and I still find it strange."
"Even though Sisterhood is the largest organization in known history, we still represent a small portion of the world's magical girls," Generalíssima's voice grew more melancholic, "they're out there, alone, defending their homes against these aberrations. Furthermore, Incubator has been making few contracts in the past year, so the witch population hasn't grown too much."
"Talking about girls..." Invader made the screens show only news on that subject. "There has been an increase in missing girls who have returned to their families. They all told the authorities a similar story, they had left their homes due to a challenge posted on social media. There're images of these posts."
"Forgery?" Generalíssima inquired.
Invader took her ponytail, leaving it on her lap as she stroked it. "If they are, whoever did this is as good as me."
"So they're witches."
She checked the ends of her hair. "Very possible."
The latina woman exhaled and asked, "What about our refugees?"
The Asian girl returned to paying attention to the screens. They switched to local news. "The police are continuing with the investigation, but without progress. They suspect it has something to do with the challenge I mentioned."
"Good, maybe we can use this story." Generalíssima closed her eyes and pinched the root of her nose with her fingers. "However, there're so many girls. In general, we recruit only a few at a time to avoid this type of problem. If this crisis continues any longer, we'll have to fabricate something else."
"I haven't mentioned it to you yet, but astronomers have identified an anomaly in the solar cycle."
Generalíssima widened her eyes, seeing that the screens were now a large mosaic of the Sun. "When?"
"The solar maximum had been reached and the star's activity was falling," Invader explained, "but weeks ago the activity went up again."
Generalíssima gulped.
With the long silence, the girl in the armchair looked at a woman, who was tense.
"I don't know if this is a good or a bad sign." The woman nodded. "But good work, Invader."
"Generalíssima..."
The woman looked at the girl, who seemed to be afraid to say something.
"When we re-establish contact with Washington, do you believe that they'll approve a large-scale operation in Mitakihara?"
Generalíssima looked away. "It's hard to say."
Invader raised her eyebrows.
"I'm sure Washington already has its own plan for this crisis. And even if they don't, we still have to convince them about my theory. You saw how difficult it was with Inquisitor."
"Yes..." Invader frowned, narrowing her eyes. "I don't remember exactly why that meeting ended, but Inquisitor didn't agree with you, even though he had a certain interest in Madoka Kaname."
"It would be nice to capture her, or just destroy her seed like of the other witches. I don't know if it'll change anything, but if Mitakihara is really the source of this phenomenon, this is our best chance." Generalíssima took a deep breath and her gaze became distant. "The problem is the civilians. If Inquisitor's theory is right, witches would be controlling at least part of the city's population through witches' kisses. If they detect our presence, they could make people turn against us or just make them commit suicide. That's inadmissible."
"It's not just civilian casualties that worry me."
Generalíssima looked at Invader again.
The girl bowed her head. "Pardon me for being pessimistic, but with each passing day I think more and more that not all of us are going to survive this."
Generalíssima froze.
With the silence, Invader exchanged glances with the woman for a brief moment.
"No..." Generalíssima turned her face and closed her eyes, covering her mouth with her hand to hide her trembling lips.
Invader raised her head, holding breath.
"No, you're not being..." Generalíssima's voice sounded more like a murmur. Her eyes now shone more brightly with the lights of the screen. "There's no declaration and there never will be, but when we act, no matter what the plan, it'll be a total war."
／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼
In front of the kitchen counter, the novices lined up, carrying trays with plates and cutlery. Although the queue was short, there was still a wait, as there was only one sister distributing the food.
When a novice saw what the sister put on her plate, she made a disgusted face. "Ew, what's this?"
"Pea soup with chicken livah," Revenant said, as she placed a piece of bread and a glass of water on the tray.
The novice grimaced even more. "It smells 'nd looks like a child's vomit."
Without taking her eyes off the girl, Revenant took the spoon from the tray and used it to taste what was in the plate, deliberately making a sucking noise.
The novice gaped.
She put the spoon in the plate, her gaze even more serious. "It's delicious, now eat."
"Damn..." Reluctantly, the novice took the tray away.
Revenant then announced. "I WANNA SEE EVERYONE LEAVIN' THE PLATES EMPTY AT THE END!"
The novices were choosing the tables to sit at. Alice and Maya sat together with other novices. As usual, the blonde saw that Evie had a table just for her, but avoided exchanging glances, especially with Revenant watching.
"The Sistahhood is bein' difficult for ya, right?"
"Huh?" Maya realized that one of the novices at the table had asked her and her friend.
Alice replied, smiling, "We'ah magical girls, I'm not afraid ta get hurt."
An older novice said, "Ya should be more prudent if ya wanna be a sistah one day."
"I don't wanna be fuck all."
The novices were astonished at the blonde.
Alice looked at her friend. "As soon as this crisis is ovah, we'll go home 'n see our families again."
Maya showed a small smile as she worriedly glanced at the others at the table.
The novice who asked the first question said, "But ya can do that and still be part of the Sistahhood."
"Ya shouldn't judge the Sistahhood like that," another novice entered the conversation, "this is an exceptional situation, othahwise we wouldn't be heah but in our cities. Ya would only need ta repawrt yah activities ta a sistah from time ta time and get ready if ya're called."
And another novice was excited. "Yeah, and if ya invite othah magical girls and they're recruited as novices, ya get grief seeds as gifts!"
A novice nodded, saying, "The Sistahhood can help if ya're in trouble. Madre is very good at mediatin' territorial disputes or if it's a witch, they send Lucky."
"That crazy cunt?" Alice frowned. "And Generalíssima? I keep hearin' that she's strong as fuck."
"If it's an omicron class..." The older novice smiled. "But ya're probably dead already."
Alice scowled at her.
Meanwhile, at another table, a novice was putting hair in the soup of a younger one.
"Stooop!"
"Hehe. What's the problem? This tucker is so bad that even my hair can be used for seasonin'."
The other novices at the table were amused by the situation, until they realized who was coming.
The novice who was using hair as a 'spice' noticed that they had become serious, eating the soup, then she felt and saw a hand in a black glove on her shoulder.
The younger novice also turned to see who was and saw a man, a priest. His features were young, but his beard gave him an air of maturity and seriousness.
Both novices remained silent, and so did the man. He took the two soup plates and exchanged them between the two girls.
The younger novice then had the courage to say, "But... she was eatin' this soup, It has her... drool..."
The man still did not say a word, but his gaze was now more intense.
The two quickly turned and started eating the soup.
From the kitchen counter, Revenant had witnessed that.
"It looks like Inquisitor can handle them as well as ya can."
"I wouldn't say that." Revenant turned her head, seeing that Lucky was at her side, still wearing an apron with the print of a rabbit holding a four-leaf clover in its mouth. "It looks moah like he does this ta massage his ego."
"I don't think he's that kind of person." The bunny girl smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Ya're worried that he'll take yah place..."
"WHAT?!"
"Hush." Lucky glanced and whispered, "He's comin'."
Inquisitor arrived at the counter and picked up a tray with a plate and cutlery.
"G'daaay!" Lucky greeted with the happiest face in the universe.
"Good day," replying without the same enthusiasm, the man received the bread and the glass of water, "we have soup today."
"Yeah." Lucky pointed to her apron. "I was the one who cooked."
"Looks good." Inquisitor exchanged glances with Revenant as she filled the plate. The black woman was very quiet.
"Oh thanks!" Lucky pulled her rabbit ears down. "I learned this recipe from my mothah. There's nothin' like home tucker, right?"
"Yes." Inquisitor left in search of a vacant table.
Revenant waited for him to move further away to push and follow Lucky to the back of the kitchen.
The bunny was stunned by this sudden attitude.
Revenant looked at her from head to toe and narrowed her eyes.
"What's it?" Lucky asked.
"Are ya interested in him?"
"Hmmm..." She looked away and cocked her head. "Yes, maybe."
Revenant pressed her lips and spoke in a lower tone, "Ya know he's a magical girl, don't ya?"
"The hottest magical girl I've evah seen." Lucky raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Ya don't hafta be jealous, I already told ya that I'm bi if it's ya."
The black woman snorted and rolled her eyes. "How can ya think of these things with what's goin' on?"
"It's due ta that!" Lucky raised her voice as if she had all the reason in the world. "I can't walk around the cities and go ta parties, meet pretty blokes... I'm in a dry spell!"
"If Generalíssima catches ya tryin' ta seduce him..."
"I don't hafta try." Like a diva, the freckled young woman lifted her chin and used both hands to toss her hair back.
Ignoring that 'sexy' pose, Revenant looked at the counter and saw a small hand on it. She hurried to meet, being surprised by who it was. "Nano?"
The little girl was also surprised. "Ah, is it you, Revenant? I thought it was Madre who stayed here."
"She's busy."
"Nano?!" Lucky almost threw herself on the counter. "Is it really ya? Flesh 'n bone?"
"Hahah..." With her gauntlet, Nano scratched her head, embarrassed. "I knew it was going to cause a commotion."
"It's very rare fawr ya ta show up. I had already separated the tucker fawr yah drone ta fetch," Revenant said, "did somethin' happen?"
"Nothing in particular..." Nano looked at the refectory. "Didn't Invader come to lunch?"
"Not yet." Lucky gave a slight smile. "She must be in the security room."
"Generalíssima had gone ta talk ta her," Revenant added.
"Is Generalíssima with her? So it should take time." A little frustrated, Nano asked, "Can you prepare a dish for me?"
While Revenant worked, Lucky remained curious. "How's that big project goin'? It's almost ready, right?"
"Yeah, almost, but you can't be in a hurry." Nano smiled as the circuits on her forehead flashed. "It's rocket science, you know."
At that time, Maya was finishing to eat the soup. The appearance and smell was not the best, but it was tasty.
"Hey, hey. Look theah."
She paid attention to Alice and followed her eyes to the kitchen counter.
"Dya see that young novice? No uniform."
Maya nodded. "She has a weird glove with cables. I think I've seen this in a TV commercial, it's for virtual reality."
"Whatevah," the blonde said, annoyed, "the fact is that she has no uniform 'nd those two sistahs aren't scoldin' her, they're even smilin'!"
A novice said, "That little girl is Nano."
"Huh? Nano?" Alice frowned. "Are ya tellin' me that she's a sistah?"
The novices at the table were silent.
"Ya guys are kiddin' me. How can an ankle bitah be a sistah?!"
The novice explained, "She has been a membah of the Sistahhood for years."
Maya looked back at the child, who was heading for an empty chair to eat. "B-But she doesn't look ta have even ten years old."
Another novice said, "Theah're rumors that she joined the Sistahhood when she was five."
"Kyuubey does contracts with girls so young?" Maya was appalled.
"I nevah saw magical girls at that age." The novice also looked at Nano. "But she's very special, she was the one who built this place."
"What?" Alice gaped. "Alone?"
The novices at the table started talking at the same time.
"She's a prodigy!" "Washington sent her." "I heard that she's Canadian." "Only Generalíssima is more important than her."
So they fell silent.
An older novice decided to say, "It's hard ta see her heah, she's very busy. I dunno what she's doin', but I ovahheard a conversation between Generalíssima 'nd anothah sistah and I'm aware that she's in need of many seeds."
"Hmmm..." Alice turned in her chair to get a better look at the child, the person who had built that place, that prison. "So it's her..."
Revenant announced, "Novices! Yah lunch time is runnin' out, finish eatin' 'n brin' the tray. Get ready ta meet Madre."
They obeyed, remaining only Nano and Inquisitor at the tables.
Entering the tunnel with the other novices, Maya and Alice saw someone very peculiar coming. Many novices were looking at the masked person with tubes, who was wearing a heavy brown leather coat and blue hood.
Maya ended up exchanging glances with that person or, rather, she was seen by that person, because Maya could not see what was behind the mask's pair of visors.
The person left in they wake a pleasant fragrance, but it overwhelmed the nostrils.
[This place is a freak show.]
Hearing Alice in her mind, Maya commented, [She must be a busy sister like Nano.]
Revenant was still behind the kitchen counter when she saw who had arrived. "Ya came early today. We've soup."
Matryoshka stopped in front of her. "This is wonderful, уголь."
Any sign of cordiality in Revenant was gone. "Ya can stop it."
"With what, уголь?"
"Stop talkin' stuff I don't understand. Fawr me, ya're cursin' me."
Matryoshka was silent, but only for a moment. "Извините."
"I told ya ta stop!"
"Ладно."
Revenant gritted her teeth. "If I rip those tubes off yah face, will ya die?"
"Chill, Revah!" Lucky intervened. "She's just playin' a little bit with ya."
Matryoshka nodded. "You're always very reasonable, крольчи́ха."
"See?" Lucky spoke to Revenant. "She called me krasomethin', it means rabbit."
"And уголь is related to diamonds." Matryoshka returned her attention to the black woman. "You're a tough woman, aren't you?"
"I dunno what ya mean by that." Revenant was still tense. "But I just wanna ya speak my language, 'n ONLY my language."
"No problem." Matryoshka took her hands out of her pockets and started to activate some switches under her clothes. "I shouldn't take up more of your time, show me the soup."
Revenant opened the pot.
The masked person extended one of her arms. Under her wrist, a transparent tube started to move like a tentacle, reaching and entering the soup.
For Lucky, that was always amazing.
Matryoshka opened a handle and the tube started to suck the food. "I can already smell it, it's liver, isn't it?"
"Try not ta suck it all," Revenant said, "theah're people who haven't eaten yet."
After closing the handle, Matryoshka retracted her tube. The tube emitted a flash of green light and it was suddenly clean. She activated other switches and used another handle, with the soup now appearing in one of the tubes that went towards her mask.
Seeing her taste the food, Lucky asked, "Whatcha think?"
"This is pea soup, yes? I didn't feel it was at the beginning, because it's too salty for my taste, maybe it's the meat..." Matryoshka looked at whoever was in the refectory.
Nano was eating fast, but she noticed and smiled.
While Inquisitor was already looking at her, sitting with his arms crossed and his plate empty. He was no longer there because of the food.
"The meat? I salted a bit," Lucky commented, "next time I'll get it right!"
"Yes, yes, you will." Still exchanging glances with him, Matryoshka left the place.
／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼
"...And he shouted at the top of his voice, 'What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.'
For he had said to him, 'Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!'
Then Jesus asked him, 'What is your name?' He replied, 'My name is Legion; for we are many.'
He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.
Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding;
and the unclean spirits begged him, 'Send us into the swine; let us enter them.'
So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea..."
The novices had formed a semicircle with their chairs to hear the Gospel.
After finishing the chapter, Madre closed the Bible slowly. "This is the word of the Lord."
"Thanks be to God!"
Madre rose from her chair to store the Bible and then stay inside the semicircle. "The most experienced novices know why to arrange the chairs in the room in this way. Today's the day of the confession cycle. Usually, I prepare a new novice for a period, to get more comfortable with the idea before startin', as the process can be very tough. Unfortunately, we have too many who arrived recently, so I'll use one of you to show how it's in practice." She looked and nodded to a novice. "Maya, please."
Alice frowned.
Evie almost could not hide her smile.
The dark-skinned girl's eyes widened. "But... I'm a new novice."
"Yes, I think you got it wrong," the red-haired woman said, "an experienced novice can make this seem easier than it is. Come on."
Maya got up from her chair and saw the woman kneel.
"Please, kneel in front of me." Madre put her hand on the floor to show the position.
Maya exchanged looks with Alice. Her friend was suspicious, but it did not seem to be dangerous. She went and knelt before the woman.
Madre smiled.
That serene countenance removed some of the anxiety that Maya had, however, the girl looked around, at everyone who was looking at her now.
"It's not comfortable."
"Huh?" Maya returned her attention to the woman.
"Being like this, exposed," Madre continued, "we seek hidin' places to conceal our shames from others. In doing so, we fall into an incongruity, as we're fearin' more people than our Lord, who will always know what you do and think."
"Oh..." Maya nodded slightly, more concerned than before.
"So..." Madre opened her arms, looking at the others in the room. "Tell us, Maya, about your shames. Reveal everythin' you fear to reveal."
Maya lowered her head, no longer having the courage to look at her face. It was a confession, it had been mentioned, what was she expecting? However, what Maya understood by confession was to go and speak to the priest in a private place, not like that.
"Now you understand how difficult this is," Madre spoke to the new novices and then spoke to the girl in front of her, "Maya, don't worry, your reaction is completely normal. I'll tell you that when you confess, you'll start to feel bettah, and subsequent confessions will be easier. Remember, God already knows and it's He who will judge you in the end."
"Okay..."
Seeing the girl on her knees lift her head, Evie leaned over to hear better what she had to say.
With a nervous smile, Maya started, "Erm... I... I..." She took a deep breath and said at once, "There was a time when I had ta finish my homework, but that night theah would be the final episode of a TV series that I was watchin'. It was a special and longah episode, so I knew I was goin' ta have no time. When my mom asked me about the homework, I said that I had done it and showed some pages that I had started ta do at school ta convince her, but it wasn't-"
"No..." Madre interrupted, shaking her head and smiling.
"No?" Maya was confused.
"No, these're trivialities. I want you to expose the secrets that define your being." The woman took the girl's left hand, touching the ring. "Somethin' that shaped your personality and the magical girl that you are."
Maya opened her eyes wide and pressed her lips together.
"Okay, I'll confess to you, so maybe we can make a deal." Madre stroked the girl's hand. "I became a magical girl for vengeance."
Until that moment, Alice had not felt the urge to leave the chair like now.
"Vengeance?" Maya started to notice that her hand was being held tightly.
"And I used God for that."
Aware of her own breathing, Maya questioned. "What does that mean?"
"It's not somethin' to understand, just abhor." Madre's eyes were cold as metal. "I took His place and poured out the chalice of wrath without considering the consequences. Howevah, at that time I thought it was fair and necessary. Today I know I made a terrible mistake, and the path to redemption is long, but I'm still tempted to doubt that conviction. I'm a vindictive person, anger whispers inside me. Can you imagine what would happen if my witch got loose?"
Maya frowned. "Yah witch?"
"Don't you ask yourself now why good-natured girls become witches who destroy and kill? They're the manifestation of everything that we keep within us, of our shames, thinkin' that this way we'll be safe, but in fact we're holding a greater despair for later on." Madre released the girl's hand and brought her hands to her own chest. "The fight against witches must start here. We must stop bein' afraid and make peace with the Lord. If we're at peace with ourselves, we'll minimize the threat that our witches pose when our day comes." She looked at the other novices. "As I said, I don't expect it to be easy, but it has to be done."
Evie nodded and lowered her head.
Even Alice at least lowered her gaze.
Smiling again, Madre spoke to the novice in front of her, "Now it's up to you."
Maya tried to return the smile, but her heartbeat was so fast that her only countenance was one of nervousness. "Well… there's somethin' I hate about myself. I'm not good at anythin', and I'm not talkin' about havin' any talent, I'm a disastah."
Madre nodded in silence.
The girl understood that it was a sign that she should continue, "And... And... That's why I didn't have many friends."
Evie smiled slightly.
"For othah people, everythin' seems ta be so quick and easy. When I'm gonna do the same thin', I'm so slow, I wondah how I'm gonna end up screwin' it," the words started to come into her mind and Maya released them, "people leave me behind, not 'cause of any resentment or betrayal, I just can't keep up with them. My existence is a sum of inconveniences for othahs. I hate that."
"Good," Madre said, "you were much bettah. How do you feel now?"
Maya was surprised, and relieved, she showed a genuine smile. "After I started speakin', everythin' just got easiah."
"That's right," with complete serenity, Madre said, "now about your punishment..."
Maya's smile faded. "Huh...?"
Alice's eyes widened.
"Don't see this as a judgement, but as a warning." The red-haired woman with gray eyes stated, "You're taken by envy."
Maya looked at other novices, who continued to pay attention. "Envy?"
"It's a cowardly sin. It's normal to have bettah people than us, just as it's normal for us to be improvin'. In your case, you remain in that inferior position in relation to others to continue to regret. There is pride too."
Turning to look at the woman, Maya grimaced. "Me? Proud of myself?"
Madre shook her head. "Not from you, you said you hate, but of your position. You feel entitled to receive pity, you expect others to do things for you, as you strive to show how inept you are. You feel comfortable receivin' help from someone who is better than you, makes you feel in control. This is pathetic."
Maya was flabbergasted.
Madre placed both hands on the girl's shoulder. "It's a warning, not a judgment. This self-punishment will help you and people will stop leavin' you behind. Did you understand?"
"A-Am I gonna hafta do this?"
"I'll teach you, it's very simple." After Madre brought her hands to her, she commented, "You must not be used to kneeling. Do you feel any discomfort and pain?"
Still processing all that, Maya replied in a meek voice, "At first yes, then I didn't feel nothing at all."
"It's because you blocked the pain with magic. We instinctively avoid it, but it's not our enemy." The woman showed the ring in her hand. "Just as you can block it, you can also amplify it. Focus on your gem and stop using magic, let yourself feel the pain."
Maya nodded and closed her eyes, thinking of her gem. She wished not to use any magic. Suddenly, her knees seemed to be burning and her spine was about to snap. "Owww..."
Meanwhile, Evie glanced at Alice, seeing the blonde tense in the chair.
Recognizing the face of pain as legitimate, Madre said, "Great, now focus on the pain and amplify it."
Maya opened her eyes. "Isn't that enough?!"
"No, it has to be somethin' unbearable."
[Maya! Don't do it!]
She heard Alice's voice and looked at her friend.
Madre's tone became more imperative, "Do it, at once!"
Alice shook her head slightly.
Before she could think about it, Maya noticed that Madre had turned her head to look in the same direction. She gritted her teeth and wished for the worst possible pain. "uuuuEEHHHAAAAHHHH!" Her body and mind could not take it and she fell into Madre's arms.
The woman hugged her. "It's ovah, it's ovah already..."
Alice ran a hand over her head, almost pulling her hair out.
Her eyes were watery and her heart was racing, but Maya was no longer in pain.
"You blocked it again, didn't you?" Madre helped her to compose herself.
Maya ran her hands over her eyes to dry her tears and nodded, in an almost imperceptible movement.
"You did well, this is not meant to be a torture. I'm happy with your courage, you shouldn't belittle yourself," Madre then instructed, "now, when you have these bad thoughts, take a moment in your day to reflect and do what I just taught you. You just don't have to scream, you're not the victim here."
"I don't know if I can do it..."
"Then I'll give you that." Madre took her red rosary and placed it in the girl's palm.
Maya looked at her in surprise.
"It'll help you remembah that moment, stay with it until you don't need it anymore." The woman put her hands together on her chest. "I'll pray for that to happen."
Maya handled the rosary, which appeared to be very old with its rustic appearance. Her fingers felt the details of the cross with a sun behind it.
Madre spoke to the other novices, "Now that you have witnessed what it's like, who will be next?"
／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼
In the dormitory, novices lay in their respective beds to sleep.
Under the watchful eye of Revenant. "I'll be waking ya all up in eight hours, I don't wanna see anyone wanderin' through the tunnels before that." She turned off the lights and left.
With eyes not yet used to the darkness and hearing some distant whispers, Maya did not feel like sleeping. Her mind or soul, she was not sure, still remembered the pain from that warning.
[I still think you shouldn't have done that.]
Maya heard Alice, again with that subject, but that distraction was welcome. [Today there wasn't time for everyone to participate in the confession cycle, but next time you should be the first to volunteer. It must be easier for you than for me, and it'll help us not to become witches.]
[I don't believe it anymore.]
[What do you mean?]
Alice's voice became harsher. [Can't you see? The Sisterhood is a cult! Magical girls turn into witches, Kyuubey is actually called Incubator and it is an alien, and now witches are turning into magical girls again. All that remains is to say Jesus is coming and we must kill ourselves to join Him.]
[But don't have a truth behind this?] Maya waited for an answer from her friend, but the silence lasted. [Alice?]
[It's my fault.]
"Huh?!" Maya put her hand on her mouth. [What are you talking about now?]
[It was a mistake to accept their offer of protection. Now we're here and I see you in pain, with no idea how to help without making it worse. I should have thought of my family, of your family.]
[We had no way of knowing that we would end up here.] Maya tried to divert the matter. [How is your father's logging company doing?]
[It must be going well, I wished for it.] Alice's voice became calmer, but sad. [Even if my dad isn't working, looking for me.]
[Look, what happened, happened. Let's think about our families to be strong. I don't mind suffering a bit, we have to keep ourselves alive.]
[We'll get out of this together, Maya.]
Alice's strong statement made Maya press her lips and her body stiffen. [Yes, I know you'll protect me.]
[Of course, I'm your best friend.]
[I'm going to sleep now, ok? Good night.]
[Good night.]
Maya waited without moving a muscle, listening to Alice moving on the bed to sleep. When the silence came and it persisted, she relaxed in relief, but with the guilt for feeling it. She turned over slowly on the bed and put her hand under her pillow.
Her fingers touched a piece of paper.
She removed her hand and took a deep breath. Her mind knew, her soul knew, her heart knew.
The pain would be infinite.
Next chapter: Anathema