It's been days, a few days since Hilda had decided not to attend the Festival of Lights. Hilda planned to stay with her mum that night of having a family night to avoid a repeat of what happened last time, but she'll have to miss the festival and everything. But over the days, something began to change in Hilda, something inside her began to twist and turn. A turn of depression. Hilda had fallen into depression after thinking about her mistake on the ruined family night. But it wasn't just that, but it was everything else. Hilda has a million mistakes and it was all to much to bare. Hilda just got depressed with each thought of mistakes she's made and realized...if she couldn't be with Frida on the Festival of Lights, then she didn't deserve something like her, someone who was a brat.
Hilda then just closed off from everyone since. She stopped talking with her friends at school and after, never went to the library again for more training and information from Kaisa, and just laid down in bed for days with only her thoughts of shame. Twig, David, and Frida tried to talk to Hilda, ask what was wrong, but she just brushed off and ignored what they asked, then lied and said nothing was wrong at all. It hurt Hilda having to go back into bad habits. Johanna even tried to talk with her daughter after seeing her down, but Hilda did the same again, lying to her and denying her depression. Which lead to Johanna kinda being suspicious about it.
It was the early morning and Hilda had woken up from the beams of the morning sun gazing into her window. Hilda sat up and stretched out her arms, rubbing her eyes and let out a quiet yawn. Hilda then let out a quiet sigh and just looked at her knees under the covers, with tired bags under her eyes. The bags weren't just from lack of sleep, but from guilt and shame. Hilda just whimpered as she looked at Twig from the end of the bed, seeing him curled up and asleep. Hilda then turned to the clock house on her shelves above her desk, and saw no elf coming out. That's right, Alfur is on a trip to the northern counties and won't be back for a while. Hilda then turned to her advent calendar and pulled the page, revealing what day it was that made her eyes widen. It was April 13th, just a day before the Festival of Lights.
Hilda just looked at the calendar for a second before turning to the window, thinking about what to do next. If she couldn't make to the festival tomorrow night, maybe she and Frida can connect their bond as witch and familiar another way. She could ask Kaisa. Hilda just sighed and climbed out of bed, while rubbing her eyes one last time. Hilda then walked out of her room with bags under her eyes while walking across the hallway and into the kitchen, where Johanna was making breakfast. Hilda got into her seat and rest her head on the table, sighing in sadness.
Hilda: Morning mum.
Johanna: Morning Sweetie. How are you?
Hilda: I'm fine, Mum. I'm gonna head to the library for today.
Johanna: Hm. Well, that sounds like a swell idea. But are you okay?
Hilda: Hm?
Johanna: You seem pretty sad, you have bags under you're eyes. Are you okay? Did you get enough sleep?
Hilda: I did sleep. I just...felt sad from that scene in the movie from last night.
Johanna: You mean The Black Horse of Llliestad?
Hilda: Yeah, the part where Sven dies.
Johanna: Really? Because you didn't seem sad about his death before.
Hilda: Yeah, well, for some reason I just am.
Hilda then looked down at the table and just sighed, feeling regretful for lying to her mum yet again. Johanna just looked at Hilda awkwardly before turning away, feeling worried for her daughter. After some breakfast, Hilda then did her morning chores and got ready for the day, but not excited. Hilda then walked out of the apartment after saying goodbye to her mum, on her way to the library.
After walking for about a few moments Hilda arrived at the library where she walked up the steps and entered through the front door. Hilda had entered the library and walked across the front room, where she saw Kaisa at the desk and trying to do some documents. Hilda just walked to Kaisa and rang the bell to get her attention.
Hilda: Hello, Kaisa.
Kaisa: Oh, Hi Hilda. How are you? Did you get enough sleep? You have bags under you're eyes.
Hilda: Oh, uh, yeah. I'm okay. *Yawn* Just thought about a sad part from a movie last night. The Black Horse of Llliestad.
Kaisa: That adventure movie about a black horse?
Hilda: Yeah, it's the part where Sven dies...
Kaisa: Hm.
Hilda: Anyway, I came here to the library to ask you something.
Kaisa: About what?
Hilda: Uh...if, per say, if a witch or their familiar would to miss the Festival of Lights. Would they still be given another chance to be full witches and familiar?
Kaisa: Oh, Hilda. Im afriad not.
Hilda: WHAT!?!
Hilda shouted in the library and Kaisa pressed her finger against her mouth, signaling her to be quiet because this was a library. Hilda covered her mouth with a nervous look before looking back at Kaisa.
Kaisa: Well, Hilda, you see. Witches and Familiars are only supposed to do the trial and have their bonds connected on that festival specifically. The reason why is because that's how the first witches did when they came to Trolberg, and everyone has kept this tradition going since. I don't know why, but that's just how it is.
Hilda: Oh, okay...Um, but is there any other option? Any other way for me and Frida to connect our bond?
Kaisa: No, Hilda. I'm afraid not, under witch law...Wait. Why are you asking me this?
Kaisa just folded her arms and looked at Hilda with a confused look. Hilda just looked at Kaisa with worry on her face, worried she might learn the truth, so Hilda needed to black out now. Hilda just made a nervous and sheepish smile as she began to walk backwards away from Kaisa at her desk with her hands behind her back.
Hilda: Oh, nothing, Kaisa. It's nothing at all. Nothing to worry about, so don't worry about it. See you later.
Hilda then turned around and just bolted away from her, running to the nearest bookshelves. Kaisa just looked at Hilda bolt away with such confusion and looked at her, when her eye caught something. The moment when Hilda went between bookshelves, Kaisa swore she spotted a tear streaming down her cheek super fast. Kaisa stood up from her seat and watched Hilda go, making a surprised face of shock. Kaisa was now getting supious about this, because something was wrong with Hilda and she wasn't spilling the beans. Kaisa has seen this before when Hilda wasn't honest and would hide things. Well, if she wasn't gonna come clean the old fashion way, then Kaisa has no other choice.
Hilda was just laying in bed and was looking up at the ceiling with a depressed look. Hilda was thinking about all that's happened, what happened in the past and what happened today. Hilda was supposed to miss the festival and Frida will never become a full witch now and will hate Hilda for the rest of her life, then maybe cut ties with her for good. Well that was okay. Just fine. Because Frida didn't deserve to have someone who screws up all the time and makes mistakes. Hilda was always the annoying and stubborn kid in the city and now with so much guilt riding on her shoulders for every mistake, Hilda couldn't handle it anymore.
Hilda then glanced off the bed and saw something sticking out from under the bed. It was a belt, a black belt with needles sticking through at the end. Hilda made that herself for punishment. It started during the 11 days when Hilda became depressed, she bought a black belt from a store and bought pins from another, using the belt as a whip. Hilda whipped her back and her wrist, and it hurt so much. But for a kid who constantly messes up, Hilda deserved it. Hilda then just sat up in bed and pulled down her sweater sleeve, revealing her scars on her lefty arm. Hilda saw the scars and they were getting worse, worse by turning black.
Hilda thought if the scars on her wrist was turning black, and maybe the scars on her back too, then she should tell someone and have them take her to the doctors. But Hilda couldn't, because she deserve this. Maybe a little more whip lashes couldn't hurt. As Hilda bent down to pick up the belt whip, she heard tapping on her window. Turning to the window, Hilda saw through the glass was a Catowl, but not just any Catowl, but Freya! The librarian's pet. Hilda hopped off her bed and walked to the window, opening it and letting Freya inside.
Hilda: Oh. Hi, Freya.
Freya just looked at Hilda, dropped a rolled piece of paper from her mouth, and let out a cat meow. Then Freya just flew out the window and flew off into the night sky, soaring back to it's owner at the city public library. Hilda watched Freya leave before she looked down at the rolled piece of paper, before picking it up and unrolling it, beginning to read.
Dear Hilda
We need you to come to the library now.
Sincerely a friend.
Hilda just looked at the message for a second before looking out the window, in the direction of the city library. Could Hilda even trust this letter? Who was this person? Were they a friend? Or foe? Hilda wasn't sure. But that message was sent by the Catowl, maybe Kaisa sent this letter! Hilda can trust the librarian, she was a friend. But, if this was from Kaisa, she'd write her name and not say the message was from a friend. Something wasn't right. But whatever it was, Hilda should at least check it out. Hilda then grabbed her boots and black beret before she opened her window and climbed out onto the fire escape.
Hilda looked back into her bedroom one last time before she shut the window. This was definitely bringing back old memories, memories of when she used to sneak out. That's what started the mountain king issue in the first place. But Hilda had to see whoever wanted to see her. Hilda then climbed down the fire escape and out into the alley and onto the sidewalk, before walking to the library. Hilda then looked back at her apartment once more before facing ahead and walking to the library, with her head hung down in shame.
Hilda: I'm sorry, Mum...I'm really sorry.
Hilda finished talking as she began to whimper and cry, remembering to whip herself whence she came home.
To Be Continued