《The Mad Sorceress’s Beloved Daughter [Female Isekai Slowburn]》 Chapter 1.1: Rebirth/Cursed Chapter 1.1: Rebirth/Cursed Bright, yellow light. That was the first thing Elaine saw when she opened her eyes. Instinctively, she tried to move her arm up to block it. But to her surprise, she was unable to, instead feeling a cold numbness. This numbness started to spread down both of her arms to her legs. Elaine tried to wiggle her toes only to feel the same coldness take hold. ''I can''t move.'' She thought as the brightness grew in intensity. Her fear began to grow as she realized that the light was consuming everything. Her eyes shook as she tried to close them. Nothing was working, her body refused to listen to her brain. Instead, she just felt a wave of chills overtake her. It paralyzed every nerve that was trying to spark. She desperately wondered if something had happened while she was sleeping. She prayed that whatever it was wouldn''t be permanent. Soon enough the light hit its peak of brightness, her eyes watering from the sheer power it had. Tears dripped down her cheeks as her body froze. There was a low buzzing in her ears as she strained to hear. There was something talking, their voice was behind whatever force this light was. The tone they were speaking in was rushed, words jumbling over one another in the haste. Elaine struggled to move her mouth to reply to them. She didn''t know who they were but she knew they could help her. If this was some sort of paralysis she would need urgent aid. Fear was guiding her as she tried to utter a single word. The light was disappearing with a slow crawl as her throat began to contort itself. Her eyes were starting to make things out. Walls began to appear before her as she failed to scream for help. Her frustration grew as she noticed the walls looked different from her bedrooms. The teenager''s room had pen ink from its previous owners drawn from the floor upward. Whoever home she was in had clean, brick walls that Elaine had only ever seen in schools. ''Oh god,'' The walls became more solid as her eyes darted around the stranger''s room. What looked to be prison bars blocked her view. ''No no no.'' Frustration morphed into terror as Elaine fought to let out a scream. She was unable to move in a cage with no memory of getting out of her bed. All she could think was that someone had drugged her. Somehow, they managed to knock her out and take her to this unknown place. They might have hurt her parents, and her family in the process. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. She would vomit if she could work her muscles. The only thing that worked was her eyes as she desperately tried to scan her location. The bars were painted pink, with what looked to be ribbons tied around them. This sicko decorated the cage he had trapped her in. She wanted to bang her body on the bars but her body refused to function properly. The voice stopped from somewhere near and she heard something heavy. Footsteps. Elaine was terrified to face whoever her captor was. Her brain was going through millions of scenarios. She wondered what they were going to do to her. The teenager prayed her hardest that they would let her go after they did whatever they needed to. Out of nowhere, long fabric-covered arms reached down. Elaine managed to finally let out a small noise, a tiny squeak of fear as the arms came closer. The hands looked soft as they grabbed onto her body and pulled her up. She closed her eyes, too scared to face her captor. She kept them shut as she felt the sicko wrap their arms around her body. They must have been huge to carry her so easily. Elaine wasn''t fat but she had the body of an average teenage girl. It was almost as if she weighed nothing in their arms. This made her only more terrified as she knew they could destroy her. If she managed to make a break for it they could easily grab her and make her pain worse. Something rubbed on her cheek, she recoiled inwardly at the sensation. Her captor let out a happy-sounding sigh as they began to rock her body. Elaine was losing her mind. Some sick fuck had not only drugged her but was treating her like some toy. "Wake up sweetheart," Her stomach twisted at her captor''s loving, feminine voice. It floated in the air of how soft it sounded to the teen. "Mommy''s here, honey." Elaine''s eyes flew open at the woman''s words, staring up in horror. Instead of seeing her long legs in the air behind the woman''s head, she saw nothing. She instead saw her full body being held on the woman''s massive chest. The woman wasn''t staring at her nefariously with bad intentions. Her face was full of love as she looked down at the teenager and bounced her again. Her entire body seemed to have shrunk. Elaine had no breasts but a flat chest that was naked. Her arms were tiny and chubby, with the hands she had fought so hard to move now tiny fists. The same had happened to her legs with them now being short and stubby, like a baby. A realization hit her that Elaine struggled to fight back into her mind. ''I''ve become a baby,'' The woman cooed at her and once again started to rub her fat little cheeks. ''I''m this woman''s, newborn baby.'' She wanted to demand answers from the woman. Like how the hell she went from a five-foot-eight teenage girl to a newborn. But from what she could see, the woman earnestly believed she was an infant. And the prison she had been in was just a crib to the woman who had left her in. She realized she hadn''t been drugged to keep from talking. To her horror, she knew the truth. That she couldn''t talk, she wouldn''t be able to for years. Because she was a fucking infant. She wouldn''t be able to move on her own for months. Talking was going to be taken from her for years and she couldn''t stop it. Elaine trembled before letting out a scream that suspiciously sounded like a woman''s. Chapter 1.2: Common Ground Chapter 1.2: Common Ground The woman who she had learned was named Lucille gave her a worried glance. The shock of the situation had turned Elaine mute for even a baby. She refused to eat and would sob till she threw up if the woman tried to touch her. A part of her felt awful for making the new mom so scared. But she couldn''t get over the fact her former life was over. She''d never see her mother again, her REAL mother who was looking for her. She wouldn''t wake up to her younger siblings teasing. Her childhood home would become a distant memory as she aged all over again with a stranger. With a tremble of her lip, the teenager-turned-baby began to hiccup and sob once more. Lucille ran over to her and held her to her breast. She looked pale, unsure of what to do with the hysterical infant. Her hold on the girl was noticeably weak as she struggled to calm Elaine down. "Rebecca, I need you to eat." Lucille called her that name again which only made her cries increase in volume. That was the name she had chosen for her but Elaine refused to accept it. She knew the woman was hurting from the rejection, it was obvious. The woman had been running around trying to calm her crying down. Elaine had heard the woman talk to someone about visiting a doctor. The thought of seeing one in this strange place made her even sicker. Lucille tried to rock her into a nap for a few minutes before giving up. The movement only made Elaine''s cry increase in their ferocity. Stopping, she gave the baby a kiss on the forehead and looked back behind her. She sighed with a teary look in her eyes and held the baby closer. They started to move out of the bedroom for the first time since she''d awakened in this nightmare. The room was designed with care, with the woman having asked her if she liked it. The infant just whined in response which made her sigh once more. Elaine felt awful for treating the woman poorly but she just wasn''t her mother. Lucille opened the bedroom door and allowed the infant to see the rest of the house. There were bookshelves everywhere in various colors. They looked to be hand-painted by Lucille herself as she carried and soothed the baby towards a stove. It looked like one she would see in storybooks as a child, it wasn''t electric or made of metal. Elaine was readjusted onto Lucille''s hip letting her see more of the room. "I''ll make you some yummy porridge to fix your heart." The teenager glared at the idea that food would make her feel better. Looking around, Elaine was able to see how old-fashioned everything was. There were lanterns hanging above them for light instead of a lamp. The stove looked like it was made out of some sort of stone she struggled to identify. She was confused by it all as Lucille wore clothing reminiscent of a girl going to a summer festival. Her gowns were long with detailed designs that made her wonder if the woman was wealthy. Straw sandals and wooden heels she clicked clacked in. She also tended to wear what looked like real jewels often, around her ankles and wrists. Elaine couldn''t help but wonder where she was that people wore outfits like this. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The slapping of a spoon alerted her to the now bubbling pot of porridge. It was white on the stove''s singular eye as she mixed it repeatedly. Before Elaine could get a good whiff of the food''s smell the woman added in a bottle of liquid. It was thick and yellow like honey but smelled sweeter. Embarrassingly, she felt some drool bubble out of her lips. She hated that she spat and threw up on everything so carelessly. She couldn''t wait to regain some of her motor control in this hell. To make matters worse her mouth let out a whine instinctively when the porridge finished. Lucille smiled down at her as she moved to spoon the porridge into a bowl. It moved like oatmeal, with cooked fruits mixing with the yellow liquid. She couldn''t identify the fruits either, they were golden from being cooked with the porridge. The woman hummed proudly as the wooden bowl was filled halfway with the sweet-smelling meal. "This will turn that frown upside down." The woman cheered, moving to give Elaine a small taste. It smelled so strong she gave a tiny cough as a wooden spoon was put to her lips. While the bowl''s contents looked delicious, Elaine was still cautious. It was full of ingredients she couldn''t recognize and that scared her. She wanted to eat badly, she hadn''t eaten once since awakening. But she didn''t trust Lucille very much. She was a kind woman from what she had seen but a stranger nonetheless. She pushed the spoon under Elaine''s nose, frowning. Then she moved to scoop some of the fruit into the spoonful for the infant. This made Elaine''s mouth water uncontrollably to her disgust and to Lucille''s oblivious joy. She looked as if she were going to cry as the baby gave it a small taste. It''s not like Elaine wanted to. No, her baby body craved the food enough to move on its own. It seemed like she was fighting the actual infant the body belonged to at times. Once the fruit came into the picture her mouth opened wide for it. Lucille practically shoved the spoon in relief she was finally eating and not crying herself sick. The porridge tasted like pure sugar and oat. The oats were cooked fully with the honey-like liquid warming her belly. It also was soft enough for her to swallow without issue. Soon she was opening her mouth for another spoonful. It tastes just as good the second time. Her lips smacked together with pleasure, enjoying the delicious porridge. Lucille sniffled as she watched the infant happily devour another spoonful. "You like it don''t you, honey?" She asked, sounding close to tears. Elaine felt awful hearing the woman cry. It wasn''t her fault the teenager had replaced her baby. The woman was worried sick that something was wrong and looked like she was at wit''s end. She could feel the woman''s chest heave as she took a moment to cry. Elaine realized that she would have to make up for how she treated the new mother. With the little control she had over her body, Elaine lifted herself up. She managed to plant a kiss on the woman''s chest. This made both of them freeze, Elaine awkwardly watching Lucille gasp. Fat tears spilled from the woman''s eyes as she covered her mouth with one of her hands. "I''m sorry. I''m new at this honey and," Lucille choked up as she wiped at her eyes before giving a watery smile. "I don''t want to be a bad mother." "I don''t know how this works really and I just want to do it right this time." The infant stared in confusion at the woman''s statement. Nowhere in the house had she seen or heard the presence of another child. She didn''t look past her early twenties so the child couldn''t be older than a toddler. This made Elaine''s heart drop as she knew there was only one other option. And she couldn''t think about that with Lucille crying silently above. She would never trust her fully or see her as a mother. But Elaine would stop treating her like absolute garbage and try to adapt. Chapter 1.3: Hunting Season Chapter 1.3: Hunting Season "Rebecca just lay on mommy." Long auburn hair fell across Elaine''s face as she was carried in the snow. The baby carrier kept her snug in as she scowled at the cold weather. She had been peacefully resting when Lucille put her in the contraption. Elaine could only compare it to a baby carrier though she wasn''t too sure. The woman had dressed in multiple layers of fur for their winter adventure. A baby coat kept her warm as she kicked her snow boots on the woman''s back. The fabric was itchy and made her skin feel raw. She wanted to be out of them, back in her crib and fast asleep with a warm fire keeping her company. Lucille continued to walk on the snowy forest land, her feet crunching on frozen plant life. "I know you''re a little fussy but I can''t leave you home." She had insisted multiple times but still, the teenager didn''t get why this was the case. Snow flurries fell onto her eyelashes as she yawned with a cute squeak. She found that all she could make were tiny squeaks and grunts. It was annoying but the woman appeared to understand her basic needs through them. They crunched down a hill with Elaine noticing how quiet it was. From the scenery, she expected to hear deer and squirrels. She didn''t see any animal tracks either. Just tree trunks that were completely silver, not white but silver. The trees that hadn''t been cut had branches that looked as huge as Lucille''s body. Frozen leaves hung from them along with dying fruit. This world was strange so she accepted trees as being odd. Still, they made her feel uncomfortable. There was something off about how stone-like they looked. Powerful gusts of wind bellowed in her ears and watered her eyes. The elements were fighting with the two as they transversed the forest. Lucille''s footsteps matched the wind, a stick in one of her hands to keep balance. On the other, Elaine thought that it looked to be a crossbow. It was shaped like one but had weird runic designs all over it. There also were no arrows for it with them so she was confused about how it would be useful. Elaine found herself puzzled by most of this world. It was like an old slice of click fantasy anime she''d watched as a child. Day after day she''d watch Lucille use magic to clean and cook in the cabin they called home. There wasn''t anything exciting for her to do in this body and she hated it. All she felt was frustrating not knowing how anything worked. The teenager craved knowing how magic was real. She wanted to learn whatever she could about this world. Being a baby who was teetering on toddlerhood did nothing to help. Pouting, she sniffled as Lucille came to a stop. The snow had slowed down allowing her to see better. They were in a bare part of the forest. The ground had no grass instead being covered by ice and snow piles. Any trees looked like they were close to their end. "I know you''re a little young to see this but I don''t like leaving you home alone," The crossbow in Lucille''s hand was moved directly in front of the two as she smiled. "It might seem a little scary but this is something you''ll do when you''re my age." Elaine''s curiosity was piqued by the comment. She watched agape as the crossbow changed color. It became gold similar to the jewelry she wore. The runic symbols she had been so curious about looked like they were vibrating. The teenager wanted to ask what was happening but all she could do was babble. Mentally she cursed her infant body and burrowed into the warm baby carrier impatiently. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Almost as if the crossbow was a beacon, something began to run towards it. The silence of the snow turned into loud crunches of hooves slamming onto the frozen ground. Antlers caught her attention first. They were brown and huge enough to eclipse Lucille''s body two times over. The sun itself was held up by its sheer size of them. The moose sniffed the air as she pointed the crossbow directly at it. The weapon trembled, with a low ticking sound that was eerily similar to a stopwatch. "Aim," Her arm was thrust forward as Lucille commanded the magical object loudly. The moose looked at them and let out an angry snort. "Fire." From nowhere an arrow that was entirely silver appeared in the crossbow. It looked like it was air having no solid body and resembled a cloud. The bow recoiled and fired in a way that reminded Elaine of a shotgun. The ticking continued with a low screech, quickening its pace with the arrow''s shot. Lucille''s hair flew from the force of it and her free hand dropped the stick. It quickly moved to hold onto the baby carrier tightly as the arrow flew. Snow kicked up in the air with the ice beneath them developing small, minuscule cracks from the force of the shot. It hit the moose in the blink of an eye. It pierced its leg, burrowing deeply to the point it disappeared in it. The arrow went so far that Elaine couldn''t see a glimpse of it in the torn muscle and bloody fur. Instead, there was just a section of the moose that was just gone. Burned away into becoming a large, pulsating whole dripping with blood. "Return," Lucille commanded as the runes shook and blurred into each other. They shone so brightly that they burned Elaine''s eyes from the sight. ''Dear god.'' Elaine didn''t know what to feel as she heard the woman command the arrow to come back. The moose had fallen onto its knees in pain. She understood that things like human hunting were unknown in the medieval world. Elaine wasn''t going to judge the woman for getting food to feed them. But watching her injure a creature with a single command with a thrill made her feel unnerved. Lucille repositioned the crossbow and repeated her earlier words. The crossbow now went into the right knee of the moose with a single shot. Blood stained the ground as the moose made groans of pain that haunted Elaine. The knowledge that she would have to do this someday was chilling. There had to be a better way to get food. But if they stayed in a forest this would be their only choice. And if this crossbow was magical, she imagined Lucille had tried other methods. This was the same woman who sobbed when Elaine smiled at her and acted as if the action was sent from God. "These beasts used to terrorize the villagers nearby," Her hand patted Elaine comfortingly as she punctured the moose in the throat, killing it. "Now they only serve to be made as a delicious stew." The moose slumped onto the ground, bleeding out as Lucille walked over. There was no light in its eyes as its chest stopped moving. Instead, they were vacant white holes. The sight made Elaine sick and she closed her eyes when Lucille crouched down. If this was their dinner she didn''t want to see how it was made. She could hear the crossbow power down as Lucille grabbed the corpse. In her previous life, she had been scared of blood so this was nerve-wracking to engage in. "Rebecca, it''s alright. The beast is gone now and mommy will make you a hearty meal with it." The woman reassured the baby with a wide grin on her face. If she knew why the girl had recoiled from her touch, maybe she''d have left her to kill behind. Elaine heard her drag it while she walked back home. It sounded like a sack of potatoes with its horns scraping loudly on the ice. Her stomach twisted at the mention of food. Hopefully, Lucille would save the moose for later as she felt like vomiting at the idea. The dead eyes would haunt her for the entire night, a shiver going down her tiny spine. Chapter 2.1: Toddlerhood Chapter 2.1: Toddlerhood "Cup." Lucille hummed under the lantern light the two sat under. A heavy quilted blanket covered the floor with the windows closed behind long silk curtains. Outside of them sat a warm sky that was heavy with clouds as a rainshower came and went. This allowed the room to have a relaxing vibe as she looked at the voice''s owner. The only sound that kept them the company was of a boiling pot full of a stewing meal. The woman smiled as she handed over a cup. In it was a tea that took on a beautiful pink color and was hot when touched. Eagerly the toddler grabbed it with small hands and began to slurp it down. "Rebecca," She said as the toddler continued to drink down the tea, swaddled in a small quilt. "What do we say?" Elaine found herself resisting the urge to roll her eyes. It was hard to feel weird being spoken to so childishly. She still felt like a teenager despite the months that had passed if not years. Inside her mind remained intact however she did notice it changing. She figured it was the effects of becoming a child all over again. But it did scare her and leave her with questions she decided to ignore for now. She set the cup down in her lap, burning it briefly. "Thank you." The words sounded different as her brain processed its toddler limitations. Her cheeks flushed as she sighed inwardly. Moments like this made her forget the sickening predicament she was in. The lantern glowed above her head as she thought. It beamed softly with a low hum coming from the orb that powered it. Just sitting with the woman who was her mother by birth was nice. She didn''t have to think about the strangeness of this world. And all the stability and possibilities that had been taken from her when she woke up here, with her. "I think our stew should be done!" Lucille announced cheerfully as she patted Elaine on the head. That naive tone of voice had returned as she got up from the ground with her long skirt ruffling under her. They reflected like gems with the light as she tapped a finger on her chin. The finger was worn just like the rest of her hand from chopping vegetables and raw meat for hours without a break. Her long hair swayed in the air as she shook herself out of her thoughts and hurried over to the food. Elaine found herself torn on Lucille. From what she managed to discover, the woman was more powerful than she let on. She acted like a child at times but was fiercely protective over her. Any scrape or cut Elaine got sent Lucille into mama bear mode. Whenever she left the house, she made sure to have Elaine with her or fast asleep. The teenager was curious about why the woman was so protective when they lived isolated from society. She hadn''t seen anyone besides Lucille and wildlife for what felt like an eternity. It was honestly suffocating to be in a world of fantasy but unable to actually experience it. Elaine tried to chalk it up to her being in a toddler''s body and patiently waited to age. It was happening quicker than she anticipated with growth spurts happening rapidly. A small part of her wondered if Lucille''s magical properties had anything to do with that. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. A tiny hand clenched in a fist as she pouted. ''Why couldn''t I have been sent here as a teenager? Having to relive my childhood is just insanity.'' "Rebecca comes here please," Her attention went to the woman who was standing over a large pot. A spoon was in her hand as she mixed its contents. "It''s just about done." Elaine grabbed at her stomach and heard it growl. She was starving as most of the day was spent preparing the meal. The stew smelled delicious with the smell of peppers and rosemary leaves entering her nose. The stew smelled wonderful as she hurried over. She knew that huge chunks of meat swam in its broth. It was from a deer Lucille had slaughtered after coming home with boar slices. The meat bobbed as the teenager''s mouth watered. As she neared, she saw Lucille pour warm red liquid into a wooden bowl with a ladle. The ladle was held sturdy as she made sure to pour every last drop in. Steam bellowed from the spoon as the bowl was filled to its absolute brim. Lucille sprinkled in herbs they had picked the night before for a finishing touch. The same happened for the last, much smaller bowl. Afterward, she wiped up any spilled stew with a discarded kitchen rag and clapped her hands with pride at the sight. She turned and picked Elaine up with both arms so she sat on her hip snuggly. "You can taste a bit, do you want some now?" Elaine fought the urge to roll her eyes. She really hated all the baby talk and cursed the universe once more for her toddler body. With embarrassment, she nodded her head yes, unable to speak. Her body wouldn''t form the words her tongue twisting as no sound left her mouth. Her hands balled into fists as she struggled to hide her anger. It felt humiliating to lose the little power she still had randomly. Luckily, these limitations didn''t extend to her limbs. Lucille was careful and slow as she moved to spoon some of the soup back into the ladle. She made sure bits of vegetables and meat chunks swam in it before pulling back. The ladle was halfway full with steam coming from it rapidly. It smelled spicy to Elaine as her mouth watered. Seeing it up close made her hunger go wild. She could see carrot slices, diced onions, and more waiting to be devoured. Her mouth opened extra wide as it was brought to her lips. "Blow on it," The woman murmured, which made her unconsciously whine in annoyance. "Shush." Elaine flushed at the stern look on her face and blew softly on the stew. It didn''t do too much to help cool it down but it pleased them both. Chunks of meat that had been cooked a golden brown sang to her. She made sure to try and swallow as much of the meal as possible with the amount given to her. It tasted like heaven, like the world''s best home-cooked meal. The meat was soft enough that her small teeth could easily chew it. And the broth was thick and powerful with its unique flavors. It was moments like this, just existing in a warm home enjoying a full meal that made it worth it. Filling her belly like the dinner her mother would make after a hard day at school. To see Lucille working for hours to make it warmed her heart. It made her feel close to home. It helped her feel closer to her mother who she worried about daily. Tears threatened to come as she swallowed the rest of the stew in her mouth. She reminded herself to stay strong and keep it together. ''Crying solves nothing.'' Elaine forced herself to thank Lucille with a stable voice. The woman would have a heart attack if she saw her upset. The look Lucille gave her was pure love as she gushed. The woman began to ramble about their bowls getting cold and hurried to set the table. A kiss was planted on Elaine''s forehead and the teenager smiled weakly. She had to swallow all of the painful memories for now. For both of their sakes. Chapter 2.2: A Bookish Mishap Chapter 2.2: A Bookish Mishap Tiny feet padded over the fox pellet-covered floor. A toddler anxiously looked around the bedroom as they stamped their feet in frustration. Elaine looked in a nearby mirror and sulked. It was hard to believe that she had once been a sixteen-year-old. Now, she was a tiny tot who lived in a fantasy world. ''Who would''ve thought this would be my life.'' She bemoaned to herself with a grumble. Elaine or Rebecca as Lucille insisted on calling her, had trouble with the way this world worked. From what Lucille told her in words a toddler could understand, they lived in a forest. Lucille claimed that the house was owned by a nice witch before being sold to them. Knowing that witches and magic were real made her head spin. It appeared that she hadn''t exactly been transported into a fairy tale. When she asked about electricity the woman was puzzled. She asked how Elaine knew such a word which just earned her a shrug. Sighing, Lucille explained that electricity was rather controversial for forest creatures to accept. It was something strange and new. Instead, they used magic to power everything at home. It was kind of cool to see it in person. Lucille would suddenly speak in tongue, clap her hands together and an orb of light would form in them. She''d deposit it in whatever they needed to be powered, the magical orb functioning as a battery. Still, Elaine craved to have electricity again. She wanted to watch anime on TV and play games on her phone. Instead, Lucille offered her simple things. There were technological advancements out there; the woman just declined to have them. The teenager-turned-toddler had been debating asking for something electrical. Lucille would have a heart attack at the sight of her using a phone flashlight instead of a magical lantern. ''Out of all the fairytales to be transported to,'' Elaine stamped her feet childishly again. ''I''m in one with technology from the magical middle ages.'' Her arms crossed over her chest as she pouted. The woman was off somewhere and had left her home alone. Another hunting trip most likely. Ever since their trip in the snowy woods they''d been hunting together numerous times. Elaine had grown used to washing bloody pelts they would use for warmth. Still, some parts of hunting she strongly opposed. A pout formed on her face as she looked around. Shelves towered over her with various books lining them. The books she had never tried to read, being a toddler who couldn''t do much. She was grateful that this world had developed a strong academic drive. She had been terrified of losing the ability to sit down, drink tea and read a book before bed. ''I don''t think Lucille would mind if I grabbed one.'' Elaine thought to herself eyeing one of the shelves. Hesitantly, she walked over to one of the shorter shelves. Elaine knew climbing it was risky but she was bored out of her mind. All she could do was read, knit, or lay down for a nap. This world was so fantastical but had no activities for a kid her age. There could be a gold mine of fictional worlds waiting to enter her mind up there. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Finally, she could have something from her previous life with her. Fantasy was one of her favorite genres as a child. If this had been under any other circumstances she''d be losing her mind from excitement with her new life. But she wanted her old life back, she wanted something from it. And for now, reading a book would have to do. She put one foot on a gap on the bottom shelf and made sure her footing was steady. A small hand grabbed onto the bottom of the next shelf. Her other hand moved to be next to it and she began to climb. Her legs felt a bit shaky but she needed to climb a few shelves higher to reach the books. Her long skirt swayed in the wind as she grabbed onto boxes and knick-knacks nervously. The shelf was feeling unsteady under the full weight of her body. She feared that she would knock it over as she continued to crawl. From where she was she could see a few book covers. She was impressed by them and started to pull one out from the row. Her eyes caught their unique design and how they were noticeably handmade as she looked at them up close. They had beautiful artwork that was drawn in Lucille''s favorite color. The artwork was painted, depicting birds and forest life. Each painting was completely gold with flashes of white. The woman was obsessed with it, most of her gowns having hints of it. Thankfully the clothes sewed for Elaine were more varied in color and style. ''These books look ancient,'' Elaine thought as she managed to look closer at them. They already made her worry about how heavy they appeared. ''I''ve never seen a book made from leather.'' The book was heavy as she touched its cover. It was hard enough to make a noise when she rapped her knuckles on its top. The material used for its back and front was definitely leather, with thread holding it all together. Each page from the book''s side looked thick like they were made from parchment not thin paper. Elaine decided to take the singular book as her feet started to slip. She didn''t want to risk destroying something so beautiful that was made with obvious care. Quickly, she maneuvered the book so she had a tight hold before moving back down. With each step downward, she kept her attention on the book as if she were a hawk. If she tore the book, Lucille would be distraught. Part of her regretted grabbing the book from how flimsy it felt just being in her arms. But she knew there was no point in climbing back up after all the work she had gone through. "Ah!" Elaine yelped as her bare feet began to slide beneath her. Biting her bottom lip, she decided to try and jump down. The space between the floor and her feet ended up being larger than she anticipated. She was so focused on maintaining her hold on the book that it slipped her mind. Both arms wrapped around the object as she felt her body turn. With a loud cracking sound, she landed on her shoulder. Above her, the shelf wobbled before swaying. Her eyes widened as she realized it was about to collapse. There wasn''t enough time to move far enough as the shelf fell forward. Glass globes containing plants she couldn''t identify slammed onto the carpet. Books flew in the air and tore from the force in her absolute horror. Elaine felt guilty about the destruction but that feeling was buried under her pain. The remains of the shelf fell over her body. It covered her, pinning her underneath. Still, she clutched the book close and wiggled. Immediately a sharp pain went through her body, from her legs to her chest. It was hard to move without tears pooling in her eyes. She was nauseated from the force of it. There was a gap between her body and the shelf but she didn''t dare attempt to slide through. Instead, she lay there with a migraine and closed her eyes weakly. Chapter 2.3: Mothers Fear Chapter 2.3: Mother''s Fear Elaine had no idea how long it took for Lucille to find her. She fought to stay conscious after resting for some time but was too tired to stay that way for long. Her head was pulsating with pain each time she tried to wiggle her body and she felt so sick. It was as if her entire back had been crushed by the shell''s collapse. Any subtle moment made her become a sniveling, nauseated mess. By the time Lucille arrived the sun had sunk down with the sky turning black. The teenager could hear the front door open only to slam shut with a scream. The scream made her groan, her migraine had grown worse from lying under so much weight. Bags dropped to the ground and the echo of panicked breathing filled the destroyed room. From where she was pinned, Elaine could see the anxiety controlling the witch. Tears streamed down her face as she wordlessly stared down at the injured girl. Lucille''s hands grabbed at a book and threw it carelessly off of her. She did the same for the next, her chest moving erratically as she did so. This did nothing to decrease the piles of books, artifacts, and wood that sat atop the younger girl. With her blurred vision, Elaine watched the witch curse and grab at herself in anxiety. The teenager felt like shit seeing the terror consuming her. She knew getting the book would be risky. And that the plan was stupid to execute as a fragile toddler. But she felt like she was suffocating in the cabin. There was a whole world of there and the witch was too fearful to let her see it. She wasn''t a kid, she just happened to be trapped in the mind of one. The desperation for stimulation had been gnawing at her for what felt like a lifetime. If she lived like this any longer she knew she''d go mad. But that wouldn''t be apparent to the witch. She would just think that the toddler had been in a random shelf collapse. "It''s okay honey," The woman yelled as she continued to throw things off of her. "I''m right here don''t cry it''ll be alright!" Elaine blinked and realized she was crying. Little whimpers left her mouth as she wheezed in agony. Her body was numb from the pain like the day she arrived here. It gave her a small glimmer of hope that the next time she closed her eyes, she would be gone. She''d open them in her bedroom with her siblings yelling that they had to catch the bus. The thought made her cry even more. She knew that the chance of getting home was near impossible. And if she got home this way, it would destroy Lucille. She was sure that no one would remain in the body. The woman would think she had died under her watch and gone insane with grief. Her chest ached as she watched Lucille stop and just cry. God, she felt really guilty now. She wanted to apologize but like before her brain refused to be listened to. "Come!" Lucille yelled and her crossbow flew into her hand with a golden glow. She was shaking as she aimed at the wood. "Attach!" The arrow from before flew out and pierced the wood with a loud cracking. The crossbow ticked above the girl as it trembled with power. Its runes throbbed with the amount of energy they held. The witch looked unhinged, her eyes wide with fear as she clenched her jaw. She looked away and took a moment to steady herself before speaking. "Throw," She commanded the crossbow shook feverishly until it blurred into a blob of movement. The wood lifted in the air slowly, struggling with the weight atop it. "THROW!" Lucille clenched at the crossbow as it sprang into action. Each rune spun itself in sync with the ticking the bow produced. The arrow appeared to grow in size, gold tendrils spreading throughout the inside of the wood like an infection. Soon the entire body of it was engulfed in the gold light she witnessed before. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Every piece of debris flew off of the wood as the magic lifted it up and threw it toward the cabin wall. The shelf was obliterated into millions of tiny pieces. Wood slivers broke into dust and slammed onto the ground becoming nothing. Book pages tore themselves free of their spines. They spread all over the room in a shower of chaos. The sheer force of the action made Lucille''s hair sweep into the air. It flew over her panicked eyes and twisted as wood narrowly missed her body. Thankfully, the universe took mercy on Elaine who avoided being stabbed by the wood remains. She still couldn''t move very well with the weight off of her. Her body felt like it had been the one slammed into the wall at break speed. Her stomach twisted painfully causing her to sob. The teenager could see that one of her legs was bent funny. Her eyelids were heavy as she watched the blood pool under her weak body. "Rest!" Lucille commanded her weapon which slowed down until it was dormant in her hands. She set it down and threw herself at Elaine. "Oh goddess, what do I do?" "You''re bleeding¡­" Her hands shook over the girl''s body as she continued. "...what do I do?" Like a broken record the witch cried out as she managed to wrap her arms around the injured child. The sleeves of the gorgeous gown she prided herself on were now in tatters from the magical crossbow destroying nearly the entire room''s contents. She looked lost, mad even, holding her close as she tried to lift her up. It was clear that Elaine''s leg was broken with it hanging limply in the air. The entire limb was an angry red with it becoming a fat lump. If this were the world Eline had come from, she wouldn''t be too scared of the injury. A broken leg was common with kids and insurance would cover any costs. But as she weakly stared at her leg, she found herself inwardly cursing. She wasn''t going to a hospital much less a walk-in clinic. She had been thrown into a world with magic and witches. A world where people had to hunt for their food and live in the middle of the woods with no hot water or radio. "I''m sorry if this hurts," The woman sniffled as she let out endless apologies. She held the girl tightly to her chest as she trembled. "I''ll have to carry you to your bed until I can get help." "But who would help ME?" The words hung in the air as Lucille walked to the younger girl''s bedroom. The room was undisturbed when they burst into it and slammed the door shut. The bed was made with the pillows neatly stacked atop one another as Elaine was laid on them. Her blood-stained dress and stocking ruined the white blanket she was on, making its beautiful color turn into a filthy mess. The book she had fought so hard to get was removed from her arms with no protest. She was too tired to hold onto it, her hands felt tense as she breathed in the cabin''s crisp air. With each intake, her lungs felt tighter than the previous time they moved. She could see that her lips were busted, the force of the fall bruising them raw. The teenager didn''t need a mirror to see how sick she was. Her entire body was sore from the effects of a fall so high. She was thankful that nothing else was broken and teared up some more when Lucille set it on a pillow to stay upright. Besides that, the witch looked unsure of how to treat the injury. Something cool was brought over her face and folded on her forehead. It was a wet rag, drenched in fresh water from the sink across from the bed. The rag felt like heaven on her skin. It had grown clammy, her body shaking as she broke into a rush of uncontrollable sweats. Elaine was feverish as her vision blurred like before and a thick cough left her bloody mouth. Specks of saliva and what she hoped wasn''t a piece of her tooth flew out onto her dress collar. "I''m so sorry. I''m so sorry, my daughter." The bed shifted as Lucille fell to her knees and leaned against it with a distraught look in her eyes. Her voice shook as she grabbed at the girl''s dress and held it tightly. "I took my eyes off of you for one moment and now you''re hurt. I''m a failure." A hollow laugh left the woman as her grip tightened, her shoulders moving rapidly. Elaine struggled to understand if she was sobbing or in hysterical laughter. She appeared to be losing it at the sight of the tiny child laying in an ashen state. "Mommy will fix this Rebecca," The witch sounded strange now with her gaze taking on the light her magic held. "Just rest for me. And when you wake up, everything will be back to normal." Chapter 3.1: Mothers Nature Chapter 3.1: Mother''s Nature Elaine didn''t need to be told twice as she embarked on a dreamless slumber. Her body was weighing her down as she breathed. She felt like had been pulled underwater to be drowned in its blackened depths. The teenager was weakened to a point she wondered if this was it. That when she opened her eyes again she would be back home with her real mother. But it was getting harder to remember how a woman looked when all she found herself seeing was Lucille. The woman was overprotective and loving all at once. She protected the teenager who she saw as nothing more than an innocent child god blessed her with. Elaine didn''t give a damn that she was a witch or that she was a ditz. She cared for the woman and didn''t want her to be hurt for the teenager''s freedom. It was clear that her death would send the woman off the edge. The look she had given her in bed made her feel scared. It was something about the light in her eyes that was wrong. They didn''t look like the woman who spent every waking moment with her. They looked like the light that plunged her into this forsaken world. "Ngh." Elaine felt someone move her body which woke her up. Her head felt dizzy and she could taste an acidic flavor in her mouth. She must''ve thrown up in her sleep. Whoever was moving her made a point to slow down. They soothed her, rubbing her wet forehead with their hand. A sick feeling overtook Elaine. These hands weren''t Lucille''s, they were much larger and harder than hers. This made her feel disgusted. The touch was like a scolding iron was being put on her. Her thoughts came to a stutter as the person began to whisper in some language she couldn''t understand. Could Lucille have taken her to a doctor of some sort? She wasn''t sure if this world even had doctors like she did back home. While she was excited to get proper treatment for her wounds she was frightened. The teenager hadn''t seen anyone but the witch her entire stay in this world. She didn''t know if this person was a friend or a foe. She hoped that the witch was close enough to protect her. Her face scrunched up and she coughed painfully. Her throat felt like it was sore, it was throbbing as she breathed in and exhaled. The person sighed and put something on her lips. It was nice and cold with water dripping from it. A rag, one she bet was previously cooling her head. They wiped her mouth down to her chin with care, being gentle not to hurt the girl any further. Soon, they pulled back and she heard them finally talk. "Ma''am, your daughter is very ill. I believe she will need treatment for many moons." They sounded older than she expected, like a grandmother. "I''m fine with that," It was Lucille who was speaking now. The teenager could see remnants of her gaze which was still gold. "I will pay you for any necessary potions your healers use on her." The mysterious person she spoke to looked hesitant from the intensity of the woman''s stare. "Ma''am I worry that she may need more than a few potions." Lucille''s signature smile turned foul as she tapped her fingers on her face. Her fingernails were bitten down to the point of bleeding. The jewels on her neck slumped as she leaned her head to the side, bright eyes narrowing. A somber feeling overtook the teen as she watched the woman grow more passionate with her questions. "You work for the best healer in the countryside, correct?" The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. The stranger swallowed thickly, sweating as they hesitated to answer. "Well, yes. Mistress is one of the strongest healers I''ve ever been taught by." "And I''ve already paid you a month''s worth of gold for my daughter to be treated immediately, right?" Elaine whimpered and wished she could curl up into a ball. The thought of the witch spending so much for her foolishness stung. And by the sounds of it, these healers couldn''t help. She had led the woman into being overtaken with worry and scammed out of possible hundreds in a day. The teenager wanted to sink into the bed, close her eyes and disappear from the witch''s sight. "Yes¡­" The mysterious person''s body began to shake under the heat of the woman''s judgment. "So," Lucille''s eyes looked like an abyss of light as she touched her dress belt momentarily. "What is the problem, Apprentice?" "Ma''am I''m sorry. I just wanted to tell you that with her injuries and her age it may be hard to¡­" "To what? Don''t tell me you''ve taken my gold to just give my daughter a sponge bath." Elaine found herself flinching back at the tone the witch took. She was taken aback by her sudden shift in personality. The apprentice was trembling and unable to form a proper explanation. The woman stood up allowing the teenager to see what she had touched earlier. On the belt she wore above one of her many loose gowns was her crossbow. The same bow Elaine had witnessed her kill the moose with. ''Lucille is too kind to kill a simple scam artist,'' The teenager started to fidget in an attempt to gain the two adults'' attention. ''She''s just upset, I''m hurt.'' With her wide, pupil-less eyes and smile, Lucille did look scary. She was completely still as she stared at the panicking younger woman. The teenager found herself uncomfortable with the display. She understood that any mother would lose it in this situation. But the appearance of the witch was just unnerving. Was this a witch in full power, something so frightening? She could only hope not as she managed to open her mouth and interrupt the trampling. "Mama." Her throat ached as she uttered the word. Elaine knew she had to act fast and decided to appeal to the woman''s heart. Lucille clasped her hands together as if she were praying, tears filling her eyes. "Rebecca?" It was like a flip of a switch when she realized her daughter was awake. Her smile turned from that of a snake to a puppy''s, pure joy overtaking her. The apprentice was ignored by the woman as she threw herself at the girl. Taking her into her arms gently, she held her close with snot and tears on her face. She looked like she was close to collapsing atop the little girl from how overwhelmed she was. "Rebecca!" The witch cried with a heave of her chest. Her hands moved to touch the girl''s bruised face gently. "Mommy was so worried!" Elaine whined and used all of her strength to hug the woman back. God, how could she ever think the witch was a bad person? She knew that she''d have to find a way to communicate with her soon. Using a weapon to threaten a doctor wasn''t something she''d ever appreciate. But she understood why the woman had done it, she was a mother after all. And mothers tended to lose control over their emotions when the people they loved most were in harm''s way. She hiccuped and wiped her cheek against Elaine''s. "You wouldn''t wake up after so many days! I thought¡­I thought you were going to die!" Lucille looked the girl in the eyes, crying uncontrollably. ''God. I didn''t think I slept that long.'' The teenager found herself tearing up as she gave the woman a weak squeeze. ''I''m such a shitty person.'' She wanted to apologize. Her actions had caused Lucille so much grief and agony. The poor woman was sobbing so loudly she could hear people outside the room gossiping. The bed creaked under both of their weight as the witch continued her blubbering as hiccuped again. "Mommy won''t ever let you get hurt again," A soft kiss was planted on Elaine''s forehead followed by one on her nose. "The healers here will make you all better. I''ll make your favorite porridge when this is finished and add in plenty of sugar how you like it." "Okay." Lucille wanted to say sorry and beg the woman to stop crying. But the one word was all she managed to croak out. "Okay, mama." Chapter 3.2: Strange Mind Chapter 3.2: Strange Mind ''I called her mama.'' The teenager sat still as a different apprentice checked her temperature. Her eyes were downcast as she frowned. ''When did I start doing that?'' Her mind felt alien to her as the apprentice doted over her frail body. She was a woman with greying hair in a bun who sat on her knees as she wiped up the sweat drenching Elaine¡¯s body. Her outfit wasn¡¯t one of the elegant gowns Lucille wore but a plain ankle-length dress that reminded her of a nun. This apprentice was mute, most likely having overheard the commotion caused earlier in the day. Instead of speaking, she focused on the task of caring for the sick child, moving in a robotic routine. The teenager was grateful for the gentle touch of the older woman but she felt out of place in such a position. Elaine shied away from the wet rag the woman held. Her nose scrunched up as it hit the side of her face. It smelled like bleach from the number of potions she watched her drench it in. She wished she was back asleep. She was tired of everything that had been going on. It made her feel conflicted inside and weak on the outside in a way that was puzzling. She hadn¡¯t meant to call the woman that. It was a term that meant something she just wasn¡¯t able to feel for the witch. Doing so would be a betrayal to her REAL mother, back in her old world. The two women were incredibly different and she saw Lucille as something else. The woman was open with her emotions in a way that a child would be. Her actual mother while loving was closed off from years of being worked to the bone in a dead-end job. The witch was soft with her caresses being warm when her mother would touch her somewhat reluctantly. Her face scrunched up as the apprentice huffed and left the room. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t take it back though. She probably felt relieved at me calling her that.¡¯ Oily hair fell across her face as she deflated into the bed¡¯s large pillows. The bed was comfortable despite being as big as her body. The room itself was very small to her surprise. When she imagined a fantasy doctor''s office she''d expect cauldrons and glass orbs. Instead, she lay on a small bed with a wooden frame. There was a table to her left with a tea set filled with the potions they had been feeding her. Besides that, the room was empty with a rather plain aesthetic. She felt disappointed when she got a good look at it. Lucille''s home just she guessed was an outlier in this world. The teenager pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. She expected more from a doctor''s office run by healers who used magic. She wanted something out of this world, like a three-eyed nurse to watch over her. Instead, all the apprentices that cared for her were nice enough but subdued with fear. Lucille''s message had gotten across and they focused on making sure her money wasn''t wasted. They didn''t talk much and when they did it was to trick her into drinking those yucky potions. ''Is anyone going to talk to me.'' Elaine thought sadly as the door began to push open. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Her attention was drawn by who came in. It wasn''t another one of the apprentices but someone who looked more vibrant. A woman with lipstick that looked neon along with her eyes stared at her. The woman waved her dainty hand and smiled warmly before closing the door behind her. She had a large dress on with multiple skirts that dragged against the room''s furniture. With a grunt, the woman picked the skirts up and made her way over. Before Elaine could ask who she was the woman put a hand on her neck and then her head. "You don''t have a fever anymore, which is good." Her voice was deeper than Elaine expected for someone who looked like a Victorian doll. She moved to look closer at Elaine. The teenager pressed against the back of the bed as she sat directly in her face. "Your eyes look exactly like your mother''s, but your face is your father''s." "Um." Elaine started to speak but stopped herself as she was unsure what to say. ''This woman knew not only Lucille but her lover?'' Embarrassingly, Elaine had never taken the time to think of who her father was in this world. In her original world, her father left her family and never looked back. The bastard acted as if he never even had a wife and a daughter. She had just assumed the same had happened here or that he had passed away. But by the tone of this woman''s voice, he sounded very much alive. When she mentioned him, a look came on her face that the teenager couldn''t decipher. She tucked it into the back of her mind to try and ask Lucille about when she was healed. "Oh!" The woman gasped and moved to stand away from the girl. She flushed with a guilty tone overtaking her curiosity. "I''m sorry, I must be scaring you." "I am the headmistress at this clinic and I have heard many mutters about you." She confessed making sure to stay far from her. Her small hands clenched together as she continued to explain herself. "Your mother has caused quite the ruckus with my employees." Elaine looked away from the woman. She felt guilty from the reminder of what she indirectly caused. "It''s alright," The woman walked back over and gave her a gentle head pat. Her hands felt warm against Elaine''s cold body. "I''m privy to Lucille''s emotions. She''s very protective over the people she loves, especially her children." She laughed and sat down next to her, crossing her stocking-covered legs over each other. "I will speak to her about her outburst, however. And to see if I can visit my niece in a better state of mind." ''Wait¡­'' Elaine squinted at the woman and repeated what she had said silently. A pleasant aura came from the older woman as she patted her head again. She grabbed at the woman''s dress and looked at her more closely. Her beauty was that of a porcelain doll, with her eyes large and dazzling under the room light. It was hard to see the similarity between her and Lucille. Both women looked as if they walked out of a manhwa, with their enchanted looks almost overwhelming the teenager. But any resemblance ended there. Different nose, different lips, different face. They looked like complete strangers who happened to be gorgeous. "By your reaction, I suppose Lucille decided not to tell you." The woman watched Elaine look her up and down with wide eyes. "It''s getting late so I''ll have to leave," The woman got up and smiled down at her. "All of your questions will be answered tomorrow." Chapter 3.3: Warm Springwater Chapter 3.3: Warm Springwater Elaine found her night and early morning troubled after the woman left. She twisted and turned under the heavy quilts the apprentices wrapped her in with a foul expression. Her hands gripped the blankets tightly as she tried to digest everything. In this world, she had a father out there. And from the way her aunt spoke of him, he must be a good person. But she had trouble thinking of any parent, male or female, as being good when they never visited their child. Lucille had raised her alone until her injury and centered her life around the girl. The man had never raised a hand to help the witch and that infuriated the teenager. Her eyes squinted as she rubbed at them harshly. Of course, there were other explanations for his absence besides being a deadbeat. He could be a traveler who felt the itch to explore the fantasy land he lived in. Or, he was a warrior who met Lucille many years before and is unaware of her ever being pregnant. Her chest hurt as she sighed under the blankets. She wanted to ask the witch herself what exactly happened concerning her birth but her body stopped her. One hand drifted up to her throat and hesitantly touched it. Elaine flinched and silently cursed herself for the hundredth time. Her voice was weak from her injury and she felt pain when her vocal cords failed to work. Plus, she doubted the woman would be able to understand her signature toddler babble. ''I just have to wait for later,'' Elaine knew her talk with the owner of the clinic would give her some answers. The woman looked like she was holding back when speaking to her the day before. ''I wonder if she and Lucille are close.'' The two women looked like they were two sides of the same coin. Her aunt had apprentices who sang her many praises during Elaine''s stay. She had the reputation of a powerful healer and the teenager could only guess as a strong beauty. Like Lucille, her gaze was full of love but unlike her, they were calculated. Elaine could feel how powerful she was. This made her understand why so many women worked under her so loyally. Lucille, in contrast, was pure joy to the teenager. She had a glow to her that matched her glamorous fashion and soft personality. The witch made her feel comforted whenever she came near. The motherly nature Elaine had always remarked was only seen in movies that existed within her soul. It made her feel mixed emotions as she pushed the blankets down to her lap. She was someone who lived a life in the shadows and rejected affection. In her original world, her family was put behind a firm wall ever since her childhood. But with Lucille, that wall had been chipped away until nothing but dust remained. Any boundaries she had before didn''t matter when the woman was present. ''God,'' Elaine bit her lip as she heard a commotion outside her door. The apprentices were up and probably preparing to see her. ''That woman has wormed her way into my heart so easily.'' Her eyebrow twitched as a putrid smell hit her nose. They were brewing a potion for her to drink. While it looked like tea it tasted like cough syrup. She turned green as she heard a cup being poured. It took all her willpower not to vomit. Soft murmurs in a foreign language could be heard. From what she could decipher it was two people. The language they spoke was the one she heard the day she arrived. Their voices were quiet as they chit-chatted and finished their task. One of the two spoke sharply suddenly, the tray shaking as if they hit it. A cabinet was shut with one of the two let out a sigh. After this, the house became silent like before and she heard a door close. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. "Little one, are you awake?" The apprentice from the first day was behind the door. Her voice was smooth like honey as she started to knock. Elaine grumbled, she knew there was no point in avoiding the inevitable. "Yes." She winced and rubbed at her throat some more. Thankfully her croak was loud enough for the apprentice to hear. The doorknob twisted with a squeak and she came in. Steam was coming out of the lone tea cup that waited for her. A rag was wrapped around the cup before she drank it. This kept her hands from burning as it was brought under her nose. She balked at the smell, wanting to throw it on the floor. But the apprentice was watching her like a hawk. With no other choice, Elaine pushed the cup closer to her lips and drank. Even though it looked like any other tea it felt like sludge. The thickness of the liquid made it harder to swallow and her stomach recoiled. The apprentice wiped under her mouth as some spilled back out. It was a fight not to throw it up as she finished. Elaine coughed from the aftertaste it left on her tongue. She cursed whoever decided potions should be so awful. This world could have magic but its medicine was behind in ways that astounded her. "It''s alright," The rag was replaced by a lemon drop which Elaine accepted. "You won''t have to take another till the evening." "Thanks," Elaine looked away from her quickly. She still felt anxious about what Lucille had said to her that day. "Miss?" The teenager knew the woman didn''t want an apology from her. And that she probably felt some way about her due to Lucille. But she wanted to say something to show she felt bad. Because she felt extremely awful remembering that day. While annoyed with the apprentice for overcharging Lucille, she hated what happened. It made her uncomfortable just thinking about it. "Yes, little one? Are you alright?" The apprentice stared with concern and bent down to her level. Elaine took a moment to calm her nerves. "Sorry." That''s all she could say without freezing up. The woman was just staring at her. She was hard to read and the teen feared she''d get cursed at her. All the apprentices kept her at arm''s length and it hurt. The woman kept their heads down but she knew what those glances meant. From one conversation they disliked her presence and treated her as if she weren''t even there. Her hands gripped tightly at the blankets as she spoke to break the silence. "I''m sorry." ''Shit,'' Her eyes watered and she could feel a tightness in her chest. ''Now I''m crying in front of her. Jesus Elaine, hold it together.'' A hand touched her leg and squeezed it. The squeeze was so tight she felt sharp nails digging into her skin. Elaine jumped as a wave of pain went down her injured leg. The hand moved as Elaine tried not to cry any more than she already was. When she looked back at the apprentice her hand was clutched at her chest. She had a red blush dusting her skin as she hurried away. "I apologize little one! I only meant to comfort you!" The apprentice cried out and hung her head in shame. The poor woman was shaking, making Elaine''s chest feel even tighter. "It''s okay." She sniffled. A sigh of relief left the woman and she nodded. She moved to grab the now empty cup from the girl. It was obvious she was surprised by her response. Elaine wondered if the apprentices assumed she was stuck up. Or worse, they figured she was a cruel girl who refused to speak. She watched the woman''s hands shake with a somber feeling. Nothing had changed, the woman still had a negative view of her. She felt like a bad person knowing someone feared her. They all did. Elaine wished that she could voice everything she wanted. She wished so badly that she could walk up to the apprentices and speak her mind. They just didn''t understand who Lucille was and how she acted behind closed doors. Chapter 4.1: Sorceresses & Witches Chapter 4.1: Sorceresses & Witches An hour later, two apprentices came to bring her to the bath house. They placed her in a wheelchair, with a pillow behind her back and a thick blanket over her legs to add extra comfort. When she asked about it they explained her aunt had bought it to help her travel easier. Their wheelchairs were too big for someone her size, so Lucille demanded a brand-new one. Elaine was grateful for the chair as the walk to the bathhouse was long and tedious. They had to move on various stairways and hills that she wouldn¡¯t have been able to hobble over. Thankfully, the bathhouse had a ramp that led to its entrance. The teenager could smell the thick scent of shampoo and bar soap when they entered. Unlike a sauna, the bathhouse was exactly what it advertised. A long hallway connected four rooms separated by sex and age. The room for young girls was in the back, with beautifully painted red peonies on its door. With her jaw dropped, Elaine struggled not to stare at the inside as one of the apprentices opened the door. The walls were made of bamboo woven together, with their floor being made of cool white and baby blue tiles. The entire right side of the broom was occupied by shelves and cabinets. There were soaps, loofahs, sapors, body butter, and scrubs, as well as what she assumed were primitive bath bombs. Towels with beautifully stitched threads on each of their ends sat folded in a neat pile. Each product was organized by color as the apprentice, not in charge of her chair picked a few to use. Honestly, Elaine was stunned by the amount the clinic owned just for one room. It had to have cost them hundreds of dollars to supply. The other apprentice, a woman with rose gold curls and a nervous smile, removed the blanket. Both of the women sent with her looked incredibly young. The two of them couldn''t be more than twenty-five years old. She wondered if Lucille had anything to do with it as they treated her like a doll. The entire walk both complimented her appearance saying she had glass skin and cute dimples. Because she was treated like a pest by the other apprentices, Elaine felt overwhelmed by this. ¡°Rebbecca, are you okay with a bath? Or would you like a shower?¡± She asked, carefully untying the teenager''s shoes. To avoid touching the healing leg, she kept her distance from it. Elaine hummed, unsure of what to say. A shower sounded nice and it would allow her some privacy. But she knew showers in this world were very different from those in her world. When Lucille let her take one, the water that came down was from the rain. A box outside the house would collect the water and it would be cleaned before being deposited onto her body. Every drop would be used and eventually, reused in the water cycle. This world recycled everything it could to preserve nature at its best version of itself. She looked at the shower in the room. It was big enough for two people to stand in, with one-quarter being a bench to sit on. With only a small square serving as a window, a wooden door locked its occupant inside. Seeing this, she shook her head and looked away. No, a bath sounded much better right now. The teenager looked at the large pool of water next to the shower. There were built-in seats made of marble next to openings where water slowly poured in. It looked comfortable enough for her leg not to hurt too much. "Rebecca?" The apprentice looked worried at her silence. Both women had started to get down a pair of towels to use. Elaine left her thoughts and gave her a hesitant smile. "Bath¡­please." Her voice still was hoarse as she spat out the words and sniffled. The rose gold-haired woman blushed and muttered about how cute her voice was. She bent down to pick the girl up with both of her arms. The other apprentice who wore black glasses ran the bath water. She kept smiling as the water warmed up, adjusting her black hair. It seemed like the two were more open with their feelings compared to the older apprentices. As the women undressed her, both of them asked if she was alright. By the time they finished the bathtub was filled halfway with lukewarm water. In all her life, Elaine had never seen water so clear. When the black-haired apprentice poured in body wash she could see it splash in full. Macha green soap swirls and bubbles as it stops filling the tub itself. She put a hand under the water and felt it drip down as she pulled it back up. It felt wonderful, being the perfect temperature for her bath. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. The woman moved slowly as they carefully lowered her in. The water reached up to her neck by the time they stopped. The two got to work on their individual tasks. One apprentice sat behind her, while the other was at her side. She felt her hair being combed through as the light green bubbles tickled her nose. By using the wooden teeth, tangles were undone and knots were worked out. While this happened the apprentice at her side began to massage her body. Elaine found herself blinking a few times, the motions making her feel sleepy. She yawned a bit and closed her eyes as soap was added to her hair. The soap was rubbed in with the help of water being poured onto it from a small bucket. The water felt cold as the blonde apprentice wiped any water away from her eyes. She let out a sigh, feeling relaxed from the feeling of the woman¡¯s hands scrubbing and untangling. Eventually, she began to fall in and out of sleep. The woman made sure to keep her body upright as she nodded off. Her body was washed clean of sweat as the two women talked to each other. Their voices were low to keep from waking her up and melted into the background noise of the room. "I don''t know what the others were talking about. She''s so well-behaved." The voice she recognized as the blonde whispered. "She''s still the child of a sorceress, Agatha." The other woman said, sounding like she had told the blonde this countless times. "I know, I know. But look at her, she''s so cute." A hand moved to pinch one of her cheeks to empathize with her appearance. A sigh left the black-haired apprentice. "And her mother is beautiful but we both know what their kind does." Elaine heard her stand up, carrying the bottles of soap they used. The teenager struggled not to ask what they meant by ''their kind''. From what she had seen, witches weren¡¯t rare in this world. The woman who ran the clinic and employed them was one herself. She found it difficult to believe that witches were discriminated against when they were loyal to one. But maybe there were categories of witches she didn''t know of. Like a comic where dark magic users are treated the opposite of how light magic users were. "Not all sorceresses are bad. Mistress is one and she''s opened up her home to us," Agatha argued as she used a towel to dry off Elaine''s hair. "She gave us all a stable income when no one else would in this town." "It doesn''t matter, Aggie." "What the hell are you talking about? Mistress is a wonderful wom¨C" A bottle fell on the ground and the black-haired woman yelled. "She allowed that wench to come here! Anyone who allows a demon conspirator, a common whore in these walls, is just as bad." "She walked right in demanding we forget all our other duties to care for her child. Mistress let that woman treat us like dirt for a month''s worth of gold. And instead of caring for the sick, we''re forced to act like maids for a whore''s child." Agatha stopped drying her hair to argue back, her voice rising as she spoke. "She''s a mother, Clarissa. I''d think you of all people would understand what she''s feeling." The disappointment in her tone was evident as the room became silent. It was a lot to take in. The knowledge that sorceresses were so hated didn''t matter. What did matter was the way they spoke about Lucille. It pissed her off hearing the way her existence disgusted them. The black-haired woman had called her a whore. She spoke of the woman like she was diseased. She knew they said worse in private. Inside Elaine felt her emotions bubble over as she grits her teeth. Their kindness had been a ruse all because they thought she was a kid. ''My leg''s fucked and these people only care about money.'' If she wasn''t pretending she was sleeping Elaine would''ve let out a hollow laugh. Her blood made her something else, someone who was judged without knowing her history. They acted like Lucille hoping for her to be healthy was a crime. Elaine thought back to the auburn-haired woman with pain. If what they said was true, she''d have expected the venom spat at her. Elaine felt like garbage knowing she had forced this from her stupid fall. The kind woman who raised and cared for her had taken the pain gracefully. The only thing that brought her comfort was that the apprentices were unaware of her relation to their Mistress. No, they just assumed the brunette had been swayed by money and not love. Sitting in the warm water, the teenager found herself burning with rage. During the entire stay, she worked so hard to behave. She felt so guilty for Lucille lashing out she had held her emotions inward. She had assumed the apprentices didn''t like her because of that. So she played nice, she listened and apologized. And what that earned her was being ignored, neglected, and lied to. Every compliment they gave her must''ve been a snide insult she was unable to catch. Any gratitude she felt for the apprentices was gone. Elaine felt hollow as she opened her eyes and looked over at Agatha. "Thank you," She strained to speak in the childish voice gifted to her. Her hand moved to touch the older woman''s as she smiled. "Miss Agatha." Chapter 4.2: Overwhelming Truth Chapter 4.2: Overwhelming Truth After her bath, the women dressed her for warm weather. They reminded her to be careful not to dirty her dress in the property''s various gardens as they slipped it on. The dress came to her knees, with a more modern cut compared to outfits she''d worn previously. The skirt was thin enough for her to move in comfortably without sweating buckets from its fabric. The sleeves were short and puffy, reaching just below her shoulders. It was a color Clarissa described as marigold with the titular flower being sewn on her collar in white. Finally, Agatha styled her long hair into a bun that was neat and fit for a princess. Her aunt''s property stopped at a greenhouse. This was where she grew herbs, flowers, and plants she used to create potions. The building was beautiful, with a brick pathway leading to its entrance. Glass doors sat open with the woman standing a few feet away. She wore a short dress like Elaine that had had a cape sewn on its back. Her long, chocolate hair was done in two braids down her back. In her gloved hands was a pair of metal scissors. She used them to snip away at a rosebush that towered over her. Red and white roses hung above her head as she turned to meet the eyes of the teenager. The woman smiled and set her scissors down. She beckoned for the girl to be brought closer with a wave of her hand. "Thank you, ladies. I''ll call you back in an hour for her potions." From behind the teenager''s wheelchair, Agatha looked at her Mistress with confusion. "I thought you wanted us to bring her lunch, Mistress?" Dainty, chocolate brown gloves were folded as the woman clicked her tongue in reply. "I changed my mind and sent Sasha to get something from the market." "You two can go prepare an order of fever kits. A nursery has had an outbreak and they need fifty bags by noon." She said as the woman wheeled the teen over to a large picnic table. Both apprentices carefully sat the girl down on a bench. A lightweight blanket was laid across her lap to keep her comfortable. The table was large for a group of six to dine at. A pretty tablecloth made of cotton hung off the table on each end. Two plates sat empty with matching golden utensils in their middle. The entire aesthetic of the greenhouse matched perfectly with the woman. It gave off the vibe of an old, Gothic home you would see in period pieces. Elaine couldn''t help but watch her aunt in shock at how beautiful she was. Even when she was working with dirt and nature, the brunette looked like a doll. Her dainty hands crossed over one another as she sat down across from the teen. She stared at the two women who stood awkwardly under her scrutiny. There was a quietness that overtook the room as her aunt stared at them. Neither spoke, waiting for the other to take control of the conversation. Finally, Agatha opened her mouth to say something but a jab from Clarissa''s elbow closed it. Elaine could tell the other woman wanted to get as far as possible from her. She practically jumped for joy when she was dismissed, a wide grin blooming on her face. The teenager wished she could wipe it off her face as she held her comments inward. Clarissa directed her attention to her coworker who nervously looked at the teen. Their eyes met and the golden-haired woman jumped back a bit. Elaine''s expression must have been sour as her face crumbled. The apprentice bowed her head, with Clarissa following. "Alright, have a good day Mistress." Both women walked off as their Mistress waved at them. Her wave reminded the teenager of a debutante, prim and proper enough to remain as ladylike as possible. She used her other hand to pat Elaine on the head. This messed up the girl''s hair, her bun becoming loose enough to allow strands to poke out of it. Eventually, the bun just collapsed and her hair sat down on her shoulders, curled up. This didn''t bother the older woman who wiped pieces of rose off of the table and stared at Elaine intensely. The teenager felt like she was being judged by her and squirmed in her seat. The woman could switch off her warmness with a simple blink. Her stare turned into a glare as she started to speak. "I have to apologize, Rebecca." Her aunt deflated and leaned over to hold a strand of her hair. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Elaine gaped and found herself stuttering. "Um¡­why?" She was lost by the sudden change in behavior by the woman. Her aunt played with her hair between her fingers as she talked, with an absent-minded look on her face. "I know that my apprentices haven''t treated you the best. So I must apologize, they aren''t aware of your connection to me." She let go of her hair, moving back into place. She put her hand under her chin as she continued. "If they did, they would know better than to show their distaste for you so openly. I feel guilty that you have been neglected by women I employed and trained for years." The teenager didn''t know whether to be relieved or angry that the woman was aware of her treatment. She stared at her silently, her hands balled up fists as the woman watched her. It hurt that her aunt hadn''t said anything before now. She wondered if the woman just didn''t see it as important to speak up. And that she hoped, apologizing to Elaine quietly would be enough to solve the matter. "I understand you''re upset," Her aunt said with her eyes layered onto her fists. "But, I cannot do much about it at the moment. You''re very young Rebecca, intelligent yes but still a child. So you won''t understand what I''m saying but I need to say it." "Your mother scares them and so do you. You are my niece but I cannot share that openly due to her behavior." Her voice was emotionless as Elaine felt goosebumps go down her spine. The woman had a faraway look in her eyes as she mentioned Lucille briefly. "Why?" The teenager asked, wishing she could ask more. Thankfully, the woman knew what she was trying to say and held her hand. "Lucille made mistakes when we were young. Cracks developed in nearly all of her relationships. Your father was the only person who could heal them. He helped people regain trust in her. When Lucille threatened my head apprentice she made what little trust they had to crumble." She sounded odd as she finished speaking. "I cannot fix the distrust she created towards you but if it ever gets bad, please tell me." Her grip on Elaine''s hand grew tighter as she practically demanded the teenager to agree. She didn''t know what to say or how to process the info dump thrown at her. The fact that Lucille had done something so hurried every apprentice hated her was a lot to take in. No wonder they tried to scam her, they hated her guts and wanted her to get frustrated enough to just leave. It explained why the woman was such an isolationist, she was running away from her problems. Now that she was a mother everything must have made her paranoid. There could be hundreds of people out there with vendettas against Lucille and any child she had. The teenager felt awful for her, she had so much on her shoulders and an injured child just made it worse. It was her fault that Lucille had threatened the head apprentice. She was scared for Elaine and was ready to do anything for her to feel better. God, the teenager wanted to smack her past self. She had caused the witch so much grief for nothing. The woman was in a place where nearly everyone wanted to get at her. They called her a whore and saw her as a monster mooching off of them. They probably thought Lucille would stab them if they stood too close to her. When really, all Elaine could see was a scared mother forced to raise her daughter in hiding. She had only made such a threat out of mind-numbing fear for her only living child. "Sorry." Elaine apologized and fought to make her toddler body not cry. She felt so guilty, it hurt to even breathe as she tried to agree with the woman. "It''s alright, Rebecca. I should be the one saying sorry. You''re too young to hear any of this." Her aunt let go of her hand with her own guilt evident. She got up from her seat and wiped her skirt off with her bare hands. "I''ll bring your lunch to your room, I shouldn''t have overwhelmed you." Quickly, she put her gloves back on without facing her. Elaine cursed her body as tears went down her face. She was thankful for finally being told what the hell was going on. However, it felt like someone had to punch her in the stomach for it to happen. Her hand hurt from how hard the woman had held it. It was bruised as the teen gave it a look and winced. She''d have a lot to think about now with everything she knew. First, she wanted to find Lucille and hug her. That was the only way she could convey how sorry she was. The woman was going through so much because of one stupid choice she made. She watched the woman move to grab her wheelchair and she shook her head. No, she wanted to stay away from the drama to think clearly. If any of the apprentices saw her blubbering she''d feel worse. "Want to stay," She forced the words out in a weak croak. Crying had made her sore throat return with a vengeance as she tried again. "Want to eat here." "Oh, little one." Her aunt started to wipe away her tears with her gloved hands. The touch felt nice as the woman began to dote over her. "I ordered pastries that will make you feel better," She smiled at her, albeit it was clearly fake. "You can have as much as you like. Don''t worry about it affecting your diet, you can eat solids soon anyway."