Early the next morning, Motifiel stood in front of the mirror, practicing her smile over and over again.
She tugged at the corners of her mouth, trying to make herself look like an ordinary human girl.
“Act natural, act natural.” She muttered at the mirror, “I remember humans don’t really like smiling that much, right? Why does that Saintess like to smile so much? Am I remembering wrong? Do humans just love to smile?”
“Little Mo? Time to head out!” Liang Lai’s voice called from outside the door.
Motifiel hurriedly straightened her collar.
“Com—coming!”
She opened the door to find Liang Lai leaning beside the stained glass window in the corridor.
Sunlight streamed through the colored glass, casting dappled hues on her face and making those violet eyes seem especially gentle.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
Liang Lai reached out to smooth her upturned collar.
Motifiel felt her heart skip a beat.
This gesture was far too intimate.
Darkspawn never touched each other like this…
But then again, if she remembered correctly, humans didn’t do this either, did they? How could this woman manage such natural closeness?
And just now, Liang Lai’s words made Motifiel recall last night’s kiss all over again… that soft, fragrant kiss from the gentle older sister standing right before her.
Her face flushed uncontrollably, and she quickly lowered her head.
“Y-yes… it was fine.” She stammered, instinctively touching her neck.
There was a tiny scratch there, a mark left from absentmindedly clawing at herself the night before.
Liang Lai took her hand.
“Don’t be nervous, we’re just following procedure.”
Motifiel nodded stiffly, feeling as if Liang Lai’s palm was so warm it could burn her.
The Darkspawn’s body temperature was much lower than that of humans, so this warmth was both unfamiliar and strangely comforting.
At last, they stood before the stained-glass doors of the [Holy Registry].
Motifiel’s nails dug unconsciously into her palms.
She’d heard stories about how strict the testing here was—since four months ago, every adoptee had to drip blood onto the Saint Crystal to prove they weren’t a Darkspawn in disguise.
But that part was still alright.
She was a mutant Darkspawn, able to produce a small amount of blood… though its color was a dark red, not the bright red of humans.
“Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous, just a few drops of blood, it’ll be fine.” Motifiel tried to comfort herself in her heart.
“Third Saintess.”
The Mint-Green Robe Registrar looked up from the pile of parchment, a monocle made of crystal perched on the bridge of their nose.
“Please have this young lady drip her blood in the center of the Angel Plate.”
“Ah, another new regulation?” Liang Lai raised her eyebrows.
The registrar glanced at Liang Lai. “There has been a surge in heretic activity lately; the Church has strengthened security… Third Saintess, I believe you understand.”
“Understood.”
Liang Lai felt Motifiel’s hand suddenly turn icy cold.
“Don’t be afraid,” she whispered, “It’ll be like a mosquito bite.”
She thought the child beside her was afraid of the blood draw—and that made sense, since children were often scared of pain.
Motifiel stared fixedly at the little silver plate shaped like a cherub.
The angel’s open mouth bared a few sharp teeth, making it look terrifying.
Her throat tightened. Though she was a mutant who could produce a bit of blood, who knew if something might go wrong?
What if… what if this really could detect if she was Darkspawn? When Lord Claudious lectured about this, she’d accidentally dozed off… and now, her legs were trembling so badly she thought she might collapse.
“Why am I so cowardly?!” Motifiel cursed herself inwardly.
The registrar handed over a silver needle.
Motifiel’s fingers trembled uncontrollably as she took it.
“I—I can do it myself…”
She avoided Liang Lai’s worried gaze and, gritting her teeth, pricked her fingertip.
A drop of dark red blood slowly welled up and fell onto the center of the silver plate.
Motifiel held her breath, watching that drop of blood on the plate.
Please, please, let nothing go wrong…
Suddenly, the crystal wind chimes at the door jingled.
The air filled with the scent of cedar and myrrh, as thirteen priests in crimson robes filed in.
Crimson Cardinals.
“Huh? Those guys again? Every time a newcomer arrives, this lot shows up right on time.” Liang Lai muttered.
She could feel the little one beside her start to shake.
Motifiel’s back instantly went rigid.
The hems of their crimson robes were embroidered with scarlet thorn patterns—these were some of the Church’s inquisitors, experienced in rooting out Darkspawn.
“Random inspection of adoptee qualifications today.” The leading cardinal’s voice was like rusty gears. “Please cooperate.”
Before Liang Lai could react, Motifiel was suddenly lifted into the air by some invisible force. The cardinal pointed a Black Crystal Cross at her forehead; in its center, an eye streaked with blood vessels abruptly opened.
“Again with this pose? It was the same when they arrested Dolosa…” Liang Lai covered her face, thinking the Crimson Cardinals were as troublesome as Wind Demons.
That eye spun around, fixing a piercing stare on Motifiel’s face.
Motifiel felt all the blood in her body freeze, her skin starting to itch—a Darkspawn’s uncontrollable reaction when extremely nervous.
If her skin cracked now…
For some reason, Motifiel instinctively looked to the Saintess beside her for help.
At a glance, she froze.
She, a Darkspawn, was actually seeking help from a Saintess? If her kin heard of this, they’d laugh her out of the nest! But… what if Liang Lai really would help her?
“I found her at the church gate—an orphan,” Liang Lai said, “I already checked at the time. This child, there’s nothing abnormal about her.”
The cardinals let out mechanical chuckles.
Motifiel seized the chance to sneak a look at the Angel Plate.
Her blood drop was slowly seeping into the plate, with no abnormal reaction at all.
The air grew tense for a few seconds.
The Crimson Cardinals’ gazes also fell upon the plate.
A long moment passed.
“Proceed.”
The cardinal holding Motifiel gently set her down.
Motifiel’s legs were so weak she could barely stand, but Liang Lai was quick to support her.
“I-I’m fine.” Motifiel tried to keep her voice steady.
The Crimson Cardinals didn’t look back at them, turning to leave.
The registrar grabbed a stamp.
“This is your Adoption Certificate.”
Liang Lai took the gold-embossed parchment, its back still printed with those familiar small words:
[Adopter: Third Saintess, must perform the Blood Feeding Ritual for the adoptee, lasting thirty new moons.]
After leaving the registry, Liang Lai suddenly crouched down to meet Motifiel’s eyes.
“Don’t worry. I know everyone has their own little secrets, even children.”
She winked.
“So if you don’t want to tell me yet, I won’t force you~”
Motifiel froze.
This human… knew she was hiding some unspeakable secret, yet still had no intention of driving her away?
“W-why?” she stammered.
Liang Lai ruffled her hair.
“Because seeing you scared makes my heart ache.”
That sentence was like a blunt knife, slow and deep, piercing into Motifiel’s heart. She opened her mouth, but couldn’t utter a sound.
“Come on, I’ll take you to eat something delicious~” Liang Lai stood up, taking her hand.
Motifiel followed mechanically, her mind in chaos.
What was up with this Saintess? Why was she so nice to her? Weren’t they supposed to be enemies…
Liang Lai bought two Light Honey Candy, handing her one.
Motifiel carefully accepted it, imitating Liang Lai and popping it into her mouth.
The sweet flavor burst on her tongue, making her unconsciously curl her lips into a smile.
“Tasty?” Liang Lai asked with a smile.
Motifiel nodded, sucking on it hard. This kind of sweetness was something the Darkspawn had never experienced; they usually only ate carrion and certain types of fungi.
“Eat slowly, don’t choke.”
Liang Lai reached out to rub her head again.
“If you like it, I’ll bring you often.”
Motifiel felt her eyes grow hot, quickly lowering her head to hide her face as she focused on her snack.
“Um, um,” she whispered, “why did you want to adopt me?”
Liang Lai bit her spoon, thinking for a moment.
“Because you looked like you really needed a home.”
“But—but the others…” Motifiel thought of Dexilensi’s hostile glare, “They don’t seem to welcome me.”
“They’re just not used to you yet.” Liang Lai comforted her.
“It’ll get better the more time you spend together. Look at Asterys and Delucia, and Illucy—they like you, don’t they?”
Motifiel recalled the twins… Their gazes were more curious than affectionate, and Illucy seemed more like she empathized with her. But for now, she chose to stay silent.
“Oh right,” Liang Lai suddenly leaned in, “Did you have a nightmare last night? I think I heard you shouting something.”
Motifiel’s spoon clattered to the floor, and she hurriedly bent down to pick it up, using the chance to hide her suddenly pale face.
“N-no, it’s nothing, just dreamed of the past.”
Liang Lai regarded her thoughtfully, but didn’t ask further.
On the way back, Motifiel deliberately slowed her steps, falling half a pace behind Liang Lai.
From this angle, she could clearly see the Saintess’s slender figure and silver hair fluttering in the wind.
[This human really is strange. She should be the most devout clergy, but she lied to the Church for the sake of an ‘Orphan’ she just met. Clearly of noble status, yet she’s willing to squat down and look a dirty child in the eye.]
Motifiel touched her chest. Something there was changing, making her both afraid and expectant.
“Little Mo?”
Liang Lai looked back at her.
“Tired?”
Motifiel shook her head, quickening her pace to catch up and took Liang Lai’s hand of her own accord.
“Liang Lai… Mama,” she whispered, “Th-thank you.”
Calling her “Mama” for the first time felt a bit embarrassing… but the other children called her that, so she should too!
Of course, the words came from the heart, even if she still didn’t know why she wanted to say thank you, or if she truly deserved such kindness.
Liang Lai froze for a moment, then broke into a radiant smile.
She squeezed Motifiel’s hand a little tighter, and softly said,
“No need to thank me. You are my child~”
Feeling the warmth in her hand, Motifiel suddenly wished this road could be a bit longer—long enough for her to figure out what this strange warmth in her heart really was.
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