But in the end, these were the risks of the profession she had chosen.

The sun was high in the sky, signaling that early afternoon had arrived.

I’ll try again tomorrow!

With that thought, Violet set off, intending to return to the orphanage so she could finally rest.

Making her way through the narrow streets, she eventually found herself once again in the market square, forced to backtrack in an attempt to find the correct road.

She walked for a long time, lost in her thoughts.

Tired and feeling a bit of pain in her feet, Violet finally stopped and sat down on a small stone stairway—just a few steps in a quiet, lightly traveled street.

In the distance, she saw people walking peacefully.
Two well-dressed adults holding the hand of a small child.

Violet watched them for a moment.
They were smiling and looked happy. She found herself imagining what her life might have been like if she had stayed with her own parents.

A feeling of emptiness washed over her.

No point thinking about that too much…

Violet shook those thoughts away, focusing instead on what she needed to do the next day: return to the guild and accept a new assignment, so she could shake off the failure of this long, exhausting day.

Then a voice.

“Violet!”

A figure ran toward her, smiling and waving, before stopping right in front of her.

Violet stared at the young girl, who was looking at her with teary, emotional eyes.

“…Nilly!” Violet jumped to her feet.

“Violet, it’s been so long!” Nilly threw herself at her, hugging her tightly.
“I’m so happy to see you! But… what are you doing here? Are you working at a shop too? Don’t tell me you got lost again!”

Violet flinched, suddenly realizing she was once again in the city’s commercial district.

“What? Lost?”

She looked Nilly in the eyes.

The girl was her same age—slightly taller, with a slim build, bright blue eyes, and a short, golden blond bob haircut.

“You look great, Nilly.”

The two girls studied each other with curiosity.

“Thank you! You look great too! It feels like forever… How have you been?”

Violet and Nilly had grown up together as orphans in the same home since they were little, and they had always been good friends.
Then one day, people came to the orphanage doors. A man and a woman, welcomed in by Mama Célene, explained that they had never been able to have children, but would be more than happy to adopt one of the kids living there.

They chose her—Nilly.
A mature, lively girl whose bright eyes had immediately won them over.
And they took her away with them.

Years had passed since then.

“I… yes. For now. I still live at the orphanage,” Violet admitted with difficulty.

“But I’m about to leave, you know? I registered with the guild today.”

Nilly gave her a more careful look, noticing the staff and the unfamiliar clothes.

“Really??? Wow! That’s amazing! So you actually did it!”

Nilly hugged her again.

Violet had dreamed since childhood of going on great adventures.
Nilly, instead, had always hoped someone would take her away, adopt her, and teach her a trade so she could live peacefully.
Her wish had come true.

“Yes, well… I’m still inexperienced, but I think with time, you know… Anyway—are you still working at the shop?”

Violet spoke quickly, trying to shift the attention away from herself.

“Me? Oh, well, I can’t complain. I’m still working at my family’s bakery, as always. Ah! And I have a boyfriend!”
Nilly stretched out her hand, showing Violet a silver ring with a small gleaming stone set into it.

“A boyfriend?” Violet’s curiosity turned dangerously nosy.

“Yes! He’s an apprentice at one of the jewelers here in the commercial district. Well, actually, he’s the owner’s son. He asked me to marry him… Can you believe it?”

Violet, though genuinely happy for her friend, stared at the ring, feeling her blood boil with envy.

“Of course, we’re still young. We need to wait until we’re of age. But he’s really kind, and he cares about me so much.”

Seeing the sparkle in her friend’s eyes, Violet couldn’t do anything but congratulate her.

“I’m happy for you, Nilly… Truly.”

Nilly stepped closer, taking Violet’s hands in hers with a bright smile.

“Thank you, Violet. That means a lot.”

Then a voice in the distance caught Nilly’s attention. A tall, handsome young man was waving at her from down the street.

“Sorry, Violet, I really have to go.”
Nilly hugged her again.

“Say hi to Mama Célene for me! And come visit sometimes—tell me about your adventures! See you soon!”

Nilly dashed off toward the boy waiting for her.

Violet watched them walk away, hand in hand, until they vanished from sight.

What a hellish day…

The sun was already sinking, and the shadows of the houses stretched across the ground, long and distorted.

“Well… I should head back.”

Lost in thought, Violet crossed the city, eventually reaching the river. She found herself walking over a wide stone bridge that stretched above a broad, calm stream, surrounded by people coming and going from the central districts.

Once she reached the opposite bank, the scenery slowly changed.

The houses grew lower and simpler, and the smells drifting from this part of town became stronger.

The dirt road stretched straight ahead, and Violet followed it until she reached a large, dilapidated-looking building surrounded by a low wall.

She walked along it, approaching the main entrance of the orphanage.
In the distance she heard children’s voices—loud, cheerful, chaotic.

They’re all still outside?

Violet approached the small wooden gate leading into the orphanage yard and stepped through it, feeling the exhaustion of the long day finally settle into her bones.

“Now I’ll take a nice bath and then—”

Splash…

The moment Violet set foot inside the courtyard, a full bucket of water crashed down on her.

Soaked from head to toe, she froze wide-eyed as the children—just as shocked as she was—stared at her in terror.

There were four of them.
Two human boys, Gal and Piro; a feline-looking therianthrope boy, Negis; and a tiny girl with rounded ears and a fluffy reddish tail, Lili.

Now dripping wet again, Violet watched fat droplets slide down her body and pool at her feet.

Her eyebrows twitched upward, beginning to tremble uncontrollably. A thick vein throbbed on her forehead.

“Who… who did this?”

The children stood frozen, watching her expression morph into that of a rabid beast ready to devour them all.

“S-sorry, big sis…”
Negis stepped forward, still holding the empty bucket in his hands.

“W-we were just playing, and then you walked in, so—”

“So it was you???”
Violet’s face went bright red.

The children exchanged panicked glances—and bolted.

“Run for it!!”

At Gal’s shout, they scattered in every direction across the courtyard.

“If I catch you, you’re all dead this time, you little brats!!”

Violet shook with rage.
Her hair, drenched and clinging to her forehead; the heavy drops falling one after another from the tip of her nose.

She took a step forward to chase them—but a firm, mature voice echoed through the courtyard, freezing her in place.

“Violet!”

She turned toward the building’s entrance and saw a woman staring at her with a stern expression.

“…Célene.”

Célene was the mother.
She ran the orphanage entirely on her own, caring for every child who passed through its doors.

Standing in the doorway, she continued to watch Violet with a look of reprimand.

“Are you picking on the children again?”

Violet’s anger evaporated instantly.

“Fine… but this is the last time!”

She said it loudly—making sure the fleeing children could hear her.

Mother Célene looked at Violet closely, noticing the exhausted expression on her face.

“Come inside, Violet. I’ll help you dry off.”

Violet cast one last glare toward the courtyard, then walked toward the door, joining the mother and following her inside.

There was something in that woman’s calm voice that could dispel any worry and soothe Violet instantly.
Célene had a gentle nature, always kind and understanding. Her voice was quiet and steady—tired, yes—but somehow always able to calm you and make you feel safe.

They walked through the corridors until they reached a small room lit by a large window. Inside were several old wooden tubs, worn and aged.

“Come on, take your clothes off and get in.”

Without embarrassment, Violet undressed, revealing a young, smooth body, droplets of water sliding down her skin.
Once she stepped into the tub, Célene patiently began pouring fresh water over her and handed her a bar of harsh, rough lye soap.

Violet started scrubbing herself, watching as Célene—her back turned—prepared more water for rinsing, transferring it from a large bucket to a smaller one.

Violet had always found her beautiful. Tall, with long chestnut hair, she was a woman with a young, pleasant face. Yet her features were lean, and her strong body carried the signs of a life filled with hard work.

Everyone called her Mother, and as far as Violet was concerned, no other word suited her better.
Day after day, that young woman poured every bit of energy into others, with little left for herself.

Once she finished rinsing Violet’s naked body, Célene handed her dry cloths, which the girl used to scrub herself and finally wrap up in.

“…Thank you, Célene.”

The woman didn’t reply.
She simply took Violet’s clothes, submerged them in the water, and began scrubbing them with the same bar of soap Violet had used.

When Violet finished drying off, she put on some of Célene’s old clothes and followed her into an adjoining room.

Inside were a worn table, wooden chairs, and a fireplace where Célene neatly placed Violet’s clean clothes to dry.

“Sit down, I’ll dry your hair.”

Célene stepped behind Violet, wrapping her head in a cloth and gently rubbing it.

“How did it go today… at the guild?”

With her face hidden under the cloth, Violet managed to conceal her embarrassed expression.

“Good… well, um… I signed up…”

Célene was silent for a few seconds.

“And nothing else?”

The question didn’t surprise her.
There was no point trying to hide anything from Célene.

“Well… um… things got… pretty bad for me…”

Again, a long silence.

“I understand. What matters is that you’re safe. But Violet… you should really find some companions.”

Célene knew her girl well, and as always, she could predict Violet’s thoughts and worries.
The day—many years ago—when Violet had confessed she wanted to become an adventurer, Célene had reacted with her usual calm, without the slightest sign of agitation.

She had simply smiled and asked if Violet was truly sure about the path she wished to take.
But never—not even once—had she tried to dissuade her, nor had she ever judged her for it.

“I plan to go back tomorrow and maybe accept a simpler mission. You know… I think, with time, I’ll manage to find a group to join…”

When she finished drying her head, Célene lifted the cloth and folded it neatly.

“It would be nice if you made some friends. You’re always alone, surrounded only by children…”

Still hidden behind the cloth, Violet took a moment.
Aside from Nilly, she had never managed to form bonds with the other children at the orphanage.