✴ ᴀ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ ️✴️
ᴩᴀʀᴛ ɪ

[THE NEXT DAY]
[CURRENT TIME: 7:00 A.M.]

Chara felt a tingle in her belly.

Am I nervous?
Am I excited?
Or am I still hungry?

She can't understand her feelings right now. Chara still can't believe she will work and stay for a year inside the majestic castle like the one where she's standing now.

She was still standing in front of the main entrance. Chara looked around in awed.

The smooth, polished marble of the castle walls, the ornate columns, the high, arched doorway. It was a nice place. She felt she was a dwarf who stepped inside the giant's castle.

Chara was so happy, she could almost burst in happiness. If only mother, and father could see this too. She thought.

For a moment, her smile vanished.

Mother, Father. If only.

"My little bird is finally ready to leave her nest." Amelia sniffed, turning away quickly and roughly pushing the back of her hand against her cheek.

"Be safe, and do your best, Chara. We will wait for your return." her father said.

Sam and Amelia hugged their daughter for the last time.

Chara tried not to let a single tear escape from her eyes, she promised herself to be brave in any situation.

She also promised she won't leave her parents, and it mustn't be broken. But in their situation, she must. Besides, Chara will only do it for the sake of their living.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of myself." Chara reassured, and she hugged them tighter.

Chara was still on the middle of her thoughts. A cold hand touched her shoulder and it instantly brought back her attention.

Like Chara, the girl who woke up her senses has long wavy blond hair. Only she was taller and two years older than Chara.

"Hey, you coming or not." the girl said.

"Huh, what's happening?" Chara was confused when she noticed the other five girls were walking inside through the hall.

"The squire will show us our room where we can stay." she answered.

Chara's smile widens as she gripped her bag, and they both catched up with the others.

They were guided inside the castle, and through the halls they passed, ginormous paintings were hanged in the walls.

Paintings of the map of the whole lands in Cardonia, of the former King and Queen, and of the other people in crowns. There's even a painting of Baby Aileen and Luna.

The squire lead them to a room near the kitchen area. He opened the door as the girls tried to peek in.

Inside, was another hall. A dozen of rooms were placed in both sides, and a staircase that leaded to another multiple rooms. It was the dormitory for maids.

The squire unfurled a piece of paper and posted it on the main door, and cleared his throat.

"Listen up! Your names are listed
here-" he pointed at the paper- "also your room number. Expect you will have a roommate. Now go on, and find your rooms and unpack. After 30 minutes, procede to the kitchen."

Later in time, the squire left. Chara searched for her name on the list, and so does the others.

#5 - Chara Miller - Room 16

Eureka! She found it.

But then, Chara looked at the same blond girl she met earlier. She run her finger to the list to scan for her name, after a second, she stopped.

#6 - Vina Blaxburn - Room 16

She caught Chara was looking at her, she smiled and asked, "So, what's your number?"

"Same as yours," Chara answered, and pointed at her name. "It says, Room 16."

"Then let's go. Let's find our room, roommate." the girl 'Vina' said excitedly.

Chara was thrilled. She manage to befriend with her fellow kitchen maid, It was definitely a good day.

Together, they entered the dormitory hall. In each room they passed, they looked at the number, labeled at the top of the door.

Vina and Chara have seen their room upstairs.

Room #16, it was written on the top of the door in front of them.

Vina opens the door, and Chara was overwhelmed to see how huge, and gorgeous their room was.

The walls were painted white as snow, it wasn't Chara's favorite but it was nice.

In each sides, two individual beds wad placed with a nightstand behind. In the middle back of the room, there are two large cabinets enough for the girls can put their clothes. It also have a rectangular desk for them to use, it was placed in the middle.

Chara was really amazed, her eyes could almost sparkle like stars, "This place is so-"

"Boring!" Vina finished.

Huh? Chara was suppose to say Awesome! but it seems she and her new roommate have different perspectives.

"I know you think I'm so wrong, but what Im saying is it doesn't have any decorations." said Vina.

"Decoration?" Chara looked at her confused. She noticed Vina took a flower pot with dark soil inside, in her suitcase.

She putted it in the center of the table. Vina's hand shines brightly and waved it gracefully around the pot.

Magically, two daffodils sprouted. Vina smiled, but still not satisfied.

Double Awesome! Chara thought, seeing her sprouts a yellow bulbous flower made her realized Vina has the magic of nature, and she can't live without it.

"That's more like it. But it needs more floral." said Vina,looking around the room, and back at Chara.

"You don't mind if I'll add something in our room right?" Vina asked.

"Sure. Just don't make it a jungle, I'm not immune to live in such place." she anwered.

Vina laughed. "Of course I won't, silly."

Her hands begin to shine again, but this time it glowed like the beam of the sun.

She waved it high in the air, as thin vines sprouted and crawled on their walls, and pink flowers began to bloom in each vines.

Chara inhaled for the sweet fragrance of the pink blossoms.

"Now it's perfect! Doesn't it." Vina twirled around gleefully.

Chara do agree. It was like Vina had putted a new wallpaper designed with elegant curved vines, with pink blooming flowers.

But the only difference is it wasn't just a wallpaper, it was real. It was made by real nature.

"It feels like I am still at home." Vina squeeled, still dancing around behind her floral creation.

"Where do you live, Vina?" Chara asked curiously.

Chara expects her to answer proudly, but she was wrong. Vina was shocked at her question, she nearly tripped down.

Vina frozed at where she stand, and her happiness, was replaced by fear. But why?