The next morning, Leo left early on his own search for a translator, hoping to catch sight of any travelers who might know a common language. Meanwhile, Mila and Irina decided to explore more of the town. Irina had dressed herself as elegantly as possible, which Mila found a bit excessive given their surroundings. They wandered the narrow, uneven streets, but instead of finding translators, they only encountered disgruntled locals and skeptical glances from men who were visibly uninterested in helping.

After a few hours of futile searching, they veered off the path and found themselves walking along a field bordering the town. Mila enjoyed the open air and gazed across the landscape when she spotted Irina looking intently at a large, stately house in the distance.

"That's a beautiful place!" Irina said, her eyes lighting up. Without waiting for Mila's agreement, she marched straight towards the house.

As they approached, however, the grandeur faded to reveal a crowded farm bustling with animals—a far cry from the elegant manor Irina had imagined. Chickens scattered underfoot, and a steady hum of clucking, mooing, and bleating surrounded them. Suddenly, Mila noticed a young girl, maybe fifteen, racing around after a loose hen. She wore a simple grey dress and white stockings, her long, fluffy brown hair bouncing as she ran.

Irina glanced at her with a raised eyebrow, whispering something in Ukrainian about the girl's appearance. The girl, having finally caught the hen, turned her head and gave Irina an unimpressed look.

"Думаєш, я не розумію тебе?" the girl shot back with a smirk, surprising both Mila and Irina.

Mila burst into laughter. "Looks like we found a fellow Ukrainian speaker!"

They walked over, now intrigued, and the girl introduced herself. "I'm Katalin Bizjak. I work here as a maid," she explained, with a hint of defiance in her voice. "Been stuck here in this town all my known life, but my heart is set on leaving." Her tone softened slightly. "I'm an orphan, you see, and I think... maybe I have family somewhere in the south."

Mila's eyes brightened. "That's perfect because that's exactly where we're headed! We could use someone who speaks the language here—and it sounds like you'd be eager for a change of scenery."

Katalin's expression turned serious. "I'll do it. Anything to leave this wretched town."

With the deal set, Mila, Irina, and Katalin exchanged pleased smiles. Finally, they'd found the help they needed, and Mila could feel the excitement bubbling up in her—this journey was turning into more than she could have ever expected.