Reparations

"Okay, it'll just be those two dresses, right?" Euwelyn asked. "I-If that larger dress needs adjustments, I-I can still-"

"No!" Annie said. "You need to get rest, Euwelyn."

She sighed. "Y-You're right, but-"

"No buts!" Annie said, stamping a foot. "You're getting some rest, and that's final. Besides, I've sewn quite a bit in my time, I can do the adjustments myself. Now, what do I owe you?"

"Mgh, maybe... 3 Gold Coin? Th-That may be a lot these days, I know, but-"

"Oh, dear, I only have pearls. Would that be fine?"

Euwelyn's eyes went wide. "P-Pearls? I-I mean, uhm!... One pearl w-would cover it, but-"

"Here, dear," Annie said, handing over five.

"Ah! N-No, I couldn't possibly-"

"Think nothing of it, dear," Annie replied. "Besides, better in your pocket than the Demon King's, no?"

Euwelyn was puzzled, but looked at Annie. She slowly put the pieces together. The depleted mana, Annie needing dresses and clearly not being from just another town, the excessive kindness, the money....

"O-Oh, by Aramasa... Y-You're... You're an enforcer, aren't you?"

Lilin shook her head. "No, dear. I've been sent by the Demon King, but I'm far from a lowly thug."

Her eyes widened as she started to tremble. "A-An... Assassin? No, no, please! Y-You can't-"

"No! Heavens, no, dear! I'm simply a maid!"

Euwelyn looked as if she was about to faint, clearly scared out of her mind despite the reassurance. Annie finally bent down and gave the girl a hug.

"Dear, nothing bad is going to happen. Not to you, and not to the village. And, God willing, if I can help it, this town will be far better when I leave than it is now."

Euwelyn's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't think, now she was just crying. So much had happened all at once. She thought she was getting the payout of her life, then thought her worst fears were coming true, then thought she was going to die, and now she was being hugged. She just started to cry, coming completely undone. Her exhausted body sank into Annie's warm embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.

"I-I'm so sorry," she shouted, "I-I've just... I've lost s-so much, and...!"

"Dear, it's going to be alright," Annie said. She had no idea what this poor girl was going through, but this was just as much to help Euwelyn as it was to help herself. She could feel her heart starting to mend as she finally helped somebody, the clouds in her mind slowly clearing up as she felt the witch's trembling steady.

"Th-Thank you," she said. "I-I... I have a few mouths to feed, a-and... This is g-going to go a long, long way towards getting them what they need."

"Of course, dear. Please, use it however you need. It really is nothing to me."

"I-I... Thank you, and... I hope you have a wonderful day. Please, truly, come see me if there's anything that you find with the dresses that you can't fix yourself! I-I mean it, I'll mend anything, even if I have no Mana!"

Annie chuckled, smiling. "I will, dear. Now, take care of yourself. I'd hate to hear that something happened to you, alright?"

Euwelyn nodded. "I will!"

Annie left the hut, then froze in place. She realized she would have to walk through those houses again, and she wasn't entirely certain her heart could take the return trip. So, she slowly turned to re-enter the hut- only to hear something strange.

"...Am I going to tell them? They're gonna think I robbed somebody, and with the way they already think of me...."

"Dear?" Annie said, making Euwelyn bolt upright. "Is something wrong?"

"N-No! Uhm, nothing's wrong! Did... Did you see something you didn't like?" She asked.

"Ah, no," Annie said, "I was coming to ask where I could buy food. But... You sounded like you were having a meltdown. Is there something I could help with?"

"I-It's nothing," Euwelyn claimed, "A-And, I could take you to a spot! I-It's run by one of the kids, it's where I usually buy!"

"One of the kids?" Annie asked. "Dear, are you caring for the children yourself?"

Euwelyn covered her mouth, blushing as she looked down. She couldn't exactly deny it now. "Uhm... Yes. I... There are so many kids that go unattended- I know it's wrong, alright? I-I know that the parents are the ones who have the right to their children's labor, but... They just... Seem so lost. So, I... I usually try to care for them whenever I can. Because of that, the adults in the village don't really... Like me."

Annie was completely bewildered. Right to their children's labor? The adults hating this? Back on Earth, Euwelyn would be a treasure! A babysitter, seamstress, and incredibly considerate? She didn't know much about magic, but Euwelyn seemed like the type who would study, so she'd probably be a good student. How could somebody not like her?

"But... Yeah. One of the children I watch, he runs a small bake stand. His parents get mad when he doesn't sell out, but... Well, if money isn't an issue, would you mind...?"

Annie shook her head. "I wouldn't mind a bit, dear! Please, lead the way."

Euwelyn's expression brightened, and she quickly bolted to her feet- only to nearly collapse, her Core's low Mana making itself known immediately as she started to cough.

"Oh, dear!" Annie rushed forward and held Euwelyn close again. This time, nobody was around to stop her. She opened her Core, quickly closing it to not lose too much Mana, and felt the rush of energy flow from her into Euwelyn. She felt Euwelyn gasp, trying to push her away, but Annie didn't let her go.

"M-Miss Smith?!? D-Did you just... Your Core... On me?..."

"I did, dear, and I won't have you complaining about it," Annie replied. "You need it far more than I do."

Euwelyn felt her entire body being revitalized. She could tell that Annie had a Life Core, and that made her feel all the more bad for taking the Mana, but she couldn't just deny it. Miss Smith was right, Euwelyn though, she absolutely needed the boost. All she could muster were two words.

"Thank you...."