Interlude: Stroll on the Garden of Goodbyes

Julianna was acting weird today.

Not the ‘normal’ weird, of course, a weirder weird. She was both frantic and kind of feeling down for some reason today, and it likely had something to do with how the whole facility was being emptied.

It was somewhat of a sudden occurrence, the nuns started to run around packing their things and moving to the emergency escape at some point. The only ones that weren’t following these procedures were the little girl and her caretaker. They were instead having a walk in the facility’s garden for no particular reason. Both of them were only walking around.

Even if the little girl couldn’t understand what was the point of being here, though, she was still following without complaints. Not that she could speak if she had any of them anyway.

Then, after some walking, the white-haired nun stopped and plopped herself in the middle of a flowerbed.

“Y’know, kid, I was sure they’d find me someday but ain’t it a lil’ too much? I mean, I’m workin’ fine and mah’ research can help’em, so why go after me like this? We could negotiate or somethin’…”

She wasn’t making much sense as usual, but the tone of Julianna’s words made it very clear that she had pretty much given up. More even, it was also clear that someone, likely the ones that ran this place, was hunting her for some reason, which seemed to be why the others fled too. But again, why they weren’t fleeing with everyone else was a mystery.

“Ya wanna know why we ‘ere, ay? I can see in yer eyes.” The caretaker said with a weak smile. “That’s ‘cause we both’d make’em unable to run, y’see? I’m the target and yer too small to move fast enough.”

The little nun then nodded in understanding before sitting by Julianna’s side, resting her head on the white-haired woman as she did so.

It was a shame that she would waste all that training, but she didn’t care that much either way. Most things were a bother and she barely knew enough about what mattered to live outside this place either way, so caring about Julianna was better. Next time would likely be better as, at least she, had never done anything sinful, so she could die here without worries. All she could do was pray for the older female to be in the same boat.

Still, as the kid decided to stay still and wait, her human pillow started to laugh and move around. Why it was funny was beyond the expressionless girl, but if her caretaker was happy, it was fine.

“Ahahaha! Yer dummy lil’ gal, ya ain’t dyin’ ‘ere, y’know? All I did was to make sure you’d be too valuable to kill, so we only ‘ere to finish the process… I’m just a lil’ bummed I’ll’ve to do it.”

The bigger nun spoke with a better expression for a while, making her smaller counterpart confused again. She could somewhat understand where her value was, but it was hard to believe it was enough. For one, the people outside should be overflowing with fighters, so why bother with a random kid that lacked minimal social skills? More even, what 'process' was there to end here?

“Confused, ay? Then I’ll explain…” Julianna started as she soon noticed the confusion of the girl lying on her belly. “It ain’t a thing I’m proud ‘bout, but yer body’s full of modifications, y’see? Even callin' it a body's somewhat wrong. And that's without considering how ya've a proper ancient evil eye socketed in, although the damn thing won't activate fer some reason... But that ain't the real value 'ere. Yer real value fer 'em's the positive reputation they'll get from savin' the sole survivor of the 'witch nest' as it'll be called. Yer pretty much a very expensive trophy...”

She then started to gently rub the girl’s wimple while looking to nowhere before raising the little girl almost too suddenly and then getting up. All with the miniature nun only looking at her still in confusion.

So, after receiving a few pats on the head, the little girl stood and her own and kept watching her caretaker. Seeing as she moved around and went to her robes looking for something. Something that ended up being a small derringer and a single multicolored bullet.

“Well, that’s what I hope fer at least. It’s hard to understand religious people, on both sides of that accursed border even, so it may backfire too.” The nun spoke as she, in a painfully slow way to the chibi weapons expert, loaded her weapon and got it ready. “So, I’ll give ya a few extras in case all goes wrong, ‘kay? Outfit ya with all skills you'll ever need and a li'l more too, even if it'll worsen yer existence even more... But what’s another terrible sin when I did so many already, ay?”

Her fatalist words made the kid crease her brows and wave her head vigorously as, at least for the girl she took care of, Julianna wasn’t a bad person. The little nun couldn’t even see what so bad she did, to begin with, so it was impossible she could worsen it too much. All she could complain about her caretaker was the fact she sometimes could be too laidback and not that pious.

She would only notice the many problems in her line-of-logic a couple of years later.

“Yer way too cute fer it, kid. Damn, how I hate it all… I wish we could’ve lived quite and nice in some faraway place… But maybe next time, ay?”

As she heard Julianna’s words, the girl also noticed some growing noises in the corridors they had left. She wasn’t that sure of what was coming, but by the noises and how it was growing, it was approaching fast and fighting against something.

“I guess our time’s done… So, hear me well, 'kay? Never, and I repeat, never try to get yer eye to activate. I couldn’t finish yer body or activate the damn thing properly, so I’ve no idea what’ll happen to ya. And to be honest, if yer able, never become a fighter too. Enjoy yer position and be a common lil’ girl. Have fun, find a mate, and get a family if ya will… Heck! Find a couple of 'em if ya wanna or even swing fer all sides if that's how ya feel, but don’t become a fighter. Can ya do this one fer me?”

The little girl wasn’t that sure of how to answer this time. She could see it was a very serious plea and that the white-haired woman wanted to hear a positive answer, but it was a hard question. All she knew how to do was fight. How else would she contribute to the world without that? And if she wouldn't contribute, then what was the point? But at the same time, dismissing Julianna didn't feel right too.

It was a very confusing situation for the little nun.

“I guess that’s kinda lotta ask from ya considerin’ all I made ya learn, ‘aight? I’d like to say it was somethin’ I’ve only teach ya ‘cause it’d be safer like this, but that won’t feel like it, ay?” Julianna deflated a little as she gave up on trying her first call and then turned back to what she was going to do. “Well, I'll let ya decide what ya do then. Mah' job'll be only givin' the tools fer it... Sorry that it ain’t a perfect method though. I was trying to copy yer innate skill, but I needed more time... It'll work, but I don’t know if you’ll get everything and it’ll likely mess yer lil’ body even more...”

And with her last phrase, the small derringer was aimed at the kid’s head, which didn’t bring much of a reaction from her. Again, she didn’t care much about survival, so if it was to die here, then so would be it. This time though, it was more about the fact she knew this bullet wouldn’t kill her.

“But that’s the best I can do now. I’ll give ya most of what I’ve in mah’ soul, so keep it and try to survive, kid. And next time…” The white-haired scientist continued speaking as her energy went to the bullet and her hand pulled the trigger, leaving only a few last words before the kid was knocked out by the spell.

“I hope we can be a proper mother and daughter by then.”