Chapter 57: Transition

My arms trembled as I knelt on the hard ground, my hands clasped behind my back. My knees ached. I forced myself to speak, my voice trembling.

“I…I’m sorry…sniff…”

“Haa… It’s not your fault. I should have been here sooner.”

Linne helped me up, her arm supporting my unsteady body. A warm, gentle light emanated from her hand, a soothing warmth spreading through me.

“I apologize for this. I’ll…make it up to you.”

Linne bowed her head to the little girl. The child, initially startled, took Linne’s hand, her curious gaze fixed on me from behind Linne. We hadn’t properly introduced ourselves. I clutched the bag of bread protectively.

“…You may address me as Lady Elena.”

I met the child’s gaze, my voice cold and distant. I was a noble, after all. Treating this ragged child as an equal would be a disgrace to my family. I’d rather die than abandon my noble pride.

Linne’s hand touched my side, applying a gentle pressure that sent shivers down my spine.

“Um…no, it’s fine. You can call me…Sister Ellie.”

I couldn’t bear the child’s intense stare. I was a noble, a daughter of a Duke, someone far above a lowly commoner like her. A tear rolled down my cheek.

“Okay, Sister Ellie!”

The child finally smiled.

****

The child’s name was Miyu. As we walked, Linne bombarded her with questions—about her parents, where she lived, when she started stealing. It seemed…excessive, like she had an ulterior motive.

I only remembered one thing from their conversation: Miyu lived with her older sister, Miya. Miyu’s expression darkened when she spoke of her sister.

The path Miyu led us down was…inhumane, mountains of trash emitting a foul stench.

“…Should I just…burn it all down?”

“Don’t. The toxic fumes would be dangerous.”

I pinched my nose, trying to ignore the stench, and followed them. Linne easily navigated the narrow passage, barely wide enough for a small child.

They stopped. I followed them into a relatively open space, a room surrounded by piles of trash. In a dark corner, a girl lay motionless, whether dead or alive, I couldn’t tell. Miyu rushed towards her.

“Ugh…Miyu…”

“Sister! Stay down!”

The girl sat up with a groan. I stared at her in surprise. Jet-black hair and eyes, different from Miyu’s light brown hair. But that wasn’t the surprising part.

“Linne…what’s…wrong with her?”

I clutched Linne’s arm, my voice barely a whisper. Feathers sprouted from the girl’s exposed skin, matted and clumped together with sweat, a grotesque sight.

Linne patted my head, her touch calming my racing heart. I’d be terrified if I were alone. I was glad she was here.

“D…don’t touch my head. Your perversion is contagious.”

“It’s fine, just this once.”

Linne removed her hand, despite her words.

“Oh…”

I sighed, a strange sense of loss washing over me. Linne approached the girl, and I watched, my expression grim.

“This is…”

Linne’s eyes widened in surprise. Had she figured something out? I hurried over, the girl’s appearance even more disturbing up close.

“Do you recognize this?”

“…It’s…a transformation. An incomplete one, but…”

“A transformation?”

A transformation?
I was confused. The girl definitely didn’t look normal. She looked more like…

“She’s…turning into a monster.”

Linne’s words hit me like a punch.
I stared at her, my mouth agape. A human turning into a monster? Was that even possible? Miyu, who was holding her sister, began to tremble.

“How… How is that possible…?”

“I’ll ask Miyu. Come with me for a moment.”

Miyu stood up, her face pale. They left, leaving me alone with the girl.

“A monster…?”

I watched the girl, her breathing shallow and ragged. She was emaciated, her skin and bones visible beneath the matted feathers. She looked so young and vulnerable, suffering silently.

I approached cautiously and gently brushed the hair away from her face. A flower, withered before it could bloom. I felt helpless, unable to do anything.

Linne and Miyu returned, their expressions grim.

“Well? Is there anything we can do?”

“Um…that’s…”

Linne glanced at Miyu, then sighed.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

“Then have you heard of it?”

“Yes, but… I’ve never heard of an incomplete transformation.”

It would have been better if the transformation was complete, Linne muttered dejectedly.

I’d never seen her so…defeated. She wouldn’t be able to find a solution like this. I wanted to comfort her, offer her some support. But all I could think of was…

“Stop looking so gloomy and find a solution.”

I opened my arms, offering her a hug, the kind Sister always gave me when I was feeling down. Sister called it…recharging.

“Here, you can borrow my…ample bosom. Just this once.”

“Ellie, that’s…”

Linne hesitated, then cautiously approached. I averted my gaze as her ample bosom came into view. They were almost as impressive as Mother’s.

…Was Linne a witch or something? The absurd thought crossed my mind just then.

“Wait!”

A sudden realization made me dodge Linne’s outstretched arms. Linne, caught off guard, flailed her arms awkwardly. I rushed to the girl’s side.

“Miyu! Open your sister’s mouth!”

“What’s going on?”

Linne, looking puzzled, followed me. I bit down on my finger, drawing blood, the red droplets welling up around the wound.

It wasn’t enough. I bit down harder, ignoring the sharp pain.

“Ellie! What are you doing?!”

Linne reached out with a healing spell, but I stopped her, letting the blood drip into the girl’s open mouth.

Drinking blood wouldn’t do anything, not for a human. Some monsters had blood with healing properties, valuable ingredients for potions, but they were practically extinct. And I wasn’t a monster.

Ordinary blood wouldn’t work.
And I didn’t want ordinary.

‘A witch’s blood.’

A witch’s blood was said to have medicinal properties, not for healing wounds, but for curing illnesses. Mother’s blood had cured my cold once. If that wasn’t a placebo effect, then perhaps…my blood, inherited from her, would work too?

It was a long shot, but it was all I could do. We watched, our hopes hanging by a thread.

“Ugh…”

“Sister…!”

The girl stirred. We watched, our eyes wide with anticipation.

“Uwaaa…aaaaah!”

“Eek?!”

Her soft moans turned into screams of agony. What was happening? I instinctively reached out to her. Her body convulsed uncontrollably.

“What…what’s happening…?”

“Look!”

I followed Linne’s pointing finger. The feathers on the girl’s skin were growing rapidly, spreading across her body. I recoiled, pulling my hand away.

“Wh…what do we do, Linne…?”

“C…calm down, Ellie…!”

We clung to each other, watching in horror. Miyu had collapsed, sobbing and calling her sister’s name. The girl’s screams gradually subsided.

“Ugh…”

“Will…will she be okay…?”

I gently took the girl’s hand, her skin covered in feathers, barely recognizable as a hand.

“She’ll be fine. I know it.”

Linne’s voice was firm, unwavering. She took the girl’s other hand, her expression filled with a strange certainty.