The War.

Chapter 25: Reflection.

TW: MENTIONS OF EATING DISORDER AND SELF HATRED

i was listening to the song 'Princesses don't cry' while writing this btw !!

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Ella lay in her bed, feeling annoyed. She groaned as she heard Charlotte calling out to her, "Ella, come on! We're leaving now."

"Five more minutes!" Ella mumbled, still half asleep.

"No. Don't start this with me again. Come on, we're leaving," Charlotte insisted. Ella just turned over to the other side, clearly not budging.

Charlotte sighed as Mia walked in. "Princess, we can't leave you home by yourself," Mia said softly.

"I wanna sleep! It's early," Ella groaned, burying her face in her pillow.

"You need to listen to your mother, Ella. When she says get up, you get up," Mia replied, her tone more authoritative, almost commanding.

Ella turned to face Mia, still lying down, tired and half asleep, but she stayed silent.

"Get up," Mia repeated in that same firm voice. Ella looked at her for a moment and finally got up. Mia and Charlotte left the room so she could get ready.

"Five minutes," Mia called out as they left the room.

Ella had always felt a special bond with Mia. While Lila was clearly Charlotte's girl, Ella had always been Mia's. There was just something about Mia's presence that made Ella more inclined to listen, to follow directions, especially if the request came from her. Mia had this intimidating aura—she was stronger, sharper, and definitely scarier, which left Ella feeling a bit wary of stepping out of line around her.

But it wasn't just fear that guided Ella; it was admiration. She looked up to Mia with a kind of awe, wanting to mirror her strength and confidence. She loved how Mia seemed to command a room, how people listened when she spoke. Ella wanted to be just like that. And she absolutely adored it whenever Mia called her "princess." That nickname made her feel special, like she belonged to Mia in a way that was uniquely her own.

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The group arrived at an abandoned mall, spreading out to scavenge for supplies. Ella quickly wandered off on her own, heading toward what used to be a bookstore. She had recently developed a love for reading, finding comfort in the way books could pull her into different worlds. Her choices often surprised people; the books she picked were mature, filled with complex emotions and vivid depictions that seemed beyond her years. But then, Ella had always been a bit more grown-up than her age would suggest.

She'd been forced to grow up too fast, her childhood stripped away by the weight of a magical war. She carried herself with a seriousness, a quiet maturity that set her apart from the others. Perhaps it was the constant danger, or the endless uncertainty that had molded her into someone older than her years. Or maybe it was just who she was becoming—Ella, who read adult books in abandoned malls while others scavenged for food and gear. Whatever the reason, there was no doubt that the war had changed her. It would change anyone.

Ella peered into the dusty bookstore, delighted to find it still packed with books. She carefully scanned the shelves, picking out the ones she wanted most. She figured they would probably come back soon, so she wanted to make sure she chose wisely. Just as she reached for another, she heard a voice call out.

"Ella!" It was her mum, Charlotte.

"Coming!" she called back, clutching her new finds as she hurried over to rejoin the group.

Mia noticed her approach, a curious smile playing on her lips. "What you got there, princess?"

"Books!" Ella said eagerly, her face lighting up.