Home for the Few - The Awakening of the Silenced Ⅰ

IX. Withered flowers.

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   The day after the ball, Wilhelm and Lilith cleaned the Heart in complete silence. They felt dejected by what they had witnessed, by the powerlessness of being mere spectators who could do nothing about it. The worst part was that they didn't even really know what they had seen; it was clear they were selling women... No, girls. As if they were objects. But where were they being taken? Were they still alive, stacked up like trophies on shelves? Or were they already dead?... They didn't know which option was worse.

   They had to wait three days for the Black Block to return to the Heart. The duo barely made a sound, barely ate. They wanted to act immediately, but they had no choice but to wait.

   After recounting every detail discovered that night, they felt their hearts aching. They knew it was going to be hard, a mission to carry out slowly.

   "The people are so blind... they're part of it all. They have no idea where they're sending their daughters," Lilith said, anger ringing in every word. As she spoke, she rubbed her temples with her fingertips, eyes closed. "We don't even know where they're sent, but believe me, they didn't seem too happy about what happened last night."

   "The hardest part of change is always opening people's eyes," Will stated.

   At dusk, they headed once more to Vulpes. Wilhelm patrolled the streets, mysteriously deserted once again. Lilith watched the castle, alert to anyone coming or going.

   Will walked, lost in thoughts he didn't want to have. Once again, the streets were decorated as if for another festival, but this time, the banners were embroidered with a full moon, filled with craters, the Moon of the Goddesses. That night, of course, it was at its peak, a perfect sphere. Rows upon rows of tables lined the streets, laden with delicacies and liquors, but every chair and stool was empty.

   The bells from the temples began to chime, marking nine o'clock sharp, and at that very moment, the doors of every home began to open; from them came all the women and girls, dressed in their favorite clothes, genuine smiles on their faces, their hair adorned with flowers of all kinds, matching their dresses. For the first time, they didn't seem concerned about how they spoke, moved, or behaved. For the first time, they laughed freely, without shame.

   The man quickly slipped into the darkness to avoid being seen; he didn't want his presence to alter the night's plans. With great agility, he climbed onto a rooftop, a few meters from where Lilith stood, confused by the sounds coming from the street.

   The women in the street began to play instruments, taste the delicacies, sing songs, and toast with their strong drinks, some even smoked, Lilith observed. The girls ran around without fear of dirtying their dresses, chased by faithful shepherd dogs wagging their tails. Every woman and girl was out on the street, celebrating for a reason unknown to Lilith. All of them. Except for the four debutantes who had disappeared, Lorenza, and Kaira.

   Without losing sight of the celebration, Wilhelm effortlessly leaped from rooftop to rooftop until he reached Lilith, who greeted him with a welcoming smile, like a child.

   "How can such a beautiful celebration take place in such a terrible world?"

   "I don't know the name of the festivity, but it happens every year on the night after the debutantes arrive," Will replied. "I know it hasn't been easy for you, seeing those young girls barely a few years younger than you... That's why I didn't want to ruin the surprise." Without taking his eyes off the street, Will sat down next to Lilith and continued: