Becoming The Villainess’ Acolyte

The trek back to the orphanage felt longer than usual, my legs heavy and my mind still buzzing from the encounter with the wolf. My clothes were filthy mud-caked, torn in places, and stained with the remnants of the forest.

My hair was a tangled mess, leaves and twigs sticking out at odd angles. Every step I took felt like I was dragging half the forest floor with me.

As I approached the orphanage, the familiar, warm glow of the lamps by the entrance filled me with a sense of relief. The sight of the cozy stone building with its ivy-covered walls and the soft hum of voices inside felt like a balm to my frayed nerves.

I quickened my pace, trying to shake off the lingering tension from the fight, but the clumps of mud clinging to my boots made it difficult.

When I pushed open the heavy wooden door, the warmth and light of the common room enveloped me.

A few of the younger kids were still up, playing with wooden toys by the fire, their laughter echoing through the room. Elara and some of the other caretakers were seated around the large table, sorting through laundry and chatting in low voices.

The moment they saw me, the room fell silent.

"Alyndra!" One of the older caretakers, Maris, gasped as she rushed over. "What on earth happened to you, child? You look like you've been dragged through the mud and back!"

I quickly forced a smile, trying to look as nonchalant as possible. "Oh, you know, just a bit of gardening," I said, waving my hand dismissively as if my disheveled appearance was no big deal.

Maris narrowed her eyes, looking me up and down with a mixture of disbelief and concern. "Gardening, you say? More like wrestling with a pig in a mud pit."

A small chuckle escaped me as I tried to downplay the situation. "Well, the herbs were really stubborn today," I said with a shrug. "You should see the other guy."

The younger kids giggled at that, and I felt a brief flicker of relief that my little lie was working. But when I glanced over at Elara, I saw the knowing look in her eyes, the slight arch of her brow. She wasn't buying it for a second.

"Alyndra," she said in that soft but firm tone that always made my stomach flip. "Why don't you come with me? I think you could use a bit of help getting cleaned up."

I hesitated for a moment, trying to think of an excuse, but the look on her face told me it was pointless. With a sheepish nod, I followed her as she led me out of the common room and down the hallway toward the bathroom.

The bathroom was one of the coziest rooms in the orphanage, with its wooden tub and shelves lined with jars of homemade soaps and salves. Elara closed the door behind us, and the moment it clicked shut, she turned to me, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"So," she began, crossing her arms over her chest, "gardening, was it?"

I sighed, the weight of the evening settling on my shoulders. "It wasn't exactly gardening," I admitted, running a hand through my tangled hair. "More like… an unexpected encounter with a wolf."

Elara's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her surprise with a calm nod. "I thought as much," she said, reaching for one of the jars on the shelf. "I could feel your magic from across the forest. It was… stronger than usual."

Her words sent a thrill of surprise through me. I hadn't realized that she could sense my magic from that far away. "You felt it?" I asked, my voice tinged with both curiosity and embarrassment.

Elara smiled as she began to prepare the bath, filling the tub with steaming water and sprinkling in some herbs that released a calming, fragrant scent. "Of course I did," she said, her tone light but knowing. "You've got a lot of power, Alyndra. More than you realize. But that's exactly why you need to be careful."

I bit my lip, watching as she stirred the water with her hand. The steam rose around her, curling in the air like wisps of magic. "I know," I murmured, feeling a pang of guilt. "I just… I wanted to train. I wanted to be ready. But it's hard, Elara. It's hard to do it on my own."

Elara turned to me, her expression softening as she placed a hand on my shoulder. "You're not on your own," she said gently. "You never have to be. But sneaking off into the forest at night, Alyndra? That's dangerous. You know the rules."

I nodded, feeling like a child being scolded, even though I knew she was right. "I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I didn't mean to worry anyone. I just… I needed to push myself. I needed to know I could do it."

Elara sighed, pulling me into a gentle hug. "I understand," she whispered. "But you need to trust us, too. We're here to help you. To guide you. Don't carry this burden alone."

I felt a lump form in my throat, and I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over. "I know," I whispered back, my voice thick with emotion.

Elara pulled away, her eyes shining with affection as she handed me a soft washcloth. "Now, let's get you cleaned up before Maris decides to have a heart attack," she said with a playful grin. "I don't think the herbs are the only thing that's stubborn around here."

I couldn't help but laugh, the tension easing as I began scrubbing the dirt and grime from my skin. Elara joined in, helping to untangle my hair and wash away the remnants of the fight.

We worked in companionable silence, the steam from the bath curling around us, making the room feel warm and safe.

As she worked, Elara hummed a soft tune, the melody soothing and familiar. It was a song she used to sing to the younger children when they were frightened or couldn't sleep.

The sound of it now brought back memories of nights spent huddled under blankets, listening to her voice lull me into a sense of security.

I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of the water and the comfort of the moment wash over me. For the first time that night, I felt truly at peace.

"You've come a long way, Alyndra," Elara said softly as she rinsed the soap from my hair. "You've grown so much, and I'm proud of you. But there's still more for you to learn. More for you to experience. And you don't have to rush it."

Her words lingered in the air, filling me with a sense of both hope and longing. I wanted to be strong. I wanted to be ready. But she was right. There was still so much I didn't know. So much I had yet to discover about myself and the world around me.

As the last of the dirt and soap washed away, I felt lighter, more grounded. The fight with the wolf had been a wake-up call, a reminder that I wasn't invincible, that I still had limits. But it had also shown me what I was capable of when I pushed those limits, when I believed in myself.

Elara handed me a towel, and I wrapped it around myself, the soft fabric comforting against my clean skin. "Thank you," I said, my voice filled with sincerity. "For everything."

Elara smiled, her eyes warm as she placed a gentle hand on my cheek. "You're welcome, Alyndra," she said. "Now, get some rest. You've had a long day."

I nodded, feeling a deep sense of gratitude as I left the bathroom and made my way to my room. The hallways were quiet, the orphanage settling into the stillness of the night.

As I climbed into bed, the events of the evening replayed in my mind, but this time, the fear and uncertainty were tempered by the warmth of Elara's words and the comfort of knowing I wasn't alone.

As I closed my eyes, exhaustion finally overtaking me, I felt a sense of resolve settle in my chest.

I wasn't done yet. There was still so much to learn, so much to prove to myself, to Elara, to everyone. But for now, I could rest. For now, I could take comfort in the knowledge that I was on the right path, even if it was a challenging one.

And as sleep claimed me, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I would face them with the strength and determination that had gotten me this far.