Ophelia Noella Kaides - Hadrum, Last stand. [@OwO][@SilverPaw] [hr] The beast screeched. An arrow, piercing it so perfectly and elegantly that left her in momentary confusion as to who could be so good of a shot. She hadn't even a chance to respond with her own counterattack. All she could do was follow the trajectory of the arrow, her grey eyes falling onto its source. Silence fell amid the chaos. A momentary reprieve. "...E-Estelle...?" Her voice was weak, though not from physical or mental fatigue. Disbelief, and relief. She was almost certain the next time she'd have spoken her sisters name it would have been with derision, scorn, hatred...some manner of negativity. Even now, though, after all this time, as resentful, disillusioned and as angry as she had been towards Estelle when she had left her first feeling was that of joy. "W-wait-what..." Estelle's hand clasped hers, pulling her away. It felt so worn. So cold. That strong, firm hand that once gave her comfort and security was so...worn. Tired. She could see the lines of fatigue and years of age showing on her sisters face as she was pulled away, stumbling over her feet as she'd come to terms with what was happening. She was running again. Estelle was running again. That feeling of joy and relief was soon washed out by a feeling of irritation. Frustration. "Wait...w-wait Estelle wait!" She would pull her hand away from her sisters. "Why...Why do you always run!?" Ophelia firmly shot back, her voice rising. Something she had never once really done to either of her sisters, or even to anyone really. In turn, it caused her to wince slightly. A pain in her ribs. Something was definitely broken, not to mention she was having trouble breathing well. "Look how well that's turned out for you!" Was it harsh? Yes, but she couldn't help it. She was tired, frustrated and it hurt. Seeing Estelle hurt. Retreat? Where to? Where did they have left to go? The ships? There was nothing left. "I'm not running, Estelle." She scowled. "So just leave me, like you always do. I am [i]not[/i] going to run! Even if my body breaks entirely I will [i]never[/i] be like you and run away-!" What happened next, was probably too fast for Estelle to process. The droplet, her sister, moved fast. There was the sound of clanging metal, her Estoc driving itself deep into the eyesockets of an orc. "Not...while I'm here, bitch-" Their position was soon likely to be overrun...but it was not a path Ophelia was going to be able to take. The orcs sword sat firmly embedded in Ophelia's chest. "So...run, Estelle...live...for me, okay? I really...really...missed you..." Ophelia collapsed. Oh...was that Isana? How fitting, she supposed. Ha...ILA had a sense of morbid humor, perhaps...she tried to move her body. She really didn't want to die, after all. She had spent her entire life trying to live more, but as always - it never listened when she demanded it too. Ha...maybe she could finally have a good, long, sleep, now... [hr] "Ghk-" "Aaaah!? My lady-!?" The next thing Ophelia knew, was a soft, comfortable bed. Followed by pain. Nausea. She felt feverish, to say nothing of the unpleasant memories rolling around in her head. Had she lived? She had died, hadn't she? Part of her wanted to laugh, but the other part- "I-I have a bucket here, milady!" The excitable voice was familiar to her, but she couldn't place it immediately as she'd find the bucket placed in front of her...well, less placed and more almost thrown as the maid tripped over her own feet and landed in her lap as she retched up whatever contents were currently in her stomach into it. This...this whole situation was familiar wasn't it? She used to get sick all the time, hadn't she? It had gotten better as she had gotten older but back when she was in the collegem there were times when she'd wake up and just couldn't even get out of bed. "...M-Margaret...?" "Present ma'am -bweh?" It was instinctive, more than anything, that Ophelia reached out and pulled her maid into a tight, warm hug. She couldn't help it. Tears started flowing from her eyes as she buried her face into her maids chest. Margaret. That wasn't a name she had been able to say in ages. To say nothing of the memories still fresh in her mind, to hear the voice of one of the few people she had ever really known again... "Ah...uhm...d-did something happen, milady? Did you have a nightmare?" Ophelia didn't respond as Margaret nervously chuckled, placing a hand on the back of Ophelia's head, gently holding the young Kaides. "...ah...uhm...ma'am? Do I need to tell everyone you won't be attended orientation today?" "Orien..tation?" The words sounded unfamiliar as she said them. Orientation for what...? "Sorry...Margaret...how long was I asleep for?" She'd say as the maid would use a tissue to help Ophelia dry her eyes. "Hm? Oh, you slept rather soundly tonight! I was quite surprised you didn't call me once for something. In fact, I was really concerned for a bit because you weren't already getting ready for the Collegem orientation. So erm, a normal amount?" Margaret would hand her a glass of water. "...I...I see. I feel like I slept...much, much, longer..." Ophelia shook her head, frowning as Margaret would help her off the bed after she rinsed her mouth out. "Ive got a warm bath drawn for you, we'll get that pretty hair of yours all sparkly and shiny and you can forget all about that nightmare, alright?" "Mhm, okay..." What was going on, Ophelia didn't really know. She wasn't sure. Her mind was a mess right now, she was tired, but she figured if nothing else, she was alive and for now, that was fine.