Suddenly in the middle of nowhere.

Fran rushed forward, her hands flailing as she shouted, "Sisterrrr! What are you doinggg!!" Her blue eyes were wide with panic, and her tail lashed behind her. "You can't just… just stand around and walk like that in your condition!"

Dila slowly rotated her head over her shoulder, her silver-white hair brushing her cheek. Her face was lined with worry, her lips trembling. "It's just… I can't accept that we're staying here in this kingdom, Fran… it feels… it feels not right," she said, tears beginning to slip down her cheeks. "I… I just can't."

Her body swayed slightly as she tried to hold herself upright, the weight of weakness pressing down on her every step.

Fran's tail twitched anxiously as she stepped closer, her hands reaching out to steady Dila. "You can't just justify leaving in this condition, sister!" she said firmly, her voice a mix of worry and determination.

Gently, Fran wrapped her arms around Dila, supporting her trembling body. "Come on… lean on me. I'll help you stand," she urged, moving carefully to lift Dila's weight while keeping her steady. Dila's legs wobbled beneath her, but with Fran's support, she managed to remain upright, leaning heavily against her adopted family.

As Dila leaned in Fran, her face darkened, she said slowly, "Fran… it's like… it's like I lost my identity, myself. I don't have a confident like it use before. I just can't keep living like this." Her eyes were like a broken husk.

Fran said, her voice trembling and eyes tearing, "No… sister, don't be like that. You're more than capable of anything… anything at all. What are you talking about?"

Dila's voice shook as she whispered, almost broken, "No… Fran, it's over. I can't anymore." She sank slightly against Fran, her body trembling from weakness, her silver hair falling into her pale face. "I'm… I'm a useless nobody now. I can't protect you anymore, Fran… I have no power… no… nothing."

The morning sunlight spilled weakly through the tall, arched windows of the hallways, casting long, soft shadows on the polished floor. Dust motes floated lazily in the light, highlighting the quiet stillness of the hall. The faint flower scents lingered in the air.

Fran's ears drooped and her tail slumped, her blue eyes glistening with tears as she looked down at Dila. The gentle rustle of the sheets fabric of her clothes.

Dila's hands clutched weakly at Fran's sleeves, her knuckles white, as if trying to anchor herself to the only comfort she had left. "I… as i said... i lost everything, Fran… everything that mattered," she whispered again, her voice cracking, the tears now rolling freely down her cheeks. The hall felt cold, despite the soft sunlight, as if the world itself had paused to mourn with her.

Fran, trying to hold back her own sobs, wrapped her arms gently around Dila, pressing her forehead against Dila's shoulder. "No… you haven't lost yet, sister and that matters," she whispered, voice trembling. "You still have me… and I'm not going anywhere."

Dila buried her face into Fran's shoulder, shivering slightly, her body heavy and weak. The weight of despair pressed down on them, the soft morning light casting long shadows around the two figures, trapped in that fragile, aching silence.

Dila's voice trembled as she whispered, "But…"

Before she could finish, Fran suddenly tightened her arms around her gently again, careful not to press too hard. "No buts, my sister," Fran said softly, her voice filled with quiet determination. She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the embrace speak more than words ever could.

Dila felt the weight of her despair ease just a little, the tension in her body slowly loosening. Her own eyes closed, and she wrapped her arms around Fran in return, clutching her gently as if holding onto the only anchor left in her world.

The hallway was silent again except for the soft, steady sound of their breathing, the morning light still spilling across them, illuminating the two of them in a fragile cocoon of warmth and unspoken comfort. Outside, the distant murmurs of the castle suddenly went on, but inside this small space, nothing else mattered—only the reassurance of each other's presence.

Dila's pale eyes glimmered with determination as she said, "Ok… let's escape this hellhole, Fran." Her voice was soft but carried the weight of someone who had lost everything yet refused to give in. She looked straight into Fran's eyes, hoping to see a spark of agreement.

Fran hesitated, her tail swaying slightly behind her. She bit her lip, worry etched into every line of her face. She knew Dila's current weakness all too well—the aftermath of her injuries, the loss of her magic, the uncertainty of the world outside. "I… I don't know if we can, sister," Fran said quietly, her voice tinged with fear. "You're too weak right now. Out there… it's dangerous. I can't risk it. Not yet."

Dila's shoulders slumped slightly, but she didn't give up. "Then we plan," she murmured, a faint trace of a smile tugging at her lips. "We plan first… and when I'm ready, we go."

Fran's ears twitched, her worry still there but softened by Dila's quiet resolve. She nodded slowly, still holding onto Dila's hand, knowing that for now, the escape could only be a carefully thought-out plan, not an immediate flight.

Dila's steps were uneven, her body still weak, but she forced herself forward, leaning on Fran for support. The castle hallway stretched before them even more as they look at it, quiet and empty, the morning light continued streaming through tall windows casting long, pale shadows across the stone floor. The air smelled faintly of incense and dust, a reminder of the castle's age and its cold, oppressive walls.

Fran kept a careful hand at Dila's waist, guiding her with gentle pressure. "What will you do now, sister?" Fran asked, her voice soft but filled with concern. "Since you hate being trapped here… since this castle feels like a cage to you."

Dila's eyes drifted to the sunlight slicing through the windows, her lips pressed together as she tried to steady her breathing. "I guess… I should just walk. As an exercise for now," she said slowly, her voice tinged with worry, her gaze fixed ahead but distant, lost in thought. "At least… at least it keeps me moving, keeps me from sinking too deep into all this…" Her hand unconsciously clenched into a fist at her side, the tension visible even through her exhaustion.

Fran nodded, her own worry hidden behind a small, supportive smile. She kept pace beside Dila, careful not to push her too hard, knowing this was as much a test of Dila's will as it was of her physical strength. The silence of the hall enveloped them, broken only by the soft sound of their footsteps echoing against the stone.

Suddenly, as they continued walking down the hallway, a young elf maid appeared, rushing toward them. She looked around anxiously, her golden-brown hair bouncing with each hurried step, and squeaked out, "No… no… no… Princess, what are you doing?!" Her voice trembled, shy yet urgent, betraying both fear and concern.

Fran quickly intervened before Dila could respond, tilting her head curiously. "Are you new here?" she asked gently, keeping a steady hand on Dila to support her.

The maid hesitated for a moment, then nodded, her ears twitching slightly. "Technically… yes, I'm new," she admitted, her voice quivering. "But you should never—never let the Princess leave her room on her own!"

Dila's gaze shifted slowly toward her, her face darkened and expression cold. "No," she said firmly, voice low but unwavering. "It's my own choice to do this." She stepped forward slightly, ignoring the maid's protests, her eyes blazing faintly with determination despite the weakness in her legs.

As Dila shifted toward the maid, she suddenly stumbled, crashing into the maid's chest. The maid caught her instinctively, holding her close against her breasts. Dila's face pressed into the maid's chest, and she flailed slightly before lifting her head, cheeks burning bright red. "Puaaahhh… noooo!" she stammered, her voice shaky and embarrassed.

The maid's own face mirrored the blush, deepening as her hands spread out wide, unsure where to place them, frozen between support and surprise. Her golden-brown eyes widened slightly, and she held Dila carefully, trying not to let her slip while keeping her composure despite the sudden intimacy.

But unfortunately the maid can't sustain her self composure it was breaking...

Then the maid stammered frantically, "Whaa… whaaa… whaaaa! Sorry, sorry!" She bowed repeatedly, carefully repositioning Dila to make her stand upright again.

Meanwhile, Fran, still assisting Dila, deadpanned, "Pervert." Her voice was flat, but inside her mind, chaos reigned. Nooo… nooo… if only Sister Dila's head had landed on my chest… but… my chest is too small… she pouted slightly, her eyes narrowing in playful frustration at the thought, though she forced herself to maintain composure in front of the others.