Becoming The Villainess’ Acolyte

I barely noticed the worn stones of the path beneath my feet as I made my way back to the orphanage.

The familiar sights of the village, the creak of wooden signs swaying in the evening breeze, and the soft murmur of distant conversations all blurred together, drowned out by the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind.

When the orphanage finally came into view, its warm lights glowing like a beacon in the dusk, a sense of relief washed over me.

The heavy oak door creaked as I pushed it open, and the comforting scent of fresh bread and herbs welcomed me home. But as soon as I stepped inside, I was met with a chorus of gasps.

"Alyndra! What happened to you?" one of the caretakers, a plump woman named Miri, exclaimed, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of me.

Before I could answer, another caretaker, Jorik, rushed forward, his large hands hovering over me as if unsure whether to touch me or not. "You're covered in blood!" he said, his usually booming voice tinged with panic. "Are you hurt? Where's it coming from?"

"It's not mine," I managed to say, raising my hands in a placating gesture. "I'm fine, really. Just—"

But my words were drowned out by Miri's frantic inspection, her fingers prodding my arms and shoulders as if searching for hidden injuries. "Are you sure, dear? You look pale. Maybe you're in shock! We should get you to sit down, put your feet up Jorik, get a blanket!"

"Miri, I'm fine!" I insisted, trying to wriggle free from her overly concerned grasp. "It's not my blood. I'm not hurt."

Jorik, who had already taken a step toward the nearest blanket, paused and frowned. "If it's not your blood, then whose is it? What happened out there?"

I took a deep breath, realizing I wouldn't get a moment's peace until I explained. "I was on my way back from the market when a demon wolf appeared. It was huge, and it attacked me, but a man saved me. He was a mage he killed the wolf with fire magic, but he got hurt in the process. I used my healing magic to help him, and that's where the blood came from."

The room fell silent, and I could see the horror spreading across Miri's and Jorik's faces as the gravity of my words sank in.

"A demon wolf?" Miri whispered, her face paling even more. "Those creatures are deadly! You could've been killed!"

Jorik's expression hardened, his protective instincts kicking in. "You should never have been out there alone, Alyndra. The forest is too dangerous, especially at this hour."

I felt a pang of guilt at the worry I'd caused them, but I couldn't deny the thrill that had come with the encounter.

The danger, the magic, the idea that I had helped someone in a real, tangible way it had ignited something in me, something that had been lying dormant for too long.

"Go and have a shower, dear," Miri said after a moment, her voice softening with concern. "You must be exhausted. We'll talk more after you've cleaned up."

"Okay," I agreed, more to reassure them than anything else. The blood on my clothes was beginning to dry, stiffening the fabric and making me feel grimy all over. A shower sounded wonderful.

As I climbed the narrow stairs to the bathroom, my thoughts turned inward, swirling with everything Maelis had said.

The idea of joining a guild, of using my magic to help others while earning a living, was both exciting and terrifying. But more than that, it was the thought of what that money could do for the orphanage that kept coming back to me.

I turned on the shower, letting the water run hot as I peeled off my clothes. The steam filled the small bathroom, curling around me like a warm embrace. As I stepped under the spray, I let out a sigh of relief, the tension of the day washing away with the blood and grime.

The water beat against my skin, soothing my sore muscles and clearing my mind. The orphanage had always been my home, the only family I'd known since my parents were taken from me.

Mrs. Elara had raised me as one of her own, and the other children were like siblings to me. But we were always struggling, always just getting by.

There was never enough food, never enough money to repair the things that broke, never enough to give the children everything they deserved.

If I could earn money by joining a guild, I could change that. I could help renovate the orphanage, buy more food, more clothes, maybe even toys and books for the younger ones. We could make the orphanage a place where the children could grow and thrive, not just survive.

But it wasn't just about the money. There was something deeper, something more personal. The thrill of using my magic in a real-world situation, the satisfaction of helping someone in need it had awakened a longing in me.

A longing for purpose, for adventure, for a life beyond the orphanage walls.

As I rinsed the last of the soap from my hair, I realized that I wanted this. I wanted to see what I was capable of, to push the boundaries of my magic and discover who I could become. I wanted to help people, not just here in Lunaria, but everywhere.

But the thought of leaving the orphanage, of leaving the children and Mrs. Elara, filled me with a heavy sense of guilt. How could I even think about abandoning them? They needed me. They depended on me.

I turned off the water and stood there for a moment, letting the cool air of the bathroom chase away the lingering heat of the shower. I was torn, caught between the life I had always known and the life that was calling to me.

Wrapping a towel around myself, I stepped out of the shower and quickly dried off. My clothes were still a mess, but I found a clean set in the small wardrobe by my bed.

As I dressed, I could hear the faint sounds of laughter and conversation drifting up from the kitchen. The children were probably gathered around the table, waiting for dinner.

I ran a comb through my damp hair and then made my way downstairs. The smell of freshly baked bread and stew greeted me as I entered the kitchen, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight of the children sitting around the long wooden table, their faces bright with anticipation.

Mrs. Elara was bustling about, her apron tied around her plump frame, a warm smile on her face as she served the food. She looked up as I entered, her smile faltering slightly as she took in my expression.

"Alyndra, dear, come and sit," she said, waving me over to an empty chair. "You must be hungry."

I sat down, the familiar warmth of the room enveloping me. It was comforting, grounding me in the present, but the thoughts swirling in my mind wouldn't be silenced. As the children began to eat, chatting happily about their day, I found myself hesitating, unsure of how to bring up what I wanted to say.

But I knew I had to. I couldn't keep it to myself any longer.

"Mrs. Elara," I began, my voice quiet but steady. "I've been thinking… about what happened today."

She turned to me, her kind eyes filled with concern. "What is it, dear?"

I took a deep breath, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "I want to join a guild."

The room fell silent. Even the children stopped eating, their eyes wide as they looked from me to Mrs. Elara.

Mrs. Elara blinked, her expression a mix of surprise and worry. "A guild?" she repeated, as if she hadn't quite heard me right. "What do you mean, Alyndra?"

"I met a man today," I explained, trying to keep my voice calm. "He's a mage, and he told me about the Verdant Dawn Guild. He said they take on missions, help people, and earn money doing it. And… I think I could do that too. I could use my magic to help others and earn money to support the orphanage."

A heavy silence settled over the room as Mrs. Elara absorbed my words. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the worry etched into her face.

Finally, she spoke, her voice firm but gentle. "No."

The word hit me like a physical blow, knocking the breath from my lungs. "But… why?" I asked, my voice trembling with the force of my emotions.

Mrs. Elara reached out, taking my hand in hers. "Because I've seen what happens to mages who join those guilds," she said softly. "They face dangers far worse than anything you've encountered here. The world outside these walls is harsh and unforgiving, especially for someone as kind-hearted as you."

"But I could help people," I protested, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. "I could make a difference."

Mrs. Elara squeezed my hand, her expression pained. "You already do, Alyndra. You make a difference every day, right here, with us. We need you here. The children need you. This is your home."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of love and responsibility. I knew she was right, but the longing in my heart refused to be silenced.

I looked around the room, at the children who depended on me, at the woman who had raised me like her own, and felt the pull of two worlds tearing me apart.

How could I choose between them?