Emily tried to break the ice, seeking a light-hearted topic to ease the discomfort hanging in the air.
Emily: Have you had the chance to try Hell's food, Sera? Some places have incredible dishes, despite this place's reputation.
Sera, grateful for Emily's attempt to change the subject, nodded with a forced smile.
Sera: Not yet, but I've heard there are some surprisingly delightful treats around here.
Emily: Definitely! If you ever want to try something, I can take you to one of my favorite spots, except for the Cannibal District.
Just then, Odette suddenly stopped, pointing towards a nearby park.
Odette: How about we rest a bit in that park? We can refresh ourselves and recharge before continuing our exploration.
Sera and Emily agreed, relieved by the opportunity to clear their minds of the tension that had built up between them.
Odette offered to fetch some water, leaving Sera and Emily alone in an awkward moment. An uncomfortable silence filled the air as the two women sat on a park bench, each lost in their own thoughts.
Emily broke the silence, her voice barely a whisper.
Emily: Sera, about what happened... I want you to know I don't hold a grudge.
Sera looked up, finding Emily's eyes filled with sincerity and compassion.
Sera: I know, Emily. But I can't help but feel guilty for what happened to you, for what I did.
Emily nodded, understanding the weight of Sera's words.
Emily: I understand. But we've moved past that, haven't we? We're here now, trying to do the best we can in this situation.
Sera: But still, I banished you, pushed you into the void like you were nothing, and I keep dreaming about it every night.
Emily: Understandable, it hurts me too. After all, I saw you as a mother, you taught me everything I know, and... it really hurt me what happened.
Sera: I know.
Emily: But it's okay, I mean, you sent me to this place to die, but I found something I've always wanted, a family. And now you're part of that family, I might not see you as a mother but as a friend, and I won't forget that.
Sera: Are you sure you want to see me as a friend?
Emily: Yes, it's time to leave everything in the past.
Sera nodded, grateful for Emily's words but unable to completely shake the weight of her past.
Sera: Yes, you're right. But still...
Before Sera could finish her sentence, Odette returned with the drinks, interrupting the tense moment between the two women.
Odette: Here you go, some water to refresh ourselves.
Relief filled the air as the three women drank in silence, each lost in their own thoughts and emotions. Although the tension between Sera and Emily hadn't completely disappeared, they had found a moment of calm amidst the chaos of Hell.
After a while, Emily and Odette exchanged a knowing glance and, almost unconsciously, their hands intertwined. Sera noticed the gesture, a mix of surprise and curiosity on her face.
Sera: I see you two are very close. How long have you been together?
Emily and Odette looked at each other and smiled, a warmth evident in their eyes.