Ersia: Raven Dawn

"What do you mean 'cut your hair'?! I love my hair just the way it is!"

Viena is grumbling on the sofa, while Randia washes his hands in the sink. Meanwhile, Lisabelle just listened to the squabbling between a father and his daughter while drinking a glass of water.

"I can give you two solid reasons. Which one do you want to hear first?"

"Whichever that makes you think that I should cut my hair the most!"

Randia let out a sigh as he turned off the tap. His hands glow a little orange when he uses magic to dry his hands warm.

"First. I often find your loose hair scattered in the morning when I sweep the floor. You shouldn't bother Madam and Lisabelle with your lack of hygiene."

Embarrassed, Viena's face turned rosy. She immediately covers her hair as if she doesn't want it to be seen.

"H-How do you know it was me?! It could be Lily's!"

"Huh?!" Lisabelle offended.

"You know you are the only one who has black hair in this house. They are yours."

"But -! . . . Hmph!"

The little girl looked away peevishly after she couldn't keep up another argument.

"Second. The incident involving Lisabelle has put us in a rather difficult position. Do you even remember that we were supposed to lay down while we're here?"

Upon listening to Randia's words, questions popped up in Lisabelle's mind. However, she held herself back from asking and decided to wait and listen more to what he had to say.

"Now that you say it, how did it go in the court? Everyone was there to listen to you, weren't they? Doesn't that mean that people know about us now?" Viena looked concerned.

"Do you remember when I arrived at home?"

Viena turns silent for a moment, trying to remember. Yet, she couldn't remember clearly since she didn't think of it as anything important.  Was there really something she needed to remember? She isn't even sure about that herself.

"Bandage, Vivi. Uncle Ran wore a lot of bandages that day to cover almost his whole head. Luckily the judge, jury, and other officials didn't ask him to take it off. Maybe they were concerned about the . . . T-The cut that I made to his face."

Both Randia and Viena heard the shaking in Lisabelle's voice. Her feeling of guilt was perfectly conveyed, and it somewhat brings down the mood of the conversation. Yet, in spite of what happened to him, Randia decided to make light of it as if it wasn't anything too dangerous.

"It was a good move. You should be proud of it. Moreover, it was nothing too much than I could handle. I can see perfectly with this eye still," Randia complimented Lisabelle while pointing at his left eye. 

"H-How come there wasn't even a scar at all? They said the scissors went right into your eye! Though, I can't really see it for myself . . . ."

Viena is so surprised, but not because of what happened or about the facts of the incident that Lisabelle spoke of. She is surprised because Randia is giving a compliment to Lisabelle with a slight smile on his face (although Lisabelle didn't notice this). Because, during the months they traveled together, occasionally Viena asked Randia to be taught how to fight and defend herself. Yet, there was never a single praise coming off his mouth, only encouragement for her to try again and again.

"Hm. Anyway, that's the reason why you should cut your hair. Do you understand, Viena?"

"Yes, Papa . . . ."

"Oh, also, you won't be coming to the cathedral anytime soon."

"Huh?! Why?!"

"It's for the same reason. Hirma and the other knights and officials have visited the cathedral more often. You have to understand that I just don't want to risk more than I should. So, be a good girl and stay at home."

Randia then turns his attention to Lisabelle.

"Though it shouldn't be too boring for you, since you won't be alone. Lisabelle, can I ask you a favor?"

"You want me to look after this midget, right?"

"Yes, thank you. And if it's possible, maybe you can teach her some things. Things like READING for example," Randia said with such an emphasis that was seemingly filled with a little frustration.

Lisabelle took a look at Viena, and Viena smiled awkwardly at her before looking away. She noticed that it seemed Randia had tried to teach her many times before, but clearly, it didn't go too well. 'Was Viena actually an idiot?', Lisabelle asked herself. Yet, she immediately abandoned the thought when she remembered the day they talked with Laura.

"Sigh. Fine then. I have nothing better to do anyway."

"Okay then! Let's go to your room and read some books right now and-!"

"Cut your hair first."

Viena wanted to divert the topic hoping that Randia didn't notice and bring up about the haircut again. Yet, she got read like a book since Randia never missed a single intention. The little girl went mawkish and puffed her cheeks.

"Lily~" Viena begged for help from Lisabelle.

"Should I make her bald?" Lisabelle asked Randia.

"If it was necessary . . . ," Randia answered.

"LILY. . . . !" Viena went mad.

---

 

It is 3 PM in the afternoon. Viena and Lisabelle are preparing for an outing. However, as they tie their laces and head outside the house, Alan and Gwen stop them right in their shoes.

"And where do you think you are going, girls?"

Gwen approaches them while Alan is just listening while sitting on a bench on the terrace, provided by Randia for him and Gwen, as they are now tasked to keep an eye on Lisabelle. The slender woman with the tall bun looked down on the two girls while raising one eyebrow and moving her chin left and right, trying to intimidate them.

"She wants to cut her hair, do you know a good place?" Lisabelle asked innocently.

The woman guard went silent for a long time before she gave a very excited look on her face.

"OF COURSE I DO! Every hairstylist in this city is my friend! But I will take you to the best of them! Hmm . . . Who is it going to be, I wonder . . . Katy? No, she hates kids. Bety? Nah, she's too textbook with her work. Hmm . . . . Ah! Barbara would be perfect!"

"H-Hey, Gwen. Aren't you forgetting something? Wasn't she supposed to stay at home?"

"Shut up, man! The girls are talking! Also, nobody sees, nobody knows! We can just make her put on something you know?"

"But . . . ."

"Aaaah, sod it! You are worrying too much! I'll be with them! It will be just like a walk in the garden! Besides, it's a tremendous crime to keep women from being the best version of themselves! No wonder you are single, ugly, and miserable! Do your research and think before you talk next time!"

" . . . . ," Alan turned flat-faced.

"Come on girls! The parlor won't be there 24 hours!"

---

 

They ended up leaving the house together and go to the downtown. Viena is wearing her bunny ear headband, while Lisabelle is completely wrapped in a dark brown cloak. The two were talking to each other when Gwen was leading the way while reading her map. She looked a little bit confused and unsure sometimes, but the two girls couldn't complain about it.

"Lily, are you two close buddy, or what?" Viena whispered.

"You mean me with the officer lady? No. I met her the same day as you do."

"Then how do you know she would agree to this?"

"I overheard their yapping when I was transported in the carriage. They are talkative, but Gwen is even-even-even more of a babbler when she talks about beauty care and stuff."

"Is that so? Well, I suppose I can trust her with my hair."

The three arrived at the beauty parlor. The place is a small house that looked rather messy with the wall painted with scribbles of flowers, clouds, sun, and stickmans that are made out of colored clay and chalk. Even from outside, they can hear a lot of shouting, screaming, giggling, and crying inside.

"Alright, here we go!"

When Gwen opened the door, the bell on the door rang, the noise quadrupled, and they could see kids running around with her parents or guardians. They are of various ages, from five to ten, and it's even more of a mess inside. Papers with pictures hanging on the wall like wafer cookies, toys on the floor, and adults nagging at crying children. The chaotic atmosphere rivals the flea market - if not worse.

"A-Are you sure this is the place, Gwen?" Lisabelle doubt.

Suddenly, the sound of jumpy footsteps is coming towards them, and it's getting louder and louder. Then, a young lean woman with skin as brown as mocha and big afro hair appeared. Her glass looked a little bit oversized, but somehow it fits her perfectly.

"Hello dear! Welcome to Barbara Barberia! Please come in- Hey! Jonathan! Share the pencils with everyone! You're not supposed to hog it all for yourself . . . ! Maine! Don't climb on the window bars! Get down now!"

"Busy as usual, Barbara?"

"Ah! Yes, it's a blessing from the - UAAAGH! Colette! Stop biting me! Where are your cookies?! I gave you some earlier!" Barbara gently pinched the nose of the kid who bites the side of her right thigh.

Gwen laughed and chatted for a while with Barbara. It appears that they were once colleagues during their academy years. Barbara used to loan a lot of money for her higher education to Gwen's family, but it was all paid several years ago. Now, they are good friends who see each other from time to time.

"So this is our guest star for today? She's so small like a kitten. Are you sure she's 8?" Barbara puts her eyeglasses on her hair, inspecting Viena.

"Wha-! Hey, I'm growing, you know?!"

"Hahaha! Alright, little bunny! Let's get right to it!"

They spent an hour in Barbara Barberia. It's 20 minutes for the haircut and 40 minutes for the talking and dilly-dallying around. When everything finished and Barbara was done washing Viena's hair, the little girl was put up in front of the mirror as if she was a new batch of warm loaves of bread ready to be sold. Gwen and Lisabelle also joined and they were astonished.

"My, my . . . You do never fail, Barbara," 

"Well, I guess you don't look too bad,"

As Gwen smiled, giving her approval to Barbara, Lisabelle looked away instead after giving a half-hearted compliment. In truth, she couldn't handle how adorable Viena had become, thanks to her fresh look.