Chapter Text
It had been a beautiful day.
The bright september sun warmed the air as Flora sat in the garden of Reinhold Manor beneath the shade of a large tree-
On this day, it would be eighteen years since it has been planted.
It was also the origin of the apples used in the pie she was enjoying.
Matthew had accidentally used too much cinnamon, a mistake for which Dahlia began to terribly scold him until the girl intervened.
“Flora,” the woman sighed, “if you always ignore your own wishes to please others, the world is going to walk all over you.”
But she listened to the girl, turned around and entered the manor, Matthew hurrying after her after sending Flora a thankful glance.
It was Bruno who invited her to visit St. Mystere again for this day, to see the little village she spent her childhood in once more before beginning her studies at the Gressenheller University the following month, a purpose for which she would move into her own apartment once she returned to the city. Two years had passed since London had been partially destroyed, and slowly new living spaces were being built.
“Happy Birthday.”
Dahlia had returned, now holding a small package wrapped in dark blue paper decorated with stars.
“I want to be the first to give you your present. Go on, open it.”
Flora set her plate aside, following the artificial woman's wish-
And unpacking a small, beautifully decorated coffer.
It contained a large collection of jewellery, even more beautiful than the coffer itself, sparkling in the sunlight.
“Most of these pieces belonged to your late fathers first wife,” Dahlia explained as she began putting a few of the pieces on Flora, making the girl feel a bit like a doll.
“They look better on you than they ever did on me.”
“Thank you.”
Dahlia took out another piece, one that looked significantly different from the rest of the collection-
Attached to a simple necklace was a small, round medallion, dark grey as if it was made from stone.
Carved into it was a strange symbol resembling a circular labyrinth, one with only a single path leading towards the middle.
Flora expected Dahlia to comment negatively on this piece, given that, for the baronesses extravagant style, it must have appeared rather ugly-
But instead, the artificial woman put it around Flora's neck with a warm smile on her face.
“You look so beautiful with it, my dear.”
In that moment, her voice sounded different than usual, almost motherly-
but returned to normal with the next sentence.
“I hope you will enjoy this collection, Flora. Beautiful jewellery is quite transformative.”
The medallion felt cold on her neck, but comfortable. She liked the feeling of it.
The next person that approached her was Ingrid, gifting her a collection of clothing.
“I figure you need new things, now that you are all grown! I am so proud of you, Flora!”
Her former nanny smiled brightly as she presented the clothing she sewed to the girl.
One piece was a large, dark red cloak, made from a material similar to wool.
It felt so soft and warm to the touch that Flora immediately fell in love with it.
As she finished her pie, someone else approached her with a small package- Bruno.
“Sorry it took a while. The ribbon didn't want to work with me.”
“There is no need to apologise for something like that, Bruno. I am happy to receive a gift at all, you didn't need to give me anything.”
“Well,” the man handed it to her, “technically it is not a gift from me, see. Your mother asked me to give it to you.”
Her mother?
It excited Flora, but it also scared her.
Her curiosity only grew as she removed the wrapping paper.
“She asked me to help her with the hardware,” Bruno continued to explain as Flora opened the package.
“Thirteen years ago, shortly before she…”
He made a short pause.
“Well, you know.”
“Why would she…”
The girl took out a strange, rectangular object. It was made from a metallic material, a blue so dark that it would appear black, if the sunlight did not make it shine.
“What is it?”
“Your mother called it a ‘Translator’. I don't quite know what she meant by that.”
He scratched his head.
“But if I remember correctly, it should also contain letters for you. You need to put your thumb there,” Bruno pointed to one of the long, thin sides of the object, where a small black dot was visible.
“Needs your fingerprint. We took it when you were small, but you might not remember.”
Flora followed his advice, and the device opened like a treasure box.
Now it revealed itself to be not one single metallic rectangle, but actually two, connected to each other by hinges.
Both of them contained one large, dark glass surface in the middle of them-
A glass surface that now lit up in a light beige colour.
And then, letters faded in on the bottom screen, a text that Flora was able to scroll down using a small stick next to it.
“My dear daughter,” the letter began.
“I wish you a wonderful birthday, and that you may achieve everything you yourself wish for in your next year of life.
The device you are holding now is called the Sphinx, and it is quite a special device that Bruno and I spent a lot of time perfecting.
I apologise that it, despite being meant to be a gift, comes with a great and important request to you.
As I am writing this letter, you are five years old, and I know that my own life will end soon.
There are two things I regret most.
The first is that I will not be able to watch you grow up, that I cannot be there with you on the day you will be reading this.
My second regret is a promise that I have made seven years ago, a promise that I now will never be able to fulfil myself.
This is what I now need to request of you, my dear daughter, and I hope that you can forgive me for it.
I ask you to visit the small village of Aenigmouth, located on the eastern coast.
There are reasons why I cannot give you more specific details about the promise itself, and for why I am not able to disclose those reasons to you.
Once it is fulfilled, you will understand.
Again I apologise for placing this responsibility on you.
The Sphinx will help you find the path.
Know that I love you.
Thank you.
~ Violet”
Flora looked up from the letter.
“Aenigmouth,” she repeated in a confused tone.
“Bruno, has she told you more about this?”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I just built the hardware, but she was the one who wrote its heart, as usual. Never heard of that town's name.”
“I see…”
It confused her.
What could be so important that her mother prepared something like this? What promise could she have regretted so much to not keep?
“Violet was a smart woman,” Bruno continued with a sigh.
“Didn't care much for puzzles though. Completely unlike your father.”
He looked to the side, towards the manor entrance, where Dahlia was discussing something with Ramon.
“Seeing you next to Dahlia only makes it clear how similar you are to your mother.”
His tone got more quiet, as he often did when mentioning the robots true nature when they were around.
“She would be proud of you.”
“Thank you.”
Flora didn't know much about her mother.
She had been so young when she lost her, and her fathers attempt at substituting her with Dahlia had only muddled her memories more.
This letter felt as if after all those years she finally communicated with her again.
Aenigmouth… Whatever could her mothers connection be to that place?
It only made Flora want to follow the request more, seeing this as an opportunity to finally get to know who Violet Reinhold truly was.
Wasn't it her duty to fulfil her mothers last wish?
Aenigmouth was waiting for her.
Illustration by me