Once both Velvet and Verosala came back from the blacksmith area to the Sunblaze mansion:
"Miss Velvet, welcome back. We are here to take you for a bath. Please follow us to the bathroom," said the maid called Maria.
"Uh... okay," said Velvet as she followed them.
"See you later, Velvet!" echoed Verosala.
"See you later..." Velvet replied.
"Lady Verosala, it is time for your duties as a lady of the household," said the Head Maid, Christine.
"Alrighty! Let's go, Christine!" said Verosala, walking off to her responsibilities.
While bathing Velvet, the maids listened to her excitedly talk about the character panel.
"You won't believe what I witnessed," said Velvet in an excited tone.
"What did you witness, miss?" asked one of the maids.
"Today I saw something called a 'character panel.' It was glowing green and red in front of me," Velvet said as she recalled what she saw.
"I see, I see," said Maria. "It seems like you had fun today. Now it's time for you to get up so we can get you changed."
"Alright then," replied Velvet.
After the maids helped Velvet bathe, she was dressed in the noble clothes Verosala used to wear when she was five. That was when Velvet finally saw her appearance in the mirror.
"Who is that?" Velvet asked, pointing at the mirror.
"That is you, miss. You look lovely, don't you see?" said Maria.
Velvet stood in front of a grand, ornate mirror embedded with gems that looked like they could cost a fortune. The sight of her reflection captivated her. She had short orange hair, and her eyes shimmered with a mixture of green and a hint of red. Each eye bore a different symbol.
In her left eye was a highly stylized and symmetrical floral motif, featuring a central golden shape resembling an inverted heart or abstract letter. It shimmered with golden tones, flanked by fine pink leaves on the left and bold blue leaves on the right, detailed with intricate veining. Scattered pink flower buds added to its natural elegance. The design evoked the grace of Art Nouveau or Art Deco, with its flowing curves, metallic shine, and vibrant contrast against a soft background.
Her right eye, in contrast, displayed an abstract composition of organic, fluid shapes—like petals or leaves—rising in a motion that suggested growth. The colors flowed from a soft teal at the top, through peach and warm yellow-orange in the middle, to a gentle rosy pink at the bottom. Each element carried subtle gradient shifts, resting on a pale cream backdrop. The overall effect was calming, graceful, and modern—an abstract ode to natural beauty and transformation.
As she admired herself in the mirror, a fragmented voice echoed in her mind:
"Drink... the... flower... into... water..."
But Velvet was too tired to process it. She fell asleep in the chair, and Maria gently carried her to bed before leaving with the other maids.
That evening, Lord Vervon returned home.
"Welcome back, Papa!" Verosala greeted cheerfully. "Come, let's eat before the food gets cold!"
"Welcome back... My Lord," murmured Velvet sleepily, having just woken up.
Lord Vervon nodded at their greetings. After dinner with the girls, he retired to his office with the butler, who began his daily report.
"It seems that Miss Velvet is quite interested in the character panel. Perhaps you should schedule a trip to the temple," the butler suggested.
"I'll send Verosala. She seems quite fond of her. It would be good for Verosala to have friends her age," Lord Vervon replied.
"Agreed," said the butler.
Lord Vervon leaned back in his chair and commented, "Velvet looked like she was glowing. To think that under all that mess was a truly beautiful young lady. I imagine many nobles will soon take notice of her."
"Surely, you don't believe she comes from a noble household, do you, my lord?" the butler asked.
Lord Vervon stood and gazed out the window at the night sky.
"Whether she is or not," he said, "she will soon be my daughter."
A sheet of paper sat on his desk—the adoption papers.