Winter's Requiem Wheel of Destiny — Morimens

Gloomy clouds shrouded Londinium, blocking the moonlight. The midnight chimes have rung, and the towering chimneys continue to spew hot black smoke and steam. Snowflakes, touched by the dust in the wind, are stained with a dull gray before touching the ground; they flutter down onto the streetlamp, almost instantly melting from the heat of the light and dripping onto the girl passing by. The girl wears a brown dress, with oversized sleeves carelessly rolled up, revealing her bony arms. She struggles to jog, occasionally pulling up her sleeves, trying hard to catch up with the woman ahead. The woman glances sideways at the girl and clicks her tongue: "Hurry up, don't think that just because you walk slowly you don't have to go." "Okay, okay, Mom," the girl quickly runs up beside the woman, panting, "Sorry, Mom." "Don't call me Mom!" The woman grabs the girl's arm and drags her along faster, "You bloodsucking waste, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have sunk to this wretched place." "Sorry..." "Shut up, useless thing." The woman's nails dig into the girl's arm, leaving a line of deep marks, "I tell you, from now on the Fang is your home, don't even think about coming out to find me; I don't want to see you even if it kills me, got it?" "I... I understand." The girl lowers her head, tears falling beneath her shoes, disappearing into the filthy slush along the Tablet road. In the distance, the factory sounds its closing whistle, a stray cat darts through the alley, the subtle noise is swallowed up by the footsteps of the two. They turn the corner, passing a yard with clothes hanging that exude dampness, and finally stop in front of a building with metal gates. "You wait here," the woman's voice is very calm, even carrying a hint of detachment, "When dawn breaks, the people inside will come out. They will take you in. Don't follow me, or you'll see if I kill you." The woman turns and leaves, her similarly thin and slightly stooped figure quickly disappearing into the darkness. The girl helplessly clutches her hands, watching the place where the woman left, wiping her tears with her sleeve. Dim light appears behind her, stretching the shadows of the iron gate and herself. A hand lands on the girl's shoulder, startling her. "Poor child, why are you here alone?" The newcomer is a young woman dressed in a nun-like robe, "Come, Sister Sarah will take you inside. You won't be cold for long."