A New Routine

Mori followed Kaelith out of the room and down a long corridor, the soft carpet muffling their footsteps. They eventually arrived at a large door that Kaelith pushed open, revealing a spacious room filled with rows of workstations and several women dressed in similar attire to Mori. The air was thick with the scent of fabric and the hum of sewing machines. "Welcome to the maid's quarters," Kaelith said, his voice firm and authoritative. "These are the women you will be working with. I expect you to integrate seamlessly into the team and meet the high standards of cleanliness and efficiency that I demand." Mori's eyes scanned the room, taking in the faces of the other maids. They seemed to be a diverse group, ranging in age and background. Some looked friendly, while others appeared wary or even hostile. Mori felt a shiver run down her spine as Kaelith's gaze swept over the room, his eyes lingering on each of the maids before returning to her. "Allow me to introduce you," he said, striding over to a woman with a kind face and a warm smile. "This is Elara, one of your team leaders. She will be responsible for overseeing your work and ensuring that you meet the required standards." Elara stepped forward and extended a hand to Mori. "Welcome to the team," she said, her voice gentle. "I'm glad to have you on board. We'll do our best to make you feel welcome and help you settle in." As Kaelith introduced Mori to the other maids, she tried to commit their names and faces to memory. There was Jax, a young woman with a mischievous grin and a quick wit; Aisha, a quiet and reserved woman with a talent for needlework; and Zephyr, a brusque but efficient maid who seemed to be in charge of cleaning supplies. Once the introductions were over, Kaelith handed Mori a small badge with her name on it. "You'll need to wear this at all times," he said. "It will help you access the different areas of the estate and track your work assignments." With that, Kaelith turned and left the room, leaving Mori to her new colleagues. Elara took charge, assigning Mori to work with Jax on cleaning the east wing of the estate. As they set to work, Mori felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was finally starting to feel like she was part of a team, and the work was a welcome distraction from her thoughts of escape and rebellion. As they worked, Mori found herself chatting with Jax, who proved to be a lively and engaging companion. They talked about everything from their favorite books to their childhood memories, and Mori felt a sense of camaraderie that she hadn't experienced in a long time. But despite the sense of belonging she felt, Mori couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She glanced around the room, wondering if Kaelith had left someone to keep an eye on her. But there was no one obvious, just the other maids going about their work. Mori pushed the thought aside and focused on her task, determined to prove herself and make a good impression. She was determined to stay one step ahead of Kaelith and his plans, and she knew that the key to her freedom lay in her ability to adapt and survive.