The capital was a peaceful and beautiful place that had distanced itself into the ridiculous from the horrors of the world. Life went quietly, even if people suffered elsewhere, the festivals here were as intoxicating as ever. The city flourished in a splendor that was unparalleled, every building was neat, the nobility meticulously made sure that their houses reflected what they tried to be.
Even simple peasants were not simple peasants if their roots were in the capital. The world revolved around the capital, it was the destination for everyone who wanted to make something of themselves, it was the destination for all those people who placed status and superficiality above everything and it didn’t surprise Ciel that vanity in this stronghold was a bit of a surprise , very slowly panic spread and darkened the shine. With each new death, the rumors grew and the fear increased.

Ciel opened his eyes slowly, the sun shone directly into his face and made him put his hands in front of his face. He sat up sleepily and stared into the empty room.
He rubbed his eyes tiredly and looked briefly at the morning sun, which shone through the small window and reminded him that it was already far too late.

Ciel dressed quickly. He had overlooked time again. He took several steps at the same time and skipped the last one completely, took his swing with him, greeted his mother as she slid past, who looked after him wordlessly with a frown. She seemed to have been waiting for him. He hated it when she did that and if he wasn't past her fast enough, she admonished him every time he shouldn't do nonsense and do what is asked of him, since he was well on his way to the most powerful To make friends of the city's noble family. He knew how much it meant to his mother that they would finally have access to the better aristocratic houses. But Ciel couldn't bring himself to share their joy, because he was tired of always playing the stooge and helping the fine young gentlemen to kill their boredom.

Ciel Suede hurried through the streets, stopped briefly at old Ulla's stand, who stealthily slipped a small loaf of bread so that her jealous husband would not see it, and warned him to avoid Schuberstrasse, because there would be three sick people this week given. Ciel thanked him and sprinted on towards the side gate of the palace district. His way led past all the ornate buildings to the large square with the magnificent fountain, where the ladies usually met in the morning. But recently the place was eerily empty.
Since the first deaths among the nobility. Esther had told Ciel about a lady-in-waiting who was also suffering from the strange disease. She said it wouldn't look good for her. Esther was terrified, but Ciel had other things on her mind.Not only did he suffer from the strict system at court, he was not the only one who was tolerated as a servant with rank and name in these circles. Esther was a great girl and Ciel would clearly describe her as a beauty, they shared a fate. Both of them owed it to their fathers, despite their noble blood, that they only led a better servant life. Esther worked as one of the maids at court and lived there too. She had no other place to stay. As usual, he met the young Mr. Wals von Ohlsorf at the stables. The blond giant waved Ciel over.
"This afternoon we want to go hunting" he said determined and Ciel nodded. "I will prepare everything"
Wals waved his hand and looked at his stallion. He was considered the best and wildest animal on the farm. Only Wals could control him.
Ciel envied his riding skills. As a training partner, he was only able to learn martial arts and horse riding to a limited extent. They couldn't afford to keep such a noble animal.
"I heard," Wals began. "That the order's healers were on their way here to help fight the plague"
Ciel sighed.
"Who knows if it's really as bad as everyone says"
"Pah" Wals uttered and passed the reins of his stallion on to the stable master. He made his way to the main guard house, where his father had his quarters.
"You have no idea," he said disparagingly, leaving Ciel standing. He had no qualifications to follow him.
Ciel shook his head. They were all in a panic, but he didn't want to believe that it should be so dangerous.

The abbess strode down the steps to the courtyard, her robe billowing from the cold east wind.
"Everything ready" said one of the sisters who looked after the horses.
“Where is she?” Asked the abbess in a sharp voice.
"Here"
As expected, Sister Amele was led by one of the students. The blind woman looked composed.
"The others are already waiting," said the abbess tightly. She had no authority over the returnees, but that was about to change. At the latest, her successor would have an easier game, because the chances were slim that the stubborn Amele would become the next mistress of the returnees, as the current mistress wished.
The abbess threw the blessing on Amele and took a step back. The young sister dutifully helped the blind woman into the unadorned carriage in which the other three sisters were already waiting.
"You are late" said the oldest of them. Amele knew her from her time as a novice.
You saved yourself an answer. Even if she was still wearing the robe, she was no longer part of the sisterhood. She had done her duty when she served on the other side. It was clear to her that the mistress was only giving in to the abbess for fear of the whims of an old, power-hungry woman. The returnees were allowed to live in peace, they had done more for the world than the others.Nobody could force them to pull against the demons again.


Amele heard the quiet breathing of her fellow sisters. As far as she learned from the mistress, the other sisters were all including the high-born, the eldest one of the administrators of the libraries and direct relatives of the royal family and the other two from no less good family. As far as she knew, the sister on her right was working in the hospital and the one opposite was a trainer for the novices. All of them were wise women, but Amele was the youngest and of low origin, the only one on the other side. Malicious tongues often meant that the noble sisters, however talented, never had to go to the other side to do their service.


The noises and smells were strange, Amele's heart pounded faster. She had not left the village since returning home and now the impressions on the blind woman collapsed. They had arrived in the capital after almost a day in the narrow carriage. Horses pawed, men shouted at one another, carts rolled over the cobblestones and Amele's finger bones protruded white, so tightly she gripped her staff.
"Sister" admonished the library manager's voice.
"We have to go on," Amele cursed these arrogant old women. Her legs just didn't want to move, she didn't know this area and the Sister Superior was not ready to give her a novice to lead her.
"Sister" urged her voice again more urgently. It seemed uncomfortable to her that everyone had to wait because of Amele.
"Forgive" she said tightly and slowly felt her way.

She closed the door behind her. She had been allocated a room in the guest house, and her companions had been accommodated elsewhere. Even as Sisters of the Order, distinctions were still made. They were told that they could rest a little before the governor wanted to speak to them. Amele sighed and slowly began to scan the room with her wand. The room was small and sparsely furnished, which she did not dislike.
It made it easier for her to find her way. She hated bumping into objects all the time.

Amele felt a small window on the wall, opened it and listened. Outside she heard too many noises to identify them all. She couldn't find any sleep, so she tried somehow to bridge the time until the meeting. She hardly believed that her fellow sisters were very considerate of their blindness, so she had to get used to the noise and strange impressions in this big city. In any case, there were enough wicked tongues that saw the returnees as deserters. Amele remembered the last words of the fortress commander. She put her hand on the shoulder of each of the women who were already completely or almost blind, thanked them and asked them to use the time given.Each of them knew it wouldn't be long. At that time Amele could still see a little, which could usually be interpreted as a sign that there was a good chance of survival and that the inner struggle could be won. She only lost her eyesight on the third day she returned home. Just long enough to perceive brightness one last time.
There was a knock on the door. Amele left the window open and felt her way to open it.

"Mistress" The voice sounded young. "I should pick you up" there was uncertainty.
Amele sighed and stepped out of the room. She raised her hand. The person opposite didn't seem to know what to do. "I need your guidance," she said coolly. The young lady still didn't seem to understand completely.
Amele took a deep breath. "Come here" she waved and knew full well that the girl had noticed her hands.
"I'll put my hand on your shoulder and you go ahead" The girl remained silent, but carefully took Amele's arm and put her hand on her shoulder.


"You are late," said the sister coolly.
Amele didn't answer, one after the other they entered the room, where several gentlemen were already waiting for them. They were offered a seat, which of course Sister Enne, the head of the library, politely refused.
Amele heard a chair being pushed back and someone standing up.
"Dear sisters, in the name of the ruler von Rezick, may I welcome you" Stadtholder Merold was a short, stocky man with a wrinkled face and gray, sharp eyes. He was a strict but fair man who had the good of the city firmly in his hand. He was not a nobleman, but he enjoyed the respect of the upper class more than anyone. At a young age he had established