Maria.
I was utterly exhausted by the time I finished all the chores assigned to me. My body ached in places I didn't even know could ache, and every step felt heavier than the last. I found a quiet corner near the far end of the compound and slowly lowered myself to the ground, my back resting against the cool stone wall. For a moment, I just sat there, breathing deeply, trying to steady myself.
The air around me was thick with the scent of earth, sweat, and labor. Other rogues moved about, some carrying buckets, others scrubbing floors or rushing past with hurried steps, but I stayed where I was, too tired to move. I lifted the back of my hand and wiped a bead of sweat that had rolled down my temple, smearing dust across my skin without caring how it looked. Right now, all I wanted was a moment of stillness.
