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Chapter 2 - The Orphanage

"Took your time, Seris." said Viessa.

"You do know I'm attending to the High Sovereign's wife, don't you?" she replied.

"Anyway little Grey here is finally awake." she gestured to me.

'Oh my name is Grey? Somehow it makes me uneasy.'

"Hello Grey. I'm Seris, this orphanage's headmaster" she introduced herself.

"Looks like both of these infants can thrive on mana cores alone and don't need much 'care taking and feeding' at least until they can perform those functions on their own. Thank the Vritra!" exclaimed Viessa.

"Agreed." The other two replied in unison without hesitation.

'Mana cores? Other infants? What's a Vritra?' Well, guess I won't know the answers to these questions in my current condition.

2 Years Later

These two years went by fast and today I can finally CRAWL baby. It was frustrating to not be able to move around but due to just consuming mana from mana cores made it easier not having to deal with loss of certain bodily functions.

All the three sisters were very caring, treated me like one would their own brother. They also taught me mana manipulation and about the continent we were living in. I was born with a mana core and it seems to purify on its own while I absorb mana from the atmosphere. Something about me felt off, as if my physical age didn't match my thoughts. It was as if I was older.

Today they told me I was going on a 'play date' as they put it, with another baby. We arrived at the hall where there was another kid. He had black hair and was sitting with his back faced to us,

"Nico, your friend is here." Viessa announced.

I stiffened at the mention of that name. 'Nico? I think I know him but can't quite put a finger on it. Why does he affect me so much?'

I was brought out of my thoughts when Viessa brought a napkin to my face and wiped my tears. I didn't realise I was crying.

The boy looked back and I could see his blood red eyes study me. I saw something akin to recognition before it was replaced by curiosity and happiness.

"Come over! Let's play!" he called me over. Upon arriving I could see he had been playing with what seemed to be artifacts, no, he had dismantled them. As if studying them. I felt comfortable with him, a lot. We got along pretty well.

'I guess my time in the orphanage is going to get better'

2 Years 7 Months Later

I was falling from what seemed to be a cliff. A hand reached out to me which was made of rocks. But it was too late.

"Damn, I always wanted to be an older brother."

"Bah!" I woke up from my sleep clutching my chest. Tears flowed uncontrollably.

'What was that? It was too realistic.' I couldn't stop the trembling which shook me to my bones.

I slept again thinking it was just another nightmare.

Few months later

'You're safe now. You can go home. No one's gonna kidnap you again'

I told a black silhouette of a girl,probably 5 years old and had pointed ears.

'Hic hic,Waaa I thought they were gonna sell me. I thought I would never see my family again! Waaa I-I was so scared' She started sobbing uncontrollably.