Chapter 05

Concerned, Frianne called out Esia’s name once more from behind the door to Esia’s personal quarters. But there was still no reply. As she was about to knock once more, a voice from the inside could be heard.

“Sorry, come in.” Esia spoke in a soft manner, but loud enough for those at the other side of the door to hear.

As Frianne and Osar and his men entered, they saw Esia sitting on her bed with her sleeping gown on.

“Sorry, Esia, for disturbing you even if you’re resting.” Frianne apologised, knowing full well that she told her to rest up yet interrupted her.

“it’s fine. I couldn’t sleep anyway.” Esia waved her hand, saying it’s no problem at all.

“I apologise for greeting you this way. But my health is not in the best of conditions.” She declared so to Osar and the soldiers behind Frianne and him while looking slightly haggard.

“It’s fine Esia. And you can speak to me casually.” With confused looks, everyone stared blankly at Osar.

“Erm... But I may be disrespecting you, Lord Osar. Esia wanted to speak more but was stopped by Osar when he brought forward his hard.

“I’m an old friend of your parents. I, especially, went hunting with your old man before we settled here in Heom.” All faces were even more shocked.

The man who had a face that could kill with just looks yet had a kind aura to him casually revealed his past. Some of his aides have never even heard his old life, yet now he just blurted it out. What was Lord Osar’s relationship with Esia, more specifically her parents? A respected and frightening government official to a town girl. All soldiers thought as such.

“My parents?” With some deep thought, she had stumbled on an old memory. “Grandpa Relic?” Esia looked at Osar trying to confirm if her memory served her right.

“Insolent!” One of the guards was enraged. To hear them call a great person grumpy junkie, and from a woman no less, filled him with animosity.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!” But Osar laughter so loud and heartily, it was practically deafening. The children who were still at the main hall and those who trailed behind the men, covered their ears so such and ear-shattering sound.

“Yes, ‘the old coot’.” He laughed once more before calming down. “It’s been a while since I’ve been called that. I’d be more than happy to catch up.”

“Please don’t say that. You look like an old perverted coot aiming for young women.”

“You’re not particularly young now, are you? No lover either.”

With a face that is devoid of life, Esia glared at Osar.

“I will kill you.” With a low voice and a chilling look, Esia directed her gaze only to Osar. Frianne and the soldiers dare not look at Esia not Osar when he turned back.

“O-okay, my apologies. I have gone too far and have rather strayed away from my reason of visit.” He tried to appease the dark and gloomy Esia who was ready to murder anyone at a moment’s notice.

Osar explained everything from his directive from the Count, the reason for the investigations, and the permission and refusal of the investigation. Esia didn’t bother reading it as she was too exhausted so she just listened. And at the end, she allowed them to investigate the orphanage. If they ever have questions, then they can ask Frianne.

Esia was starting to droop. When Osar noticed this, he stood up and prepared to leave the room.

“We have your permission. Truly sorry for keeping you awake while you should be resting.” Osar had left with Frianne and his men and left Esia to rest.

After they left the room, the investigation commenced. The children were gathered in one place in the main hall, mixed with curiosity and fear in their expressions. Some were looking at the soldiers with excitement, saying they want to be one when they grow up. Other were starting to tear up, frightened of the intimidating aura of the soldiers.

Soldiers walked throughout the orphanage. Searching high and low, not leaving a single stone unturned. Kitchen, hallways, bedrooms, the garden, storage shed, and even latrine. But found nothing suspicious. All they obtained was great exhaustion. Quite unusual, even.

It hasn’t even been an hour since the investigation, but everywhere has been searched. Double checked, triple checked even but to no avail. Among the kids, one was restless, fidgeting about. Looking here and there and yonder. Osar approached the child and asked if he was alright.

The child, who had a horn protruding from his forehead just above his right brow, was startled when Osar called out to him. Veyrr wanted to tell them about a passage he once entered. That passage he saw someone walking into.

He opened and closed his mouth, unable to speak a word. He was unsure if it was all a dream or not. After all, everyone was fast asleep as he awoke from his bed. He was confused if what he saw was reality or not. So, he was unable to speak of those events.

“I’m... alright... just scared.” Veyrr spoke in a hushed voiced. He was scared not because of the soldiers or whatnot, but because of the confusion.

“It’s going to be alright. We are about to leave, so you can relax a bit more.” Osar reassured the child while patting his head.

It seems Osar isn’t bothered by non-humans nor discriminate them, children all the more. Veyrr strangely found solace within Osar and nodded happily.

The investigation ended ad Osar bid Frianne goodbye. Thanked her for their cooperation and left. Frianne closed shut the orphanage door and heaved a great sigh, relieved that nothing went awry. Afternoon classes were cancelled due to the sudden appearance of an investigation team and Frianne could do nothing. As it was already dusk, she decided to prepare dinner.

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Everyone was seated at the table with their food in front of them. They began eating, spooning their soups and tearing their breads and finally shoving it into their mouths. Others dipped their bread into the soup. They all eat differently, but they enjoy their meals together.

At one table, Frianne sat with the children and beside her was Veyrr who looked like he didn’t have much of an appetite. She asked him if everything was alright or if he was feeling unwell, but Veyrr shook his head and said everything’s all right.

“Is mother... sister Esia not coming down?” He was alright but Esia not present at dinner slightly bothered him.

“Don’t worry, Veyrr.” The one who answered him was not Frianne, but Alana.

Alana is a female child with ears that look like that of a fox but it was at the side of her head and stretched back. She also had two fluffy tails.

“This is her punishment for always scolding us.” She cackled while thinking of the miserable Esia in her head. “And call her mother.” She added while snickering.

“I don’t want to be scolded. But, is she going to be alright...” Veyrr still looked disheartened.

“It’s alright. Esia is just tired. Let her rest a bit more.” Frianne patted the head of Veyrr to reassure him.

Without saying anything, Veyrr continued eating his meal. Yet in front of him was an energetic beast-kin girl. It somewhat lightened the burden he felt, thinking that Esia really is going to be alright.

But he still could not shake of the feeling of anxiety. He wanted to speak about what he saw that evening yet couldn’t muster the courage to do so. He wanted to confirm if what he saw really happened. And so, he decided to pay a visit to Esia after dinner, to inquire about such things.

After everyone had eaten their fill, Veyrr quickly headed to the quarters or Esia. He knocked on her door but there was no answer. Knocked twice, and thrice but still no response. With some hesitation, he slowly pushed opened the door and took a peek. As he entered, he saw some movement on the bed, going up and down slowly.

“Mother Esia?” He called out, hoping she would respond. But there was no change.

“Mother Esia...?” Veyrr called out again.

The figure on top of the bed moved and a head popped out from one end.

“Who is it?” Esia slightly rubbed her eyes and saw the figure of a child with one horn. “Veyrr? Do you need something?” With a weary and hush voice, Esia asked him.

“Mother Esia, can I talk to you about something?” Similarly with a small voice, he asked Esia.

Esia sat up and tapped the side of her bed, signalling Veyrr to sit beside her. He got up the bed and stared at the floor, shrinking and hesitating to speak.

With a light tap to his head, Esia told him,

“It’s sister. Not mother.”

“Now, tell me what it is you want to talk about.” With a slight pause, Esia spoke. She sat quietly, waiting for Veyrr to speak.

Veyrr spoke of the events he saw that night. Waking up sometime at night and following someone along the dark corridor. A mysterious light. And the walls suddenly splitting apart and the figure entering it. He told how frightening and eerie it was. He told her about the faint sound of people screaming coming from that hole and suddenly quieting down when the wall closed. Even on his way back to the room of the children, it felt like it took him forever to reach there, especially since it took a while for his vision to adjust to the dark.

From behind, Esia hugged Veyrr and caressed his soft hair. He lightly pulled his head towards her side and gently stroked his head.

“You must have had a bad dream. Not as bad as a nightmare, but it must have been frightening.” She kept her position while slowly tightening her grasp on Veyrr. “But it’s alright. I’m here.

She could feel Veyrr jerking slightly and thought that he must be crying.

“Look at me.” She released herself from Veyrr and let him face her “I’m not sure what you saw in your dream exactly, but I will do anything to protect you children of this orphanage. But I will scold any of you for misbehaving.”

“Yeah! I believe mother Esia is a good person.” Veyrr happily said.

Esia nodded and sweetly smiled at him. With another light whack to his head, Esia scolded him again.

“It’s sister, not mother. How many times do I have to say it? Even as she declared such, she didn’t seem all that furious.

With a light laugh, Veyrr got off of bed and said he is going back to the main hall. Both of them waved to each other and Esia, who was still on bed got up.

Ahh.. he forgot to close the door. Well, no matter. Sleep, sleep!

‘I will do anything to protect the children’. Of course, they’re precious after all.

Esia covered herself in her warm blanket and went back to sleeping.

After Veyrr ran out of the door, Frianne, who was at the main hall, noticed him coming out from somewhere. He asked where he had gone and Veyrr replied that he went to talk to Esia. With his happy expression, she knew that he got the answer he was looking for or is satisfied with.