The day passed, and another sunny day comes.
It was early morning where Elliot is seen scrubbing the dishes in the messy kitchen after they all finished their breakfast.
One helper is a boy named Harris, and then Justin. They were in silence as from his observation, Justin, the brown haired frail boy, seems the quiet type but got a loud mind. Since he's the brainy here. Harris, is more like the innocent very shy boy. But you don't expect, a 10 year old boy Harris is already well built. Dang, this orphanage is weird.
As Elliot plans striking an outside job today, he hesitated to speak to Justin. Probably the one who knows the best.
It took him a few seconds before he finally states his wantings.
"Justin, you said how we're separated into house work and outside work right?"
The boy was surprised, Elliot probably interrupted his thought.
"Eh? Hous- Oh, yeah, yeah...."
Elliot nodded, to suggest he's thinking and probably will say another thing.
"Well, I was thinking if I can land a job outside.." He told him, his face obviously saying 'if it's possible'.
"You? why outside? It's much more exhausting, since you don't even have transportation money to get to the work your going. And when you arrive at the wor-"
"Yeah.. I get it...i get it"
Elliot cuts him off. Seems he will answer more and make it more longer. But now that, that seems the case, he had no choice but to sneek out and do some work himself.
'How troublesome'
It made him grunts, and Justin heard it, as it was loud unexpectedly, embarrassing Elliot.
"But you kno... , even though the older guys here mostly do the work, I can help you out."
Justin proclaims, and it lightens up Elliot immediately.
"But not in here.."
He muttered. And Elliot just nodded. Harris might accidentally reveal it if he gets to know the thing.
They finished their work by washing loads of dishes. And Elliot signals Justin to come up upstairs once he's done showering.
Elliot, meanwhile, hides his plans in the bottom of his bed, as Justin might think he's delusional with all those description written in the paper.
And in time, a half naked Justin comes to the room, fully wet, seems didn't have time to rub himself. Because they line up just to shower, as there were only 10 shower stall, divided into two for girls and boys. And this is the time where most people showers.
Elliot waited for him to dress up, and it was time for his explaining.
"Ehem..."
"You see, my friend, is an.... well, illegal worker. The outside jobs are usually always babysitting, cleaning the neighbors home, welp, just basically basic houseworks but in another house, which are actually legal...."
"It's common sense kids like us can't have a job yet. But in the river close to here, there's a illicit workers where they hire kids who's capable of fishing. Sometimes you have to dive too yourself."
"But since it's a pretty fast river, even though some kids here also knows it. They're afraid to try it"
"It's pretty discreet, as they can reason that the older workers there are just letting 'their kids' try how to fish, where it's a lie, they aren't related in some ways. Except, if it is indeed true. Overall, you get a good pay, according to what fish you get that is"
"That's basically all of it-"
"Where can I apply?"
Elliot didn't wait for more and asked the major question. Surprising Justin, before, he knew him as a combination of him and Harris, a frail weak innocent kid. But now, he's got the eyes of determined- man?
It surely doesn't seems like an eyes for a kid should have.
"Later, we can escape, since the directress is usually out. They mostly hire you by testing your diving skills, and your bravery, so eat well" Justin ended their conversation.
And its going well with Elliot lately. Now he only wish that this good happenings doesn't equal to very bad in exchange.
In terms of appearance, he definitely doesn't looks like a well built kid. He's thin, and like you can insert some internal damage by just flicking him.
He only hope that they don't judge him by appearance.
Seems it's time for his meditation. Technically, it isn't named "meditation", it's the name he only calls it currently. And it doesn't seem a normal technique just to be call meditation.
But now Justin's gone, he goes into a position, placing his hands into the money/okay-sign, laying it into his knees. And calming his breathing.
He goes into each steps clearing his mind, strengthening his body, and mostly, thickening his magic core.
And exactly 100 minutes passed again, just hours more, Justin and Elliot will go escaping.
°°°°°°°°
7:30 PM, the two of them wrapped themselves with their thickest clothes. It was a windy night and not that fun to go out.
Elliot thanked Justin in advance, even if he doesn't get accepted. Since he still made an effort helping him.
Justin said it was only a walking distance, since their orphanage is very near the forest, where between the forest, is the fast flowing river.
Just earlier, because there are 69 children and teenagers here, they won't be probably notice that they're gone. Except for their roommate of course. But the ginger haired girl called Tasia, short for Anastasia, is pretty nosy like a usual girl would be. But she is addicted to sweets, so giving her sweets is like a bribe, for her to shut up that they're gone.
They set off fully prepared. And few minutes after, they reach the destination. It was just a simple hut with a sign in front, the schedules and all of that, like warnings.
An exiting man, full of beard with a cowboy hat, noticed them close to the river.
"Hey hey, where are your parents? Lost?"
The man's voice was rough, and very deep. It was pretty scary to face him.
"Uhm, no, actually, we're... well, he's applying to be one of you guys"
Justin spoke professionally, as it was a scary man after all, but he wasn't bothered by it.
The man made a judgment eyes. Just hours ago, he was scolded as there were decreasing in workers, and they aren't getting enough fishes to sell. Means not enough money to pay, which makes it decrease more. It has been a long time since kids tried to apply for the job. Because hell, even the adults have it hard when fishing nor diving.
"Ihm...."
'His body....'
The man only sighed. They need to recruit more. He had no choice. Even if this kid fails the test, he can just be a helper.
The man escorted them inside, explaining how the test will go. Its just diving and catch any fish in the time limit. If he passed, he will be taught then to handle a fishing rod.
Elliot warm up, it was evening, and yes, it was very cold already. He naked his upper body, leaving only his shorts behind.
The man got his old timer, and in the count of three, Elliot dive in.
It was very cold, that's what he first felt. But for some reason, it was gone and he just felt like he's just being waved by the water. Actually, it was pretty comfortable. He opened his eyes, and hell how beautiful to see a clean river with full of fish.
As he dived in, many fishes were going away, he swam for the first time in this life, he was a pretty fine swimmer in his past life. And didn't felt different really because his body before and now are alike. Weak. But maybe using the technique really did harden his body more. Making it now more easier to swim.
There were lots of rocks to doge, but overall it's fine. Minutes passed, and successfully, he managed to caught an average size fish.
He goes up in the surface, inhaling lot of air and breathing hard. He got on the ground and goes back to the hut.
Justin smiled at his arrival. He gave a thumbs up and Elliot smiled back.
The man was pretty surprised. It only took several minutes. Not what he was expecting at all. He goes back to his experience before, and this kid might have gone it better than him, an adult. Was it because of his small figure?
"So, did I pass Mister?"
Elliot asked, hoping for a good answer.
"You did, but that doesn't mean your permanently hired already"
The man answered, but stated the truth because the kid might get disappointed if he gets fired later on.
Elliot was very glad by the answer.
"Get prepared to use the rod tomorrow. Don't you dare break it young man"
The man stated, giving a strict glance.
Elliot only nodded in understanding.
"Let's go now Faust"
Justin shouted as he parts off first away from the hut.
'Faust' hurrily follows Justin as he expect good things tomorrow.