The following day, Heron woke up and went to eat breakfast after taking a shower. Children and some adults were eating at the tables, but when Heron passed by them, they looked away so as not to make contact with him. Heron found it hard to understand why. So he sat alone, eating at the table at the far end of the cafeteria.
Once he finished breakfast, a guard pulled him aside and told him that he should not engage with people until he was ranked correctly. Apparently, there is a system in place that scores everyone and is posted in front of the administration office every twenty-four days.
And when he returned to his room, he found that a man was waiting there for him. He did not have the appearance of a soldier. He had blonde curly hair, dark-toned skin, and carried a green west with cloth tailored for someone who would be noble with a white plaid shirt and black trousers.
"My name is Owen Harlings, the administrative manager of the establishment. I'm here to take you to Sir Pridens's office for the orientation. After the orientation, based on the initial evaluation, I'll be assigning the chores that you'll be doing at the training grounds. Now come along."
And so Owen took Heron to Richards's office. There were two other children also present. Heron had not seen them, but they also seemed to be new arrivals like him. The office is primitive for a noble standard, with a minimalist layout. There was one large window, and from each side, there were the same banners that Heron saw banners arriving at the camp. In the middle of the room, there was a table with a wood engraving of two scythes crossed and the book in the middle. Also, there was a fauteuil. On the desk, there were a ton of papers and a jug filled with a red substance, probably wine.
Owen told the children to line up and not move until Richard arrived. And so, after a few moments of complete silence, Richard entered the office being escorted by two soldiers. He didn't look at the children and instead just started moving towards the window as he started his orientation speech.
"After this initial orientation, you'll be assigned chores which you'll do if you wish food and clothing. Apart from those, it is expected of you to partake in combat and magic training and learn basic writing. Upon your performance, it will be determined what will become of you. The best of you will become adventurers, the pride of our empire, those who seek gems and thwart foes who oppress our king. Others will be soldiers, a noble job still, facing outcasts on our borders and protecting the unity of our kingdom. Those who have talent with specific chores and do not qualify for either may end up as servants or trainees to the families of local villages if they decide you are worthy. Finally, for those who don't qualify at any of these, well, your bodies will serve to provide replacement parts for the injured." he said as he was moving around the office, still averting looking at the children.
"Our bodies?" one of the boys frightfully exclaimed.
There was a silent pause for a moment, followed by a hard slapping sound. Now Richard was looking at the children, his eyes narrowed, gazing a stern look as if he was looking at pure filth.
"I don't remember giving you permission to speak. Even though you're now orphaned, I expected your former guardians to teach you proper manners. Well, I guess that wasn't the only failure that had them meet their fate." he said with a cold voice followed by a frowned smirk.
And even though not mentioned by name, Heron understood Richard was also implying that his father was a failure, and rage started to boil in his heart. With Richard focusing on the boy he just slapped, he failed to realize that something was happening around him.
The soldiers tried to call by his name, but by the time they called out, it was too late.
Heron's eyes went light blue as white dots were swirling in his eyes, and anything that was of liquid substance was now forming into weapons aimed at Richard. Even Richard's saliva was trying to choke him as he, unfortunately, had his mouth open as he was criticizing the boy. And in mere moments, he saw he was in real danger. Wine flew over and was trying to drown him as his head was now sunken in the red liquid sphere.
Heron's error, however, was that he did not move from the place from which he cast the attack, and while Richard was trying to maintain his composure, he also rushed towards him, delivering a knee blow straight to Heron's chin so hard it threw him against the wall.
Heron was out cold from the blow, and the attack stopped. Richard was now gasping for air being all wet.
"You... you... scum" he was still gasping. But then he stood disappointed as he saw Heron out cold. He then collected himself and looked at the two other boys.
"You two get out now!" he yelled, and the boys ran away.
"Guards, search him!"
Guards took every bit of clothes off Heron and started to ransack it. Then, with the shirt taken off, they found the pouch.
"Weren't you instructed to take every belonging from the refugees?"
"I'm sorry, sir! It seems whoever was handling the boy didn't bother to search him," said the soldier, almost muttering.
"Inform the squad commander to find whoever did the search and give him 30 whips," Richard responded while being given the pouch.
His eyes widened as he looked inside the pouch but decided not to pull the gem out.
"Take the boy to the solitary. Provide him with nothing but water for three days. Once he comes to, bring him back to me so that I may decide his fate."
And so one of the soldiers picked Heron up, with his nose having residues of blood, and took him to the solitary.
Richard now was alone in the room. He pulled out the blue gem and started to inspect it.
"Without a doubt, this is a spirit gem. Where would a peasant such as that boy get a hold of one of these?" he thought to himself while scratching his beard. It was then that he realized he was covered in sticky fruit juice.
"Gaaah, this will be hard to get off. If maids don't get it cleaned, I'll kill that boy the moment he steps foot in the office next time."
He then proceeded to the table. He opened one of the drawers, and there was a small ceramic box with runs drawn around its sides. He opened the lid, and in the box in the cloth, there was another spirit gem. This spirit gem was of ember with yellow dots floating within.
"On the second thought, I probably shouldn't keep these together in the same place." he thought, and then he opened a bottom drawer. Here were some handkerchiefs, and he used one to wrap the gem. Then he left it in the drawer and exited the office.
Heron woke up in a dark room with barely any light. His back and chin hurt. He probably had bruises. He could see anything on his face, so he didn't know if there were any wounds or scars. He was placed on a stiff wooden board that was battened to the wall. He could also see a bucket filled with water and another one empty.
He realized only then that he was also naked and that the pouch was gone.
"Oh no! It was my only remaining belonging from Haugstad," he thought and then curled up as he started crying. Finally, after hours when he could cry no more, he went to the bucket and washed up a bit. His stomach was growling, but there was no food. It was just one of his worries. No one came to say anything, and it was utterly dark, meaning it was already nighttime.
He also needed to empty his bladder and bowels, so he used the second bucket. The next day no one came to check upon him, and now the stench from the bucket was filling the room. He was not only starving, but he was also feeling nauseous. And so he went and vomited in the bucket, which drained what little energy he had, and so he lost consciousness.
The next day a guard finally checked in, and after discovering his body, he picked him up and took him to the infirmary.
Heron woke up only to discover his pain was gone. He was placed in a comfortable bed, and around him was a wall of white sheets. He was also wearing white pajamas.
"Hello?" he let out a question, realizing his throat was dry. He then noticed a wooden jug filled with water. He started drinking. He also realized that he wasn't hungry.
"What happened?" he asked himself, and then one of the curtains was moved. There was the face of a woman with violet hair looking at him.