Arledge and the other eat quietly without disturbing each other. It was made like that by the orphanage. But there's an exception... it is when someone can't see.
Arledge looks at the next table next to them. It is where the little brats sit. Specifically, Zeus, the leader of this group.
He had shoulder-length wavy black hair. His features were quite normal. What he mean by that was his eyebrows were not too sharp, his nose was not too pointy, his lips were not too fat, his cheeks... it was chubby.
'I guess that was not normal?'
Zeus and his group target now was a snotty kid who was eating lunch quietly. Not too quiet actually as he constantly snorts his snot which is a sight to not behold.
Elise who was beside also look over where I was looking. When she saw what was happening, she immediately got up from her seat and walk over to their table.
But as she was about to do it, Arledge, who was beside him, stop her.
Elise looked at Arledge as if to ask why stop me?
"There," Arledge look at the caretakers who immediately saw Zeus doing something naughty.
The caretakers knew that Zeus was a bully but they didn't lecture him or anything but just prevent him from affecting other children.
But what they did even worsen Zeus. It not only worsen the bullying but also started affecting the children.
Mary, who was the head of the caretakers, walk fast to Zeus' table with the other 2 caretakers.
Zeus who was about to do something to Yolo's plate was caught off guard by the sudden hand grabbing his hand. He looked over to see whose hand is it but he was stunned after.
"Meal time was supposed to be a quiet time, right Zeus?" Mary asked.
"Y-yes" Zeus bowed his head, hiding his smirk.
"Good, then you should also behave quietly," Mary said.
'If my father is only alive, you will not be making those remarks!' Zeus thought.
Zeus was from a noble family of widjs Kingdom. Specifically, Mariosepp Family. It was a Viscount family household that rise from being a merchant.
He was sent here to the orphanage because his relatives seize their businesses and wealth leaving nothing to him even if he was the legitimate son of the Viscount.
He was bound to get revenge on his relatives after leaving this orphanage.
But his behavior has got nothing to do with these unfortunate events. He was arrogant as many aristocrats and nobles do.
"Yes, Headmistress," Zeus said.
At the table of Arledge...
"See? Caretakers can take care of it" Arledge said.
Elise has already been seated after seeing caretakers take care of Zeus' bullying.
"Hmmph..." Elise said.
'Why do the headmistress come over to their table?' Crit asked curiously with a whisper.
"Meh, of course, it's because of Zeus" Roger answered without even lowering his voice.
Elise nodded. She looks over Zeus' table to see Yolo's situation.
Yolo is okay.
After seeing that there is little to no problem with Yolo, she started conversing with Arledge, Crit, and Roger.
Arledge just listened to them quietly while they continued to talk about what had just happened. While he dives into his thoughts.
'It's been ten years since I reincarnated into this world but I still can't use magic. Although my body was strong compared to all children here, I'm not a muscle head who wanted to gain power by cultivating body.'
'According to Victor and Anna, 12 years old was the age of awakening. In other words, my time to shine!'
He was addressing Victor and Anna, Dad and Mom as a child should. He was like that because he wanted to be a normal child at least what he see as a normal child.
With all honesty, it was weird for him to call Victor and Anna as his age including this life was more than their age of them. But he had no choice but to act as if he will be suspicious if he act like an adult.
'Speaking of Anna, where in the hell is she? 5 years have passed since Anna left without even saying goodbye to me.'
She did say her goodbye but it was not proper.
Victor was the one who take care of him in those 5 years without Anna.
'He act like he was my mother and father in those years. I can feel his tiredness as he entertains me with those lame tricks. He was suffering...' Arledge wipes his non-existent tears in his imagination.
'The caretakers also take care of you, you ungrateful bastard' Arledge's side comment.
'Seriously, where the hell is Anna? Should I ask Victor?' Arledge thought.
"Arledge..."
He was taken aback by the noise and shoulder tapping he felt.
"Huh? What" he answered unconsciously.
"Your daydreaming again," Elise said as she pout acting like she was upset.
Crit laugh his ass off while Roger was mesmerized by Elise's reaction.
"I'm sorry, I was just thinking of something," Arledge said.
"What were you thinking?" Elise asked as her face approached his face, not too close though.
"I was just wondering where my Mom went," Arledge said as he act sad.
"My uncle once told me that if someone went out for too long, it meant she went to paradise!" Crit said excitedly.
"Do you know where it was located?" Roger asked with shining eyes.
"Uh-huh, my uncle told me it was on the end of the rainbow!" Crit gave him the information without a second thought.
"Really!? I didn't know that rainbows are that magical!" Roger exclaimed.
Elise was also enticed by such a place.
"Where is your uncle?" Elise asked.
"He's dead," Crit said without hesitation.
"Ah! I'm sorry" Elise immediately said.
"Are you the one who killed my uncle?" Crit asked seriously.
"No! Of course not," Elise said immediately even though she was slightly shocked by Crit's change of attitude
"Then why say sorry?" Crit said as he got back to its usual attitude.
Arledge can't help but smile at the funny conversation they were having. And no, he was not smiling or having fun at Crit's dead uncle.
Most orphans here get here from having dead parents. While some got abandoned by their relatives or left here which is Arledge's situation.
So, seeing mature kids here is not that rare.
"Let's go!" Elise nudges them to play outside.
She grabbed the hand of Arledge and Crit and continued to walk to the door leading outside. But then she suddenly remembered something.
"Roger, you find a string," Elise said suddenly.
"Why?" Roger asked.
"What do you mean 'why?' Don't you know that dogs needed to be leashed!" Elise said.
"But I want to be free!" Roger retorted.
"Let him be," Arledge said to Elise.
Elise who wanted to say something was interrupted by Arledge.
"Okay, you will not be leashed but you are not allowed inside the house," Elise said.
Arledge shook his head and walk past the door.
The outside felt more magical than it was from the inside. Here outside, he can feel the air brush over his skin, the smell of grass, and the light coming from the sun.
It felt different from Earth. No, actually, it was really different from Earth.
He wanted to feel more of this wonderful feeling but it was broken by the sudden pull of Elise.
"Why are you so slow, Arley?" Elise asked as she pulled Arledge.
"Kwa-ya-ya-ya-ya" Crit laughed.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha" Roger also laughed.