"You... you're still alive?" Alden asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
How could Kael be here?
He knew Kael—how could he not?
After all, Kael was the one he had abandoned...
Alden was ten years old when his family was wiped out by an accident. With no one left, he was sent to Havenlight Orphanage, a place full of lost children. And from the moment he arrived, he was no different in their eyes—just another lost kid. He didn't speak, no matter how many times the caretakers tried to get through to him. They assumed he was traumatized beyond words, and eventually, they just stopped trying.
They deemed him as broken and mute. He was then placed in the room with the other 'broken' child were. That's when he first met Kael.
Alden's silence didn't mean his mind was broken though. He noticed everything. He observed everything that has happened to him so far and the first thing he noticed about Kael was the wheelchair. It was clear what that meant.
'So, that's what they meant by "broken,"' Alden thought.
Kael met Alden's gaze, but there was no spark of recognition or interest—just indifference. With a small nod, Kael returned to staring out the window, as if Alden's presence didn't matter.
Alden nodded back and began to unpack his few belongings. As he neatly arranged his things, the door suddenly slammed open, and a boy roughly their age barged in.
"Oh? A new arrival?"
The boy sneered, his eyes scanning Alden like he was prey.
The boy's name was Timaeus. He was one of the bullies who had made a name for himself at the orphanage, constantly tormenting the weaker kids. Without a second thought, Timaeus walked over to Alden's belongings and began tossing them around.
"Let's see what we've got here,"
Timaeus muttered, rifling through Alden's things with a malicious grin.
His grin faltered when he found nothing of value, but then his eyes fell on a silver necklace, its gem glinting in the light. The necklace was the only thing Alden had left from his family. It bore a crest—a symbol of what little legacy his family had left behind.
"Well, well, look at this," Timaeus said, holding it up.
"This looks like it could fetch something."
Alden moved without thinking, his hand shooting out to grab the necklace back. But Timaeus was quick, yanking it out of reach.
"Oh, you want this? You can have it... if you say, 'Please give it back, Master Timaeus,'" he taunted.
Alden stared at Timaeus with silent defiance, his hand still outstretched, refusing to speak.
"You really can't talk, can you?"
Timaeus laughed, enjoying himself.
Before Timaeus could continue, a book suddenly flew through the air and smacked the wall near them. Kael had wheeled himself forward and snatched the necklace out of Timaeus's hand in one swift motion.
"You've had your fun,"
Kael said calmly, holding the necklace firmly.
Timaeus sneered but didn't make a move to take it back.
"Oh? Did I disturb your peaceful little room, Kael?"
"Get out,"
Kael said, his voice steady, his eyes unwavering.
Timaeus's sneer faltered for a moment.
"You think you're tough, huh? You're just broken trash like the rest of them."
Kael didn't respond, simply staring Timaeus down. For a second, it looked like Timaeus might push things further, but instead, he scoffed.
"Fine. But don't think we're done here, new guy,"
Timaeus said, glaring at Alden before leaving the room with a parting glance full of malice towards Kael.
Kael then handed the necklace back to Alden.
"It won't do you any good if you keep up that facade of yours," Kael said bluntly.
Alden froze, caught off guard. He wasn't mute, far from it—he could speak, and for his age, he was quite sharp. But Kael had seen through him immediately, and that realization left him stunned.
'This guy… he's not what he seems,'
"I don't care about your situation," Kael added, his tone indifferent.
"And it's probably best if we don't get involved with each other."
With that, Kael returned to staring out the window, as if the conversation never happened.
'What a strange kid'
Alden thought.
Later that evening, the other orphans gathered for dinner, but Alden noticed Kael wasn't among them. When he returned to their room, he found out why.
Kael sat on the floor, his body bruised and battered. His hands moved with practiced precision, bandaging his wounds as if it were a daily routine. Alden's heart sank at the sight.
Without a word, Alden knelt beside him, holding out his hand to help. Kael looked up, his eyes wary.
"Don't. I don't need your pity," Kael said, his voice cold.
Surprisingly, Alden responded with a calm and firm remark.
"I'm not. I'm repaying you for the necklace."
Kael hesitated but eventually let Alden help him wrap the bandages where his own hands couldn't reach. They worked in silence, an unspoken understanding forming between them.