The next morning, the door of the Etzikri Charity was knocked on early. Mrs. Lily quickly straightened her attire and opened the door to greet her visitor—Captain Dodge had arrived as promised. Today, he was dressed in a black formal jacket paired with beige casual pants, presenting a far more handsome and mature look, revealing the charm of a man close to thirty.
"Good morning, Mrs. Lily."
"Good morning, Captain Dodge. You look quite dashing today."
The two exchanged pleasantries and entered the charity house. As they chatted about the children's recent activities, footsteps echoed down the staircase. Leading the group down was a tall girl with ash-blonde hair tied in a ponytail. This was Katerina, a girl Captain Dodge had brought here two years ago after rescuing her from forest bandits near the upper Hiss River.
"Has Katerina been studying well recently?" Captain Dodge asked, leaning against the sofa with a curious glance.
"Of course! I'm known for being a top student at Charity School," Katerina replied with pride. The Etzikri Charity and the nearby Charity School on Etzikri Street were both charitable institutions funded by the noble class of Brighton City and managed by the Enforcers. Different from the city's local police, the Enforcers handled major incidents within Brighton City and surrounding villages. Often, members of the Enforcers would even teach at the Charity School. Livlan, an elf girl, taught culture classes here on certain days, and Mrs. Lily herself had once served as an Enforcer clerk.
Katerina skillfully helped Mrs. Lily set out plates and cutlery, while Mrs. Lily stirred a pot of porridge, filling the house with its warm aroma. Soon, footsteps sounded on the staircase as more children came down. George slid down the bannister, followed closely by a younger girl, and then Arthur.
"Good morning, George, Lizzy, and Arthur," Mrs. Lily greeted.
George gave a cheerful shout and performed the Enforcer salute. "Good morning, Captain Dodge!"
"Good morning, George," Dodge replied, saluting back.
"Good morning, Uncle Dodge," murmured Lizzy with a soft lisp. She was the youngest child, only four years old when Dodge brought her here seven months ago. He scooped Lizzy up and sat her at the table. "Come on, Arthur, eat up quickly so you can head to school with the others," he called to the dazed Arthur.
Each morning, Arthur had been used to a similar breakfast scene, but with his father and surrounded by familiar villagers. Now, as George and Katerina squabbled, he found himself seated at a new table. Mrs. Lily ladled porridge into his bowl, then moved quickly to separate George and Katerina before their argument escalated.
"Everyone," Dodge motioned for attention, "let's welcome our new family member, Arthur. Never forget, our charity home is family first, and every child who joins is a part of this family, here to support one another." Holding little Lizzy's hand, Dodge led a round of applause.
"Family…" Arthur looked up to see every gaze fixed on him. One by one, they clapped. "Welcome, Arthur!" George called enthusiastically, even putting one foot on his chair in excitement. "Thank you all," Arthur managed to say, his heart swelling with emotion, his gaze shifting to the ceiling as he held back tears.
"Alright, alright, let's finish up. You've got school to get to." Noticing Arthur's emotions, Dodge quickly encouraged everyone to focus on eating. Glancing at Arthur as he wiped away a tear, Dodge's face grew more serious. "Arthur Hebrew… may you have a fate far different from the sorrowful path of your parents and ancestors."
After breakfast, Dodge took Arthur out to arrange for his first day at school, hoping to arrive in time for the opening class. As they walked, Dodge quietly reminded him, "Remember what I mentioned: Brighton City may be safer, but avoid mentioning your surname when possible." Arthur nodded, following Dodge down the bustling street and then into a quiet alley, where a group of children was already gathered by the iron gates of a school building.
"So this is the school building?" Arthur asked eagerly, but Dodge pretended not to hear and led him inside. The ground floor was lined with doors that led to classrooms, where the children were heading.
Following Dodge up to the second floor, Arthur glanced curiously into a room labeled Teachers' Office, where a young woman with purple skin sat reading a book titled Cultural History of the Hiss River. Noticing Arthur's gaze, the young woman, Livlan, lifted her eyes and was surprised to recognize the boy she'd quietly observed the night before, an apparent high-priority task. Could this be her assigned mission? She stifled her curiosity when she noticed Captain Dodge at the door.
"Good morning, Captain," Livlan greeted with an Enforcer salute.
"Morning, Livlan. Weren't you scheduled for a break today?"
"I switched shifts with Vivian; she's out on assignment this morning."
"Got it. I need to speak with the headmaster. Could you watch over this boy for a moment?" Dodge guided Arthur inside before heading down the hall to the headmaster's office.
"Hello, teacher," Arthur greeted her politely, but his curiosity got the better of him. "Could you tell me… what kind of human are you?" The innocent question, however, sparked irritation in Livlan—was he that ignorant? A primitive wildling, perhaps? She closed her book with a loud snap.
"I'm not human, you barbarian! I am an elf," she enunciated, her frustration barely held in check, "a noble elf."
Elf! Arthur gasped in awe and began circling Livlan, marveling at her while oblivious to her protests. His mother had once told him about elves, the second most populous race in the southern continent after humans—long-lived beings attuned to nature and experts in herbs and healing.
"Livlan," Dodge called from the door, cutting in before she could toss her book at Arthur. "Show him to class. His first lesson is Vivian's regional culture class."
Livlan took a calming breath and turned to Arthur with her warmest smile. "Come, young one. I'll show you the way." Just as Arthur began to ask if elves use bathrooms, she gritted her teeth. "Yes, we do. Now, let's walk quietly to class, alright?" She could feel her patience fraying.
…
Meanwhile, in the southernmost lands of the continent, within the Arosa Tribe's territory, Garthas entered the chieftain's tent alongside two orcs cloaked in black—the same men who had hunted Arthur before.
Garthas kneeled, intoning the ancient Beast Tongue prayer of the True God. The two orcs behind him did the same.
Seated on the grand golden-trimmed chair was Crazy Blade Arosa, a red-skinned orc scarred from battles. He lay back with a sneer, regarding them. "The Hebrew remnant—the child's head?"
Garthas, forehead to the ground, replied, "We failed to kill him, my lord."
"You know the consequences, don't you? I said you would be killed." Crazy Blade sneered, gripping the two-meter-long blade beside him and pointing it at Garthas.
"True, but we found someone else!" Garthas cried. "We found Galba Ford, the former Enforcer captain from seven years ago, my lord!"
Crazy Blade's expression shifted, his eyes glinting at the memory of a man with burning hands, fighting him within the ruins of a collapsing house.
"Where is he?"