Heins came back to the orphanage. While the hotel was the Hearth's main covert, it was still in its infancy stage. Perhaps it would took some years before it truly gained a threshold within the Court of Fontaine.
The orphanage could be said to be decent, with a beautiful garden for the children to recreate and a sufficient amount of facilities, whether it was for the caretaker or the children. Beside him, Peruere adoringly rubbed a jar of a spider on her face, her crimson Xs glimmered happily.
Heins stared at the glamorous orphanage in front of him. This place would be where he lived for the next few years, or perhaps a bit more. It would be a trial for his tenacity, for Crucabena is not an amicable person.
He secretly glanced at an orphan. She was sweeping the garden, her eyes hollow and were filled with fear. Heins's heart became heavy.
He wished he could take away Peruere far from this place and create a simple abode, a place served as her haven, but Fatui would never let a precious addition like Peruere go just like that. Heins knew he was also pinned by the Fatui.
Running away is not an option, so he could only bid for time in House of the Hearth. And to shelter Peruere, he must be high-profile. Let his prominence exceed hers, ultimately putting her outside the radar of the Fatui.
Until she was ready to face it all. Until she was strong enough to withstand the world's bleakness, he would give her the time to temper herself. To strengthen her resolve and will.
Heins smiled at Peruere and beckoned her, "Let's go to our new house, Peruere."
"Hmm!"
Inside, Crucabena greeted them with a smile, her figure high above on the stairs. Children also gathered around the main hall, their small figure huddling together. Peruere seems to sense something, and her joyful mood dissipated, replaced by a look of anxiety.
Heins looked up and inwardly steeled his resolve. He will do it. He could do it.
"Little Fool and Little Peruere, welcome to the House of the Hearth!" Crucabena showed a big smile as she continued, "Now, shall we begin your first trial?"
The children trembled as soon as Crucabena mentioned the 'trial', their big eyes down and fearful. Peruere looked around and became anxious. However, when Heins kneeled down to her level and smiled, her worry dissipated instantaneously.
"Peruere, be good and play with these children, okay? They feel bored due to the lack of games here. Why don't you introduce them the games we played before?"
Peruere could sense something was wrong, but she promised her big brother she would be obedient. After a struggle against her own thought, Peruere nodded heavily, "I understand, Big Brother."
Peruere walked towards the huddled children, who looked at her curiously. As she walked away, Heins took a deep breath and walked up the stairs, his crimson eyes meeting Crucabena's grey ones.
The walking Peruere paused as she glanced at Heins. She hesitated, but in the end, she puffed her cheeks and left the scene, integrating herself with the orphans. Her heart was anxious, but she could only obey.
She really regretted saying that...
The Hearth's Director hid a thousand intents behind her amicable smile, "Well then Little Fool, Little Peruere also has to face the trial. Why did you send her away?" As if knowing his intention, her voice is low, just enough for him to hear her.
Heins's crimson eyes turned hollow as he whispered, "I wish to propose a deal, Mistress Crucabena."
———
Inside a hollow place, the dark reigned above. Only a flicker of amber resisted futilely against the reigning abyss. The amber swayed, illuminating the two figures within the place of secrecy.
Crucabena stood coldly, her compassionate disposition disappeared as if it was all a lie, replaced by a pair of eyes who took relish in the boy's pain before her.
Heins kneeled in defeat, his attire ruined and razored by the vicious trials the Director had set up for the orphans of the Hearth to select a 'King' amongst them. The boy's focus was stolen by a single matter, however.
"Was it enough?"
Crucabena's abnormally wide smile showed her glee and sick amusement as her slurry tone resounded in the darkness, "Hehe~! Little Fool, you are very impressive! At the very least, you don't have to be sent away to make use of the little worth you have left. Your worth is still enough to remain in the Hearth!"
The cruel words were delivered in an exceedingly sweat voice, making one nauseous and disgusted. Heins hid a sigh of relief as he asked, his tone laced with sheer exhaustion and relief, "Can I be exposed to the matter of the next trial, Mistress?"
Crucabena leaned down and rubbed the wounds on his body. She cruell tugged a piece of flesh exposed due to the sliced skin, but noticing Heins's lack of reaction, she did not stop but continued, "Oho~ Well little Fool, the next trial will be held next month~ How exciting!"
"It will be set to 2 times the current trial. Are you ready to take it all to deprive Little Peruere's own trial, hm?"
Heins's eyes showed a flash of helplessness. The deal he proposed was to deprive all the orphans from the trial, but that required him to be sent away. Judging from her attitude, who knows what will happen to Peruere if he did not stay in the orphanage?
A Fatui is cunning, not to mention a Harbinger, lest an unofficial deal with a mere child. Crucabena may be able to accept it if the deal only include Peruere, not indifferent to the authenticity of her words as a Harbinger, but there's no doubt she would directly scoffed at the deal if he dared to attempt such an audacious prerequisite.
Crucabena's sickening giggle resounded in the darkness as she toyed with his wounds. Sometimes she would slowly traced his face and even spit on his face, forcing him to lick it.
Heins closed his eyes. The only thing that allowed him to hold on was the fact that she promised she would not crossed a certain threshold.
That threshold is what differs a human and an animal.