I braced myself for the worst as I walked in: fingers pointing at me, disgusted faces, and secret, mocking laughter.

  Stepping inside, however, the breakfast hall was… surprisingly normal. The atmosphere was pleasant, filled with the low hum of conversation and the clinking of cutlery. Both the children and the adults were eating their breakfast comfortably, chatting animatedly. Either Mara hadn't told anyone, or nobody cared. Or maybe, a cynical part of me whispered, they were just better at hiding their disgust than I expected.

  My gaze immediately swept the hall and inevitably landed on Mara. And, of course, as if she had felt my gaze on her, she turned her head and looked right at me. She looked… uncertain, perhaps even hesitant, her cheeks flushing slightly before she quickly looked away. But the revulsion I had braced myself for simply wasn't there.

  Hm. Should I just act like nothing happened and sit down with them? Arthur, Emma, and Elodie were at her table. But so were Verity and… Grimelda.

  No. Absolutely not. I could perhaps get over the embarrassing incident with Mara, but sitting across from Grimelda? Even without words, her hostility was palpable, hanging over the table like a dark cloud. No chance in hell.

  Taking a deep breath, I steered myself through the room towards an empty table in the corner. The children and adults I passed looked at me… strangely. It was a mix of curiosity, perhaps a little fear, maybe even pity. But I didn't care. Who could blame them? I had probably already made quite a name for myself at the orphanage: The boy who leveled the slums. It was only a matter of time before that topic came up directly.

  Arriving at the empty table, I pulled back the chair, the legs scraping loudly, and sat down. A selection of various bread slices, cold cuts, jams, fruits, and vegetables was arranged on the table. I wasn't really hungry… still, I had to keep my strength up. After the magic-draining experiment last night, I still felt a little weak and could definitely use the nutrients.

  I took a soft slice of white bread from the basket and placed it on my plate. Sighing, I let my shoulders slump. Gods, what I wouldn't give for a toaster… or a hot pan, or even an open fire I could toast this brea—

  I nearly slapped myself on the forehead again. My memory flashed back to the giant rats in the sewer. I had brutally roasted those creatures, and now I was longing for a simple toaster? Shaking my head at my own stupidity, I raised my hand and extended my index finger. Carefully, I summoned a tiny flame just beyond the tip of my finger. Then, I steadily added more and more air, feeding the magic until I had a perfectly controlled miniature version of Roaring Flames, like a tiny blowtorch for my bread.

  Curiously, I watched as the slice of bread slowly began to brown under the intense, focused heat. Bit by bit, I toasted the slice, then flipped it over when I was satisfied with the first side. Just as I was about to start on the second side, a face suddenly appeared right next to me.

  “What are you doing?” Emma asked, her voice bright with curiosity.

  The flame at my fingertip vanished instantly. Startled, I clutched my chest. “You scared me…”

  But Emma just giggled and pointed at my bread. “What did you do to the bread?”

  With the bread? My gaze wandered back to the half-toasted slice and then back to Emma. “I… toasted it. Why do you ask?”

  Emma rubbed her chin thoughtfully, mimicking an adult gesture. “Toasting? Can you toast our bread too?” she asked, pointing back towards her table.

  Grimelda was staring stubbornly at her plate. Arthur, of course, couldn't see anything. But Elodie, Verity, and even Mara were looking at me… expectantly.

  I picked up my plate and nodded to Emma, but my feet felt heavy, rooting me to the spot. Every instinct in my gut screamed at me to run, to stay away from that woman. It felt… wrong. Like stepping into a trap. But looking at Emma’s beaming face, I forced down the bile rising in my throat and took a step forward.

  These people were… my family now, or so they claimed. I should at least make a serious effort, even if Grimelda gave me a severe stomach ache. Maybe my doubts were unfounded. Everyone had their own story, and Elodie had said Grimelda would tell me hers if she wanted to. Since I doubted that would ever happen, I just had to trust that Verity would keep her off my back.

  When we reached the table, Emma scrambled back into her seat, and I stood before the empty chair. Everyone, except Arthur, naturally, looked up at me.

  “Good morning. May I join you?” I asked cautiously.

  Grimelda immediately averted her gaze, which I had expected. But Verity spoke, her voice surprisingly friendly. “Good morning, Grim. We would be delighted if you joined us.”

  Emma’s eyes lit up, and she immediately burst out, “You absolutely have to let Grim toast your bread! It looks so yummy!”

  “Toasting?” Arthur asked, turning his head towards the general sound of my voice. The others also looked a bit confused.

  Well, let’s just say that five minutes later, everyone’s bread—except for Grimelda’s, of course—was perfectly toasted.

  “Say, Grim… how long have you been able to use magic?” Verity asked, her face filled with genuine curiosity as I sat down.

  I tilted my head, thinking back. “About three months, I think?” I said, a little uncertain. Maybe it was more, maybe less. So much had happened since we had arrived in Aegis.

  I was pulled from my thoughts when I saw the looks on their faces. Everyone, apart from Arthur, was staring at me with wide eyes. No one said a word, until Mara finally broke the silence.

  “H-how many types of magic can you use?” she asked cautiously.

  I reached for the butter and thought for a moment. “Air, Fire, Water, and Gravity magic, currently,” I explained casually, while spreading butter on my toast.

  The looks on their faces transformed. Arthur was grinning like a fool. Mara just stared down at the table, her hands clenched. Elodie and Verity frowned, glancing at each other with a look I couldn't interpret—shock, certainly, but also a deep, profound seriousness. As if my very existence broke some rule they understood, but I didn't. Emma just giggled, clearly impressed. “So coool!”

  But Grimelda… she looked at me as if she wanted nothing more than to gouge my heart out with her tiny teaspoon.

  “Pfff. Don’t get so full of yourself. You’re just a tiny light in this big world,” Grimelda practically spat out, her voice dripping with venom.

  Excuse me? What?

  Everyone at the table looked at Grimelda, shocked. A quick glance confirmed that even people from other tables had turned around, looking at Grimelda in disbelief. Verity opened her mouth and said, "Grimel—"

  But that was enough. I raised my hand, and Verity surprisingly closed her mouth when she saw my gesture. My chair screeched loudly as I pushed it back and stood up.

  “I really don't know what your fucking problem is,” I said, my voice dangerously low, “but you better believe one thing. If you and your fucking dagger ever get in my way, we're going to have a huge problem, you vicious old cow.” I pointed a trembling finger at Grimelda, who was now staring back at me with wide, shocked eyes and an open mouth.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  A shocked murmur ran through the hall, but I didn't give a shit. “Thank you for the breakfast,” I said with a slick, exaggerated smile, and turned on my heel.

  The heavy wooden door boomed shut behind me, cutting off the stunned silence of the hall. The smell of fresh bread and coffee lingered in my nose, a stark contrast to the bitter taste of adrenaline in my mouth. Instead of letting myself be harassed here, I could use my time more productively in Aegis.

  As I opened the front door of the orphanage, a frosty breeze greeted me. Winter was slowly setting in. Maybe a powerful ice mage will accidentally turn Grimelda into an icicle if she disappears into the woods again, I thought bitterly. Shaking my head, I dismissed the thought. I had more important things to do. And so, I set off for my first destination: The Arcane Sanctum.

  On the way, all sorts of people passed me; the streets were busy today. But one person, or rather what he was carrying, wouldn’t leave my mind. A man with a thick leather apron, like smiths wear, was carrying a sword. It looked like a katana…

  I have to admit, the thought of fighting with a katana like a certain green-haired, directionless swordsman was tempting… very tempting. Sighing, I shook the thought away. I had to get stronger with the means I had.

  After fighting my way through the bustling streets, I finally arrived at the Arcane Sanctum. It wasn't a fortress like the Bastion, nor a home like the Orphanage. The Arcane Sanctum was a sprawling, majestic complex of sturdy grey stone and dark timber, crowned with high, blue-tiled roofs and numerous stained-glass windows. Above its grand entrance, a pulsating arcane symbol marked it as Aegis's central hub for magical study and power. It radiated an aura of ancient wisdom and controlled, immense magical energy that I could feel even on the street.

  The massive wooden doors swung open slowly as I approached, without me having to touch them. Yeah… magic really is something special.

  The opening doors revealed the lively interior. People in mage robes and normal clothing were talking animatedly, were engrossed in books, or experimenting with small bursts of magic. Now, however, I was a bit at a loss. Could I just go straight to Lady Elara, or did I have to check in?

  Shrugging, I walked over to the counter where several staff members stood, and waited for my turn. Thank goodness there were only a few people in front of me. In the meantime, I looked around the lobby. Maybe I would see a familiar face. Although the chances of that were slim.

  But something else caught my attention. A kind of bulletin board? Several people were gathered around it. Most just shook their heads in disappointment, but one woman actually took a quill and wrote something on one of the notes, then left. What’s that all about?

  “How can I help you, young man?” I heard a voice beside me.

  Oh, I guess it was my turn. I turned and saw a middle-aged man with short brown hair and a friendly smile. I bowed slightly. “Oh, I apologize. My name is Grim, and I would like to see Lady Elara,” I explained politely.

  The man furrowed his brow. “Unfortunately, Lady Elara is always very busy, and it can take weeks to get an appointment. Can I perhaps leave a message for you?” he explained apologetically.

  Disappointed, I let my shoulders slump. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. “Lady Elara is treating a member of my family, and I wanted to speak with her about that,” I said dejectedly.

  When the man heard that, his eyes lit up. “Ah, that’s different, of course. Please wait here a moment, I will check if she has time for you. I’ll be right back.”

  A weight fell from my shoulders. “Thank yo–” I began, but the man had already hurried off. Blinking in surprise, I watched him go. My curiosity was stronger than my patience. Should I maybe take a look at that bulletin board?

  Shrugging, I walked over. As I got closer, the people looked at me strangely, but I didn't care.

  The first paper was ‘Seeking Consultation: "Standard purification rites for Crimson Veinroot are failing to remove the residual sulfurous taint..."’

  The next two were also about complex problems. So, the bulletin board was for collectively solving problems. Anyone could write down their idea.

  My gaze wandered over the board, but the problems were all so complex that it would be pointless to engage. But then my gaze landed on something that wouldn't let me go.

  ‘Seeking Assistance (Experimental): "Project involves infusing a large crystal with a sustained, high-density mana charge. The crystal matrix is stable, but the mana 'leaks' or dissipates from the surface when saturation exceeds 70%. Need a method to contain and pressurize the mana externally..."’

  Hm. I rubbed my chin. I wasn't a magical engineer, but the problem sounded familiar. "Contain and pressurize." "Leaks." It reminded me of... black holes. If I remembered correctly, a black hole could even swallow light. It was the ultimate container. So… maybe a controlled gravitational field could simultaneously trap and compress the leaking mana? It wouldn't just hold it; it would squeeze it, increasing the very density they were trying to achieve.

  I turned to a mage in a brown robe who was standing right next to me and tapped him on the arm. “Excuse me, sir.” A little startled, he looked down at me. “Can I just write my idea directly on the paper?”

  The man blinked at me, confused. “Uh… yes, of course,” he stammered, and then, shaking his head, turned back to the paper he was studying.

  Shrugging, I took a quill that was lying on a shelf by the bulletin board. Hm… how do I phrase this best? My pencil scratched lightly over the parchment.

  “To bind the escaping mana, one could create a gravitational field, which in the best case would also directly compress the mana.” I wrote as legibly as possible.

  The mage next to me glanced over, reading with interest. But when I finished, he just looked at me, confused. Oh, that probably didn't look very smart. Before he could laugh, I’d better get back to the counter.

  Unfortunately, the man from the counter hadn't returned, and my gaze wandered unconsciously back to the bulletin board, where the people were now discussing animatedly, glancing back and forth at me. I let out a frustrated breath, my posture sagging. I had probably made a fool of myself. The mage I had spoken to was even walking towards me. Oh god, what do I do now if he makes a scene?

  But a hand on my shoulder pulled my attention away.

  “Come, Lady Elara is ready to see you now,” said the staff member from the counter. Aelthara be praised! Hahaha, just got away in time. The man led me past the counter, up a staircase. As I looked back, I just saw the mage from the bulletin board staring after me with a furrowed brow.

  Our steps echoed through the long corridors of the Sanctum. I didn't recognize our surroundings; I was in a state of shock when I was here last. But after a short time, we stood before a wide wooden double door. "Thank you for your help," I said, and the man bowed slightly to me and then disappeared. Why did he bow to me? Hm.

  I took a deep breath and quietly pressed down the door handle. That thought evaporated as I opened the door and a plethora of sounds droned in my ears. In the room… or rather, in the hall, there was a hub of activity. There were certainly 50 filled beds, and everywhere mages were rushing around.

  In the midst of the hall she stood, Lady Elara.

  She was studying a clipboard, looking exhausted. She was, after all, the best healer in the kingdom, and I couldn't imagine the burden she carried. Carefully, I approached her, waiting at a respectful distance.

  After a short time, she looked up from her clipboard. “What can I do for you, boy?” I heard her say, without even looking at me.

  I swallowed hard and stepped closer. “Greetings, Lady Elara. Please forgive the disturbance. I-I just wanted to ask how things are proceeding with Pip. Whether she can stay here during my search, and how much it would cost,” I explained cautiously, bowing my head.

  When I looked up again, she was looking at me with a furrowed brow. She gently gripped my shoulder. “Come,” she said, and led me through the ward, past patients with all sorts of terrible injuries. Severed limbs, severe burns... What suffering lay in these beds.

  Before I could process it all, we entered a small, private room. Daylight shone gently through the window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. The room was sparsely furnished, but in the center stood a waist-high pedestal made of smooth, white stone. On top of it sat a soft-looking cushion, draped in fine, silk-like cloth.

  Lady Elara walked over to the pedestal and carefully lifted the cloth bundle, turning toward me and holding it at my chest level.

  Moisture rapidly gathered in the corners of my eyes as I looked into it. I tried to blink it away, but it was no use; heavy tears spilled over, tracing hot paths down my cheeks.

  In it, wrapped in the protective warmth of the fabric, lay my small, silky black-and-white, shining angel. With a trembling hand, I reached out and touched her soft fur.

  “After Lord Rockford brought her here, I cleaned her up thoroughly,” she explained in a gentle voice, completely different from our first meeting. “I try to brush her fur every day and stroke her for a few minutes before I go to bed. We unfortunately can’t do much for her in this state, but, in case she still has sensations of the outside world, I don't want her to be alone. I hope that’s alright with you.”

  I couldn't control myself and started to cry. My arms wrapped around the healer, and between sobs, I stammered, “Th-thank you for t-taking such g-good care of Pip…” I was so ashamed. When it came to Pip, I just couldn't control myself. But Lady Elara’s hand rested gently on my head, stroking me.

  “Please don't worry, Grim. Pip can stay here as long as you wish. And we don't want any money for it. Lord Rockford told me that he would take care of Pip himself, if necessary. He seems to be very proud of Pip’s work in the slums,” she assured me gently.

  However, a heavy sigh escaped her lips, telling me that wasn't all. “But you should concentrate with all your strength on working off your debt, finding information about the Phoenix Ember Root, and you urgently need to become stronger,” she advised me earnestly. Her gaze left no room for doubt. It all made sense, but why stronger?

  “Is there a specific reason why I urgently need to become stronger?”

  For the first time since I had met her, a small smile appeared on her lips. “It's simple, boy. You have talent. But you have no money, no power, and no noteworthy allies. But if you are strong, you can have all of that. And that will immensely increase your chances…” and with that, her gaze wandered to Pip. “...of saving her.”