Erik and Shasa walked through the town, the morning sun slowly heating the cobblestones beneath their feet.
Erik's arm still bled, the white cloth he'd wrapped around the wound now soaked a deep crimson. Shasa glanced at it but didn't say anything.
Finally, they reached the gate of a modest stone building with weathered windows and a rusted bell hanging above the door.
"Silvika Orphanage," Shasa said. "This is it."
"Let's go," Erik replied and pushed open the door.
A priestess greeted them in the entrance hall, her face kind but cautious.
"I came here looking for a girl you recently took in from the slums," Erik said.
"Oh? Would you be able to identify her?" the priestess asked.
"Yes," Erik said. The child's face was burned into his memory—pale skin, jet-black hair, and a look in her eyes that had haunted him since the blue field.
The priestess nodded and disappeared into the hallway. Erik and Shasa waited on a wooden bench near the door.
"You know," Shasa said, "I was in an orphanage too, before Eskil found me."
"What? You never told me that!" Erik said, genuinely surprised.
"It wasn't for long. Just a few days. It wasn't a bad place, but…" she looked away, "...not somewhere a child should grow up."
Before Erik could respond, another priestess appeared. "Miss Shasa? Master Erik? Please follow me."
She led them into a large room filled with children. Girls stood in a line, their expressions a mix of fear and curiosity.
"Do you recognize who you're looking for?" the priestess asked.
"A test, huh," Erik muttered.
He stepped closer, scanning their faces. There she was—second from the back. Pale white skin. Hair like ink. Same as before.
"It's her," Erik said. "Second from the back."
The priestesses exchanged a quiet look. One of them called, "Liya, come here, my child."
The girl stepped forward. One priestess took her hand gently and said, "Please, follow me."
They returned to an office near the entrance. Liya was seated in a chair. Erik and Shasa sat beside her on a longer bench. The air felt heavy. Erik's wound pulsed.
Soon, the first priestess returned. "There are some papers that need to be filled out. One of you should come with me."
Erik shifted to stand, but Shasa was already on her feet. "I'll go," she said, and followed the priestess into the office.
Now it was just Erik and the child.
He stared forward, trying not to think. Then, curiosity made him glance sideways.
She was staring straight at him.
Erik blinked. He looked behind him, then to the sides, checking if she was watching something else.
Nope. Still staring. Right at him.
This is uncomfortable.
He looked again. Her expression hadn't changed—calm, but intense. Unblinking.
It made him panic a little. Actually panic.
"What the hell? Why am I even panicking?"
He stole another glance. Still staring.
"Shit. Shasa, come quickly."
Shasa returned a moment later, alone. She crouched in front of the girl and smiled gently.
"Hi. I'm Shasa. What's your name?"
"Liya," the girl said softly.
"Liya. That's a beautiful name." Shasa beamed. "Say, would you like to come live with us?"
The girl tilted her head. "Is my mom with you?"
Erik tensed.
Okay, Shasa. This is why I brought you.
Shasa didn't flinch. "Unfortunately, no," she said gently.
"Do you know where she is?"
"Well... your mom went on a long journey, and she won't be back for a while. But she's always watching you, Liya. So you need to be a good girl from now on, okay?"
Tears welled up in the child's eyes, and then came the crying. Quiet at first, then a heartbreaking sob. Shasa pulled her into a hug, holding her as she cried.
She's more mature than I thought
Liya cried for a while before finally calming down. Shasa wiped her face gently.
"So? What do you say, Liya? Would you like to come with me?"
The girl nodded. "Yes."
Still sniffling, she leaned back into Shasa's arms. Shasa held her tighter.