The journey was silent. Yuli sat next to Mrs. Lua in a vehicle that looked ordinary, but whose windows darkened at the touch of a button. No one asked any questions. No one gave any explanations. It was enough for her not to return to the orphanage, even though she didn't understand where she was going.
When they arrived, the car stopped in front of a hill covered with tall trees, strong as towers. There was no sign that anyone lived there. But Lua got out, tapped three times on a stone at ground level, and muttered something Yuli didn't understand. A slight buzzing made her skin crawl. Then, as if the air itself had opened up, the hill split in two and revealed a dirt path lit by lanterns hanging from living branches. Yuli said nothing. She just swallowed hard and followed Lua.
The village appeared at the end of the path like a secret waiting to be discovered. It was not what she had imagined. There were no castles, no walls, no metal towers. It was a wide, green valley with houses made of light-colored stone and moss-covered roofs, as if nature and architecture had signed a peace pact. Everything breathed harmony... until she heard a scream.
"Left, you blinked! Another round, now without shaking!"
Two girls (no older than twelve) were training with sticks on a wooden platform while a young woman with braided hair supervised them with a hawk-like gaze. Nearby, other girls practiced jumping, defense, and breathing. A little girl, about five years old, lifted a rock with both hands while a teenager taught her to use not only her arms, but her core.
Yuli couldn't believe it. They were like her. Girls. All different. Of different skin colors, sizes, and ages. But all strong. Fast. Determined. Sisters.
Lua stopped beside her.
"Welcome home," she said. "No one here will hurt you. Here you will learn to defend yourself, to protect those you love, and to never be afraid of being alone again... because you are no longer alone."
Yuli opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say. She only managed to ask:
"And all of them... are they like me?"
Lua nodded. Her voice was soft and fierce.
"Yes. They all arrived with no one. Now they have something better: a purpose."
A young woman approached. She was about seventeen, with light eyes and faint scars on her knuckles. She bowed in front of Yuli and smiled.
"I'm Kaela, I'm your tutor. Starting today, you're under my protection... and my training."
Yuli looked at her hands. They were still shaking. But inside, something new was growing. It wasn't anger, or fear, or sadness.
It was fire.