Several days have passed since Raven settled into the Applewood Home for Wayward Children. Her room has become familiar—the sheets on the bed no longer felt foreign, the window's morning light no longer intrusive. She sat cross-legged on the floor with her back to the wall, her eyes drifting from one object in the room to another. Her voice was quiet as she exhaled.
"I don't think I'm going to need my depressing outfit anymore."
She lowered her gaze to the soft, neutral clothes she wore, her hand gently resting on her knee.
"After everything that's happened to me over the years… I don't feel the same way anymore."
Closing her eyes, Raven reached inwards, searching for the arcane tether that has always lingered inside her, tied like a brand to her father. The energy was still there—faint and familiar—but something has changed.
"I can still feel the magical connection to Trigon. But I don't feel his consciousness in it. I don't feel his will."
Her eyelids lifted, and she stared at the far corner of the ceiling, her mind turning over that thought like a stone in water.
"I feel my magic. And I feel foreign magic in the air. And… I actually like it here."
Her eyes swept toward the television in the corner, silent and cold. Beside it, a folded newspaper lay unopened on her desk.
"I've watched television. I've read the news. I've read the newspapers."
Her eyebrows furrowed as she leaned forward slightly.
"There's no Superman. No Batman. No Gotham. No Justice League."
She shook her head slowly, her voice firmer now.
"There's nothing like that here."
For a long moment, she sat still.
"So what's left for me to fight? What's left for me to struggle against?"
She looked down at her hands, pale fingers flexing faintly.
"My father isn't here."
Drawing in a slow breath, she straightened her posture.
"I think it's time to let my old world go."
She turned her head towards the window, eyes catching the gray wash of daylight that filtered through damp clouds.
"Whatever brought me here—for whatever reason—I'm actually thankful."
Her voice softened further.
"It gives me a chance to start a new life. To live a life that was impossible in my old world because of who I was… because of my father… because of everything I had to suppress."
She blinked once, then again, as if surprised by the calm clarity settling over her.
"I actually feel happy."
The words escaped her mouth before she could stop them, and then she blinked in surprise.
"I didn't think I was capable of feeling happy."
Her fingers curled slightly into a fist, and her voice dropped in tone.
"All my life, every emotion I felt has had to be suppressed to prevent my father's magic from corrupting me."
She searched inwards again, tentatively testing her inner self.
"Now—even though I still have a connection to him—his magic isn't corrupting me."
Her head tilted slightly.
"It feels… ownerless. Useless."
She let the thought hang for a moment, then added with quiet ambition,
"Maybe someday, as my power grows, I can even take advantage of that fact."
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"If his power exists here without him… maybe I can claim it for myself."
The tension in her fingers faded as she looked around her room again.
"I feel like I'm home."
She allowed herself a faint, quiet smile.
"This feels like the beginning of a new life."
Her face became thoughtful once more.
"But what am I going to do?"
She paused, turning her attention inwards and outward at the same time, sensing the strange presence of ambient magic in yhe air.
"If magic exists in this world, then there has to be more beneath the surface."
She nodded to herself.
"In my world, normal life was always a façade. Behind it is a hidden culture—entire civilizations keeping themselves secret."
Her expression brightened slightly.
"This world feels the same."
She raised her hand as if brushing aside a veil only she could see.
"Whoever controls this magic has gone to extraordinary lengths to conceal it from the public."
A soft excitement lit up her eyes.
"That excites me."
She stood up with fluid grace.
"It means I can dig into the lore and mythology of London—and the rest of the world."
Drawing in a deeper breath, she centered herself.
"I can explore an entirely new hidden world… and maybe discover forms of magic I have never even imagined."
She glanced around once more.
"This is going to be the beginning of a glorious new adventure."
She stepped away from the desk with quiet determination.
"Wherever I am… whatever world this is… I can't wait to explore it."
She left her room and descended the stairs. Claire was seated at a small table near the kitchen, sipping from a ceramic mug. She looked up and brightened when she saw her.
"Oh, Raven, you came out of your room. Are you ready for your meal?"
Claire's tone was warm as she rose from her seat.
"I have another piece of pie ready for you, along with some lasagna."
She laughed lightly and added, "It's pumpkin pie. I didn't know you liked pumpkin so much, so I made a special trip to the store for it."
Her voice lowered slightly, more solemn.
"I'm sorry, my dear. There's still no news about anyone being able to locate your parents."
Claire paused, her gaze softening.
"I only wish you could remember your childhood… or your family."
She watched Raven closely.
"Have you had any luck remembering anything?"
Raven shook her head gently, keeping her tone calm.
"No, Ms. Claire. I still haven't been able to remember anything about my childhood or my parents."
She continued, "Even after the clinic ran scans, I still can't recall anything."
Claire let out a quiet breath.
"It's all right, my dear. I'm sure the authorities will eventually locate your parents—or a nice family will come along to adopt you."
Raven hesitated for a moment before asking, "Ms. Claire… do I have to be adopted?"
Claire blinked.
"I think everything is just fine here."
Claire placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled.
"Come on, dear. Why don't you eat?"
She added with gentle clarity, "And no—you don't have to be adopted if you truly don't want to be."
She paused as she stepped toward the dining table.
"But having parents can make life a little less lonely, don't you think?"
Raven walked beside her, her voice even.
"You have to want parents in the first place to feel that way, Ms. Claire."
She looked up at her with open sincerity.
"And for me… you're the best caretaker I could ever ask for."
Claire's lips parted as her expression filled with warmth.
"Oh, Raven… you're such a sweetheart."
She leaned down slightly.
"I knew there was a reason my smiles have became more frequent after you came here."
Raven laughed under her breath and took her seat.
"I'm enjoying my time here too, Ms. Claire."
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