Okinwarry - A Road To Academy of Wizardry

Firestone

Monday, 28th March 1453

It had been three days since Mystic Windtalker and the silver ash-grey haired twin had come to visit the children and me at the Orphanage. Little did I expect that Mystic Windtalker was not interested in the silver and gold coins at all that was displayed before her on the bed when I showed it to her the loot that was meant for the children and the Orphanage. Maybe for her and the two silver ash grey-haired twins, the coins really meant nothing to them and they might have seen more of these back where they come from too…!!!

"Sister Kristobel, would be going far, far away from here real soon?"

"Sister Kristobel, would you be going to a place where it much more better than here in this Orphanage?"

"Sister Kristobel, would you have other children to talk to you and play with you when you are bored or something?"

"Sister Kristobel, would you come back and visit us when you are free over here when you are free?"

"Sister Kristobel, would you forget about us or not when you happy to be educated and then have a nice place to stay and nicer food to eat?"

"Errkk…! I… I… How can I forget about all of you since I came from this Orphanage as well? Even if I have nicer clothes to wear, finer foods to eat or even a much more comfortable bed to sleep every night, how could I forget where I had come from in the first place."

"Let me tell you, children, that if my parents did not leave for work on that fateful day when the mines exploded, I would still have my parents and my life would have been better than this. But, I believe the higher-ups would have thought of something for me and my parents so they decided to have me lead this type of life."

"Maybe if I have a better life before, I would not be as down to earth like what you are seeing me now. Maybe I become a stuck up and a snobbish teenage girl who does not know the meaning of the words 'poverty' and 'hardship' at all."

"Of course, I would be able to come back here any time I wish and from what I heard, the person who handles the academy that I would be attending is the same person who would be looking after this Orphanage and you."

The children multiple questions were answered in a single breath by me since I wished that the children would be coming along with me. I know it would be hard for the children to adapt to someone who was unfamiliar to them in every sense and the children would be able to open up to the person if he or she proved to be trustworthy.

"Sister Kristobel, you really don't need to leave this Orphanage by today, do you?" one of the children asked me in her tiniest and squeakiest voice as she was the timidest girl when she was first administered her.

*K N O C K*

*K N O C K K N O C K*

But before I could answer her question, someone had knocked on the main door of the Orphanage and someone was peeking through the peephole and saw that there was a group of people standing outside the door and they could see from the windows that there was a covered horse-drawn carriage and they could see some people embarking from there along with some baskets filled with fruits, vegetables and other stuff…!!!

"Sister Kristobel, the lady in the black robe and the boy and girl with the silver ash greyed hair are here as well. Shall we open the door to let them in? There are a lot of people coming in with a covered wagon as well and they bring us presents…"

When the child who peeked at the window and saw baskets filled with fruits, vegetables and other stuff, they were very excited since they had not had people coming in to bring them anything before. I moved the curtain aside and saw what the child had earlier said was true and I went over to the main door quickly and removed the horizontal beam that secured the main door and threw the door open wide…!

"Hello, Big Sis Kristobel…! These are the folks from Gracehaven City and they are here to spread the joy to everyone. You see, our father and founder, Audemars Macleod and Heather Macleod are very much in your shoes before they got married. It's a very long story and could the folks from Gracehaven City come in and make themselves at home?"

The silver ash greyed hair twins greeted me as they explained to me the crowd that had disembarked from the covered horse-drawn carriage. I was simply awe-struck and lost for words. What Mystic Windtalker had talked to me the other day was true, The founders – Audemars and Heather Macleod are both good people and they only trust people within their circle. I wondered if these people are awakened or unawakened ones since I have no other means to identify them.

"Yes…Yes…Please, please come in and make yourself at home. We have not prepared anything for breakfast since we have not detailed anyone to go to the market yet to get the fresh produce and also to get some grains, meat and other ingredients to prepare for the day's meal here." I tried to explain but I felt a hand on my shoulder and when I turned around, it was Mystic Windtalker who was behind me and gave me an approving nod as she knows exactly what to do.

"Hello, Kristobel. I wish to introduce you to some people who would be taking care of this Orphanage for you and at the same time they would be the Residents-In-Charge here, which means they would also be in charge of educating everyone here to read and write."

'The children would not be required to go and collect alms or sell flowers or do any other things except to learn a new trade. Occasionally they would be sent to Gracehaven City where they would be learning a trade profession like a Baker, Blacksmith, Sewer, Cook, Farmer, Storehand, Storekeeper, Beekeeper, General Worker, WoodWorker, Carpenter, Metalsmith and so on."

"These trade professions are open to age 10 and above which means half of you would be going to Gracehaven City to learn something new and at the same time be educated there and have a place to stay there as well."

I was surprised and greatly taken aback as I was anticipating no one to come to this place to administer the Orphanage and to take care of the well being of the children. Besides, when Mystic Windtalker introduced me to the bunch of people who were standing right before me, I was so ecstatic that I wanted to cry for joy…!

If only the bunch of people who came forward today were also the ones that would be adopting the poor children so that they would all have a home to stay and someone proper to take care of them.

When I hear that the children have the opportunity to be learning a new trade besides thieving, I was delighted for them since the children would be able to have a brighter prospect than me that would be roaming the streets and look for the perfect target for almost 4 years already…!

"This is the Levis family. Grandpa Jack and Grandma Kayla. Next, we have the Mann Family. Grandpa Lanthrop and Grandma Molly. Last but not least, we have the Greenfields Family. Grandpa Norris and Grandma Ophelia."

When the folks were introduced to me, I was sweetly delighted when each of them gave me a bear hug and I felt warm all over and simply melted in their arms. Its been so long since someone had hugged me in that manner and only my parents would be greeting me that way when they got back from the mines before.

After the elders had hugged me and comforted me for being strong and independent, someone else came up to me and knelt before me and held my hand so ever tenderly. Behind the old man that was kneeling on one knee and holding my hand was a lady in her 20'ish and she introduced herself as Farah Firestone.

"This is my dad, Firestone, and he was then in charge of the Durham mines before when the mine exploded. He was there when it happened and he just wished that he could do something for your parents at that time." Farah, who was wearing the same outfit as Mystic Windtalker spoke out in her melodic voice.

"Child, I am sorry for your parents' demise since I could not do anything at that time. I was on top of a horse-drawn carriage when the explosion happened in the coal mines. The horse bucked in fright and I fell to the sides."

"One of my legs was crushed by the wagon's wheels and I was losing consciousness when someone robbed me of the wages for the workers that day. Something happened along the way and here I am right now before you. I may not be limping around since I was healed by the Priestess that you would know along the way."

"Believe me, child. These people before you and around you are good people. You may get your friends to avenge you if they were to ill-treat any of the children here, believe me…!"

After Mister Firestone had finished talking, I find that my face was drenched with tears once more.

"Kristobel, can we have a moment with you when you are free?" Mystic Windtalker came close to me and whispered to my ear as she passed a sweetly scented handkerchief as I used it to dab my eyes and face and nodded to her instead.