- Hi, I'm Robin, and you?

Eira swallowed hard, as she felt how panic was taking over her body. She made an attempt to pull away from Robin, but he stopped her by holding her wrist tightly, as if he could see right through her and instinctively knew she wanted to run away.

The impatient gazes of those present focused on her direction, making her shudder violently, after all, she could sense the hostility of the crowd towards her who had yet to utter her response. So she decided to put an end to it immediately, gathering her courage and showing a forced smile and just as she was about to speak, a reddish-haired young woman interrupted her.

- Hi, my name is Jenny! - she said with a flirtatious smile. - Actually, I wanted to tell you that you shouldn't talk to this girl. She is a disgusting witch, that's why no one hangs around with her, she's nothing but a mistake that should go away. - continued maliciously.

Eira lowered her head, trying to hide the shame she felt at that moment, but Robin prevented her, making her look up with his other hand. He closed his eyes, apparently meditating and after a few seconds, he flashed her a smile. 

- I see, I appreciate your consideration, Jenny. - he said, causing her to smile wide as she looked at Eira with superiority.  - However, I don't recall asking for your opinion. Why don't you stop meddling where you're not called? - he replied, looking disgusted.

Jenny's face distorted in an instant as the others watched the scene with wide eyes and their jaws all the way to the floor after hearing Robin's unexpected response. However, he gave a small laugh and commented nonchalantly that it was a joke, causing a chain effect, in which everyone began to laugh along beside him, as if the scene of a few seconds ago had been an illusion.

And there was Eira, in the middle of such a show, staring at them in disbelief. It was ridiculous how a few simple words had been enough to convince them, and that made her grumble. Robin's gaze focused on her again as he casually asked her name again.

- Aren't you planning to tell me your name, Miss Witch? 

She jolted briefly in her place, frowning slightly after hearing him call her a witch. She looked distrustfully at the boy and said her name in a whisper. Robin made a strange expression as he unconsciously released Eira from his grip. The director, who stood there silently until now, smiled with satisfaction as he withdrew, saying that he had some pending matters.

On the other hand, Robin, who looked determined to continue his conversation with Eira, was forcibly dragged away by Jenny, under the pretext of showing him around. He looked rather dissatisfied, but he couldn't free himself from her grasp, specially when the other orphans joined her while insisting that he should stay away from Eira. 

And so, finally regaining her composure, the young girl made her way awkwardly to the cellar she slept in. She crossed the door with some difficulty and as soon as she closed it, it became evident that her composure was somewhat temporary. Her tears began to spill out of control as she hugged herself. Her heart was filled with terror, even though, she was unwilling to die at the hands of the hero, and so she decided something wholeheartedly.

- I must stay away from him. - she muttered with determination.

What she didn't know yet was that her words had been heard by someone else, and the person who had been listening to her through the door all that time, smiled mischievously after hearing those words.