I looked up at the blue sky until a shadow loomed over me.
“Wheeeeee!!”
It was the body of a child that was falling down towards me.
I reached out my hand and the child suddenly slowed down, until both his feet touched the ground.
“Me next me next!”
“No, it’s my turn!”
“I didn’t get to go yet!”
Tiny little hands pulled me from side to side.
“I knew getting a mage on our team was the right move!”
Kale was also surrounded by children. They were dangling back and forth on his arms. A little girl was on top of his shoulders, as she grabbed chucks of his red hair.
“Ow ow ow, go easy on the hair please!”
The children laughed as Kale whined.
I waved my hand, and I- no, Faye sent another boy up into the air.
“Woohooooo!!”
Rene was also working hard in the corner. She was with a little boy who was swinging her up and down by her tail.
“Hehehehehe!”
“Masterrrrrrr!”
I looked at her with apologetic eyes as I held up my hand to stop another child’s fall.
“That was awesome!!”
I ruffled the boy’s head, and looked over to a small building. It was the orphanage where all these kids lived.
By the front door I could see Peter and the director of the orphanage talking. Their faces were grim as they looked over to the children.
After they parted, the director called all the children and went inside the building. Peter walked towards Kale and I.
“What’s the problem?”
“Haaa… it seems like they’ve been getting pressure from the new land owners to move out.”
“All of a sudden?!”
“The rights to the land were sold at a high price to a new owner just a few days ago… and when the director told me who it was, I recognized the name. Vincent Bozzelli.”
Peter turned to face me.
“You’ve probably never heard of him, but he’s a well known businessman in Sonia. He recently opened up a store in Royal Street, and it's been getting a lot of popularity with the nobles.”
Royal street was a shopping district that started from Acadia, stretching all the way to the Castle. There were luxurious clothing stores and beautiful cafes, where you could often spot women wearing fancy outfits as they leisurely enjoyed a cup of tea.
The Bozzelli, was a store that sold gourmet chocolates and cosmetics. It wasn’t a surprise that it quickly found fame with the noblewomen.
“Now he wants to open a store here near the marketplace, and it looks like this spot caught his eye.”
“But why? None of the people that live around here could afford his fancy chocolates anyway?”
“…I’m not sure.”
Peter rubbed his chin with his thumb and index finger as he thought about the reason.
“Perhaps we can convince him to find a different location for the store.”
“That’s true! There’s plenty of better options closer to the marketplace.”
Kale held up a fist, his face filled with determination.
The orphanage was located at the very outskirts of the marketplace, secluded from the bustling streets. Even I could tell that business wouldn’t do well here.
I felt a tug at my pants and looked down at the boy who was playing with Rene. He must have not heard when the director called the children inside.
The boy held up Rene with his hands and she jumped onto my shoulder.
“Please come play with us again soon!”
The boy smiled brightly and ran into the building.
If these kids were forced out of the orphanage, where would they go?
Most of them would end up on the streets, having to worry about food everyday. They wouldn’t be able to last a month.
I didn’t want to see that happen.
“…Let’s go.”
With that, we made our way towards Royal street, where Vincent Bozzelli’s estate was located.
***
When I first got to Royal street, I felt like I entered a whole different world. The streets were newly done, with not a hint of trash. I could see beautifully decorated street lamps along the sidewalk, and the greenest trees as they swayed softly from the breeze.
The stores were lined up next to each other, each with their own unique window displays. I could see dresses, hats and jewelry coming together to make a desirable set.
There were many restaurants and cafes as well. As we passed by them, I got a whiff of freshly baked bread and brewed coffee. Tables were set up outside, where women and men were chatting as they enjoyed their meal.
Faye nudged me with its corner, when we passed by a magic shop. I could see young boys and girls going in and out. They were all wearing the same red uniforms. On their jackets, I could see an emblem of a bird embroidered in.
The students who were coming out of the store were all walking towards the big red building, at the end of royal street.
‘So that’s Acadia…’
“This is it.”
Peter and Kale were standing in front of a gate. I could read the word ‘Bozzelli’ over it. Standing close by, was a guard. He was looking our way with a watchful look.
“Can I help you, gentlemen?”
The words were polite but the guard’s voice was intimidating.
Peter stepped forward.
“Ahem, Hello. We’re from the orphanage down by the marketplace. I’m aware the new owner of the land is Mr. Bozzelli, and came to talk about some matters regarding it.”
The guard continued to look at us with doubt, but eventually told us to follow him inside.
When we got to the house, we were escorted by the butler into a room. He asked us to wait a moment, as he left us.
I looked around to see a lavishly decorated guest room. There were two velvet green couches facing each other, with a glass coffee table in between. Above it I could see a sparkling chandelier.
The floor was covered in a soft carpet, and porcelain vases with orchids were displaced on the corners of the room.
Creak
The doors opened, and I could see a rather large man dressed in velvet and fur. He had a heavy gold necklace hung around his neck, and countless rings on his fingers. Each looked like they were worth a fortune.
“Sit down, sit down.”
The man, Mr. Bozzelli, spoke fast as he sat down on the velvet sofa. We also took our seats across from him.
“To think I’d meet the infamous broker Peter and mercenary Kale here.”
Bozzelli already knew who we were.
“Let me guess, you’re here to convince me to set up shop elsewhere.”
“…!”
The three of us fell speechless.
“I don’t have time to deal with you and your little acts of heroism. So, let me get this straight. Move everyone out from the orphanage by daylight tomorrow, or I’ll be reporting this to the Administration. Surely, you don’t want soldiers dragging out those kids by force.”
The Administration was an organization that worked for the people of Sonia. They made sure everyone followed the law, and worked to create a peaceful society. They were the only organization in Sonia that held as much power as the church and the royal family.
“The administration wouldn’t be so quick to force children out into the streets.”
Peter said with confidence.
“You think the administration is the only way I have? Trust me when I say that it would be the nicest way. I could make those children disappear, and no one would ever question it. Nothing but useless pieces of trash that even their parents didn’t want. I’d be doing society a service!”
Bozzelli laughed as he spat out curses. I could tell from his eyes that he wouldn’t hesitate to do the worst if it was necessary.
“But why the orphanage?”
Bozzelli stopped laughing, and looked at me.
“There are so many better options if all you wanted was to make money. Why… why that location?”
I asked Bozzelli, while trying to figure out the answer myself.
At that moment I caught a hint of fear in Bozzelli’s eyes. It wasn’t directed at me, but something in his memories.
“To think there’d be another idiot like these two.”
Bozzelli said as he pointed at Peter and Kale.
“Nothing you do is going to change the fact that those kids are going to have to leave.”
Bozzelli stood up from his seat, as he walked out of the room. Immediately after, two guards came in and forced us out of the house.
“ARGHHHH!!!”
I jumped as Kale let out a cry. Peter was patting his shoulder lightly.
“You did well. Really well. I’m proud of you.”
Peter whispered softly as if to console a child.
Kale’s face was as red as his hair, and both of his hands were tightly gripped into fists.
“If you caused another accident this time… the administration would have shut us down for good.”
Peter said as he patted Kale’s back.
“Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!”
Kale let out deep breaths until he calmed down.
“Shi*!”
Kale cursed as he stormed away.
I looked up at the house through the gates.
‘There’s no helping it. Looks like I’m going to need your help this time as well, Faye.’
Faye fluttered around, feeling excitement for my plan.
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