Aprilis 17th, 2111 - Veris

"Isla, we have to go, now!" With a tear sliding down her cheek, she places her child amongst the piles of wooden crates. Wrapped in a soft yellow blanket, the babe looks curiously at his mother.

"Forgive me, Nix." Kissing his forehead, she removes her blue crystal earring, leaving it amongst him before running away. Sounds of yelling soldiers, booming footsteps and the drawing of a blade fill the city.

All was in ruin, the sky a fiery orange and rumbling, filling the small town. Since the beginning of the year, there has been a sudden rise in criminal activity: Astrum, the city of glory. A prosperous city where the rich would thrive and the poor were nonexistent. Debt collectors would storm the place, along with police.

For Isla Stern, her children were her blessing.

August 21st, 2120

"Clarice!" Stumbling with a tall pot in hand, the young maiden pushes the door open with her hip.

"Yes, Mother Agnus?" The elder lady places down plates on the wooden counter, wiping sweat from her brow.

"Have you seen Ashlyn? She was supposed to bring the children here early." Clarice shakes her head, wiping her hands on her brown apron. She grabs some cups from the cabinet, counting them.

"No... should I check on her?" Mother Agnus nods.

"If you could be so kind, dear." With a smile, she walks out of the kitchen, exiting the dining room and heading outside. Astrum had only one orphanage, Astra's Hope, which was named after Mother Agnus' grandmother. Many of the children there were the result of their parents becoming thieves or, in worse cases, mercenaries. Others were due to neglect or missing persons cases.

Clarice could smell the fragrant onion in her vegetable soup. She was the chef and took pride in her cooking. Seeing the smiles on the children's faces from eating her food made her happy. She had no children of her own and was originally heired to work for her father's inn. But after he had fallen ill, they had no choice but to sell the business. Mother Agnus offered her a job to help pay for her father's medications. Since then, she had been here caring for the youth.

Traversing the green plains, she sees Ashlyn in the middle of two children. Her noir long hair tied in a ponytail. A group formed a circle around.

"Stop that!" She yelled as she pulled back one older elven boy. On the ground, a human boy. His nose was bleeding, and he had a cut on his arm. The older boy continues to fight, swinging his arms at Ashlyln, who was quick to restrain both his arms.

Clarice runs over, hoping to mediate the situation.

"What's going on?" The older boy huffs, trying to wiggle out of Ashlyn's grasp.

"Let me go!"

"Are you going to keep fighting?" Ashlyn asks.

Clarice ushers the group away.

"Go on, lunch is almost ready." The group leaves, one girl looking sadly at Clarice.

"Haurterine, that's enough!" Clarice snaps, raising her voice. "That's the third time this week! Do you want to be on kitchen duty for two weeks?"

He rolls his eyes.

"Confound it, no!"

"Then behave." He stops wiggling around, Ashlyn letting him go. "Now wash up, lunch is almost done."

"Yes, ma'am." He mumbles, running off.

Clarice sighs.

"I don't understand that boy. He's always up to trouble." Ashlyn helps the young boy up.

"Probably a coming-of-age thing. He's 12, perhaps he's just trying to find himself."

"By fighting the other children? That's not right."

"Mother Agnus could give him more work."

"Never mind that... Go on and get lunch finished. Nix, are you okay?" Nix glances up, with slight tears in his eyes as he holds his bloody nose. He remains quiet, blinking blankly with his blue eyes. "Ah... why am I asking that? Clearly, that's not the case. Come, let's get you patched up." Holding out her hand, he clasps it, hesitating as his hands are covered in blood. "Don't worry about a little blood."

Entering the building, Clarice tries to bring him through the dining room to the kitchen. He stops at the entrance.

"Nix... what's wrong?" He simply stares at the elven boy. "Ah... okay. Here, sit on the bench."

Sitting on the bench near piles of shoes, he frowns. Fights weren't common amongst the children, as the majority got along. Nix was quiet... very quiet. He never really talked to anyone.

Returning with a wet cloth and bandage, she kneels in front of him, cleaning his wounds carefully.

"What happened to your arm?" She asks, cleaning the scratch.

"He pushed me." He speaks softly. "Punched... then pushed." She frowns.

Wrapping a white bandage, she cuts off the excess. Nix glances up at her.

"He didn't like that I was reading a book."

"Really? What book were you reading?"

"Star book..." Clarice thinks for a moment, recalling the book.

"Ah, the one with constellations?" He nods. "He shouldn't hurt you." Nix shrugs.

Haurterine was the only one who would fight others physically. He seemed to hate those who were happy.

"I'm hungry..." Clarice nods.

"Do you want me to bring food out here for you?" He nods. "Alright."

Returning back with a glass of juice and vegetable soup in another, she sets it beside him.

"Thank you..." He speaks quietly.

Her expression softens.

"No worries..." He eats slowly, blowing on the spoon.

Since then, Nix decided to isolate himself. Wherever there were fewer people, he was more inclined to go. He loved reading, so he would stay in the little library and read while hiding in a small shelf. He continued to eat outside of the dining room, sometimes going outside and sitting by a tree. He would also sleep in the library, finding a secret spot behind some chairs. Taking his pillow, blanket and journal, he would stay in that spot.

During this, Ashlyn would keep an eye on Haurterine. Out of all the kids, the elven boy had it out for Nix. In a way, she felt like an older sister to him. As time flowed, many of the children would get adopted. Ironically, Haurterine was one of them. It was only a year later that a rich man and his wife adopted him and another younger girl.

Nix still continued his isolation. He would speak to Clarice, Ashlyn and Mother Agnus, but that was about it. He kept them informed of his whereabouts and any other information. Later on, Ashlyn had to move. She had to leave the orphanage, which saddened many. It was the only instance Nix was with the others as she was leaving. Hugs, tears, sniffles, she said goodbye.

Without Ashlyn, things became a bit more difficult. Mother Agnus only got older, so she didn't want her straining herself. Upon Nix's normal routine of returning his stuff to the kitchen, he saw Clarice sleeping on the counter. Seeing the piles of dishes, he decides to clean them, grabbing the step stool to help him reach. He made it a new routine to help in secret. Clarice was confused, but once Mother Agnus explained, she was overjoyed. She decided to ask Nix if he wanted to help cook and support the orphanage, and he agreed.

Nix began to open up more. Rambling on about the various books he would read or things he would write about. He started developing an interest in cooking, creating his own dishes and testing them. He took over a lot of duties around the place, mainly cooking, but also a lot of housekeeping. It brought him a sense of calm and peace. He enjoyed the order of keeping house. It did sadden him a little when others would get adopted, but he continued to be there, and soon enough, all the other kids he grew up with were gone.

A small part of him, though, was happy. He didn't mind the orphanage. He got to read and cook; it also didn't hurt that Clarice and Mother Agnus felt like family-or what he thought was family.

Still, a part of him wondered, who was his real mother and father? Why was he here? As he grew up, he ran into these questions more and more. On his shopping ventures, he would envy seeing normal families, a sullen feeling holding him down.

He kept a lot down. Never was he really a talker. Just the awkward kid with his head stuck in a book. He was okay, though. He was safe and comfortable.

October - 2131

"Nix! We got 3 more orders of soup and walnut loaves!" Swiftly moving, Nix strides his way to the counter where a crumpled piece of paper lay with the order.

"Hm... okay." He attaches it on the post above the stove, where the soup bubbled. Hints of garlic, onion made townsfolk desperate to try it. Grabbing three wooden bowls from the cabinet, he stirs the vegetable soup, pouring some into each before chopping a loaf of walnut bread.

Nix wasn't very sure if the walnut bread would be a hit. But after giving some as a sample to the customers, they instantly wanted more. It consisted of cinnamon, nutmeg, walnuts (of course), pecans and a caramel drizzle coating. He puts the bread into a rectangular plate.

Grabbing a wooden tray, he places the dishes carefully down. Using his other hand, he grabs the plate of bread and makes his way to the dining room. A rumbling but soothing ambiance filled the cafe. From noblemen to adventurers from the local guild, there was something here for everyone.

"Ah, there he is." The burly man boomed, setting down mugs of ale in front of the customers. "Nix, my boy, we've got a shortage of ale. I'll need to pick up more from my sister. Will you be okay on your own?"

Nix paused in his shoes, looking at the crowd filling the cafe. No way could he do everything on his own, at least to quality standards. His eyes drop slightly, an easy tell for Boris.

"No worries, I'll see if she can send someone down." He reassures him with a smile before greeting a couple at the bar.

Nix walks to the far table in the back where a family sat.

"Here you go, three soups with some walnut bread." The lady smiles, handing some to her sister and son.

"Thank you. Looks like you guys are pretty busy." Nix laughs nervously.

"Yeah... I'm used to it, though. Enjoy your meal." He turns to leave.

"Wait-"

"Yes?"

"The lady at that table," She points to a cloaked woman. "She said she wanted to talk to you. I don't know what for."

"Ah... okay. Thanks for letting me know." He walks over to the lady, her arms crossed, with a bowl of soup finished. "Hello, may I help you?"

"So he does speak." Uncrossing her arms, she sets her hands on the table. Her hands were adorned with various rings, some gem encrusted, others a plain band. "This is for you." She hands him a letter with a red wax seal. Hesitating, he takes the letter.

"What's this?"

"Business matters. Despite you being a man of a few words, your cooking speaks all." She sets down a handful of gold. "For the meal. We hope to hear from you soon." She gets up and leaves.

Confused, Nix stares at the letter blankly. Now wasn't the time... sticking it into his waiter apron, he clears the lady's table, gathering the money and letting the next group enter.

When evening finally fell, he packed up his things into his knapsack and headed back home. The walk home was a peaceful one; the soft, faint streetlights illuminating the vista, vendors closing up shop and adventurers returning safe as their armor clunked.

It was nights like these that Nix really appreciated. Ever since he was a boy, the stars especially fascinated him. Midnight cascaded with gems of light, some formed together to build a constellation. He found those groups were like homes, a family of some sort. He yearned for a sense of belonging, despite having Mother Agnus and Clarice.

He pushed those feelings aside. He wanted to be a beacon of hope for the youth. He knew little of the circumstances of why he was there, and it paled in comparison to some of the children who had no other choice.

Did he feel abandoned? A little, but knowing the history of the city, it was probable that his family didn't have a choice.

He didn't blame them; after all, it took at least a decade to reform the city to its former glory. The restoration effort was only possible through the new ruling of the prince.

Finally arriving at the orphanage, he opens the main entrance door. It was quiet, with only soft murmuring and the sounds of cutlery from the kitchen.

"Nix?" Clarice opens the door, smiling softly.

"Hey." Placing his apron by the stairs, he heads over to her.

"We were just about to have some wine, if you'd like to join us." Mother Agnus placed down a few goblets onto the table.

"Sure..." Sitting down along with them, Clarice pours white wine into their glasses. He drops his bag onto the floor.

"You look exhausted, dear... The cafe giving you a rough time?" Mother Agnus asked. Nix gulped some of his drink, sighing. He wasn't much of a drinker, but when it came to white wine, it helped keep the demons at bay.

"It was busy. We ran out of ale midday, so Boris had his sister expedite it to us. The whole day was quite warm; I don't think I took a break."

The elder hums, sipping her wine.

"Is that all?"

He pauses, tapping his fingers along the glass.

"I got a letter from a mysterious woman."

"Did you read it?" Clarice asks.

Nix shakes his head.

"No... but a part of me is afraid to read it." He admits, drinking more.

"Why? Did the woman introduce herself?"

"She didn't. She referred to me as a man of a few words. She was cloaked but had a bunch of rings on her fingers."

"A cloak in this weather? She must've really wanted to hide her identity."

"Call me paranoid, but I think it's a threat letter or maybe hitmen." Mother Agnus grabs his other hand, clenched in a fist.

"Dear, I think you need some rest. Clarice and I can look at the letter if it scares you that much. Besides, why would someone want to do something like that to you?"

"She's right. You help here at the orphanage and the café. Boris keeps the funds, so there wouldn't be a reason to hurt you for money or who you are."

Nix runs his hands through his hair, sighing again. Perhaps it was him overhearing things while he was out. He liked reading the newspaper, mainly to keep up with what was going on around Astrum. Regardless, he knew he was paranoid; no one else could look out for him but himself. Clarice and Mother Agnus had enough on their plate running the orphanage while he was out. Even back then, when the adults weren't around, it was him only.

He pulls out the letter from his bag, placing it on the table as he rests his head down.

Sleepy... alcohol made him very sleepy.

Mother Agnus and Clarice look at each other, concern in their eyes. Clarice picks up the letter, tracing her finger along the red seal.