The table was set. Paley watched as the orphans leaned forward, spoons poised, waiting for permission to start. Madella had guided him through every step: searing the chicken until the skin turned a deep bronze, letting the honey and soy glaze thicken into a syrup that shimmered in the pan. Chicken was expensive, but a celebration was due for Bacha’s recovery and for all the work he and Teerom had put in.

  “Go on,” Paley said, trying to sound casual though his hand tightened slightly around his fork.

  The first few bites brought a hush over the table, followed by soft, surprised murmurs. The glaze caught the oil-lamp-light rich and amber, sweet and smoky all at once. The chicken’s skin cracked under their teeth before giving way to tender, juicy meat. Garlic and honey mingled in the air, warm and sharp with just a trace of vinegar that made each bite sing.

  Bacha, weak but recovering, looked up mid-mouthful, cheeks full, eyes wide with approval. “It’s perfect,” she said, grinning. The others nodded between bites, too absorbed in eating to speak. Paley let out a quiet breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding and smiled, the knot in his chest loosening as laughter began to rise around the table.

  Madella patted him on the head. "Well done, Paley." her smile was truly precious, it was like a campfire to his soul.

  After the meal, Teerom joined Paley and Jurie at the sink as they washed the plates - Madella had left to go to the bazaar with Adimia and Reben as her self-appointed guards. "Jurie, I'll take over from here. You go hang out with the others." Teerom suggested.

  "It's okay. Since when were you into doing dishes?" Jurie asked, teasing.

  "Well. I've been inspired lately, hahah..." He laughed nervously.

  Jurie squinted at him suspiciously. "Fine. I'll leave if you want me gone." She flicked her hair back and began walking away.

  "When you put it like that I sound like a bad guy." Teerom said after her.

  "Don't worry. You'd make a bad bad guy." Jurie smiled.

  Finally finding a moment alone with Paley, he opened up. "Hey, Paley. I... I've been feeling kinda... afraid?"

  "About being found out?" Paley asked.

  "I suppose, yeah."

  "Don't worry. I'm going to steal some more books to learn magic that let's me mind control people. Any guards that come here, I'll use Illusion Magic to make them chase an animal or something thinking it's me. Then they'll kill it and I'll mind control them to make them remember burying it instead of bringing it back."

  "What the..." Teerom was shocked by the intricacy and boldness of Paley's plan, so much so he didn't notice the commotion forming in the back, "Uh, let's not steal anymore books, Paley. I already feel bad enough that your face was exposed."

  "Oh is that what you're worried about?"

  "Yeah. You just got here and because I failed to protect you-"

  "It's not your fault. Besides Bacha said she's gonna work on something to make me look different so I can go to the city. "

  "She said what-" Now both their attentions drew to the heat sizzling onto their backs. When they turned they saw the orphans trying with little success to put out a fire in the orphanage by stomping on the blazing flames. Paley sprung into action but accidentally envisioned the wrong type of magic - the fire was right in front of him after all. A roaring blast of flame burst from his palm and added to the blaze.

  The orphans began to scream, but at last Paley managed to close his eyes and visualise the exact end product of his spell. He sprayed a jet of water from his hands onto the flames, weakening them enough for the others to stomp them out.

  After a short breather as the last ember died, the orphans turned on Bacha, yelling at her. The accused girl began to tear up at the accusations, "I just wanted to help Paley!"

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  "Why are you blaming Bacha?" Paley asked.

  "She tried making one of her crazy potions AGAIN and almost set fire to the house AGAIN!" Adimia replied.

  "Again? And again?"

  "Again." Teerom confirmed exasperatedly as Bacha began to sob.

  Madella took her into a close hug, caressing the back of her head, "Now now, let's not put Bacha down for trying to help."

  "Mother!" The orphans were frustrated that she'd let Bacha off the hook.

  "You are all here to support one another. We've put out the fires and acid breakouts ourselves in the past..." She looked to Paley with a warm teasing smile, "And now we have Paley as our extinguisher."

  Paley didn't realize the tease and was not afraid to show his gratefulness at the compliment: he was going to be the best fire extinguisher. "What were you trying to make?" He asked Bacha.

  "Laze Powder. It's a... well- powder. You have a very..." She hesitated, finally realizing how unnecessarily intense his gaze was, "Bad guy look. You need to stop doing this." She gestured with her face by tensing her jaw and narrowing her eyes and lowering her eyebrows, "But Laze Powder pretty much makes your face go woosh and if we put a lot of it to your cheeks, we can stop your eyes from being angry all the time."

  "I look like that?"

  "Yeah. It's kinda scary now that I'm seeing it more." She almost shyed away from him. It seemed the rest of them began to notice his inherent discomforting calm and chilling expression.

  "We don't judge people based on their looks." Madella placed her hands on Paley's shoulders, "Paley has done more than enough to prove he's a good boy. People have done less for their own children."

  "You guys need to learn tact. He might look like he's frustrated with your very existence, but he definitely loves us all." Teerom joined Madella in placing his hands on Paley's shoulders, "Though, sorry Paley. It might be a little too early to say you love us, heh."

  Paley was about to respond, to assure Teerom that he wanted them to be his family one more time, but Bacha continued.

  "I've made this for now, though. Can we test it?" She pulled out a small cylindrical object and flicked it open to reveal white cream inside. "They're looking for a black haired boy with red eyes, right? It won't be too hard to find you, then, Paley. I've literally never seen anyone with red eyes except Rauba." Bacha bought his head to her level and began to apply the cream to his hair - it was wet and sticky but he soldiered through until his hair was fully coated.

  "...Don't you think that's a little noticeable Bacha?" Teerom asked as Paley's hair turned pure snow white.

  "His hair's gonna be that way for about half a day! Doesn't he look cool?" Bacha asked, grinning, confirming to Teerom this was her indulging in an art project on Paley.

  "Can I have some? He looks so cool!" Amasha asked.

  Bacha rubbed some in his hair too but it did not turn white. "That's weird," She said, "Maybe it's not strong enough." She continued her work on Paley, moving swiftly on from the disappointed Amasha. She produced a small shoddy wooden bowl. "These are eye drops. I... wanted to have them in a glass dropper but I don't think we can afford that." As much as it hurt, the orphans all knew that they were living the life of peasantry, barely scraping by each month with the money Madella received from her family.

  Madella looked at their faces one by one, then smiled as if she finally found the courage to let go of something. "Maybe I've kept you all from the world for too long now." A tear formed in her eye. She didn't want to let go of these children; it wasn't a matter of them being the most precious part of her life - they were - but she knew what kind of cruelty the world objects onto those that are born without the protection of wealth. There was one way to climb the social ladder, however. Perhaps if she set the orphans down that path, they would one day be able to live secure lives. It was wishful thinking - she knew that herself. One way or another, the darkness of this world has a way of crushing you. "I think it's time for you to go to school."

  "School?" Adimia asked,

  "That's right, school."

  "I'm too old now for school." Teerom commented.

  "You can get a job instead."

  "Really?" Teerom's eyes welled with excitement and relief - he had been begging her to let him work in the city so he could improve their living situation. Madella always dodged the subject: he most likely would not be employed by a good man.

  "School... I think I've heard of it." Paley said as Bacha applied the eye drop but did not try to tap into his memory. His red eyes turned a deep magnificent purple.

  "It's a place where you go to learn all sorts of things, especially magic. We can only help you so far. If you want to learn more, you'll have to go to school."

  "I see. Won't it cost?"

  "Teerom can contribute to that."

  "Yes Ma'am!" Teerom saluted - Jurie giggled.

  "Will that really be enough?" Paley asked and Madella's face lowered in spirits.

  "The admission fee is 50 silver per term. That makes 3 gold across all of you." Madella explained.

  "The 500 Silver you get from Uncle Veruvin is already barely enough to keep us all going." Jurie commented.

  "Maybe we could all chop wood and sell it!" Adimia offered. "That'll be good training too!"

  "What if we start a farm?" Reben added.

  "Ew, why a farm?" Adimia retorted.

  Paley watched quietly. He remembered an important fact: there is good money in hunting monsters. It was a fact vivid and fresh in his mind. He didn't linger on it too long, but he decided: with his power, that was the best course of action. He had to try hunting a monster.