After organizing the new supplies and finishing the cooking, the visitors prepared to enter the private area of the church.

  As soon as they crossed the threshold, the atmosphere changed completely. A large number of children moved from side to side, filling the place with laughter, hurried footsteps, and overlapping voices. Several volunteers and nuns organized, supervised, and cared for them, while the older children helped with simple tasks and the younger ones, like Kael, ran without direction, chasing each other between columns and wooden benches.

  The movement was constant, almost chaotic, but not disorganized. Everything seemed to function under a silent logic.

  As soon as Kael took a few steps inside, he was surrounded by many curious looks. The first to approach were two children, barely a couple of years older than him.

  — Hello! —said one of them with enthusiasm—. Are you new?

  — Hello —Kael replied, a bit surprised—. More or less… I just came with Lady Redda.

  — Oh… —a girl said, looking him up and down—. From your clothes, you must be a noble child, right?

  — Yes —Kael nodded—. My name is Kael Sungley. It’s a pleasure to meet you.

  — Oh! —the boy exclaimed—. Are you a member of the family that rules the city?

  — So you’re related to that tall man with the white beard who comes sometimes? —the girl asked.

  — Yes —Kael replied—. That man is my grandfather.

  The children looked at him with amazement and curiosity, as if they had just discovered something extraordinary.

  Behind them, older children began to appear. Those who were already entering adolescence, with growing bodies and hardened eyes shaped by experiences that did not match their age.

  — Hey, kid… move aside —one of them said, pushing him slightly.

  The youths surrounded Kael. There was no curiosity on their faces, but a different intention, heavier.

  Lasan, noticing the situation, stepped forward, ready to intervene, but Redda stopped him by raising a hand.

  — Lady Redda, why are you stopping me…? —Lasan whispered, tense.

  — Some realities are understood better when lived directly —she replied quietly—. Trust the young master.

  — Hey! —the girl who had spoken before intervened—. Don’t intimidate him! He’s the heir of the great lord!

  — Shut up, girl —a young girl replied—. We need to talk to this rich kid.

  Kael took a deep breath.

  — Good afternoon —he said calmly—. My name is Kael. It’s a pleasure to meet you.

  — Don’t come acting polite with us —one of the youths spat—. Do you think we’re here because we want to be?

  — Of course not —Kael replied—. You must have gone through a lot… I hope that one day we can work together so this doesn’t have to keep being a reality.

  — Of course it will keep happening, you damn brat —the young girl said—. People like you only come here to puff up your chest by doing a little charity to feel good about yourselves.

  — Stop bothering him… —a smaller child intervened—. The ladies will get angry…

  — SHUT UP! —the young man shouted—. I ended up here because your great and incredible grandfather was incapable of protecting our village! I saw my mother die in front of my eyes!

  — My mother died from illness and my father in the mine —the young girl added—. In our last days together we lived on a damn piece of bread… and I’m sure you, damn brat, had plates full of food!

  Kael watched them in silence. The impact was strong, but more than guilt, he felt deep empathy. He had not lived exactly the same, but he knew hunger, cold, fragile houses, and hard bread shared between people. Unlike them, in his childhood there were no monsters attacking villages… but the pain was still recognizable.

  — I truly am very sorry… —he said sincerely.

  The young man looked at him with contempt.

  — I don’t need your damn mercy! —he spat—. What do you and your family know about suffering? You live comfortably in your mansion, eating until you’re full. I’m sure your grandfather and your parents spend the day resting with all the money they’ve stolen.

  Rage overflowed in him.

  Without thinking, he threw a direct punch to Kael’s face.

  To everyone’s surprise, Kael stopped the fist easily, holding it firmly. His gaze was intense… threatening, but also compassionate.

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  — Ignorance is bold —he said in a firm voice—. Nobility is not achieved in a single day. To earn respect, you must deserve it.

  He slowly released the young man’s fist, without unnecessary violence.

  — I don’t know what your experience has been —he continued—, and I truly regret what you’ve suffered. But I will not allow you to stand in front of me to insult and belittle the people I love most in my life.

  — You say my life is easy and peaceful? —Kael went on—. I wake up every morning to train just like the soldiers of Cautares. In the afternoons I train my body and my mind, because since I was little, great things have been expected of me as the future heir.

  The youths listened without interrupting.

  — You say my grandfather does nothing —he continued—, when he can spend an entire year on campaign, marching along the border of the Indomitable Forest, protecting his people.

  — You speak about my father and my mother as if they do nothing, when they left Cautares and traveled across the entire continent to defend it from the demonic invasion.

  Kael took a deep breath.

  — You speak about me as if you had already written my entire story… when my destiny, even before I was born, was sealed to fight and die protecting this city. Today I live a peaceful life, yes… but the day will come when I reach your age and go out, like my parents and my grandparents, to risk my life so fewer children have to see their parents die.

  His voice softened.

  — I deeply regret what happened to your families… but blaming someone who had not even been born when it happened is worse reasoning than that of a child.

  The atmosphere tightened as soon as Kael finished speaking. The silence was uncomfortable, as if everyone present were holding their breath at the same time.

  That was when Abel appeared among the children, walking forward with firm and determined steps.

  — What do you think you’re doing to the young master? —she asked in a severe voice.

  The two youths immediately stepped away from Kael, taking a couple of steps back.

  — My most sincere apologies, young master —Abel said, slightly bowing her head—, for the behavior of these two youths.

  — There is nothing to apologize for, Miss Abel —Kael replied calmly—. In part… they are right.

  The two youths looked at him in surprise, clearly shocked by the response.

  — What do you mean, young master? —Abel asked, without losing her composure.

  — I will always defend my family’s honor —Kael said—, but that does not change the fact that, as rulers of the region of Cautares, they must ensure the health and well-being of all the towns under their responsibility. And that… has not been completely effective.

  Kael lowered his gaze slightly before continuing.

  — There are still people suffering out there, being attacked at the border. Therefore, it is also my responsibility, as future heir, to help improve this situation and make sure fewer children have to see their parents die.

  Abel observed him in silence, her expression full of respect.

  — Without a doubt, you show yourself to be as calm and wise as your grandfather, little one —she finally said.

  Then she turned toward the youths. Her face did not show punishment or contempt, but a mixture of firmness and maternal warmth.

  — You heard the young master —she said—. Nothing is perfect. Nothing will work well for everyone. But what makes the difference is overcoming adversity and facing it with strength and perseverance.

  The youths lowered their heads.

  — Instead of blaming and criticizing —Abel continued—, become better people and help make this place even better. Didn’t you want to be like Lasan and Jacki?

  The two looked at each other. Then, with visible effort, they looked back at Kael.

  — Young Master Kael… —one of them said—. We are sorry for what happened. We let our emotions control us and said horrible things.

  — Yes… we’re sorry —the other added.

  Kael looked at them for a second and then smiled.

  — Honestly… I already forgot what you said —he replied—. Nothing happened here. We start again.

  He put his hand inside his small backpack and took out two small brown squares.

  — Here, one for each of you. Enjoy it.

  — What is that? —the youths asked, suspicious.

  — It’s called “eat and keep quiet” —Kael replied proudly.

  Both put the chocolate in their mouths… and their expressions changed immediately. Their faces softened, almost melting together with the taste.

  Seeing them, Kael raised his arms and shouted with enthusiasm:

  — Chocolate for everyone! Aunt Jacki donated it from her hiding spot under the sink!

  — WHAT?! —Jacki shouted from the back—. NO! THOSE ARE MINE!

  At that exact moment, Redda appeared behind her and placed her hand firmly on her shoulder.

  — So, hiding food for your own consumption… —she said in a low and dangerous voice.

  — I… no… it’s just… well… —Jacki stammered.

  And so, after a long time, Jacki received several knocks on the head from the first person who decided to care for her and turn her into the cook of the Sungley house.

  After a good lunch and with many satisfied children, Kael once again took things out of his backpack and his dimensional cube. He gave them a ball so they could play.

  The yard filled with laughter, running, and joyful shouts. The children played without stopping, closely supervised by two dedicated elderly women who did not miss a single movement.

  Abel watched the scene with a calm smile.

  — Without a doubt, your descriptions fit perfectly with the way he is —she said—. He is very mature for his age.

  — Since he was very little, he showed himself to be responsible and dedicated to everyone —Redda replied—. He never mistreated or harmed anyone… grandfather, father, mother, guardian, soldier, or maid. For him, everyone is important and irreplaceable.

  Abel nodded slowly.

  — Now I understand why I saw you so calm and determined that day…

  — What day? —Redda asked.

  — The day you appeared for the first time without an arm —Abel replied—. “My lord needed me and I fulfilled my duty no matter what,” that’s what you said. You did it with a warmth and determination that reminded me of the Redda who was once noble… and who gave up everything for love.

  — Don’t make me remember the times when I had to hit you so you would stop doing stupid things —Redda replied dryly.

  — Ha, ha, ha… —Abel laughed.

  .

  ..

  …

  ….

  …..

  And so the mission to restock the orphanage ended. As evening fell, the servants and the young master began the return home.

  As soon as Kael stepped inside the mansion, he was caught by firm and furious arms.

  — On top of calling me a terrifying demon and running from your punishment —Caria said, squeezing him against her chest—, you sneak away with the servants to try to avoid it… well, you will end up lying in the yard full of bumps along with the other three idiots.

  While Kael was being dragged, an imposing figure appeared behind her. Garbard watched them with a serious expression.

  — My dear daughter, Caria —he said—. Could you stop your punishment here…?

  — Why? He deserves it! —she replied.

  — Of course —Garbard nodded—, but part of the punishment also belongs to me.

  — No, no, wait! —Kael shouted—. Why?! I didn’t do anything wrong!

  — You ate what was supposed to be my breakfast again —Garbard replied calmly.

  — No, no, no! It wasn’t me! —Kael shouted—. It was the sewer monster that came through the window and ate your food! It wasn’t me!

  And so, the young master returned home to receive his double punishment: behaving like a true noble outside, carrying the realities of the world on his shoulders… and being, inside the house, a real spoiled child once again.