Duluk took us inside the hut. There were other children present here as well. They were ten. All between two and thirteen.
"gralu do wabou cro bah ?"
"shraa !"
I can't understand them. It's a pity. I really would have liked to get a skill in Universal Language or a blessing that would allow me to understand the language instantly. That reminds me, I didn't try to see if I had a system. I was about to try when someone took me in her arms.
"gaboo gaboo"
She was looking at me with her big eyes wide open.
What is it, girl? Have you never seen an adorable little baby? Whatever, just put me back and don't disturb me anymore. I'm a busy man. Unfortunately, the only sound that got out of my mouth was:
"gaheuu"
A wide smile, showing all her sharp teeth, appeared on her face, sending chills down my spine. Trying to keep face, she carefully put me back like a good girl, and then...
"Argh, ahahaha!"
She started to tickle me to death. The girl didn't let me go all of the afternoon. She played, or rather tortured, me till the evening, when the oldest orc took us to the neighbour to get us fed.
I was then brought back to the cradle and soon started to sleep soundly.
The next day, after breakfast, the girl who was with the woman who had brought us here came to see us. She played with us a little bit until she took our wristband and deciphered what was written on it.
"Du lam buki Yalak uba Lasa"
I kept looking without any kind of reaction, trying to understand what she was saying.
She directed her hand toward herself and said :
"Mo buky Vaela"
Oh, I get it! Her name is Bucky Vaela! That was easy! In one month, I'll be able to speak the orc.
She then directed her hand towards me. Seems like I'll get a new name.
"Yalak"
And then towards the baby next to me:
"Zala"
So my name is now Yalak. Does not sound too bad. I bet it means something great! I'm starting to like this name. And the name of the one who accompanied me since the start is Zala. Well, then. Nice to meet you, Zala.
...
- One year later -
It has been one year since I came to this world, and I have learned many things. Honestly, it was one of the toughest years of my life. Well, it was also the best one, as well, since I lived for a year.
Hahaha, I'm joking, I hated it.
I'm quite funny, am I not? Of course, otherwise I would have gone crazy all those years in the dark.
Anyway, the first three months were really boring. We only ate, slept, and played (or got tortured) every day. Vaela, and not Buky, Vaela, as I believed, came every day to tell us stories. It was thanks to her that I started to improve my understanding of the Orc language.
After those three passed. I regretted them very much. The three following were hellish. Because we were old enough, we could eat meat, at least that was what we were given, the problem was that winter arrived. It was cold, the hut wasn't well isolated, and there were even holes in some walls. I bet the highest temperature we had was 5°C. I have never been this glad to be held by Ushha, my torturer; we were keeping each other warm. On the coldest nights, I could feel the heat emanating from my and Zala's chests. Thanks to that, the three of us could get a bit of sleep.
The cold wasn't the only problem. We didn't get to eat much. It wasn't surprising to not be able to eat for several days. The orphans not only had to earn their food, but they had to share it with those who couldn't work. We were lucky to have Vaela come with meat once a week. One thing surprised me, even though the meat was as hard as ice, my teeth were able to shred it.
One of the young Orcs didn't survive the winter. I have come to learn that, in the past years, they used to lose at least 3 Orcs per winter.
When the winter ended, everyone was relieved and excited, except Duluk remaining calm and a bit anxious. I now understand well enough Orcish, as they call it, to guess what they say. I didn't try to start practicing speaking, so that they wouldn't be suspicious of me.
The Orcs became much more active during spring and summer. We got plenty of food, and we were growing quickly. Vaela and the others started to teach us to speak. They were impressed by my progress. Zala was getting jealous each time I was getting more praise than her. It was the seed that awakened her competitive spirit. She started to mimic and try to beat me at everything. I was the first one to walk, even if she succeeded one day later. Ushha, who was seven, spent most of her time with us unless she had work to do.
During the beginning of summer, the tribe held. I tried to go there, but there was always someone to prevent me from going out.
I also tried everything to know if I had, or if I could get, a system. From calling "status" in my head to dropping some blood on my wristband, but nothing worked.
During my experience phase, I got the surname of Yalakush, which means crazy or idiot, I'm certain, even today.
Well, it is quite understandable if you saw a kid repeating the same movement a thousand times, or trying to kiss the first girl he saw (it nearly got me killed). You would be wondering how strong this kid had hit his head when he was born.
And yes, I was ready to do everything I read to see if I could get a system.
Well, now everyone is preparing for winter. Everyone is working hard. I try to help with Zala, but no one is taking us seriously. I still can't do much with my small body, so I pass most of my time playing with Zala or trying to get the feeling in my chest again by meditating. It's quite funny because Zala is mimicking me.
There is something that intrigues me. I'm wondering how Zala and I are related. Is she family or not? Well, Zala doesn't seem to care and takes me for her brother, as Ushha told her.
I can't wait for the day I will finally be able to venture outside.