Joyous laughter rang all around.
Judas turned his head, watching a group of children run across the yard, clutching the new toys he and Astraea had given them.
Their laughter was loud and unrestrained, the kind that made the air itself feel lighter.
He shifted his gaze to the side.
Beneath the shade of a nearby tree, Astraea was playing patty-cake with a few of the younger children, her movements gentle, her smile warm and sincere.
For a goddess, she looked perfectly at home there.
Leaning back against a wall, Judas relaxed... only for a familiar figure to approach.
Rye stopped a few steps in front of him, staring up with eyes filled with unmistakable admiration.
"Um... Mister Judas?"
"Yeah?" Judas replied.
Rye clenched his fists at his sides, his eyes shining.
"Someday... I wanna be strong like you."
Judas paused.
He pushed himself off the wall and lowered himself slightly so they were closer to eye level.
After a brief moment, he gave a small nod.
"You want to become an adventurer?"
Rye's face immediately broke into a wide grin.
"Yeah!"
"I want to be an adventurer so I can support the orphanage and protect everyone!"
He lightly pounded his chest as he spoke, brimming with pride.
"That's a good goal. Just make sure you don't forget it."
Judas said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"I won't!"
Rye answered without hesitation, before dashing off to rejoin the others.
"U-um... mister adventurer..."
A shy, hesitant voice reached Judas's ears.
He turned and saw Roux, the half-elf child with blonde hair, standing a short distance away and fidgeting nervously.
"What is it, Roux?"
Judas asked, raising a brow slightly.
"Do you... know any magic?"
Roux asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Magic?"
Judas tilted his head.
"Well... I can use a little."
"R-really?"
Roux's face immediately lit up.
"Then... can you show me? I want to see magic."
Hearing the exchange, Astraea glanced over and smiled.
"What a wonderful idea," she said gently.
"I suppose I forgot you were a mage, Judas. You don't quite look like one."
She turned toward him with a warm, motherly smile.
"You wouldn't mind giving the children a small demonstration, would you?"
That was all it took.
"Mister adventurer is going to use magic?!"
"I wanna see! I wanna see!"
"Magic! Magic! Yay!"
The children quickly gathered around him, their excitement bubbling over as they crowded closer.
Judas looked around at their eager faces and let out a helpless chuckle.
"...Looks like there's no stopping them once they get like this."
From the side, Maria sighed, pressing a palm to her cheek.
"Oh dear. Just don't rile them up too much."
She said with mild exasperation, though the fondness in her eyes was impossible to miss.
"I'll try."
Judas replied dryly with a wry smile.
He stepped forward, gently raising a hand.
"Alright, alright. Settle down a bit."
The children quieted... not completely, but enough... forming a loose semicircle around him.
Roux stood right at the front, hands clasped together, eyes practically sparkling.
'Hmm, let's see... what should I do?'
Judas thought in his mind as he tapped his chin, making a decision.
'Ah... I could try that.'
He stretched out his arm and summoned a magic circle on the ground.
Seeing this, the children let out exclamations of awe and fascination, even Maria couldn't but stare curiously, her eyes glued to the magic circle rotating on the ground.
"Wahhh!"
"It's pretty!"
"Oohhh!"
"It's glowing!"
"So this is magic..."
After all, magic was a rare sight for ordinary people like them, such reactions coming from them was expected.
After a few seconds, the earth suddenly wriggled and rose from the ground before forming into a human-like shape.
"Ah... it looks like Roux."
One of the children pointed out as an earth statue with the appearance similar to that of Roux appeared in front of them holding a gold-colored flower.
"That is... me?"
Roux's eyes widened.
"It even has your hair!"
"And the flower's pretty!"
The earthen figure tilted slightly, as if bowing, the golden flower held carefully in its hands.
Judas crouched down and tapped the statue lightly with his knuckle.
It responded by straightening up and lifting the flower toward Roux.
"Go on," Judas said.
"It's for you."
Roux hesitated, then slowly stepped forward.
"Th-thank you..."
Roux whispered, before breaking into a shy smile.
Astraea covered her mouth softly, clearly touched.
"How lovely."
She murmured with a gentle smile.
"Yes, it is beautiful."
Maria nodded in agreement.
At that moment, Judas snapped his fingers.
The earth figure crumbled gently, dissolving back into the ground like sand carried away by the wind, leaving the golden flower behind.
"Woah!"
"It disappeared!"
"Can you make another one?!"
"How about a monster?!"
"Not a monster."
Maria said immediately, clearing her throat.
Judas raised both hands in surrender.
"No monsters. But..."
He drew another small circle in the air this time.
Several glowing orbs emerged, drifting lazily before shaping themselves into tiny animals... a hopping rabbit, a fluttering bird, a clumsy little turtle crawling across the dirt.
The children gasped, then burst into delighted laughter as they followed the creatures around the yard.
"Hey! It's running!"
"Wait for me!"
"It's so cute!"
Roux watched with awe.
"Mister Judas..."
Roux said softly.
"Magic is amazing."
Judas glanced down at the half-elf child, then at the children chasing after the glowing animals.
"...Yeah, it can be."
He said quietly.
From beneath the tree, Astraea watched him with gentle eyes, a small, knowing smile on her lips... one that spoke of gratitude, and perhaps something deeper.
For just a little while longer, the orphanage was filled with nothing but laughter, light, and warmth.
"Thank you very much, Lady Astraea, Mister Judas, for giving the children such a wonderful time."
Maria said with a deep bow, her voice filled with sincere gratitude.
Beside her, the children gathered in a small crowd, some still clutching their new toys, others holding onto the glowing flower or replaying the magic they had just witnessed in their imaginations.
"Thank you, Lady Astraea!"
"Thank you, Mister Judas!"
"That magic was awesome!"
"Come play again next time!"
Their voices overlapped in a chorus of cheerful farewells.
Astraea laughed softly and knelt down once more, gently patting a few heads.
"I promise. I'll come visit again."
She said warmly.
Judas gave an awkward wave, a faint smile lingering on his face as he looked at the children.
After a few more seconds of exchanging goodbyes, Judas and Astraea finally turned away from the orphanage, walking side by side along the sunlit streets.
Behind them, the children continued waving until they were out of sight.
Astraea clasped her hands in front of her, her steps light.
Her gaze shifted toward him, carrying quiet sincerity.
"Thank you for coming with me today."
Judas met her eyes for a moment, then looked away.
"...Yeah. That was fun."
They continued walking, the orphanage now far behind them.
Neither of them noticed, however, the subtle shift in the air... nor the murmurs beginning to ripple through the nearby streets, voices growing louder with each passing step.
The murmurs gradually grew clearer as they moved farther down the street.
"Did you hear?"
Whispers rippled through the crowd, carrying an unmistakable air of excitement.
Then, a single declaration rose above the rest, sharp and unmistakable, instantly capturing their attention.
"The Astraea Familia! The Familia of Justice has returned from their expedition!"
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