The Little Wizard didn't close the door.
He brought Catherine to the dining hall.
Inside the room.
Only Lupin was left, who sat down heavily on the floor, totally disregarding his image. He stared at the corridor outside, where the lights were on, and the dim glow spilled into the gloomy room from the hallway.
"What hope is there… The Wolf Poison Potion isn't hope."
The young Werewolf raised his hand and flicked it gently, and magic power surged forth. The room's door was shut from afar, and he and the whole room were once again shrouded in darkness.
...
The next day.
The rain had stopped, and the sky cleared.
The orphanage in London welcomed a bright new morning.
Sparrows chirped atop the branches.
Sunlight streamed through the clouds, gently bathing the quaint, slightly time-worn building in a soft golden glow. In the orphanage garden, the moist earth gave off a faint, fresh scent mixed with the fragrance of flowers and grass, making Ian, who got up early to read, feel refreshed and invigorated.
The children poured out of their rooms one by one, wearing clean but slightly old clothes, faces full of expectation and curiosity for the new day. Some kids chased each other and played in the yard, their laughter rising and falling; others sat quietly on benches, savoring the rare tranquility and beauty.
Of course.
There were little ones who ran up to cling to Ian.
"Ian! You really are a lucky star! Just your second day back! And already another good-hearted person came to donate!" Catherine tried to mimic the flattering tone of adults she'd seen on TV.
However.
Her childish little face looked more like a husky pup.
Rather funny.
"A good-hearted person? Where? Take me to see!" Ian suspected his friendly uncle had disguised himself again and come to the orphanage. He was instantly eager and had Catherine lead the way.
But it's not the weekend.
Which donor shows up at the orphanage early in the morning to give money?
"This way! This way! The donor uncle even had his daughter share some candy with us! Not as tasty as yours! But really yummy!"
Catherine's way of leading the "Imperial Army" was as lively as ever. She'd loved reporting things to Ian since she was little, then taking him to where visitors were so Ian could offer his opinions and commentary.
"They're in Miss Yelena's office!" Catherine led Ian all the way to the headmistress's office door, but as the door happened to be open, she panicked and dragged Ian behind the wall.
"That's the good-hearted person! His daughter is so nice! She gave me two candies!" Catherine babbled on, and Ian was already looking toward the donor who stepped out.
A middle-aged man accompanied by a daughter just over ten years old.
"I think this donation will be very meaningful. I can sense it from the smiles on these children's faces—it will surely be used exactly where it's needed most."
The middle-aged man was still talking with Professor Yelena.
He looked about forty, tall and slender, with elegant manners. He wore a tailored dark suit, a crisp white shirt, and a neat tie, embodying the classic English gentleman.
"Of course. We keep detailed records of every expense, and whether it's donors or anyone else, all are welcome to monitor our spending at any time." Professor Yelena was all smiles; it was clear the donation was substantial. She appeared particularly earnest in front of the middle-aged donor.
Though usually she wouldn't fuss over how much people gave, when it came to generous donors, she always worried about somehow offending them for some unexpected reason.
Rich people have odd personalities.
One careless move and you might set them off.
"Although my partner and I often do some charity work, I've never before donated a sum as large as twenty thousand Pounds to any institution."
"It's not a small amount for me either, to be honest. You may laugh, but I'm here partly for selfish reasons—I hope God will forgive me for some of my mistakes."
"At least… don't punish my daughter." The man looked at the silent girl beside him, a kid with a head of fluffy, brown hair who seemed absent-minded.
"She's been… encountering strange things lately." The man sighed heavily, worried, but did not go into details with Lady Yelena.
Actually, Lady Yelena had seen many cases like this.
For people here in the United Kingdom,
Pulling a last-minute prayer to seek a divine spirit's blessing isn't uncommon, especially among the wealthy. So Lady Yelena knew well how to respond.
"I'll keep praying for this child, and I believe in the merciful Lord—He would never let such an adorable girl suffer sorrowful hardship."
Lady Yelena temporarily transformed back into a devout believer.
Her words pleased the middle-aged man greatly.
But the girl lifted her head and glanced at Lady Yelena.
"If there really were a God in this world, and He truly answered prayers, then Africa and so many impoverished countries wouldn't suffer famine."
"Lady, forgive me for being rude, but maybe you should check out the science channel every Saturday…" Despite her worries, the girl couldn't help but respond listlessly.
Of course.
She mainly said it for her father, who snuck her here without her mother's knowledge to donate. The girl didn't mind helping others, but she felt a little disdain for the whole divine myth.