[??? POV]
Grenaut City—the center of the Duchy of Grenaut, ruled by Duke Reyes de Cavelina.
Even though it is far from the Capital, this region is very crowded with citizens of the Empire because of the many buildings and historical sites located here, such as Saint Velicia Cathedral, the Blackfire Dragon Museum which stores the bones of the dragon defeated by the Legendary Hero Pendragon, and Vesemir Square, where the legendary battle between Pendragon and the Dragon took place.
Currently, I have just finished shopping for cooking ingredients at the City market. I manage an orphanage located on the outskirts of Grenaut City. This orphanage I named La Nuevas, which means "a new beginning." I want this place to be the start of a different life for those unfortunate children—those who cannot be accepted by the social society that exists in this world.
After arriving at the orphanage, I opened the entrance door of this house then locked it again.
"Sister Giada! You've returned!?"
"What are you going to cook today, Sister!?"
"I want cookies and milk!"
As soon as I entered, the children in this place began to approach me.
"Alright, alright, you all wait first, okay? Sister will make your favorite food." I stroked the hair of those children then walked to the kitchen.
There are three orphanages that our group owns within the Aragon Empire itself. One is in the Imperial Capital—Terragon—and another is in the Duchy of Jimena. For the La Nuevas orphanage, the children we care for number 12. I and my partner are 'Sitters' here, whose duty is to care for and supervise those children.
"Hahaha! I'm flying! Sister, Thomas made me fly!"
I saw a young girl floating inside the house from here to there. It was seen that her other friend was moving his hands; he was the one who made that young girl able to float like that.
— Brak!
However, the fun of that young girl did not last long because she suddenly hit a cabinet.
"Deana! Are you okay?" said Thomas while approaching his friend.
The young girl got up then smiled at Thomas. "I'm okay. Look! This body of mine is strong; just hitting a cabinet will not make me injured."
Thomas—he is a ten-year-old boy and has telekinesis abilities. We found him six months ago in a village located in the Kingdom of Brittonia. On the other hand, Deana is a nine-year-old girl whom we found in the Kingdom of Weimar three years ago. She has very strong physical abilities; even at her current age, she can lift loads up to 300 kg.
"Thomas, I've told you to practice with small objects first before using large objects, let alone your own friend," I scolded him.
He only bowed gloomily hearing those words of mine.
"Sister! This is not Thomas's fault; I was the one who asked him to use his power on me!" Deana defended Thomas.
I only sighed seeing the behavior of these two. All the children in this orphanage are 'Cursed Children.' They are blessed with abilities that are very rare and powerful, yet very difficult to use.
"Alright, play somewhere else and do not destroy things, understood?"
The two of them only nodded then left the kitchen area. I then lit the fire to heat water so it would be ready to make a soup for the children's dinner later.
It has been a full ten years since I have been in this group.
In the past, I had a younger brother. He was a good boy and my only remaining family after our Father died in a monster attack. When he reached the age of seven, he experienced a high fever. At that time, I was still a teenager and did not know what I should do. In the end, I contacted a Priest from the Temple to help my brother.
After checking his condition, the Priest said that my brother must be immediately taken to the Temple to undergo the proper handling process. However, when I wanted to follow where my brother would be taken, they prevented me. They said the handling process could only be attended by authorized parties. I obeyed the words of that Priest without thinking long; what was in my mind was only the healing of my only remaining family.
After that I waited, but there was no news at all about my brother even though I had gone back and forth asking the Temple. After the fifth day, I became increasingly desperate. Perhaps my brother had died and those Priests did not want to make me sad hearing this bad news. But, I wanted to see him for the last time.
However, when I again asked about the whereabouts of my brother, they again answered with, "The handling process is still being conducted."
I could only return home, alone without anyone to accompany me in chatting.
The next day, my house was suddenly visited by two mysterious men wearing masks. They said they could take me to see my brother again. However, they warned me to be prepared for what I would see later.
That night, those two mysterious people destroyed the Temple of Goddess Diana located in this region then took me to the basement of that temple. I did not believe what I saw down there; there were several children the same age as my brother. They were chained, and many scars were seen all over them.
The two mysterious men said they were testing the emotional stability of children who were strongly suspected of becoming Cursed Children. This aimed to make those children awaken their powers, and only then could the Temple Authority apply punishment to these children because they had tangible evidence.
I saw my brother's body covered in blood and dried tears on his face. It was truly painful knowing my brother was tortured to such an extent, and I was the one who brought him to a horrific place like this.
In the end, of the seven children we found, only two succeeded in surviving. We then brought those two children to the hiding place of these two mysterious men. At that time, I swore in front of my brother's grave to avenge the deeds of the Temple people toward him and the other children; I will fight this injustice and swear not to let similar things happen to other children.
After that incident, I joined 'The Masquerade' group. However, because I do not have talent in fighting or magic, I can only be a 'Sitter'—a caregiver for the children labeled Cursed Children. I do not mind this. I will always be by their side; even if the whole world does not accept these children, I will always be their good, loyal sister and protect them so that an incident the same as my brother's does not happen again.
"Sister! Uncle Steven has returned! He brought Uncle Puppeteer and one other man!"
I heard Deana's voice from outside, then washed both hands to welcome the Tracer and Performers assigned to this area. Entering the living room, I saw a man in his thirties and two men wearing masks.
"Giada, I've brought a new Performer," said Steven.
I then looked toward these two masked men.
"How are you, Sister Giada?" greeted Puppeteer. "Are the children still as annoying as before?"
"Nothing has changed, Puppeteer. They are always making a noise," I answered him.
Puppeteer was the Performer who recruited me back then. He and the previous user of 'The Fool' mask were the ones who destroyed the Temple of Goddess Diana in the region of the Duchy of Hernand and freed several captive Cursed Children.
I then stared at the man with the black mask that covered from his nose to his eyes, which were green in color.
"Greetings, Sister Giada," said that new Performer. "You can call me—Joker; it's a pleasure to meet you."
He offered a handshake; I then reached for it and observed his face and body more carefully. Judging from his physical characteristics, it seems this Performer is still very young... probably around the age of 17-19. If my brother were still alive, now he would surely be the same age as this man.
However, is he capable of carrying out the duties of a Performer at such a very young age? In 'The Masquerade' group, the duty of a Performer is the most difficult because one must deal directly with the Aques of the Goddess Diana Temple authority. Especially if facing the Inquisitors, who on average have abilities equivalent to Veteran Knights.
"Let's talk about the new child we are going to bring here," said Steven. "We must be fast before the temple side finds her whereabouts first before us."
The three of us nodded hearing Steven's words then headed to the guest room. Steven then explained regarding a child who was strongly suspected to be a Cursed Child in a village 40 km from this City.
Last month, he obtained information that this child experienced a high fever for a long time, just like my brother experienced before he was brought to the Temple. However, after the fever did not go down for one month, she suddenly recovered miraculously.
"After recovering from this fever, that child has often injured other children her age," Steven explained. "I think this is not an ordinary coincidence."
"Then, do you know what kind of power this child possesses?" asked Puppeteer.
"I still haven't received any info regarding her power; only uncertain rumors I heard from there," answered Steven, shaking his head.
It is very important to know beforehand the power of a Cursed Child before adopting them and placing that child here. If we are wrong and imprecise when inviting the child here, she could lose trust and will not want to be brought peacefully, like the previous case of Deana, who rebelled to the point that another Performer was injured.
"Alright, we will go there now to see the situation first," said Puppeteer while standing to leave. Joker also then followed him walking out of the orphanage.
I hope everything will go well for both of them and that child.
***
[Raul's POV]
After running for nearly two hours using Acceleration, finally we have arrived at the village where that child is located.
I... am very exhausted...
"Just running 40 km and you're already panting like that," Puppeteer quipped. "How will you survive when fighting enemies in large numbers if your stamina is only like this?"
Easy, I'll just run away and not act like a hero like a protagonist.
I wanted to answer him like that, but it seems it would only prolong the matter.
"Look over there." I pointed toward a group of children who were playing. Currently, we are hiding to analyze the situation around the village.
"Get away from us, you Freak!" exclaimed a boy, pushing a girl until she fell.
"Why? I also want to play with you all! Why are you avoiding me?" asked that girl.
"Aren't you the one who injured Perun's hand until he cried earlier?" said the boy loudly.
All the children there stared at that girl with a look of hatred.
"I don't know what you're talking about; I never intended to hurt anyone!" exclaimed that girl, trying to defend herself.
"We don't care! I don't want my hand burned like Perun's yesterday! Go far away!"
The girl could only bow, walking away from her friends. She then sat on a swing, crying while biting her own lip, holding back the pain of being avoided by friends her age.
— Brak!
Suddenly the swing rope that girl gripped snapped, making her fall to the ground so that the clothes she wore were all dirty. She then ran toward the river while crying loudly.
Beside me, I saw Puppeteer clenching his hand tightly; it seems he often sees these heartbreaking sights.
"Puppeteer, did you see the rope that child gripped earlier?" I asked him.
"Yes... that rope brought out smoke before snapping," he answered softly.
"I think I understand a bit of the power this child possesses," I muttered, as a plan to persuade that child to our orphanage instantly came to mind.
"Hey, Puppeteer," I called to him.
"What is it?"
I smiled at him then said, "Can you put on an art performance drama?"