An hour later, in the dining room area,
“Alexa, what do you usually do when you are free?” A young girl with short, black hair asked the Chosen One. Meanwhile, Adaline, Sam, and Aiden were also watching the conversation between the two girls.
The first daughter of the couple, Tristian Varden Writh and Lavena Isolda Keira, had not answered yet because it was getting awkward when she realized two guys were listening in on her conversation with her two female friends. However, Alexa continued to try to behave naturally, even though she felt the opposite inside.
“My activities in my free time are mostly reading books in the library or being alone in my room,” Alexa answered honestly. So the other four teenagers at the same table, as soon as possible, remembered that the other children at the orphanage ostracized the girl, so she did not have any friends.
“Have you ever tried to say hello to the children here? I am sorry if you feel bad about this question. You do not have to answer it.” Adaline asked a new question, and she had already forgotten her intention to pry information from Alexa about how close she was to Aiden. That hazel-eyed girl’s memory immediately recalled the many rejections she had experienced while trying to make friends with the other children at the orphanage.
“Yes, I did it many times. If I tried to say hello, then some children pretended not to hear, some people deliberately went away, and not a few of them insulted and labeled as witches. Since then, I have been afraid to ask out or befriend the children in this orphanage because I have gotten so many negative reactions.” The wallflower girl replied to Adaline with a sad smile. Alexa tried to erase all the bad memories, but it was not that easy. That pretty girl picked up her glass of water and drank the contents slowly to calm her heart.
“You do not have to worry about those who hate you for no reason. You have us.” A young lady who had a height of one hundred and sixty-five centimeters tall tried to comfort her new friend, and Alexa, who had just finished the remaining water, put the glass back on the table, then turned to the girl who had tried to make her not to be sad anymore.
“Thank you, Aileen. Yes, you are absolutely right. I already have four good friends, and I am very happy.” The tall, slender girl spoke to Aileen, then looked at the faces of her three friends one by one. She did have a happy look on her face, but inside, it might have been the opposite.
When he saw the opposite sex’s response, the gray-haired young man was even more convinced that he and Alexa had something in common despite their different parents.
If what I have read about Zlatav’s history in the past is true, then maybe I am also one of the witches. But how could that be? A strange woman who had met me in the dream also said so. If I was her people, my place did not belong here. If someday that ancient prophecy is fulfilled, I must help her for sure, thought Aiden, who was still watching the conversation of the three young girls.
Just as the lanky young man was about to say something, a bell was suddenly rung several times. All the children suddenly fell silent, and one by one, they got up from their seats and carried their dirty plates, spoons, and glasses to the front, to the right corner of the place where they got their food and drinks. Samuel, Alexa, Aiden, Aileen, and Adaline also did the same, but the five teenagers did not get up from their seats yet, as they saw that the line was quite long.
“It is better if we wait until there is less of a line. I do not want to stand too long. Besides, our seats are closer to it, so why wait any longer?” Samuel said to his friends, and they all just nodded in response.
“Yeah, I agree. I would rather sit for a long time than stand and wait my turn.” A girl who rarely smiled confirmed her male friend’s words, as she was too lazy to stand in line for a long time, making her legs sore and achy. Alexa and Adaline just watched the line of people grow longer, and they were grateful that they did not have to do it immediately.
Thirty minutes later, the queue had dwindled considerably, but some of the children who had been sitting at the back of the table and were reluctant to queue because of the crowds had now come to the front, and Samuel was yawning because it was break time. Aiden, Alexa, Aileen, and Adaline were not yet sleepy, as they were still watching the people who had lined up in an orderly manner while carrying dirty plates, spoons, and glasses that had been used before.
“Alexa, if you are not doing homework or in your free time, instead of staying in your room, why don’t you come to the front yard? The four of us usually hang out there.” Suddenly, Aiden started the conversation, and not only the name’s owner turned to him, but also the other three friends. They were all dumbfounded that the young man could say such a sentence.
“Why, did I say something wrong?” asked the gray-eyed man, looking intently at his five friends.
“No. You did not say anything wrong, but it was unusual for you to say that,” Samuel replied honestly. The red-haired youth still could not believe what he had heard, while the three young women looked at each other as if what Aiden had said was really odd. Meanwhile, a guy who had a small pentacle-shaped birthmark in the center of his back could only roll his eyes.
“It was like you just knew me, Sam! Look! The line is about to end. We all need to go to the front so we can hand in all the dirty plates, spoons, and glasses right away so we do not get scolded by Madame Olslon.” The one hundred and seventy-five-centimeter tall young man reminded, pointing towards the front. It turned out to be true what the handsome boy had said, that only five people were left, so they all rose to their feet while carrying the objects Aiden had mentioned.
Alexa and her friends did not take much longer to come forward. One by one, they put down the items they had brought and separated them according to type, just like the other orphanage children had done. When they were done with this, the five teenagers walked together, and the dining room area became very quiet, and it seemed that it would soon be closed for everyone.
After exiting the dining room, they walked toward their rooms as soon as possible. Samuel and Aiden deliberately walked at the front as if protecting the girls, while Alexa, Aileen, and Adaline walked behind. The atmosphere around the five teenagers was quiet because it was already late, although it was not yet midnight. When they had walked about a hundred meters, there was a turn to the left and right, where a piece of wood board showed the direction and said: Left: Boys’ Dormitory and Right: Girls’ Dormitory.
Samuel and Aiden looked back, and then they saw the faces of the three teenage girls who had been walking with them. “We are leaving first. Take care of yourselves,” said the handsome young man seriously.
“Thank you, Sam and Aiden. See you tomorrow.” Adaline replied, smiling sweetly.
When the two young guys turned to the left, the three girls waved at them. Sam and Aiden only waved back once, then concentrated on their destination. Meanwhile, Alexa, Aileen, and Adaline walked to the right.
The silence returned, and only the steps of Aileen, Alexa, and Adaline could be heard. However, this didn’t faze them, as they were used to it. Moments later, they arrived at the girls’ dormitory. A pair of twin sisters turned their attention to the first daughter of the couple, Tristian Varden Writh and Lavena Isolda Keira.
“We live on the second floor. Where are you living?” asked a girl with long, black hair.
“I live on the fourth floor,” Alexa replied, smiling. The young lady was not used to such actions, so her smile seemed stiff.
“Wow. That is a lot of room, Alexa. Were you given a roommate like us?” Aileen joined in the questioning, as she was both intrigued and curious as to the room of the girl who was often the object of bullying at the orphanage they shared.
“Yeah. I live alone and have no roommate.” Alexa answered Aileen’s question, which surprised the other person wide-eyed.
“What? No roommate? If one room can accommodate three people, then I am willing to propose to The Principal that you stay with us. Well, our room is not big, but at least you are not alone and lonely.” Aileen looked at her twin sister as if she was asking for her support. Adaline immediately nodded as she recognized the code of the interlocutor who had been with her since their childhood.
“Thank you, Ai and Line. As for me changing rooms, I do not know about that. Perhaps you can ask Madame Aufrodine directly because, as far as I know, the children in the orphanage are not allowed to change rooms unless they have special permission from her or from Madame Loiston.” The girl, who had a height of one hundred and seventy centimeters tall, explained to the two twins so they would not misunderstand.
“Okay, if you said so. Perhaps we will try to ask Madame Aufrodine or Madame Loiston directly.”
The happiness in the virgin’s heart grew even more because Aileen and Adaline were very welcome with her, and they were so friendly. Feelings of emotion also filled Alexa’s mind, so the messenger of Goddess Magia was grateful that she was finally given friends, not just one person, but four friends at once. “Thank you. Ai and Line.”
***