The town of Hillion was on the smaller end compared to its neighboring towns, but it wasn’t without its own specialties. It was peaceful, far away from any of the madness that plagued major cities, and the people that lived here were almost entirely self-sufficient. Beautiful farms encompassed the landscape, creating a picturesque scene throughout the entirety of Hillion.

  Laying on the outskirts of town, just inside its stone walls, was the town's only orphanage. It was a quaint wooden building with a large grassy field around it. Like the rest of Hillion, it was peaceful— unless you needed some silence. The sound of joyful screaming and laughter clouded the air with noise almost all seconds of the day, but that was expected of a place dealing with lots of children.

  It was edging closer to night time as the sky began to be coloured a warm purple and orange from the setting sun, which meant it was supper time for most of the town. Inside the orphanage, the kids were getting ready for their food, hungry from a long day of play and learning. The older kids split jobs amongst each other, some would wrangle up the younger ones who couldn't seem to sit still, while the others helped Mrs.Funkell prepare their food.

  Mrs.Funkell was the owner and caretaker of the Hillion orphanage, and had taken over it after her mother passed it on to her, something she was planning to do with her own daughter. She was in her mid thirties, but had the sternness of an older woman and the warmth one needed when living with a cohort of crazed children needing both affection and discipline in equal parts.

  Eventually, the gremlins (children) were all seated and ready to drown in the pleasure of freshly cooked food. Their mouths were practically hanging open in hunger. The smell of the food drifting from the kitchen enchanted them, putting them in an odd state of silence that only ever occurred during this brief period of time each day.

  It didn't take long for Mrs.Funkell and her helpers to come out of the kitchen with large platters of food that they hurriedly placed on the table. That's when the floodgates opened and a war only the fittest to fight broke out. Tiny hands shot out with speeds beyond human comprehension, snatching up whatever food they could claim before anyone else. Yelling, slapping, and anything else they could get away with without Mrs.Funkell getting mad at them was fair game.

  “Alrighty calm down, there's plenty of food! Jeremy, don't put back food you've touched, that's bad manners, you gotta finish it all— don't give me that look, your stomach was bigger than your head young man. Sima, I know you like biscuits, but you can't stuff them in your pockets for later, how many times do I have to tell you!”

  Isabelle, Mrs.Funkell’s daughter, came out of the kitchen after a few minutes with a single plate of food in her arms. She and her mother locked eyes then nodded to one another.

  “You kids enjoy your meals, I'll be right back— and for my sake Liran, take your time. We don't need another stomach ache this week okay?” Waiting until she got a response from the boy, she left the dining room following after her daughter with her own plate of food in hand.

  The two briskly walked through the halls of the orphanage until they reached a closed door at the far back of the building. Mrs.Funkell grabbed a silver amulet with a gleaming yellow gemstone resting in the center that was hanging off a metal hook just next to the door. She then had her daughter open the door as she brought in both plates of food.

  A four year old girl was crouched on the floor playing with wood blocks, while various other toys were strewn about haphazardly around her, filling up the majority of the floor. When the girl heard the door open behind her, her attention snapped to Mrs.Funkell who had just come into the room, and she rushed over to her with a smile.

  “Oof, you're getting bigger everyday aren't you!” Mrs.Funkell said to Kira as the little girl crashed into her with a hug.

  “Momma!” The girl happily called out. When she smelt the food in front of her, her eyes opened and she ran to the little circular table that rested in the center of the room, waiting in anticipation. Once Mrs.Funkell put down the food, the two started to eat together.

  “So how was your day?” Mrs.Funkell asked Kira.

  “Mmmmmm… boring. When can I play with everybody else?”

  Mrs.Funkell had to stop herself from frowning. “I… I've already told you, once you're older, I can hire a wizard to help train you so that you can control your magic. For now you can play with me and Isabelle. Are we not fun to play with?”

  “No!” Kira shouted in disagreement, “You are fun to play with…” She opened her mouth to say something else, but closed it at the last second and continued eating.

  Mrs.Funkell sighed internally. She really wanted Kira to live, play, and get into trouble with the other kids, it was just too dangerous with her magic since it could go out of control at any point. She was lucky enough that the mayor was a splendid man and somehow managed to get her a magically enchanted protective amulet, but that still only meant one person could be around her at a time and be safe.

  A sudden loud knocking sounded throughout the orphanage, pausing Mrs.Funklell in her thoughts of Kira’s potential future. It seemed someone was at the door. Though she was a little perplexed, there weren't any deliveries expected today. Did one of the kids cause trouble when they went into town? Or was it the mayor checking up on them again?

  There was only one way to find out.

  “I'll be right back sweetie, someone's at the door.” She got a nod from Kira in response and left towards the front entrance. As she passed her daughter who was still standing just outside the room, she handed her the protective amulet and told her to keep Kira company while she answered the door.

  Strutting through the halls, she reached the front door and opened it to be met by an old man three heads taller than herself. He wore loose black robes that just skit an inch over the ground and he had a droopy pointy hat atop his head that pressed against the overhang outside the entrance. His beard and hair were both a glossy white and hung as low as his belly button.

  “May I help you sir?” Mrs.Funkell spoke first, wondering who this man was and what he was here for. “This is an orphanage if you weren’t aware.”

  The old man reached into his robes and pulled out a white crystalline stick that had pink mist swirling around inside it, blatantly showcasing its magical properties for her to see.

  “Oh my! Sir wizard.” Her eyes almost popped out of her head and she hurriedly bowed to him, recognizing the badge he held.

  “You can call me Rynus, and there's no need to bow to me… though I’d appreciate a warm cup of tea and maybe a place to sit down and talk if you don't mind my intrusion.” He smiled, or at least Mrs.Funkell believed it was a smile. It was hard to tell when his face was covered in hair.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  His friendliness was something she didn't expect from a wizard. There were always rumors floating around that didn't paint some of them in the greatest light, but as she taught her children, just cause you hear something, doesn't mean it was true. She inspected the man, using her decades of training to determine his intentions here, then her eyes shot open as she saw something she’d only ever heard stories about. There, coiling around inside Rynus’ chest was an orange glow.

  “It can't be… Do my eyes deceive me?”

  “Hmm?” Rynus rubbed his beard wondering what this woman was talking about, until it clicked. “Ah, you can see it, can’t you? I thought it was a myth that a true mother couldn’t see it long ago, but I found out I was quite wrong.”

  She nodded, then took a step back and motioned for him to come in. “I also thought it was hogwash the Wondrous Society spewed out to make themselves seem more…wondrous in a sense, b-but I can see it… almost feel it– wait if you're here, that means you've come for one of my children?”

  “That's correct.” Rynus nodded.

  “Wow, this… this is truly wonderful!” Mrs.Funkell smiled with glee, her eyes continued to focus on Rynus, staring at the orange spark that rested in the wizard's chest and thrummed like a heartbeat would.

  “I still can't believe I can actually see the thread of a sacred calling.” She said with fascination, before shaking her head and saying, “Now then, where's my manners, come on in, I'll brew you a cup of tea.”

  Rynus chuckled and walked into the orphanage as Mrs.Funkell stepped aside to let him through. She led him back to her office, but before they could get there, she noticed Rynus had branched off on his own in a trance-like state and wandered towards Kira’s room.

  Mrs.Funkell rushed over, but he was quicker than her and threw open the door to Kira’s room and stepped in. He was following the connection that vibrated inside of him, telling him where to go.

  “Ah, you're not allowed in here without an amulet!” Isabelle yelled out seeing some random man walk into the room, but seeing her mom come rushing in right behind him made her pause. The two locked eyes and seeing the look coming from her mom, she stopped freaking out and started to watch what this man was doing here.

  Rynus slowly walked over to Kira and stopped in front of her, then crouched down to her eye level. The two stared at each other for what seemed like eternity, before Rynus spoke out, “You must be Kira.”

  “You know my name?” She squeaked a reply, tilting her head to the side in confusion.

  “I do, because of this.” Rynus poked his chest with a smile. “Can’t you feel it too?”

  Kira furrowed her eyebrows wondering what he was talking about, but her expression changed quickly and she hummed a response. She closed her eyes and said, “It’s… warm.”

  Getting off of the chair, she came right up to Rynus with her arms raised and yelled with a grin, “Upsies!”

  Rynus didn’t hesitate to grab her in his arms, making sure she was firmly and comfortably held, before he stood back up. Kira rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes, almost purring in satisfaction. After about ten seconds, Kira was already snoozing on his shoulder with a smile.

  “How beautiful! My little Kira.” Mrs.Funkell shed a tear watching Kira look so happy, knowing her life was going to be alright now.

  “Ma your crying!” Her daughter whisper-yelled. “What’s happening?!”

  “You’ve just witnessed a once in a lifetime event, I'll explain later.” The mother replied while wiping a tear away from her face. With a strut, she walked right up to Rynus and cleared away any tears still remaining before she put on her bravest face.

  “So what now Sir Rynus?”

  “I was about to ask you the same thing.” He answered back.

  “Huh?” She lost her composed face almost immediately. “She’s to be your apprentice right? Why ask me?”

  “Is she not your daughter?”

  “I mean… biologically no—“

  “Is she not your daughter?”

  Mrs.Funkell took a deep breath in and nodded. “That’s right, she’s my daughter! Now what plans do you have for her?”

  “I would like to ask you for permission if I could bring her to my home to properly train her in the art of magic, but I’d rather not separate her from her family if possible.” Rynus explained.

  Mrs.Funkell giggled, prompting Rynus to ask her why she was laughing. “I thought all wizards were arrogant, even though you appeared nice, I was expecting you to just barge right out of here with Kira in tow. Look at me making assumptions, I'm so silly.”

  Rynus nodded with a look of understanding. “I can’t blame you, too many wizards are beyond prideful. I’m lucky I have a good master to teach me otherwise.”

  “Mm, then you have my permission to take her home.” Mrs.Funkell tried her best to hold back the flood gates, but seeing the tension leave Rynus after saying that, her tears started to flow once more.

  “What about her friends? I don’t want to take them away from her?”

  “Ah…” She sighed. “Luckily for you— or unfortunately for her— due to her being an illborn, it's too dangerous for her to be around the other children lest her magic flare up. With this amulet, at least one person can be with her, but that’s mainly just me and my daughter Isabelle here.”

  “Ah, an illborn you say, ah yes, I see the mark of thorn right here. What a coincidence.” Rynus tugged on the collar of Kira’s shirt to see black thorn markings wrapped around her neck like a tattoo. “I forget how the non-magic view the children of thorn, or illborn’s as you call them. It's unfortunate, though it makes sense. Their magic outbursts can be fatal for many.”

  “How did you— ah the protective amulet I see, you must have had an interesting time raising her. Did you not think to bring her to a magical orphanage instead? They would have been able to raise her properly there.” Rynus asked.

  Mrs.Funkell sighed, “The mayor did recommend I do exactly that, but… I had been raising children my entire life, I thought myself capable. It was fine at first, a little challenging, but by the time I realized the mayor was right and she would have lived a more freeing life elsewhere, I had already grown to love her too much. She’s my child.”

  “Am I a bad person because of that?” Mrs.Funkell asked, not really too Rynus, but more so to herself.

  “Of course not, maybe Kira would have had a more freeing life in an academy, but she wouldn't have a mother and sister that love her like you two do.” Rynus comforted her, which brought back the tears from Mrs.Funkell’s eyes.

  After a few seconds of silence “Then… there isn’t any issue if I take her away?” Rynus asked once more.

  “None— but you can’t forget to occasionally visit!” She put her foot down on that point. She had raised Kira since she had gotten her as a new babe, and she didn’t want to simply give her away for good. Kira was her daughter after all.

  “You have yourself a deal. I’ll come at least once a year then.” Rynus proclaimed and shook Mrs.Funkell’s hand, solidifying the deal as best you could without magic.

  Mrs.Funkell gently petted Kira’s hair with an endearing smile, kissed her on the cheek, then stepped back. “Take good care of her will you?”

  “You don't want to wait for her to wake up and say goodbye to her yourself?”

  “I’m afraid I’d become even more of a crying mess then I am— plus I have a dozen other kids waiting for dessert, I think I’m fine with waiting to see her next year.”

  “What about yourself?” Rynus asked Isabelle, still standing just next to her mother.

  Isabelle dashed over to him, pecked Kira on the cheek like her mother, then ran out of the room, towards the dining room.

  “She’s a little shy, that one.” Mrs.Funkell explained with a grin, rubbing her watery eyes.

  A silence hung over the room for just a brief moment, and Rynus took that as the signal for him to go. With one last farewell, he left the orphanage with Kira in his arms, heading back to his home, now a home for the both of them now.

  ***

  Rynus weaved his way through the nightly streets, all the while carefully holding the fast asleep Kira in his arms. He looked at her and felt the connection in his soul continue to settle further as they had been together for a few minutes now.

  Fate had finally brought him his apprentice. Just like his master had done with him, he was to raise her like his own child, all the while training her to be a wizard. He was overjoyed now that he was able to finally take a step towards being a master wizard, something long overdue.

  “Let’s go home shall we?” He gently cooed and poked her nose lightly.

  He stopped walking when he arrived at a dilapidated looking stone building with cracks covering its walls, and a tattered shingled roof. He walked down a dark staircase leading to the entrance below, and calmly pushed the door open. What lay past the entrance was quite the opposite of the exterior. It was a small room plastered with red patterned wallpaper that had a single polished wood desk at the back. Sitting behind the desk was a gentleman wearing a sleek maroon suit with a monocle wedged between one of his eyes.

  “Good evening, how can I help you?” The man spoke in a raspy voice, licking his finger to turn a page from a book over.

  “A gateway to the capital Orshon, if you would.” Rynus showed the man his wizard's badge, the crystalline stick, and was quickly waved to the side room after paying a small fee.

  The side room was barren with the only thing of note being a circular etchings that lined the back wall. Rynus sent a pulse of magic into the back wall, causing the etchings to light up with a dim white light, opening a gateway. The wall inside the etchings disappeared and was replaced by a view of the other side of the gateway, a similar looking room as this one.

  Without pause, Rynus walked through, taking him and his new apprentice through to his home city, the capital city of the great kingdom of Relia, Orshon.