"Hey! Didn't we agree you and Elysia would take this girl to that orphanage? Why am I stuck with this?!" Kalpas kicked a loose brick, sending it flying through the air and smashing through the wall of a derelict building.
"Whoa... So strong!" Seele gasped, her hands covering her mouth in awe.
Mikael ruffled her hair, apologizing, "Elysia and Hua had to rush to Ilus City last night. There's been some unusual Honkai energy activity."
"Heh! Just the two of them? Why didn't you go yourself?"
"I assessed the energy readings. Elysia is more than capable of handling it. Hua's just tagging along for the experience."
"Tch!" Kalpas looked around for another brick to kick, growing increasingly irritated.
"What about Sakura? Or that Mobius and Vill-V? Aren't they available?"
"They're all busy." Mikael subtly averted his gaze.
"So I'm the only one with nothing to do? What about that... cat?"
"So I'm the only free one! Couldn't you have brought her here yourself?!"
Mikael offered no further explanation, silently leading Seele forward.
Kalpas, calming his breathing, fell two steps behind.
Looking at Mikael's slightly hunched back, he scoffed, "Don't tell me you're... Hmph!" He trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished. Mikael didn't respond, leaving Seele, caught in the middle, to look back and forth between them. Hesitantly, she reached out and took Kalpas's hand.
"?" Kalpas's whole body jolted. He instinctively tried to pull away, but seeing the girl's deep, ocean-like eyes, he simply grunted, feigning reluctance as he let her hold his hand.
Thus, when the orphanage's sole nun finished her morning prayer, she seemed to sense their arrival. Slowly opening her eyes, she looked up to see two men and a girl standing outside the iron gate.
Her vacant gaze swept over the masked, agitated man, who instantly stiffened, releasing the girl's hand and taking a half-step back.
Her gaze then shifted to the short-haired girl, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
Finally, she looked towards Mikael. The moment their gazes met, she recoiled as if she'd seen something terrifying, stumbling backward.
Kalpas, unable to contain himself any longer, kicked the iron gate.
"Uh... Sorry about that. We'll fix the gate before we leave."
Mikael and Kalpas stood before Aponia, each holding a half of the broken gate. Seeing her open her mouth, Mikael quickly apologized.
"Ah... Actually, the gate was already old and in disrepair. It's not entirely your fault. But since you've sincerely repented, the Lord will naturally forgive..."
Before she could finish, Kalpas tossed the gate onto the ground with a clang.
A chorus of gasps came from behind Aponia. Mikael glanced over to see a group of pale, frail children peering cautiously through the orphanage windows.
Seeing Mikael look their way, they quickly ducked out of sight.
"Sigh... Sir, if you're dissatisfied with me, there's no need to take it out on the innocent gate. The gate did nothing wrong, yet it has to bear the consequences of my unintentional mistake and suffer your rough treatment. How am I supposed to feel about that? Though the gate is inanimate, if it..."
"Ugh... Ugh... Aponia!" Mikael facepalmed, pulling Kalpas back with Seele's help as the latter's rage boiled over.
"Ah... Sir, how did you know my name... Oh, I see..." Aponia muttered to herself, leaving both Kalpas and Mikael bewildered.
What do you see, Aponia?!
But she didn't dwell on them. Instead, she turned to Seele, her expression full of pity. "Miss, are you here looking for the orphanage that used to be here?"
"Ah! Yes! Wait, is this place no longer..."
"I'm sorry. This is now... a sanatorium for orphans."
"...Have the previous院长 (director) and nuns all left?" Seele asked cautiously. She didn't quite understand the difference between an "orphanage" and a "sanatorium for orphans," but she sensed a distinct change.
The old orphanage, despite its hardships, had been filled with laughter... No, there was still laughter here.
But the old orphanage had held a glimmer of hope, un place...
Even bathed in the bright morning sun, a chilling air permeated the sanatorium, making her hands and feet ache.
The entire sanatorium, like the nun before her, was elegant, serene... but also too quiet. A quiet that bordered on sorrow, a quiet that...
If it vanished in the next instant, no one would notice.
"The previous director and nuns..." Aponia's voice was as soft as a whisper. "They have indeed left."
"Then... what about the children who were here before?"
Aponia shook her head. "They... have also... gone."
Seele might not have understood the implications of "left" and "gone," but Mikael's hand tightened around hers, making her realize their fates might not have been as peaceful as the nun implied.
"Anyway, since we're here... Can we see the children? It's... Seele's wish."
Seele lowered her head, holding onto Mikael's arm as if he were her only support—no, she didn't need him specifically. She just needed something to hold onto.
But Mikael reacted violently, pulling his arm away and stepping back, clutching his chest as if in pain.
But only for a moment. Mikael returned to her side. As Aponia watched, he crouched down, ruffled Seele's hair, and forced a smile. "Sorry, Seele. I... overreacted. Anyway, let's go see the children, see them in the place where you once lived... It's like revisiting the past."
His gaze darted around, avoiding eye contact. Seeing Seele nod, he quickly looked away.
His behavior was so strange that even Kalpas noticed. "Hey! What's wrong with you? Are you losing it?" he asked, taking advantage of Aponia leading Seele inside.
Mikael shook his head, indicating he was fine.
If you know you're destined to kill someone, getting close to them is unwise.
But... how can I abandon this poor child...
Besides, it's just the Sixth Herrscher, right?
Looking at Seele's back, it was as if he was seeing more than just one person.
There was Himeko... and even Elysia... and this era...
Hearing Seele's gasp, Mikael activated his spatial powers before Kalpas could react, appearing by her side.
His question was answered by the silence.
The children smiled, genuinely smiled, welcoming the strangers who had come to visit.
But those smiles seemed strained on their pale faces.
At least, they were only pale.
Both Mikael and Seele understood.
Such unnatural pallor often meant...
The purple marks that could appear at any moment.
"Can I make a phone call? I know two doctors. They treated my family... I just ran away. I don't know how they're doing... I want them to examine the children here, okay?"
"Even if they're doctors, they might not dare come to Dusk Street... Fine, it's better than having Mobius examine them."
Mikael handed Seele his phone.
"Hello... I'm sorry. Seele knows she was wrong... Dr. Fal, Dr. Su... Can you... come to Dusk Street? There's a sanatorium here. There are many sick children..."