The Martial Unity

"Mom," Rui glanced at his mother.

"Yes, baby?"

An unusual silence had permeated through the Quarrier Orphanage. The caretakers had the opportunity to take the children for a small outing in the nearby woods for half a day of fun while the season of spring lasted.

While the forest in the vicinity wasn't entirely safe, Max and Mana had accompanied them as bodyguards, so Rui wasn't particularly worried.

While managing and playing with the kids could be fun, he passed on the little trip.

"…What are you making?" Rui asked, glancing at her work.

"Fruit juice," Lashara smiled. "They'll be tired when they come back. Some good fruit juice will make them feel better. Mayra has planned for some yummy meals today, so look forward to it."

"Hm…"

Lashara glanced at him. "And what is my baby doing?"

"…Just thinking," Rui replied, glancing at the wall before him before turning back to Lashara. "Say, mom…could I ask you about something?"

"Of course," Lashara nodded as she squeezed the juice from an orange.

"…What was your childhood like?" Rui asked.

The silence grew more pointed.

prickled at

Rael had told him when describing how he

was once a trafficked orphan, determined to offer a loving home to orphans

he had yet to process the many even more shocking revelations that his father had revealed to him. But as

he had an idea of what had happened. The Mantian Region once had a rather extensive child trafficking ring across Kandria. They would set up fake orphanages that

before that child was never

suppress this sector, although it was impossible to eliminate it entirely. It wasn't

winced at

an insensitive question," Rui

not you, baby. It's just…I

harder. "I haven't had the

was putting

to create a truly loving orphanage,"

decision of my life. That is why I do not resent

the graciousness in her words as she returned to squeezing fruit with greater

found himself saying. "Thank you for creating

quiet for a moment as Lashara met his gaze with an affectionate smile. "Thank you for

know, you're the only

"Thank you. Thank

as she returned to squeezing fruits. "Everybody needs space and time. To think, to decide, to build up the courage needed to

"…Thanks," Rui smiled, resigned.

about why he loved

kept growing crazier, while the way people treated and talked to him changed, she would make him feel warm and fuzzy inside with just a simple conversation. No matter

grew increasingly precious to him as

way. Of course, while the orphanage still loved and adored him, many of the caretakers could not hide their new awe and amazement