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.

at the

nowhere. He recalled what Rael had told him when describing how he found

created and run by a woman who was once a trafficked orphan, determined to offer a loving home to orphans that she had

much about it since, at the time, he had yet to process the many even more shocking revelations

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 looked like real orphanages and lure children into them with food, shelter,

wouldn't be a week before that child was never

Union, had worked together to systematically suppress this sector, although

Lashara winced

sorry, that was an insensitive question," Rui apologetically

"…It's not you, baby. It's just…I don't like

fruits even harder. "I haven't

was putting

that I found my calling, that I grew determined to create a truly loving orphanage," She remarked. "Determined to give to others what I thought

turned to Rui with a glint of affection in her eyes. "And it was the best decision of my life. That is why I do not resent my childhood if those experiences were necessary

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

found himself saying. "Thank you for creating this

for a moment as Lashara met his gaze

at her words. "…You know, you're the only person who didn't ask me

"Thank you. Thank you for that. Thank you for

to build up the courage needed to

"…Thanks," Rui smiled, resigned.

reminded about why he loved his

the way people treated and talked to him changed, she would make him feel warm and

something that grew increasingly

him ordinarily without letting his status get in the way. Of course, while the orphanage still loved and adored him, many of the caretakers could not hide their new awe and