4 Hunters orphanage (1/2)
Chiyo gazed upon the large courtyard in front of him, inside was a huge, tumbledown and timbered building. In front of the structure was a bare lawn on which a dozen children were running around playing tag. A smaller group was hustling about the three swings along the boundary walls to the left of the gate. Gazing at the dilapidated house and its tainted window panes, Chiyo felt it was about to crash down anytime.
”Do you like it here?”, Weiss inquired.
Chiyo looked up to him wondering if he made a mistake following the handsome uncle, the place he brought him to looked shady at best. But as he recalled the beautiful archery and tasty venison he began reconsidering his judgement, finally he decided that he would stay in this place as long as he got to eat tasty food while waiting for his father to come pick him up. Looking at Chiyo's pondering serious face brought confusion to Weiss, he couldn't understand what the little brat was thinking about.
By this time they had attracted the attention of the kids running about. The little ones crowded around Weiss looking at Chiyo curiously and started clamouring among themselves. Weiss heard them laughing and snickering while discussion things along the lines of, ”Look at that shameless boy, he's showing his pee-pee.”
”Eww so dirty, he must be playing in the dust. Let old woman Camilla find him, he'll surely get spanked.”
”What's his name? I never saw him before.”
Chiyo looked at the children who were pointing at him and causing a din. Though he understood nothing from their discussion, the jeering and mocking faces gave him a good idea that he was their topic of discussion and it was nothing good. He felt embarrassed and hurried to cover his little brother and bottom with his hands. But the laughing increased following his act to cover up, realising that his hands were not sufficient protection he proceeded to hide behind Weiss.
One of the young girls in the group who was rather bold and assumed a leading position, walked up to Weiss, glancing at Chiyo she asked, ”Big brother Weiss, who is this dirty fellow following you? He's not even wearing clothes, shall I call Camilla and get him punished? He must be bothering you.”
”Hehe little Aria leave this fellow alone, why don't you help me call sister Sandra?”
”Ok, let me call sister Sandra for you.”, saying this much the little boss ran inside the building shouting for nurse Sandra. The other little fellows followed her inside leaving only a bunch of older fellows who were occupying the swings. But they did not dare come up in front of Weiss even though they wanted to tease the naked fellow.
Motioning for Chiyo to follow him, Weiss crossed the lawn and walked inside the building. Chiyo glanced at the kids ogling him from the swings before he hurried to follow inside. He sensed danger from the glare shot at him by the big fellows.
As Weiss walked inside he came upon an old lady walking out from one of the rooms, looking at him she gave bright smile and said, ”Your lordship Weiss, I thought you went hunting with the bunch of ruffians did you leave early?”
”Camilla, forgo with the formalities. I return early because I met a lost child in the forest, please help me clean him up a bit lest he catches some disease.”
Looking at the hurrying Chiyo the lady exclaimed, ”Oh my! Why was such a little brat roaming in the forest? He's lucky to have met you and survived, lord. But this fellow is as dirty as a wild mutt, come here let me give you a thorough wash before you spread dirt all over my floors.”
”He is unable to speak Kapro,” Weiss explained.
Camilla frowned upon hearing that, ”A foreigner? This will be difficult.”
She walked up to Chiyo and reached for his hand.
Looking at her frown Chiyo was scared, he hurried back towards Weiss and escaped Camilla's hold. Seeing his act Camilla's frown deepened, she found disobedient kids the most irritating part of her life.
Upon seeing Chiyo's reaction Weiss patted his head, gave him a reassuring smile and told him, ”Go along little fellow, she will get you cleaned and bring you back to me.”
Chiyo didn't know what Weiss was saying but he understood what he meant with his wide smile. So he looked at Camilla and held his hand up to her, looking at his performance Camilla was pleased and her expression eased into a delightful smile.
”Good, even without understanding words he knows what to do. What an intelligent and obedient child.” Camilla praised Chiyo then held his hands to bring him to the bathhouse.
Weiss followed them with his gaze and gave a smile when Chiyo glanced back at him while being dragged along by the strong old woman. A young and vibrant lady walked out from one of the doors on the opposite side and glanced at the retreating figure of old and young. Turning towards Weiss she gave a polite smile, ”Mr Weiss, did you call for me?”
”Ah! Sandra, you look as beautiful as ever, looking at you refreshes me like I just drank a Spirit upgrade potion. How I wish..”
With a constant polite smile on her face, the young lady was not flustered by the fancy praise and calmly interrupted Weiss. ”Mr Weiss if you are looking for Paul, he is upstairs in his office.”
”Did he not go to Edgehedge today?”
”No, he probably has to deal with some things today so he cancelled his trip to Edgehedge town.”
”That works fine for me, I have somethings to discuss with him and you. Let us go upstairs and I'll tell you all the details of how I saved that little fellow from a couple of drakes in the forest.”
”Ok let us go up, I'm sure your act was very heroic and exciting.”
As the two of them reached the stairs which stood right in front of the entrance, Weiss politely gestured to the lady saying, ”Ladies first.”
As they began ascending, Aria and the kids walking out of the kitchen each with a slice of bread in hand could hear Weiss's fading voice, ”Haha it was a tough situation, let me tell you these were the biggest drakes I have ever seen in Elder forest. But I was not scared at all, first I nocked an arrow...”
Aria had a worshipping look on her face as she gazed towards the stairs and said, ”Big brother Weiss is really strong, he can hunt drakes and rock bears. Even old woman Camilla is respectful when speaking to him.”
One of the girls following along responded matter-of-factly, ”Of course, Camilla is so scary that even wyverns will surely run away. Big brother Weiss is super strong and that's why Camilla is scared of him.”
All the kids ran outside to continue their game after vowing to grow as strong as Weiss and scaring Camilla.
....
Sandra walked up to a classic looking Ape-wood door and knocked on it.