14 Chapter 3: Bluebird Orphanage (1/2)

Magnus woke up bright and early today; his body was sore and itchy as it always was from sleeping on a haystack which acted as a bed. But Magnus did not let himself get bothered by that. Today is the day he has to go back to his old home.

Magnus went about his daily morning ritual, where he washed up, brushed his teeth, and cleaned up his only pair of clothes the best he could. Then he broke a third of a loaf off, added a hint of sugar to shake things up, and headed out. Magnus also made sure to bring his peace offering, which was all the food he bought yesterday.

The morning crowd where few in number since the two suns, Vrox and Avax did not even break through the sky yet, so Magnus was able to make his way through the streets unmolested. Finally and yet very quickly in Magnus's view, who was secretly dragging his feet since he was dreading the meeting that would come up-- Magnus stepped right up to a small, quaint building.

The place was made out of grey brick stones with dull red colored roofing, and sticking right out of the middle of the roof was a sort of attic. The place was a bit over two stories tall; from the outside, it looked like a big mash-up with chimneys sticking out of everywhere--and mats, sheets, and ropes holding everything together. Connected to the building by stone ramp was a side tower, three stores tall and covered in vines and weeds.

Written in bold letters in common tongue was the place's name--Bluebird Orphanage. Magnus stopped staring at the orphanage building and firmed himself to walk right up to the front entrance, as he did that he came into view of the front garden which had occupancies inside of it, who immediately recognized him.

”Look, Edgar is back!” one small child cried out as he pointed at Magnus with his muddy finger.

At the young child's shout, the only adult in the area turned to face where the child was pointing at and gasped once she saw Magnus. Immediately the plump and rounded middle-aged woman dropped whatever she was doing and ran over to Magnus.

Once she was in reach of Magnus, she cupped his face into her hands, totally forgetting the dirt that stained her fingers and scrutinizing Magnus all over. After she had a good long look at him and saw that nothing was wrong, she let go of Magnus's face and started to pepper him with questions.

”Oh, Edgar-- I mean Magnus. That is what you are going with now, right? Well, never mind that, where were you this whole week? What were you doing? You didn't get into trouble, right? Were you eating all right? Did you remember to wash? Did you...”

And the question when on and on, Manus could see that the woman was distraught, her chestnut-colored eyes were watery with unkempt tears, and her fair skin with an olive undertone, which was found in all mountain folk, was marred with worry.

Magnus who was feeling very guilty for all the worry and sleepless nights that he caused the woman. Sh looked tried but tried to ease her anxiety by putting on a bright, happy smile and saying, ”Mother Selin, I am perfectly alright and I swear I have been taking care of myself, also I brought some goods for the place.”

At Magnus's reassurance and show of food, Mother Selin started to calm down and cease with her endless tirade of questions. However, there was one thing that Mother Selin was still curious about, ”Magnus, what have you been up to, and why did you have to leave?”

Magnus faltered at that questions from Mother Selin, before he could reply somebody cut in, ”I will tell you what he was up to, he ran off! Isn't that right, boy, huh? Now he has come back when he saw that there was nothing out there for him.”

The two of them, Mother Selin and Magnus, both turned to face where the raucous voice came from, and there standing on a gnarled old crane was an elderly woman. She was stooped back, with curly grey hair, and hard grey eyes, which she is using to stare at Magnus. Her skin was wrinkled and ebony colored, pointing to her wetland heritage, and different occult-like rings and necklaces lined her body.

Magnus wanted to deny what the elderly woman was saying dearly but he couldn't since it was the hard, cold truth. When he left this place, he had bright, hopeful dreams that his modern ideas will make him rich in this medieval world, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Forget even getting started; he could even walk into the front doors of the right representative to present his ideas. So Magnus set out to take the hard road and find his own funds, but who would hire somebody with no certification. After that Magnus sought out the proper channels, but once again, he was blocked from that as well. Since who would take on a nobody with zero connects as an apprentice.

And that is how Magnus ended up in the streets; begging for chump change in a matter of a few days.

Right before things became awkward, Magnus was saved as another voice which cut into the conversation. ”Matron Kiama come on stop embarrassing the poor boy, he has learned his lesson very well, and I am sure he will not do that again.”

Magnus turned to face the new speaker, which turned out to be Mother Nevra. If ever there were to be a fatherly figure for the orphans, then it would be Mother Nevra. She was dressed in the same black and white kirtles as Mother Selin and had her black hair tied in a bun. She was tall and lean with brown eyes and a smile that bordered a smirk.

Matron Kiama waved her crane at that the two women as she said, ”The two of you spoil these brats rotten, you hear?!” Yet even Magnus could tell that it was half-hearted, and a fleeting thought that passed through Magnus's mind was, 'Does the old witch have a heart after all.'

At that comment, the Matron turned around to walk back into the orphanage, but she was cut short from doing so as Mother Selin stopped her. ”Are both of you just going to leave things at that? He tried to run off, what if something happened to him or even worse...”

Magnus was surprised at that. Mother Selin was always the loving and caring type while Mother Nevra was always the carefree and fun one, it was always Matron Kiama who dispense out punishment. Now to see Mother Selin wholeheartedly wanting Magnus to get punished was a big surprise.

Magnus was not the only one surprised at this turn of events, Matron Kiama turned back to face Mother Selin with an astonished gaze which immediately broke into a wicked grin. Letting loose a mad chuckle of laughter, Matron Kiama's gaze turned sly. ”Well Mother Selin, if you wish to punish the boy, do it yourself, I am heading back in.”

With that final comment, the Matron was gone, Magnus cursed himself and the Matron as he thought, 'how dare you try to sullied poor innocent Mother Selin, you old witch! I can see what you are up to, you want her to fall into the same category as you.'

And that is exactly what happened, Mother Selin steeled herself up, looked down at Magnus with her best stern gaze and said, ”Matron Kiama is correct, you need to be punished and I cannot go soft on you. Not at all!”

Magnus looked around for help out of this mess, but the only adult left didn't seem to want any part in this, so Mother Nevra hurriedly shepherd all children that were watching what was going on inside.

Mother Selin, on the other hand, continued with her berating, showing a side that many have never seen before, an angry side. That made Magnus feel even more miserable of himself, if that could have been possible with how he was already feeling.

”What you did young man- running off- was very foolish and it caused everyone in our family a lot of emotional damage. So for this whole month, you will be staying indoors and your chores will double- no it will triple.”

As the verdict came down from Mother Selin, Magnus hung his head down in shame, however a small part of him wanted to defend and justify himself, so Magnus spoke up. ”But Mother Selin all I wanted to do was help everyone in our family. I thought I could go out there, into the big wide world, and make something out of myself so that I could come back here and ease the difficulty that the orphanage faces.”

At Magnus's heart-wrenching statement, Mother Selin scowl started to ease up, but once she replayed what Magnus said in her mind, a look of shock and alarm passed through her face.

”How did you even know that our funds have been cut?” Mother Selin shouted out before she could think, then she instantly put her hands over her mouth as she became aware that she just gave the game away.

Mother Selin then looked over at Magnus with an almost pleading look on her face as she asked, ”Could you please forget what I just said, Magnus. It is only us--adults-- that are supposed to know that, and we do not want the kids to find out.”

Magnus hastily nodded his head, showing his full agreement to Mother Seelin's request, however, he had to admit he was a bit confused since this is the first time he was hearing about any sort of cuts to the orphanage.

Things are tough around here, in the orphanage and everyone: whether they be the little ones who help around the place, or the middling children who go out looking for scraps on a daily basis, and the older kids who take on odd jobs here and there. Everyone in the orphanage needs to help out-whatever way they can so that we can get by.

That is the whole reason why Magnus decided to make it out on his own, he wanted to come back here and lift them all out of poverty, but we all know how that worked out. Now to find out the meager amount that could make or break this place is being cut, now that is very bleak news indeed.

Magnus immediately caught on to that point, so in a tone that leaked a bit of dismay, he asked, ”Who are these sponsors of ours, Mother Selin? Do you know why are they slashing funds? Is there another way we can support this place?”