Chapter 4

A hallway leading in to a larger area with tables, the kids when they saw me enter they were surprised, almost startled, they run to the tables...before I could proceed, a door from my left opened with a screeching sound, coming off of the door was an elder nun, her clothes weirdly were exactly the same you would expect to see a nun from earth wear...her face was full of wrinkles...and her nose bigger than usual

It was as if she lived more than she was supposed to...

When she noticed me, her eyes slightly opened up in surprise and her face turned into a pleasant smile...at least as much her face allowed her to

*hello, mister Harry...who do we have here?*

She said turning her eyes towards me

*my name is Daniel, madam*

*aww...what a nice name for a cute boy like you...how about you go on and join the rest on dinner*

I nodded, Harry and the nun went back into that room...as I walked down the hallway a smell of the food I'm going to be eating today reached my nose...breathing in I can only recognize the smell as a fish soup

When I entered the big open room, one thing surprised me...there were 2 boys, one older than me and another younger...the weird thing about them was that they both had black dog ears, a tail and their eyes were light blue, like the eyes of a husky

I had expected to see something like this...but I was still taken aback by how otherworldly it seemed

I had an urge to touch them...

They noticed my stares but didn't really react, they were sitting in the corner of the cafeteria

Looking around I spot the place at which everyone gets food, I pick up a plate and a spoon and I get to the end of the line...I tried to act as natural as possible but I still got a lot of attention

While I was waiting in line someone came from behind, he put his hand on my shoulder and looked at me with a grin, which I couldn't really tell, if that expression was hostile or friendly...his skin was dark the same with the other kids here, something weird, considering the fact that I didn't notice anyone like that in the capital...there still were some with light skin here but not most

*hey brother! It's not nice to get in line before you even greet us*

He spoke in an accent that I could barely understand

*sorry about that, my name is Daniel, I'm going to be staying here so I hope we can get along well* I said looking not directly to the guy who approached me but to everyone in the cafeteria

*I'm Camol...you should be happy, todays food is made by sister Ellen*

With a smile he went back to his seat...I didn't thought things would be so easy, I had imagined a prison like plot to unfold here, but those kids don't seem intimidating

At last it was my time to get some food, I only ate once per day while traveling so I'm kind of starving here

*here is your food, I hope you'll enjoy it being the first you're eating here*

Sister Ellen was unexpectedly beautiful although she is a nun, she reminds me of Mary

*thank you* I thanked her and went on my way to find a free seat...

There were 3 long tables, the one closer to the serving place was full, the middle one was also mostly full, but the third only had a couple kids sitting on one side while the two beastkins were on the corner, almost as if there was a barrier between them and the others, no one talked to them or even looked at them

...well that's not nice

I started walking over to them, as I was getting closer, more and more eyes started to occupy me

Before I could actually take a seat near the two beastkin, a girl from behind calls me

*hey Daniel, you could sit here if you want to*

Although the line was said in a kind tone, the intent behind it is just to stop me

*no there's no need, I already found a seat*

I say as I take my seat

...everyone silenced for a moment and then started some whispers which later turned into the same noise as before

I had taken a seat beside the young beastkin but he seemed to have moved a seat away from me

At first they seemed plainly confused but then they just ignored me and continued eating...and so did I...my hunger insisted and my nose couldn't let me stand still any longer

The soup was truly delicious...so I just finished it in less than a minute...that brought some more attention too

Now the main reason I sat near them was simply out of curiosity...I just wanted to take a better look at something I had never seen before

...my rude stares was interrupted by the elder of the two

*we don't want any trouble with you or the othe...*

*what's your name?*

I interrupt him trying to make him less tense

*what do you even care?*

*well, how could I not, we are going to be living under the same roof aren't we?*

*if I tell you will you leave us alone?*

I nod

*maybe yes* *my name is Vendar*

I answer just as soon as he does...being a kid makes everything so easy!...you can never beat the annoying tricks kids use to win over talks

*what did you say?*

Vendar asked with a confused expression as his little friend started to giggle

*are you mes...*

*how about a challenge?*

His face filled with confusion again

*what challenge?*

*running*

Vendar kinda scoffed at my proposal

*and what will I get if I win?*

*if you win I'll own you a favor and if I do I can ask you about whatever I want*

At that moment a lot of comments popped up about how I was gonna lose miserably

A smile formed in Vendars face

*ok then, but don't turn the rules around when you lose*

As I guessed he's not someone to refuse a challenge

*I surely won't do that*

...

After agreeing on a time I went with the old nun to show me my room...it is really small...barley fitting a bed in it, it had a lot of dust and the mattress was hard, but it's just what I wanted, since I won't have to share it with others

After that she just showed me the showers and told me that I was free till night

While I was looking around the showers I noticed a small mirror, hanging on the wall...and I realized I didn't really know what I looked like

...Not really a surprise but I look nothing like I did before...my hair is pure black and messy, my eyes blue and my nose small...it felt strange, now looking at a body which you don't quite recognize as yours but you have control over it...I was looking at my face for a good 10 minutes...is this really me? was a constant question passing through my head

...to stop myself from drifting away I slapped my face

...

The rest of the day I spent exploring...the building had 2 floors, the second one was only for the sleeping rooms and the first one had everything I had already been to and a teaching room

I also talked to lots of kids

Most of the talks were about how stupid I was for challenging Vendar, they weren't saying them in a way to make me feel bad but just for how illogical it seemed to them

Beastkins are mostly described by them as some bloodthirsty, almost non human animals that will kill if provoked

Those are probably exaggerations but even those usually hold some truth or meaning behind them...a war could have broke out in the past, between humans and beastkins, the beastkins might have used some horrible methods in that war, therefore leaving humans a picture like that

That was common in earth too...

The history of this place...I wanna learn it

...

After a while the the sun was just above the horizon line...which meant, it was time for the showdown

...winning or rather, showing off, isn't really my goal,I just thought that sports and competition in general usually is the best way to connect with someone who wouldn't easily talk...and I'm also interested to see the potential of the beastkins...and also my own...in the forest I wasn't really able to run full speed and I didn't get an opportunity afterwards either

...I had gotten outside...the first thing that came to my mind was how beautiful the scene of the plain grass fields were with the intense light of the sunset hitting them...the second thing was the fact that almost everyone is outside with Vendar, did they gather just to see us? I imagined some kids would watch but not everyone...the whole orphanage, which is like 30 kids

Ow well, the more the merrier

when I got closer I asked them anyway

*why did everyone gather here?

Camol answered with a smirk

*well everyone wonders just how bad will you lose?*

*we'll see about that...are you ready Vendar?*

*yes...we'll run from this line till that bush, the first to reach it wins*

He pointed at a bush, approximately 200 meters away, where his little friend and some others were

Vendar without farther talking got into position on his four, it wasn't the position you see Olympic athletes use but more of an animal ready to attack, with his face, low to the ground and his hips up

...he looked weird but not enough for anyone to laugh...I also got into position, I'm not gonna pretend that I'm a running expert so I just got into whichever position felt more natural

Camol got to the side and spoke

*I'll help with the countdown, when you hear go...go*

*3...*

*2...*

*1...go!*

At that moment I pushed the ground with all the power my legs could muster, thanks to my skill, quick mind I think I started just a bit earlier than vendar

I ran with all I had...the speed I was getting at was almost frightening

...there is no way, Vendar could hope to reach me...with that thought I slightly turned my head to the left to check on him...to my surprise he was more or less a meter behi...

*thrud*

...my vision spun together with my body...*ouch*

...I had tripped...while not looking on the ground I must have stepped in front of a rock

...laughter sprout...and embarrassment kicked in

At the moment my body stopped it's wild spin I bolted to the finish again...Vendar had already reached the finishing line and had been looking at me with both worry and surprise

It was close so it only took me two seconds to reach it

The first thing Vendar told me was

*how did you run so fast?*

Shaking his head, he changed his question

*...nevermind that, are you okay?*

*I'm fine but I lost*

*no you didn't, I was barely able to reach your running speed*

*yes you did, the rule was whoever reaches here first, wins...you can choose your favor whenever you want*

*bu...*

Interrupting Vendar was a terrifying scream yelling my name, from the orphanage

*Danieeeeel!!!* ...at the distance the granny nun was looking at me with a furious expression...

...with a pitying look Vendar patted my back saying

*...good luck...she gets really angry when someone is hurt...*

That didn't help me feel better...but I started walking slowly towards her...the looks of the others were also pitying me...was it this bad?

When I got near her without any word she grabbed me my right ear and pulled me till her office

...

An hour of scolding had passed...I thought she couldn't be scarier than her looks but that was totally false

Every time I tried to explain anything to her I was just met with more scolding

...for now she let me go because it was sleeping time...something that I can't wait for!

After we got our night lunch, milk and bread...a poor lunch but refreshing whatsoever, we got to our beds

And it was finally time to see exactly how op my new skill is...

I closed my eyes and soon enough I started to drift...to a not so normal sleep...

______________

-Skill: meditative sleep Activated-

______________