Chapter 1: Freyport City

In Magehollow Orphanage in Freyport city, three young, beautiful siblings stared at the sky expectantly. The oldest of the three, Lilith, has wavy, light blonde hair that falls short to her shoulders and cat-like, silver eyes. She stands at 114 centimeters (3.75 ft.) tall at the age of 7.

The second oldest and also twins with the youngest, Evangeline has straight, light blonde hair that reaches above her butt and round, silver eyes. At the age 5, Evangeline, whom is called Eve, stands at the height of 99 (3.25 ft.) centimeters.

Finally, the youngest, Malachi, who sometimes resembles a girl, has straight, light blonde hair that falls slightly above the shoulders and sharp, silver eyes. He is slightly taller than his twin sister, at the height of 102 centimeters (3.35 ft.).

“Sis,” Malachi, Kai for short, slurred out, “If we keep staring at the sky, will God send us a miracle to cure our boredom?”

“Not particularly,” Lilith replied. “If he does, however, it would especially be good for us.”

These siblings were living a detached life, with no sense of ambition. They didn’t know their parents, due to them dying when they were still young. However, at least they had each other.

“I want to eat,” Eve suddenly said.

“Mmm… Granny Lilah is making apple pie right now,” Kai said.

“I call the first slice!” Eve yelled, jumping up and racing towards the kitchen in record speed.

“No fair!” yelled Kai, following shortly after her. After a moment of silence, Lilith, too, slowly got up and followed them.

“Don’t run in the halls!” a nanny yelled at them, as they zoomed past several rooms filled with playing children.

When they reached Granny Lilah, however, a young, handsome stranger with long, red hair and green eyes was talking with her.

“Granny! Did you finish making your apple pie?” Kai asked excitedly, dismissing the stranger from his mind and suspicions. Although Lilith, being the most cautious, held her siblings close.

The stranger’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise and a crinkle appeared next to his eyes, his lips forming a smile that seemed ethereal. “Oh… interesting,” he mumbled to himself, as he eyed the beautiful children.

“Don’t be rude to guests!” Granny Lilah slapped Kai’s head on the top.

“Ouch! That hurt, Granny!” Kai yelled, rubbing his head as small tears formed in the corner of his eyes.

“It’s supposed to!” Granny Lilah turned to the stranger with apologetic eyes, “Apologies for his rudeness. I’ll be right back to get the pie, in the mean time, you three entertain our guest. Show him to the living room.”

“Sorry,” Kai mumbled and stared at the stranger, with newfound determination. “Nice to meetcha!” Kai bowed, placing a hand on his heart, “I’m the man of this house, Malachi - Kai for short!”

“Oh? The man of this house?” The man smiled mysteriously, “I’m Ezra, pleasure is all mine.” He then looked at the two girls next to Malachi, “and may I have the honor of knowing your names?”

“Lilith, the oldest of these two,” Lilith answered shortly. “I apologize for his short rudeness earlier, he’s still learning.”

“I’m Evangeline, sir! Eve for short!” Eve saluted, her eyes turning serious. “I’m older than Kai-”

“By a minute-”

“Still older!”

“Enough,” Lilith growled. “Mr. Ezra, come, we’ll escort you to the living room.”

Ezra was surprised by the maturity of the girl, but soon dismissed it in his mind. After all, some kids grow up faster than others, whether by force or not. Especially since he was in an orphanage, did this thought appear into his mind.

The two kids hissed at each other, yet still obeyed their older sister. The both of them quietly went to the kitchen to get refreshments for the guests - as always.

After getting settled into the antique-like room, Granny Lilah came back, an apple pie in hand, followed by the squeals of two growing children. “Go to the dining room,” she told them. “Tell me, Mr. Ezra, why are you here?”

Ezra smiled, “I’m interested in adopting some children.”

“Some?” Granny Lilah frowned, “I- I see…”

A few feet away from the living room stood three curious youngsters, eavesdropping with careful eyes and ears.

“Adoption?!” Eve exclaimed.

“Shh!” Kai whispered harshly, glaring at her. “I can’t hear!”

“The both of you shut up,” Lilith glared.

The three shuffled back and forth with the hushing of whispers that included many derogatory phrases and words. After a minute, they settled into a comfortable silence.

“I see…” Granny Lilah sighed. “I knew this day would come.”

“Ah… you truly love them, huh? I apologize for taking them away so soon, but I believe it’s in their best interest. Also, many kids at this orphanage are being adopted at a fast rate.“

Granny Lilah shifted uncomfortably, “that’s topic I’d like to not talk about.”

“Apologies, it must be tough, right?” Ezra gazed at her sympathetically. Granny Lilah sighed and nodded her head. “When will I be able to take them away?”

After a minute of silence, she slid a stack of papers across the wooden coffee table. “Fill this out - this should be settled in a few days.”

“Thank you, Miss Lilah,” Ezra gave her a wide smile, showing his straight, pearly-white teeth. “I’ll be back in a few days.”

The two figures stood up and she led him out of the house, Ezra gave her a small nod and walked out the door.

“Granny!” Kai yelled, running up to her. “Who’s he gonna take?!”

Granny Lilah sighed and gave him a smile. “Unfortunately, my love, it would be you three.”

“What?!” Lilith yelled, shocked by the news.

“No way! I won’t let him take us away from you!” Eve yelled, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Yeah, we won’t let him take us away! That dirty- but handsome- scum!” Kai growled, his eyes growing menacing.

“It’s alright, my love,” Granny Lilah smiled warmly, “It’s in your best interest.” She patted their heads, “alright, it’s almost night! Go shower while I make supper- also, bring in the other children.”

“Yes~!” they smiled happily and ran off.

Granny Lilah sighed and muttered something under her breath, a slight smile on her face. “Fools.”

...

As night time rolled around, the children gathered around their beds to do their nightly prayer. After that, they would tuck themselves in and sleep. Granny Lilah, after a while, would come and check on them.

“Psst!”

“PSST!”

“Who is it?!” Lilith grumbled sleepily.

“It’s me, Kai.”

“Kai, why are you awake so early? Where’s Eve?”

“She’s here with me,” Kai said while gesturing to the sleeping girl on his back, “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Hm… Alright, come with me,” Lilith stood up and grabbed his hand. “Be careful with Eve.”

“Yes!"

Lilith guided him outside, “follow quickly.” She walked towards the forest and lead him to a small meadow with long, soft grass. The grass and flowers would sway every few seconds as the warm wind passed by gently.

“Ah~!” Kai let down Eve and stretched his back.

“Whoa…!” Eve said sleepily, as she rubbed her eyes and relaxed her body against the grass.

Lilith smirked, “I go here everytime I can’t sleep.”

“Eh? No fair! You didn’t tell us?” Kai frowned, Eve nodded her head, agreeing with her brother for once.

“No way~! This is too precious for a bunch of brats to handle,” Lilith humphed.

“Grr… Fine, be that way!” Kai fell on his back and stretched his arms out, his feet kicking up and falling back down. Eve followed in a similar manner.

“Haha!” Lilith laughed, and laid next to them. “This feels so nice,” she mumbled. “I want to forget everything.”

“Mmm…” The twins inaudibly mumurmed.

The wind whispered gently against their pale skin and played with the wisps of their hair. The grass tickled their body in a friendly manner and the sweet smell of flowers wafted through the air. The moon enveloped their body in a faint light.

“Oh?” A sudden voice interrupted their relaxation.

Lilith jumped up in surprise and turned to the voice. Granny Lilah stood there in surprise.

“I didn’t expect people to find this place,” Granny Lilah smiled warmly.

“Oh, it’s just Granny. Don’t scare us like that,” Kai said flippantly and fell back on his back.

“What…” Eve stared wide-eyed at Granny Lilah. “W-what’s is that… Granny Lilah?” Eve’s voice crumbled.

“Oh, this?” Granny Lilah threw a large object in front of the three. A part of the object touched Kai.

Kai looked at the object and crawled towards Lilith, releasing a muffled scream.

Lilith paled with fear and grabbed her siblings quickly. “What are you?!” she yelled.

The object was, in fact, a child from the orphanage. However, it was certain he dead, as his head was separated from his body.

“Haha!” Granny Lilah laughed. “I’ve been waiting for this for years- ever since you three joined, I’ve felt it. A large amount of spirit power resides in you- it was too delicious for me to give it to that scruffy man. Ezra, right? In all my life doing this, I’ve never desired something so much.”

“Life?” Lilith whispered.

“Ah, yes… This area is the grave that holds a hundred-years worth of children’s bodies! In fact, it will be your grave, too!”

Lilith felt a need to vomit. She looked down at the once-peaceful place and all she could see was red. “Urgh…”

“Prepare yourselves, children.”

Granny Lilah turned into a black creature with red eyes and a horribly disfigured body. Her arms and legs were mangled and the skin that held her muscles was almost transparent.

Kai vomited at the scene.

“Gross,” Eve commented, but began to sweat in fear.

“Shut up, she’s horrifically disgusting.” Kai glared. The two’s small spat woke them up from their fear and cleared their minds. It calmed them down to know they had each other.

“What should we do?” Eve asked Lilith.

“I’m thinking,” Lilith mumbled. She concluded they weren’t strong enough to take this monster down. Heck, they don’t have any experience in fighting, either. It was hopeless, but she was determined to survive.

“Eve, you think, too!”

“Then go distract her!” Eve said.

“No!” Lilith glared.

“Have you forgotten me already?” the monster growled in a voice that had a mixture between Granny Lilah’s voice and the devil’s.

“N-no!” Kai replied.

The monster slowly closed in on them, walking step-by-step.

“Get up,” Lilith muttered and pulled the two up easily. “We’ll run, we don’t have a choice.”

Determination flashed through the siblings’ eyes and they nodded.

“On my word,” she mumbled, “dodge to the left.”

The monster was sixteen feet away.

“One,” she muttered.

In a second, it was ten feet away.

“Two.”

Seven feet- almost arm’s distance.

“Three…!”

Four feet away and it swung its arms back, as to load for a punch.

“Dodge!”

They jumped to the left and moved out of the way. The three scrambled to get up and ran towards the forest.

“Faster!” Lilith cried, holding onto her siblings, pushing them along the way. As they were getting closer to the forest, the monster leaped and landed before them.

With a sudden stop, Lilith pulled her siblings close and stood in front of them.

The monster swung its arms back and they screamed.

“I’m sorry I stole your pie slice, Kai! I love you!” Eve cried aloud, tears flowing down her face.

“Me, too!” Kai yelled, in a similar manner.

Lilith turned her back to the monster and hugged the two tightly. “I love you two,” she mumbled.

A thunderous sound echoed through the forest and a screech could be heard from the next town over. Hundreds of birds flew from the forest due to the sound.

“...”

“What?” Kai pried open one eye and looked around. “S-sis… L-look.”

The girls turned and looked at the monster- with its head cut cleanly off.

“Oof~!” A masculine voice was heard. “I made it in time!”

His red hair flowed freely in the wind and his cat-like, green eyes were filled with amusement. One leg was propped on top of the monster’s body, his other hand sheathing a rapier. His heroic-like figure bathed in the moonlight was imprinted on the children’s minds.

It was the stranger from the orphanage.

“Mr. Ezra!” they shouted in unison.

“Good evening,” Ezra smiled charmingly, “or should I say good night?”

“Mr. Ezra, where did you come from?” Kai asked.

“I was taking a stroll,” he replied casually.

“Where?” Eve asked, her eyes sparkling in admiration.

“There,” Ezra pointed towards the sky filled with stars and galaxies.

“Whoa,” the children breathed out in admiration, staring at the countless, beautiful stars that filled the night sky.

“Well, I finished my paperwork,” Ezra frowned. “However, it seems as if… the person whom I should’ve returned it to was just slayed by my rapier.”

Lilith paused once more and looked towards the direction of the orphanage. “The other kids…” she mumbled.

“Taken care of,” Ezra smiled. “My subordinates are having them transferred to a safer facility.”

“Then…” Lilith looked at her siblings, “what now?”

“What now?” Ezra looked at them incredulously. “I saved your lives, you know! I expect you to pay me back.”

“Wha- but how?” Lilith asked, “we’re only orphans.”

“Mmm... Worry not, young ones!” Ezra smiled, “As my first job as the strongest teacher in the world, I expect you to be my apprentices!”

Strongest teacher…?

“Is this the only way?” Kai asked.

“Only way!” Ezra nodded firmly.

“T-then!” Lilith took a deep breath and grabbed her siblings’ hands.

“Please take care of us!” they yelled in unison, bowing down.

Ezra smiled warmly, “good. You did good.”

Within a matter of seconds, tears flowed down the soft cheeks of the children. Sounds of hiccuping could occasionally be heard. The shock of death creeping near finally sank in their young heads, as well as the betrayal of the person closest to them as a parent. A parent they longed for.

They sank to the ground, wailing for their broken heart. A feeling of loneliness and longing settling down deep within their hearts.

Ezra smiled sympathetically and rubbed their heads, he repeated, “you did good.”

_____

Criticism and any sort of comment is welcomed. Thanks for reading. :)