10 The Ninth Cerin.

Cerin laid in the hospital bed, completely trapped by plastic tubes and starched white sheets. It would have been a distressing sight if not for the fact that this was the seventeenth time this year she became an honored guest of the hospital.

As she drifted in and out of consciousness her guardians stood beside her with grim and stiff expressions on their faces as they conversed with the lawyer, completely unaware that Cerin could hear them.

" So you would like to relinquish guardianship of her?"

Her uncle nodded while her aunt hid her face in his sleeve, embarrassed of their decision but not willing to change it.

Cerin's heart sank into her chest as she realized what was going on, but could not respond.

The lawyer, with an expressionless face and voice.

" As she is over eighteen, this should not be too difficult."

He brought out a sheet of paper and handed it over to the uncle.

" Write down the age of the affected as well as the reason you wish to relinquish guardianship….. You are aware that you will have to relinquish all possessions left by her parents as well as correct?"

The aunt pulled her face out of her husband's embrace in a righteous rage.

" Are you implying that we only kept her because of the money?! Let me tell you, that pitiful amount her parents left behind was only enough to fund the first few hospital trips she had. After that, all of it came from our pockets."

The lawyer remained unimpressed throughout the passionate speech and directed a pointed gaze towards the gold plated and diamond studded jewelry she wore before taking the documents and put them in his briefcase.

The uncle walked up to Cerin who still appeared unconscious, although she could hear everything.

" Sorry, but this is all we can do for you. We're relocating to the west soon and we can't afford to take someone so prone to sickness with us… you're nineteen now so….. we'll leave you an apartment and a bit of spending money till you can get a job. I also put in enough money for about four years of school...after that do whatever you want. "

Cerin's eyes watered as she struggled with a bunch of conflicting emotions until she finally settled on appreciation. She realized that this couple, even though they weren't related to her by blood had done their best to raise her to adulthood and that they or at least he wouldn't do this if he had a choice.

She forced her hand to wrap around his and ignored the guilty expression in his eyes as he realized that she was conscious.

" Cerin, You're awake...We-"

Cerin cut him off with a harsh tone,

" It's fine, just…...Good luck on your trip"

His wife at hearing her tone took offense and was tempted to start cursing out the little girl that had so drained their extra funds with her constant hospital trips but kept it inside of her and nodded a quick goodbye. Not daring to open her mouth for fear that what she wished to say would escape she only sent a quick look at her husband before leaving the room.

The husband gave Cerin one last apologetic look and began to walk out as well. Before he could leave Cerin quickly whispered,

" Thank you!"

Before going back to feigning unconsciousness,

Her uncle, though adoptive heard this and was suddenly filled with hesitation. But he stayed firm in his decision and simply nodded back at her before he continued walking towards his wife and away from Cerin.

As soon as she heard the doors of her ward close Cerin quickly sat up and began to plan for her future.

Being a fresh high school graduate, she had been accepted to a university and had already had funds in terms of schooling, which meant she could focus on working the summers and part-time during the semester and making enough money for the term.

She resolved herself and quickly focused on getting well enough to leave the hospital so she could go sort out of the apartment.

It took a week but she grinned happily as she signed her release form and sprinted home.

Cerin locked the door behind her and brandished her mop like it was a weapon. In the week that it had been left empty, mold and vermin had crept in and she was completely unwilling to live with them. There was also the fact that she planned to take advantage of its proximity to the campus and rent out the other two rooms.

She currently lived in a moderately well-developed city so it possessed one or two universities of its own, including the one she herself was going to.

Although it was close to the campus it was far enough that the rest of the town was easily accessible. The perfect place for out-of-towners that wanted to explore the city and the perfect money making scheme for a nearly broke university student.

Cleaning took a little over three hours but once she finished she rushed to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.

As she slept, a jade green light floated in through the window and onto her forehead. It hovered for half a second, as if in hesitation but quickly made up its mind and merged into her brain.

That night, Cerin had an odd dream.