Chapter 10: Collapse

As I woke up the next day I felt as though I could still sleep for 5 more hours. Last night I did a lot more magical training. Exhausting my magic and allowing it to refill. It seemed even after 3 years of doing this I was still in 'growth'. My magic capacity showed no signs of hitting a limit. The 'rules' did promise me great magic talent and a good bloodline after all so I'd be surprised if I did hit a limit this soon doing a spell like this.

Anyway the only reason why I woke up early despite my exhausted body was because of the clattering I could hear downstairs. Footsteps seemed to be sounding all over the orphanage and they all seemed 'rushed' as if something had happened. I laid in bed a bit longer wondering If I should just try to sleep longer however hearing the rushed footsteps continue I felt my worry overcome my tiredness. Pulling myself out of bed and getting changed I headed out my room.

Looking down the corridor at all the other kid's rooms I noticed that the majority of their doors were open. This was surprising considering that usually I would be first to wake up. Looking back in my room at the clock I had on the wall I noted that I had indeed woken up a couple hours after I usually would. Seeing this all I could imagine now was Nana and Mel chastising me for waking up late. I suddenly felt the urge to go back into my room. However as that thought crossed my mind I heard those rushed footsteps reverberate in my mind again. I needed to know what was happening else Id just worry. Taking myself to the staircase I walked down slowly into the common room area of the orphanage. Surprisingly enough again, all the kids were here. Usually half would have gone outside at this point.

Reading the expressions of the children I felt my stomach turn. They all look dejected, depressed and upset. Some of the younger kids were crying loudly and even the older kids had tears in their eyes. I scanned the room wondering were Melony and Nana were however I could only spot one of them sat on the couch looking blankly at the coffee table in front of them.

"Hey Mel-"

Despite calling out to her Mel seemed to be unresponsive. I started to worry more about what was happening and immediately rushed over and sat myself down opposite her. As I came into her field of vision, clarity started to return to her eyes. Tears started to well up and streams fell from her face onto the coffee table as she struggled to speak. I had never seen Melony like this before, the only time that came close was when I went to the Lovegoods those years back and went 'missing'.

Before I could say anything Melony got up, rushed around the coffee table and hugged me tightly. I felt my shoulder quickly become wet as she sobbed into it. Looking over her shoulder I stared at the other kids in the room who all looked towards Melony with pity. I still couldn't understand what was happening.

"Mel, what's the matter?"

Melony kept sobbing into my shoulder. Eventually I started to hear her mumbling out words, choked up each time she spoke.

"I-I don't know what to do Oz, I d-don't know what to do…"

My heart started to go cold as I heard those words. No Nana here, Melony crying like this. All the other kids as dejected and depressed. I started to piece together what had happened finally.

"What happened to Nana"

Melony's sobs started to get stronger. If anyone else saw this scene of a 21 year old girl using an 8 year old for emotional support they would think she was crazy as it was usually the other way round. Hearing her sobs get stronger though confirmed my words, something had happened to Nana. I felt a piercing coldness permeate through my brain and heart. Emotions started to well up inside me however they were suppressed immediately. I hated this feeling. It was the same as when my parents died in my last life. Whenever I recalled that painful time and my emotions tried to rise to the top I found my logic and mind suppressing them making me stay cold and calm. To some it made me seem mature however to me personally, it made me feel the opposite. Bottling myself up was like adding more time to a ticking time bomb.

Grabbing Melony's shoulders I slowly pried her off of my shoulder which she was sobbing onto. I looked at her with the warmest look I could muster. Taking a tissue from the table, of which she had nearly used half the box, I wiped her eyes and calmed her as best I could. As she collected herself she started to explain what had happened. Last night Nana collapsed in the kitchen whilst cleaning. I always knew Nana overworked herself however whenever I questioned her or told her to rest she would stubbornly deny overworking and even reprimand me for thinking she was 'that old'. The reality though was she was looking after tens of kids in this little orphanage alone, it was clear to anyone she was overworking. That's half the reason why I started helping with chores however she always found something else to do that world work herself harder.

Looking down at the coffee table I started to collect my thoughts. When I was sent to this world I expected a world full of magic and wonder. I wanted to see dragons, I wanted to see other magic communities and I wanted to learn this thing called 'magic' inside and out. However now I was presented with reality, this wasn't a fantasy world where everything would go my way.

"Fuck…"

I ran my hand through my hair and placed my head in my hands staring down. I started to feel like an idiot. I was so focused on my own growth I neglected to check up on Nana more often. Maybe if I was more attentive, maybe if I was a better 'grandson', I could have avoided this situation. This magic that I barely attained, this all powerful force, I couldn't even use it properly right now. If I could maybe I could help Nana.

Picking myself up from the couch my expression once again grew cold. Melony and the kids in the room all stared at me as I got up. I don't know what face I was showing right now however from their expressions I gathered it was a haunting one. Unlike the emotions scattered around the room and the different faces of the children that were contorted, my face was flat and plain, expressionless. Looking down at Melony I asked her where Nana was right now and she pointed at Nanas room door.

"Am I able to go see her?"

Melony nodded a couple of times before starting to sob into her hands again. Looking down at the coffee table once more my eyes caught sight of some papers resting on it. All the children's names from the orphanage had been jotted down. Next to each child's name was potential foster families and schools for them to go to. Seeing this I felt my gut turn again, Nana only ever thought about the wellbeing of the children here. It was clear the orphanage wouldn't be around much longer however seeing the list plan in front of me made that reality even more real. Eventually my eyes landed on my name in the list. Looking over to the right of my name, I felt my heart drop to my stomach.

'Foster Family: Melony & Nana'

The coldness within me only got colder reading the words jotted next to my name. Reading those words I found myself walking towards Nana's room door and opening it without hesitation.

.

Walking into Nana's room I looked directly towards the bed on the other side of the room. Sat next to the bed was the doctor that came to visit me 3 years back after I had collapse due to reaching early maturity. He was currently in the middle of doing a check-up.

Hearing the door open I saw him turn to me. He showed a weak smile as he started to speak.

"Hello Oz, have you come to see her?"

I wordlessly walked closer to the bed and looked down at Nana who was laid in it. She looked to be sleeping peacefully at the moment.

"She only recently started to show signs of sleeping peacefully. Before this her face was contorting in pain. Honestly if she continued to show signs of pain I was ready to take her to a hospital…"

The words that the doctor were saying flowed into one of my ears and out the other. My gaze was trained on Nana who was sleeping peacefully. Words couldn't describe my gratefulness to this woman. When I got this second chance at life in this world and heard I'd be in another orphanage I casted aside any thoughts about having a 'family'. I thought I was destined to be alone in this life also. However as the years passed Mel and Nana ended up becoming the 'family' I desired. I started to recall the playful comments she would make whenever I was around. I recalled each meal she had made for me in the time I spent here so far.

Ripping my gaze away from Nana I looked towards the doctor next to her. My eyes stared deeply into his, a single question on my mind.

"How long does she have?"

The doctor looked at me with a pitiful expression for a while. It wasn't the sort of words an 8 year old should say after all. Most would have walked in and started crying looking at the weak Nana that was in bed sleeping right now. Me on the other hand was different, I'd been through this before, I knew there wasn't long left.

It took some time for the doctor to form a reply.

"A year maybe… 2 if she gets proper rest"

I knew Nana wouldn't be the type to rest even after this had happened. She valued the kids out in the common room area above herself after all. The doctor continued on with his check-up whilst I stood looking down at Nana a bit longer. Eventually the doctor stood up and bade me farewell, telling me to make sure Nana rested. As he left and the door closed, I took a seat next to her bedside.

Looking at the usually strong old woman looking so weak now I felt a resolve rumble in my chest. I wouldn't let her die no matter what I had to do. This world had magic, I wielded that magic, I just needed to find the right magic to help her. If I couldn't find it, I would create it. I would work 10x harder from now on and dedicate myself to magic. The stronger I get, the better I can protect those I care about.

As these thoughts solidified in my mind the door to Nana's room opened. Melony walked on in with some of the kids that were waiting around outside. I picked myself up from the chair with a hollow yet resolute look in my eyes.

I walked past them all and headed up to my room.