1 Family

"You little brat!"

pak! An angry voice of a nun was heard in the room and a young girl was sent flying to the wall.

"How dare you get into the priest's room!"

pak! pak! pak! She received continues slaps from the nun. Painful as it is, she didn't dare to talk back or she would receive a harder beating afterwards. All she could do was to cry her eyes out.

"Stop it already Sister Min, she's just a child. Forgive her already."

"But Father Sev, she tried to seduce you and this is unforgivable. She needs to learn her lesson." says Sister Min.

"It's okay, nothing happened anyways. She's learned her lesson already. Don't put such beautiful creature in a scary state." Father Sev said with a malicious grin while looking at the torn clothes of the young girl. The young girl trembled in fear knowing this will not be the last time. Sister Min saw this and got more furious so she grabbed the child's hand and threw her out of the door.

"We'll be going then Father Sev." said Sister Min as she walked out the room and grabbed Sera's hair as she caught up to bring her to the black room.

"Sister Min, what happened to Sera?" Sister Liz, the head of the orphanage asked Sister Min as she saw how Sister Min had forcefully grabbed and pulled Sera's hair while she was walking in the corridor.

"This impudent brat went into Father Sev's room to seduce him." Sister Min said indignantly.

Sister Liz looked at Sera and saw how her clothes were evidently torn by someone with full intent on seeing her naked. She then returned her looked at Sister Min with eyes full of question.

"I know Sera would never do that. Are you sure about this?"

"It's what Father Sev said. You don't believe me?", Sister Min snapped defensively.

Sister Liz did not reply but removed her coat and covered Sera's body that is now full of bruises. She looked at Sera with comforting eyes and Sera replied with a nod. She hugged Sera and motioned to the other sister, "I'll take care of this, leave it to me. Go do your daily prayer."

Sister Min looked at Sera disdainfully before storming off the corridor, muttering something under her breath.

"Come, Sera. Let's go to my office." Sister Liz said with a smile as she firmly held the trembling girl's shoulders to support her.

This made Sera's eyes redden as a teardrop fell and more tears were attempting to fall down continuously. She didn't want Sister Liz to worry so she pursed her lips tightly trying to stop them from falling. They walked together along the long corridors of the orphanage.

Sister Liz's office is at the far end corner of the building but it didn't take them long to reach it. It was a small room with a working table full of papers about new children or babies left behind by their parents. It was just like when she first entered the orphanage. And just like the parents of most children staying at the orphanage, her parents also died because of the cataclysmic event called the Arcane Surge. When magic was first introduced into the world a lot of people died because of instability. The adult population was greatly affected, many died and many were left crippled. Even earth itself was wounded, creating the World Rift, a permanent scar left by the Surge as a reminder of how powerful magic can be. However, the real victims were the children. They were left alone in this world full of dangers and schemes. Even in these so-called purest of places, they were not safe.

"These children deserve something better, someone to call a family," Sister Liz thought as she prepared a hot drink for the young lady. She placed the cup in those trembling hands and gently patted the girl's head.

"Family." Sera mumbled as her lips curved upwards a little. Her eyes betrayed her, however. It showed bitterness, loneliness and longing.

She also wanted something--someone to call a family.

Sister Liz saw her eyes and felt sad for her. She loved this child. Sera came into this orphanage at the same time as Sister Liz so when Sister Liz misses her younger sister she would go and talk to Sera. But she was also helpless that despite being an older sister for Sera, she couldn't protect her from those higher than her. It was this reason that she wanted to become the head of the orphanage, to protect those who needs her protection.

Sera is a beautiful girl. She had a mole a little below her eyes on the left side of her face. When she smiled her eyes smiles as well. When she was younger she could make the people around her smile and laugh. Sometimes she would blame herself that this once happy child became someone who trembles when she sees other people. She looked at her one more time and promised something to herself. 'I will help this child have a family.'