The good boy no more

" A thief ! " Sister Becca screeched in the dining hall and everyone went silent and still . Except for Serena who raised an eyebrow and folded her hands . Wonder what this is all about , she thought cynically .

Sister Becca glared at all the boys and then raised her finger to point at one boy .

" Henric , you are a thief ! " Sister Becca said storming towards him and everyone's eyes were between them .

" No , Sister I - " Henric tried to defend himself but Sister Becca slapped her hand onto the table , shaking his coffee cup , and gave him a menacing glare .

" You stole that mirror I told you was not appropriate to keep . You are a boy , a brother in training and may one day be part of the cleric . " She said and Henric opened his mouth but she grabbed his hand and pulled him up . She was stronger than she looked , and she dragged him out of the hall , with everyone staring after them .

This is a hell'a of a place , Serena thought as she turned around and went back to the kitchen .

....

" I swear , I did not steal it back . " Henric told Sister Becca as they stood in his room . The roof was slightly low even for Henric and Sister Becca had to stoop alittle but it didn't deter her .

" Open the drawers , now " she ordered and Henric opened both drawers and neither contained his mirror .

" Where is it ? Where did you hide it in this room ? " She demanded from him .

" Sister , believe me , I have not stolen the mirror or hidden it in this room ." Henric said softly but the woman glared at him with fury .

" You are lying . " She said with a bit of her self-control , " I checked on that mirror everyday and just last night , I found it was gone . I would have dragged you from your covers and demanded the truth , if I did not have respect for the Lord . Now tell me where you have hidden it and why you stole it when I told you to leave it ? "

Henric sighed , he wasn't one to lie . He hated lying , it was wrong to lie , he'd been taught by Sister Cali that . But she's also taught him that sometimes you should not say things that would make matters worse . Instead of lying or telling the complete truth , you should say the truth that you know is true but not completely true .

" I did not steal the mirror ." Henric said , which was true , he hadn't stolen it , it had appeared to him .

" You will burn in the fires of hell if you are lying . You know this . " Sister Becca said angrily and stormed out of his room .

After she was truly gone , Henric breathed out a sigh of relief . If she had been more zealous and searched harder she would have found it . But luckily she hadn't and probably wouldn't if Henric could do anything about it .

He raised his hand and patted his chest , where a flat and cool object was hidden in his clothing . It had been hard , but Henric decided he would not lose the mirror again . This was the best way he could think of to keep it hidden and safe .

" Are you alright ? " He said to the mirror but got no response . He sighed , ever since yesterday when he had touched the mirror and the hand in the mirror , it had stopped talking . He was no longer thinking he was mad , atleast not completely , instead Henric was taking this as a magical experience or a miracle for him .

If only he knew what do with this miracle . A soft sigh left his mouth and he left his hand on his chest , caressing the mirror underneath like a pet or something even more precious .

...

The sky was bright with grey and white clouds , blowing and wisping around like fog on water or steam on a river . Outside , beside the orchard , two boys were drawing water from the well . They were Henric and Stuart , who had been told by Serena to get well water .

" I still don't understand why she asked us to get well water . We have a tap behind the kitchen , doesn't she know ? " Stuart said as he lifted the small tin if water from the dark bottomless void that was the well . It was made is dark blue green stones set into a circle less than three feet across in width . A small tin bucket was used to draw water from it and at its base , the well had green grass and mushrooms .

" She says it was for a new meal and only well water would do . " Henric answered and then he looked at Stuart's frown , " What is with that expression ? "

" What if it's a potion she's making to control our minds ? Or she is planning some horrid enchantment ? " Stuart voiced his fears but Henric gave him a small smile .

" If she was brewing potions then we'd be slaves by now . We eat her cooking everyday . " Henric said softly , " Besides , we have God to protect us incase of any nefarious magic . "

" Alright . I just worry , it's a witch in the kitchen ." Stuart said looking down .

" I thought we agreed she was a spiritual herbalist ? A Wiccan ? " He asked Stuart who nodded his head .

" Yes , but she doesn't really seem like the spiritual type . I haven't seen her praying or holding a crucifix . Is she a pagan ? " Stuart asked him .

" I do not believe in the Trinity god ." Serena's words came back to Henric and the boy sighed .

" She will find the Lord eventually . Especially with all the help from Sister Anthony . " Henric said and Stuart laughed .

" Those two hate each other . Everyone can tell , always glaring and the other ignoring . How did they even agree to her working here ? " Stuart asked and Henric shrugged .

" That is a mystery . Oh , Stuart do you mind if I draw ? You seem to not like it , which I gather is your reason for the chat ? " Henric said taking the rope from Stuart's hands and the other boy nodded gratefully .

" It's cold , the ropes are old and chafe the skin . And , the tin to draw water is not even a quarter the size of these buckets . " Stuart said kicking the two buts of water they had brought . They were medium large containers , able to hold ten liters of water .

" Well , so be it . " Henric said drawing faster than Stuart had been and the other boy smiled at this . It seemed Henric was being more himself again .

" Are you feeling better Henric ? " Stuart asked him and the other boy gave another small smile .

" Yes , I am fine . You've been asking me that for nearly a fort night . " Henric said and Stuart pouted his lips .

" You weren't fine earlier , I could feel it and see it . You seemed tired as if you were not sleeping or something . And then there was that trouble with Sister Becca over some mirror ... are you sure you're okay ? "

Henric could hear the concern in Stuart's voice and it made him sigh again .

" Do you believe in ghosts ? " Henric asked him as he filled a bucket with water .

" What do you mean , do I l believe in ghosts ?! " Stuart asked looking as if an apparition would appear right infront of him.

" Calm down , my friend . " Henric said patting his shoulder and giving him a reassuring smile , " I meant ... do you believe in something you can not see or touch and yet , you know it's real ? "

" Well , yes . Isn't that the base of our faith ? We can not see God or touch him but he is real . " Stuart said but Henric looked dissatisfied with that answer .

" Besides God , I mean . Like ghosts , spirits and such . " Henric said , " Do you believe in them . "

" If a witch is our chef , then yes , I believe in things beyond normal perception . " Stuart said with a smile and Henric nodded his head and continued to draw water .

" How is Link ? Haven't spoken to him in a while , have I ? Did he get hurt during the storm ? " Henric said softly .

" Link , he is alright . He went to the cellar with me . He wasn't the one who ran out into a storm the other night . " Stuart said and Henric gave him a small smile .

" Yes , yes , yes , you remind me everytime we see each other . " Henric said with light chuckle .

" I don't talk to you when we see each other out of our duties . So how can you say I tell you everytime ? " Stuart asked as Henric filled the second bucket completely .

" Your eyes say it all . You were worried about me and I'll forever be grateful . " Henric said putting the tin next to the well .

" If you want to show gratitude , do not go out into storms at night . " Stuart said lifting his bucket with his left hand .

{ I am sorry }

" What ? You are back ? " Henric said outloud and Stuart turned around and gave him a confused look .

" Who is back ? " He asked him .

" No , it's nothing . Let us go . " Henric said taking his bucket aswell and Stuart carried on walking back to the orphanage building .

" Sorry ? Sorry for what ? " Henric said softly so Stuart would not hear .

{ I am sorry for making you go into the storm } the voice said and Henric felt a light caress on his stomach that made him feel things he hadn't felt before .

" It's alright . I was trying to free you , like you asked me to . " He said softly .

{ Yes , you ... tried . } The voice said and Henric frowned . It sounded as if it was saying he had failed .