2.1: The Story of Kaisinoa

Kaisinoa used to be a wonderful place.

Legend has it it used to be the most powerful kingdom in the twelve states of the Jestwalls Highlands. Full of life, immense wealth and treasure and people rejoicing in every single good thing in its town squares. Every year, at the end of harvest, people from all over the twelve states would come over to Kaisinoa to celebrate the new life that had sprung.

But where were the Kaisinoa of the legends?

If one looked at Kaisinoa right now, they wouldn't be able to recognise it from the legends. Dark clouds that hung over it, threatening to rain soon; barren lands; broken-down houses covered up with ivy and creepers and empty streets. The movements of the people were blurred and quick. No one had time to greet one another. It had completely cut itself off from its other states. All they wanted was to mind their own business.

Kaisinoa was a symbol of impending doom now. Ever since the great war, Kaisinoa was under this dark spell, taking away all its happiness and mirth, making it a symbol for death and destruction. Everyone knew what happened, but no one wanted to talk about it.

The curse of the Blue Lily.

No one knew what it was, and yet it had adversely affected everything. Some say it was the emblem of the great war, others say it's a lady who'd been done wrong by this state. Others say Lily is the name to hide the true identity of the king who ruined it to this state. They often called him the Shadow King, but the thing was, no one had ever seen him.

Young men and women had often gone in search of this "Blue Lily" and never returned. How in the world were they supposed to find something that no one had ever seen?

Kaisinoa lost so many of its young and continued to deem it useless to keep finding the Lily and give up. But deep inside, everyone wanted their heroes to come back successful.

The adoption system in Kaisinoa was nothing but a journey of treachery and deception. Because of the huge amount of lives lost in the Great War, the government at Jestwalls had decided upon this system to provide its children with the necessities they needed. Anyone could adopt one child and it would provide them a fat paycheck to provide for that child's nourishment and welfare. The problem was Jestwall looked upon Kaisinoa from the bright side of things and, well, Kaisinoa wasn't bright at the moment.

Being adopted was perhaps the worst thing that had happened in Zack's life. If he could have chosen between dying and being adopted by his stepfather, he would have clearly chosen death. At least he would have been with the people he had ever loved instead of being tortured and raped by a man who couldn't give two shits about him.

And what was worse was that he couldn't do anything about it.

The day was cloudless, but the clouds hung over Kaisinoa's capital city, Orloriel, as usual. A sense of impending doom hung upon the town and yet work continued as usual. An old man stumbled upon the gates of Eliidon's orphanage, which looked to him as a gateway for free money.

This man was old and bent with age, with wrinkles crossing his entire body. A bald spot dominated his head and a spider tattoo occupied its hairy chest. They perhaps did the tattoo to make him look scarier, but all it did was intensify his ugliness with his wrinkles.

He somehow made it to the reception desk as he tried not to slur. He had put on his best outfit to look presentable enough for adoption. A white shirt and black pants- that was the cleanest outfit that he had at the moment.

"Excuse me." he drew on, trying his best to hide his slur. He had drunk some booze on his way just to boost his own confidence, but had only ended up drinking too much of it.

Still, he wasn't in his usual drunk state. He was sober enough to walk properly, or at least a few steps without stumbling.

The lady at the receptionist's desk was clearly unfazed by this man's appearance and she continued to type something on her computer, probably some important information.

"Excuse me, sweetheart." he cleared his throat, thinking that the receptionist had not noticed him at all.

The receptionist continued with her work.

"Sweetheart?"

"I'm sorry, this is an orphanage. If you're looking for a bar, please go to Lenotun Road. that place may have what you want."

The man blinked at her for a minute, allowing his alcohol induced brain to take in the information. After what seemed like ages, he finally understood what she had meant.

"No, no," he waved her off, "I don't think you understand. I am not here for alcohol. I am here to adopt a kid."

That's when the receptionist lady looked up. The statement had caught her attention.

"Y-you're here for the adoption."

The man smiled, showing his yellowing and decaying teeth, a clear look of vile and greed on his face. The receptionist woman snapped back to reality as she dialled a number to the main office.

"Mr Selkey, yes someone adopts a child… Name?..." she looked up at him, "what's your name?"

"Peter Kravinsky."

"Yes… Peter Kravinsky… shall I send him in? He looks sort of… fine. I will send him in."

She sighed and looked up at Peter.

"Mr Selkey will meet you for the adoption process." She explained, "Go down the hall and the first door to the left is his office."

Peter sent a wink in the receptionist's direction before walking to Mr Selkey's office. The receptionist shuddered, clearly feeling the vile and evil vibes from the place where he had been standing a minute ago.

'God help the child he will adopt.' she prayed.

Mr Selkey's office wasn't much different from the rest of the orphanage. It was more like it. The same faded grey walls, the same cracks in them and the same gloomy feeling lingered around it and Mr Selkey was seated right behind an oak wood table.

Mr Selkey looked like someone one would describe as a typical man of power in the system. He was tall, sharp looking and dressed in a blue waistcoat that immediately gave the vibes of "I hold the power." Peter would have almost cowered in his presence had it not been for the alcohol running in his blood right now.

"Mr Kravinsky." Mr Selkey's voice could send shivers down anyone's spine. It took almost the whole willpower present in him not to run away.

"Please take a seat." he pointed to the chair in front of him. Peter did as told.

"So Mr Kravinsky." Mr Selkey rested his chin on his hand. "My receptionist tells me you want to adopt one of our orphans."

"That would be right." Peter declared.

Mr Selkey eased back in his seat.

"I wonder, Mr Kravinsky, why do you want to adopt a kid? Do you have the financial condition to support a child? Or do you want the money?"

Peter squirmed under Selkey's intense stare. If looks could kill, he would be six feet under.

"N-nothing," he stammered, "I just want a kid of my own to keep me company. I am a very busy man, you know."

Mr Selkey didn't seem to buy Peter's explanation, but still nodded.

"So what type of child do you want to adopt, Mr Kravinsky?"

"Oh, nothing much, just a small quiet boy, around 12 to 13 years old. Nothing more or less."

Mr Selkey's shrouded eyes gave away no feeling of anything, which seemed to have struck a nerve in Peter. He seemed to have nothing to do with him as soon as he would be out of this orphanage. Mr Selkey picked up his telephone receiver, probably to the receptionist.

"Send Zack Odien… yes, that quiet kid no one wants…"

Peter stiffened, 'a quiet kid no one wants'?

The sound of the opening door snapped Peter back to reality. He turned, only to find the receptionist and a black-haired boy with her. He was tall for his age, his skin a weird translucent white and bags under his eyes. He seemed really malnourished in this place.

"Morning Zack," Mr Selkey's voice was as sharp as a knife. "Did you cause any trouble today?"

"No, sir." his voice was a murmur.

"Zack, this man will adopt you, be a good boy and don't cause trouble, alright?"

"Yes, sir."

"Mr Kravinsky," Mr Selkey turned to Peter, "You sure you want this child?"

"Yes."

"Great, Tracy, bring the papers."