15. Unexpected Child 1

After completing her preparations, Seraphina decided it was time to send out the parcel she had prepared. She asked Derrick to accompany her, as she considered him the most reliable and strong of her employees, a suitable safeguard against any potential trouble.

As they walked through the bustling streets toward the post office, Seraphina and Derrick chatted about the day's events.

"Derrick," Seraphina began, "I've been thinking about improving our store's communication. It's quite tedious to send formal letters every time we need to contact someone or take an order."

Derrick nodded in agreement. "I understand. It would be much easier to have a more immediate way to reach out to people."

"I saw something interesting earlier," Seraphina continued. "I think we shoul buy a Voxa. It's been discounted recently, and I think it could really benefit our store."

Derrick looked intrigued. "That a great idea "

"yes...," Seraphina explained. "You just use the magic crystal to power it. The signal is reliable, and it's perfect for sending messages or making video calls. It's not like the internet, but it's a step up from the old ways of communication."

As they continued their conversation, they reached the post office. The building was a small, efficient establishment with a line of people waiting to send their letters and parcels.

Seraphina approached the clerk and handed over her parcel. "I'd like this sent to the address below. It needs to arrive by tomorrow morning. Since it's within the city, I understand there's no need for extra charges."

The clerk nodded, taking the parcel. "That's correct. For city deliveries, it's just one bronze coin per letter. I'll make sure it's delivered by tomorrow morning."

Seraphina paid the fee and watched as the clerk prepared the parcel for dispatch. With her errand completed, she and Derrick headed back towards the store.

On their way, Seraphina's thoughts returned to the communication device she had seen earlier. "I'm really hoping to get that device today. It's quite a useful tool for modernizing our communication."

They arrived at the shop where the device was sold, a small but well-stocked store filled with various magical and technological gadgets. Seraphina walked in eagerly.

"Excuse me," she said to the shopkeeper, "I'm here to purchase the communication device. I saw it was on sale earlier."

The shopkeeper looked apologetic. "I'm afraid that particular device has already been sold. We only had one on sale. If you still want one, you'll need to pay the full price."

Seraphina's heart sank momentarily, but she quickly composed herself. "How much is it without the discount?"

"It's three silver coins," the shopkeeper replied.

Despite the setback, Seraphina was determined. "Very well. I'll take it."

She paid the full price and received the device, feeling a mix of disappointment and satisfaction. Derrick helped her carry the device back to the store.

As they walked back, Derrick commented, "It's a shame about the discount, but at least we got the device. It should be a great asset for the store."

Seraphina smiled. "Yes, it will be worth every coin. Now we'll be able to communicate more efficiently and handle orders with greater ease."

Upon reaching the store, Seraphina set up the new communication device, ready to test its features. The small green crystal in the device glowed softly, indicating it was powered and ready to use. Seraphina felt a sense of accomplishment as she prepared to make her first call, envisioning the many ways this new tool would benefit her business.

After a long and exhausting day, Seraphina found herself alone in the house as night settled over the city. The workers had left hours ago, and the store was dark and quiet. She decided to unwind with a relaxing bath, eager to wash away the stress of the day. As she began preparing the bath, the comforting sound of water filling the tub was suddenly interrupted by a noise coming from downstairs. A sudden crash echoed through the silent house, making her heart race.

Seraphina froze, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew she was in the central part of the city, a bustling area filled with shops, but at this hour, most of the stores were closing, and the streets were growing quiet. The thought that someone could be inside her store was terrifying. She was just a young woman living alone, with no neighbors close by to come to her aid.

Her pulse quickened as she cautiously moved to the window, peering outside. The streets were still lit, and a few stores remained open, their lights glowing warmly in the early evening. It was only 7 PM, and the city was still alive with activity, but the store itself was already dark, the lights turned off earlier when the last customer had left. She could see people walking by, unaware of the dread creeping into her heart.

Another loud thud from downstairs shattered her thoughts. Seraphina hurriedly threw on some clothes over her nightgown, her hands trembling as she realized she had no weapon, nothing to protect herself with.

"Why didn't I ever think to keep something for protection?" she berated herself. She rushed to the kitchen and grabbed the first thing she could find—a kitchen knife.

With the knife clutched tightly in her hand, she crept towards the staircase, her footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floor. The store was eerily quiet except for the occasional creak of the old building. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she flicked on the light, flooding the room with a harsh glow.

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the source of the noise. A small child, no more than two years old, stood in the middle of the store. The door wasn't broken, it was ajar, swinging slightly as if someone had just pushed it open. Seraphina's fear turned into confusion. How could such a small child create such a loud noise? And how had the child even gotten inside?

The child was barely walking, his tiny legs unsteady as he wobbled towards her. His clothes were little more than rags, a rough sack-like fabric that hung loosely from his thin frame. His hair was matted, and his face was smeared with dirt, but despite his pitiful appearance, there was a certain innocence in his wide eyes that tugged at her heart.

Cautiously, Seraphina picked him up, holding him close as she scanned the room for any other signs of an intruder. But there was no one else. It was just her and the child. She stepped outside, cradling the boy in her arms, and looked around the street. The usual crowd was thinning as the night deepened, but as her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she noticed a figure in the distance.

A woman stood a short distance away, her clothes as tattered as the child's. The moment she saw Seraphina looking at her, she turned and bolted, running as fast as her legs could carry her. Without thinking, Seraphina set the child down gently and ran after the woman, the need to understand what was happening driving her forward.

The woman was weak and slow, clearly malnourished and exhausted. It didn't take long for Seraphina to catch up to her. When she did, the woman stumbled and fell to the ground, breathing heavily as she pleaded for mercy.

"Please, don't hurt me," the woman gasped, her voice hoarse and desperate.

Seraphina knelt beside her, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "I'm not going to hurt you. But why did you leave that child in my store? Who is he?"

The woman shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her dirty face. "Please I beg of you take care of him, I can't let him suffered like me. Please, I didn't know what else to do."

Seraphina's heart ached at the woman's words. "Why my store?why not an orphanage?"

"It is not a good place," the woman admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "They will send him back they will never accepted a child like him. I saw your door was open, and I thought it was a sign. Please, just take care of him."

Before Seraphina could ask more, the woman scrambled to her feet and fled, disappearing into the shadows of the alleyway. Seraphina watched her go, her mind swirling with questions she knew would never be answered.

Returning to the store, Seraphina locked the door carefully this time and picked up the child, who had been waiting patiently. His clothes were rough and dirty, and his tiny body shivered as she carried him upstairs. She knew she had to take care of him, at least for the night.

The bath she had drawn for herself was still warm, so she gently undressed the child, noting the dirt and grime that coated his skin. He didn't protest as she bathed him, his large eyes watching her silently. He was so quiet, so obedient, that it made her wonder what kind of life he had endured to be this way. As she cleaned him, she noticed a small mark on his back—a symbol that resembled a bird, but she couldn't quite place what type it was.

She spoke to him softly as she washed him,

"What is your name little one? How old are you? Can you speak?"

But the boy remained silent. His silence was unnerving, but she pushed the thought aside. Once he was clean, she realized she had nothing for him to wear. Improvising, she cut up her nightgown, fashioning a makeshift outfit for him.

"You'll stay here tonight," she told him gently as she dressed him. "Tomorrow, we'll go to the orphanage and find a place for you."

As she spoke, she heard a faint growling sound. The child's stomach rumbled quietly, but loud enough for her to notice. He was hungry. Quickly, she went to the kitchen and found a loaf of bread, warming some milk and adding a spoonful of sugar to make it more palatable.

When she returned, the boy eagerly accepted the food, wolfing down the bread with a hunger that made her heart clench. She offered him more milk, watching as he drank it down, his tiny hands clutching the cup tightly. When he finished, he tugged on her makeshift nightgown, looking up at her with wide, innocent eyes.

"You've had enough for now," Seraphina said gently, smiling as she knelt beside him. "Eating too much at once isn't good for you."

She checked his small body for any injuries or scars, relieved to find nothing except the mysterious bird symbol on his back. His face was more peaceful now, a faint hint of life returning to his eyes as he yawned sleepily.

With a tender smile, Seraphina carried him to her bed, tucking him in carefully. The child snuggled into the soft blankets, his eyes closing almost immediately as he drifted into a peaceful sleep. Seraphina watched him for a long moment, her mind racing with thoughts of what tomorrow would bring.

As she lay down beside him, the events of the night replayed in her mind. She had never cared for a child before, and the responsibility weighed heavily on her. But as she watched the boy sleep, she knew she couldn't abandon him. Not now, not after everything.

With a deep sigh, Seraphina closed her eyes, hoping that sleep would come soon. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for tonight, she was content to simply be there for this little boy who had stumbled into her life.

As the first light of dawn streamed through the window, Seraphina stirred from her sleep, the gentle warmth of the sun waking her. She blinked her eyes open to see the little boy still soundly asleep beside her. His peaceful face tugged at her heartstrings, a mix of emotions she hadn't expected to feel. Carefully, she slipped out of bed, not wanting to wake him.

Seraphina tiptoed to the kitchen, her thoughts racing. *What do children even eat at this age?* she wondered, unsure of what to prepare for breakfast. Her mind jumped to a soft sandwich, then to vegetables. She thought aloud, "Can he even eat that? I think two-year-olds can eat it... right?" The uncertainty gnawed at her.

She headed downstairs to the store and picked up the phone to call Elara, her young employee who, despite being only 13, had a wealth of experience caring for her younger siblings. When Elara answered, her voice was tinged with surprise. "Miss Seraphina? Is everything alright?"

"Good morning, Elara," Seraphina began, trying to sound casual but her worry seeped through. "I need your help. What do kids eat? Specifically, a two or three-year-old?"

Elara paused, then asked, "Is there a child with you, Miss Seraphina?"

Seraphina hesitated before replying, "Yes, there's a little boy here. He's around that age, I think."

Elara's tone softened, now filled with curiosity and concern. "Well, they can eat most normal foods, just make sure to cut it into smaller pieces so they don't choke. Soft foods are best, like bread, fruits, and maybe some scrambled eggs."

Seraphina sighed in relief, "Thank you, Elara. I really appreciate it."

"No problem, Miss Seraphina. Let me know if you need anything else."

Seraphina hung up the phone and hurried back upstairs. As she entered the living room, she was met with the sight of the little boy standing there, his tiny figure dwarfed by the room. He looked lost, searching for her with wide eyes. The moment he spotted her, he ran over, wrapping his small arms around her legs.

The sight melted Seraphina's heart, and she found herself smiling down at him. She knelt to his level, gently brushing a hand through his now-clean hair. "I'm going to make us some breakfast, okay? You can wait on the sofa."

But the boy didn't want to leave her side. He clung to her nightgown, his tiny hands refusing to let go. Seraphina sighed softly, realizing she wouldn't be able to cook without him nearby. She picked him up, balancing him on her left hip as she made her way to the kitchen.

With the boy securely in her arms, Seraphina began to prepare breakfast. She managed to crack eggs into a bowl and whisk them with her right hand while keeping him entertained by talking to him. "You're a quiet one, aren't you?" she mused aloud, her voice gentle and soothing.

The boy watched her with wide, curious eyes, his small fingers occasionally reaching out to touch her hair or the fabric of her gown. For a moment, Seraphina felt like a mother, caring for a child as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She marveled at how instinctive it felt, despite the circumstances.

As she cooked, the smell of scrambled eggs and toasted bread filled the air, and the boy's stomach let out a soft growl. Seraphina chuckled, "Hungry already? Don't worry, breakfast is almost ready."

She placed the boy down in a chair and set a plate in front of him, carefully cutting the food into small, manageable pieces. The boy looked at her with trust in his eyes, something she hadn't expected to see from a child who had been left abandoned. As he started to eat, Seraphina watched him closely, making sure he was okay with the food.

Seeing him eat so heartily filled her with a strange sense of satisfaction. For now, the worries of the night before were set aside. All that mattered was that this little boy was safe and cared for. The questions about his past and how he ended up at her store could wait—right now, it was time for breakfast, and she was determined to make sure he felt secure.