Mystwood orphanage
Pitter! Patter! It rained, one lone boy stood drenching.
'Hiyaa!'
The coachman yelled at the horses and drove the carriage away from the boy.
Drip! Drip! Drip! The boy took deep breaths as he tried to breath under this cold downpour happening in this cold weather.
He stood in front of a 3 story building made of somekind of black wood.
A huge sign hung in front of the building. [Mystwood orphanage] it read.
'How melancholic, this place feels nauseous to me or is it just my head that feels like it?'
The boy saw a woman wearing a brown dress coming out of the orphanage with a black umbrella.
He tried to makeout her features but his vision started to blurr, slowly he leaned back and then fell unconscious. Thud!
...
'Jerome! Look here! Baah!'
A woman in her thirties was playing with Jerome, she was his mother.
Black hair and grey eyes with a fair complexion, some streaks of green hair could be found on her head.
She wore a pink dress with floral pattern, jewelry adorning her beautiful face.
'Mama im to old to be scared by that now, is that all you got?'
Jerome foliate, he was the son of Silphia and Jeremiah Foliate. His mother Silphia was a mage with part elf lineage.
She was well known in the capital of the westeria Kingdom, Silphia of the winds.
The mage who controls wind like no other, she could cast magic upto 3rd tier.
His father Jeremiah was a retired knight who started his own business from what he saved from his days as a royal knight.
He was decently famous himself, it was said if he didn't retire he could have been the next knight commander.
'Don't tease your mother to much now Jerome, good kids respect their parents.'
Jeremiah stood behind Jerome with his hand placed on his hips, trying to intimidate Jerome.
'I do respect both of you.'
Jerome pouted and folded his hand in front of his chest and turned his head sideways.
Not making eye contact with Jeremiah, who had brown hair and green eyes.
'If you really respect us then why did you not come to pay your tribute to us at our funeral?'
Jeremiah spoke with the same calm voice but his face looked colder to Jerome. He leaned in closer to him.
Jerome's face drained of his previous colorful complexion. Pat!
Silphia placed her hands on Jeroms shoulders and leaned in very close.
'Why dont you answer your father Jerome? Do you really respect us?'
Silphia's eyes turned into dark circles that seemed to suck everything in.
'N-no, mama, papa!'
Everything around Jerome started to get sucked into Silphia's eyes until it pulled Jerome as well.
'Aahhhh!!!'
Jerome flung the blanket that was covering him and pushed himself halfway up from the bed.
Hup! Hup! Hup! Jerome breathed heavily like an exhausted dog, his forehead filled with cold sweat.
He wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked at the wall clock mounted above the door.
4:30 in the morning, Jerome got up off his bed and took a cold bath, his room was rather big with a lot of amenities.
Thump! Thump! Thump! He took heavy steps towards the wardrobe, he picked out a black pant and a blue cotton shirt.
His wardrobe consisted of only 4 pairs of clothes, two pairs of shoes and nothing more.
While it wasn't as lavish as what it used to be a year ago it was still better than most people living here.
Knock! Knock! Someone knocked hard on the door to Jeromes room.
'Jerome! Its time to wake up, breakfast is in half an hour, get ready!'
A young boys voice, no older that 10. Jerome didn't respond, instead he sat on the bed crosslegged and closed his eyes.
For half an hour Jerome stayed in that position while his neck and head swayed and jolted like some kind of lizard that was thrown in a hot cast iron pan.
Fuu! Jerome let out a warm breathe of air as he opened his eyes, they were exhausted, dry even.
He saw the time on the mounted clock, it was time for breakfast.
Jerome left his room and walked down the stairs, the dining hall was on the ground floor with a giant table and many chairs.
About 30 kids of various ages were sitting on their respective seats, one boy pulled a seat back for Jerome.
'Thank you Danny, also appreciate you waking me up at 5 am.'
Danny, a 10 year old orphan with blonde hair and brown eyes smiled profusely while playing with his hair.
'Anytime! So, did you awaken your magical powers yet?'
Danny asked innocently as he swayed in his seat and kicked his small legs front and back under the table.
'Not yet, maybe soon.'
Jerome spoke with a warm smile, he particularly favored Danny a boy who came in the orphanage 3 months ago.
Jerome was 4 years older than Danny, its has been 2 years since he moved into this orphanage.
(Two years? So many things happened since i woke up after falling into a coma.)
When Jerome first came to the orphanage he fell unconscious because of the mental stress he was under at that time.
When he fell down he hurt his head very badly, he was in a coma for one year.
One year, wasted in bed doing nothing. His life hanging by a thread, only alive because of the potions injected in his veins.
'Okay kids! Lets pray before we eat.'
A sweet old voice broke Jerome out of his trance and brought him back to the present.
This voice belonged to the Headmaster of the orphanage, lady Jenny Mystwood, who ran the Mystwood orphanage which was right outside the Westerian capital city of Minerva.
'Okay everyone, eat slowly and dont choke on your food, there's enough for all of you so don't fight each other over food kay'.'
Everyone was served two loafs of bread with a stew made with meat and vegetables.
The bread was soft and fresh while the stew was hot and savoury with a thick consistency.
Jerome tore a bit of bread and dipled it in the stew, he has been eating this same stew for a year now.
Its tasty, not to extravagant or humble. Most people could not afford this level of food on a daily basis.
'Alright everyone, dont forget to be grateful today. Now you are free to do anything you want until dinner time. Go now, play and laugh!'
Jenny spoke mildly and sate back on her arm chair knitting socks for the winter.
Jerome went back to his room, passing by some kids who greeted him warmly.
Most kids stayed in bunk beds but Jerome stayed in his own room with an attached bathroom.
Why did he have such luxuries? It was simple, his father Jeremiah was a careful man and had made arrangements for when he might abruptly pass away.
Trusts that hold his fortune and transfers them to Jerome when he comes of age, in Westeria a person comes of age at the age of 17 and is then considered an adult.
Jerome was 14 right now, his birthday is on the 18th day of the 9th month which is 2 months from now.
At the age of 15 a priest or druid blesses the person to help them awaken their powers, while this doesn't have much effects if you don't have talent for magic or martial arts people still decide to get it anyway.
'Jerome? Are you going to visit your parents grave today? Count Dino's daughter has left the capital for a neighbouring city to the west and will not return until next week, you are free to explore the capital as you wish dear.'
'Thank you for informing me Mrs Mystwood.'
Count Dino, he was a friend of Jeremiah's. Tsk! Jerome clicked his tounge at the thought of that man.
(That man, he's as spineless as ever. If anything he could at least have asked his daughter to let me attend my parents funeral. Sigh!)
Jerome sighed internally, his expression becoming sad. He didn't hate Count Dino, he had met him a couple of times before his parents untimely demise.
Slap! Jerome slapped both his cheeks using his hands and shook his head aggressively.
'No point in wasting time thinking about past matters, i should instead focus on my day ahead.'
Jerome washed his face and brushed his teeth, he took out a small pouch and kept it in his pocket.
'I should have enough for today, maybe i'll buy some toys for the other kids.'
Jerome departed from the orphanage and walked on a road through shrubs and dirt roads.
The walk to the capital was brief, 10 minutes at most. What took more time was actually getting inside the capital.
The line stretched for over 100 meters, the wait was exhausting. Half an hours with wagons and vagrants.
Finally it was Jeromes turn to enter the capital, the guards questioned Jerome.
'Halt! What's your purpose of visiting the capital?'
The guard wore a full metal helmet and carried a spear with a shiny silver tip.
'Im going to visit my parents grave in the grand cemetery, here.'
Jerome gave the guard a small piece of blue crystal stone, the guard took the stone and gave it to the person behind the gate.
'Pass, next!'
Jerome walked inside the gate and entered the capital. This was his 20th trip to the capital.
The streets were as lively as he remembered, the colorful stores and buildings with people of different stature and races.
Elfs, humans and dwarfs were the most common races.
Elves, They were fair long eared beings blessed by nature and proficient in magic and agile on their feets.
Silphia, Jeroms mother was a half elf herself. Jerome too had some elf bloodline. Those green streaks of hair were his proof of his elf bloodline.
Dwarfs were short but muscular beings who excelled in forging and craftsmanship.
They have created many great artifacts and equipments, best quality equipments always came from dwarven forges.
Humans were one of the most common races all around the globe and this continent.
Adaptive, good learners and their descendants carried on their bloodlines and histories.
'Now where was that again? There it is!'
Jerome looked around and found a flower shop by the capitals entrance.
[Mare's flower shop]
The old lady at the flower shop waved at Jerome and greeted him warmly.
'Why hello there lad, have you come to visit your parents grave again today?'
'Yes, the usual please.'
Old lady gave Jerome a bouquet of flowers that were purple colored, this were called mourning flowers.
This were specifically used for mourning your loved ones and family.
'Here you go, one crystal shard.'
Crystal shards, a blue crystal chip that is broken from a full crystal coin.
Crystal coin is the currency of this world, used by all the races. Its a naturally forming energy crystal thats in the form of a perfect coin.
Most poor households need 10 crystal coins a year to survive and middle class households need 50.
Rich families can thrive on a 100 and aristocrats need at least a 1000 a year to survive.
But people didn't use a whole coin to buy things that would be impractical.
Instead they are broken into small pieces and 100 pieces form 1 crystal coin.
The road to the grand cemetery was adjacent to the capital's entrance.
It was a long and lonely road that winded around from the south side of the capital to the east.
This particular road was only used by people who came to visit their loved once.
Jerome had been accustomed to this road by now. Stone path with huge trees plantes by the sides.
The walk was an hour long, some people passed by Jerome while they returned from the cemetery.
Some had sad faced, some smiled while some looked disgusted.
The gates of the grand cemetery were very huge. 10 meters high and 8 meters wide.
There were two enormous gargoyles perched on each side of the gates wall.
Jerome slowly and steadily took his steps, his parents grave was on the east side of the cemetery.
Cemetery itself was 10 sq km in area, many famous people were buried in the north side.
Poor and middle class people were buried in the west side while the Rich and affluent were buried in the east.
South side was reserved only for the royal family and relatives. It was the only guarded section of the cemetery.
'1, 2, 3,...19!'
Jerome stood above the 19th grave stone and read the memorial stone.
[Here lay Jeremiah and Silphia Foliate. Loved parents, friends and companions of many. Proud parents and teachers.]
Jerome cleaned the memorial plate and placed the flowers below it.
'Mom, dad, thank you for visiting me in my dreams today. While it wasn't the best dream im still grateful, so today... Thats what happened since the last time i visited. You take care now.'
Drip! Drip! Jerome felt the drops of waters fall on his face, he touched it and felt some more drop on his back.
It was raining again, Jerome disliked rain. Specifically when it poured heavily, it reminded him of that particular day.
Before the rain could gain anymore traction Jerome ran to a nearby monument which had benches inside placed in a circular formation.
People who normally came here to visit the dead would sometimes seat here on such rainy days.
Jerome sat at one of the benches, overlooking his parents grave. The rain started to pour down more heavily as time passed.
-15 minutes later-
Step! Step! Step! Jerome heard someone's footsteps, he surveyed the cemetery and found a silhouette of a man running towards the Monument.
The figure approached rapidly, he gained more speed as he saw the monument.
'Haa! Haa! Haa! Damn! This dog rain, westeria's rain is very, very,'
'Untimely?'
'Yeah thats it! Untimely!'
The person was a half elf with silver hair and green eyes. They also had a leather bag, the kind that scribes normally carried.
Realisation dawned on his face as he straightened his posture and introduced himself.
'How rude of me, my name is Alfred and im a journalist for the peoples time newspaper.'
Alfred extended his hand towards Jerome, who in turn shook Alfreds hand with a firm grip.
'Jerome Foliate at your service, what were you doing here Alfred? I reckon asking the dead how they died don't produce much result now does it?'
Hahahahaha Alfread laughed heartily, he had a sense for everyday humor.
'No it dont, wait i think i have heard that name before Foliate was it?'
Realisation dawned on Alfred, everyone in the capital knew Silphia and Jeremiah were famous people in the capital.
Both were tier three adventurer and knight, there were less than a handful of such people in the capital.
'Yes, precisely the once you think. Did you know them?'
Alfred took a seat next to Jerome, on the bench next to him but still on the edge.
'No but i heard about them, they to died in that accident right?'
The accident Alfred was talking about was well known for the casualties that incured that day.
'Indeed, the dragons doom. That was a grim day for many.'
Alfread took out a book and pen and eyed Jerome with interest.
'I have also heard bits and pieces of your story about the engagement with Count Dino's daughter, frankly speaking im more interested in your life. Now that we have had this fateful encounter will you tell me your story?'
Alfred clicked his pen but Jerome didn't answer, Alfred put the book and pen back in his leather bag.
'Im sorry Jerome, that was very...insensitive of me. Please dont mind me.'
The heavy rain passed and the clouds dispersed.
'Well then Jerome Foliate, i Alfred will now take my leave, have a nice day!'
Alfred left the monument after saying so, he headed to the south side of the cemetery.
Step! Step! Step! Someone walked out from behind one of the pillars of the monument.
'Dont you want to share your story? It can lighten your heart you know?'
An old man with defined wrinkles and line on his face walked out from behind the stone pillar.
Who knew how long this man was standing behind the giant stone pillar.
'Would you be interested in hearing my story then? Headmaster Gregory?'
