"Your knight? Me?" Ester asked, completely surprised.
I had never seen his eyes open so wide. His hazel irises, usually dark and reserved, seemed almost luminous from the shock.
A amused laugh escaped Zeyone's lips.
— It seems Zikron was right, you deserve to be fed. But first, tell me… do you have a goal? Something you desire?
His smile remained warm, but the weight of his masterful authority immediately made itself felt.
I understood right away. He was evaluating him. He wanted to know if Ester's ambitions would risk harming our family.
Still out of breath, Ester lowered his head. The confrontation had left him with marks, and the weight of Zeyone's pressure only worsened his condition. Yet, instead of backing down, he clenched his fists, resisting with all his might.
Then, in a serious and calm voice, he replied:
— I want to find my parents… and ask them why they abandoned me. Was my birth a curse? Was it necessary to leave me like that, alone?
His voice trembled slightly, but he remained upright. Then, in an unexpected gesture, he pressed his forehead to the ground, in an almost pitiful posture.
— I know it's selfish, he continued in a quieter voice. But honestly… I had no direction in my life. Meeting Zikron, five years ago, inspired me.
A heavy silence settled.
— After I accomplish my goal, I'll follow him. Because I know he will change this world, one way or another. And because he's the only one who reached out to someone that everyone else had rejected.
Zeyone's masterful pressure gradually dissipated as Ester's goals were heard, and he threw me a glance.
I looked around at everyone, but Luc's reaction made me think.
Luc had an unreadable face. It was as if he was trying to hide his astonishment.
I looked at Luc with furrowed brows, his reaction wasn't usual, I don't understand, wasn't he already aware of all this? He's supposed to know all the orphans' lives at his orphanage, right? Maybe I'm thinking too much.
Shaking my head to stop thinking about it, I helped Ester up and said:
- Ester, be my second and last knight. I will help you in everything you undertake.
Ester murmured his thanks. Pery looked at Luc and told him that now Ester would be with us and would come with us from now on, the staff would come to fetch the rest of Ester's belongings. Luc sincerely thanked us for taking care of Ester.
With that done, we left the orphanage, and the crowd from earlier had dissipated.
Sery, still behind me as if to protect my back, whispered in my ear:
"Are you really going to help the people of Ravencroft?"
"Yes, I'll take care of Ravencroft, but first, I need to gather information about the city and the two people who lead the gangs here."
"When are you planning to help them? Do you have a plan?" Sery repeated the same questions I had asked Luc. She asked them with a playful tone, but I knew she was very serious about this matter.
Ester, who had been listening to the conversation in silence, suddenly became more attentive, staring at me intently.
"Right now, I don't have enough power. But I'm planning a long-term strategy. If I act now, they won't take me seriously. I need more power before I can act. So, I'll help them minimally for now. If the count refuses to build housing in the underprivileged areas, I'll do it. If the elites don't care for the people, I will. But first, I need to gain power. I realize my vision was too limited; I need to understand more about the misery the inhabitants are living in. So, for the next two days, I'll observe."
I said this, but even though I know it will never be the same as living it, I need to see it with my own eyes to better understand.
The rain hadn't stopped, cold drops fell on my face. The air was fresh, and breathing in the breeze brought me a sense of clarity. Luc, still standing at the orphanage door, waved at us before leaving. Then, Ester placed an umbrella over my head. He seemed to take his role as protector very seriously. His face remained as grim as usual, but a mocking smile played on his lips. I wondered if this was his usual expression.
Sery told him he didn't have to do that, but Ester replied that he wanted to and that it wasn't a problem for him. Sery laughed and called him crazy. Ester simply smiled. I had the impression that Sery liked Ester and had now accepted him as a comrade.
People around us kept glancing at us. Suddenly, a child approached, claiming that there was no danger. Ester, with a certain reserve, allowed the child to hand me a gift. It was a heart made of paper, carefully crafted by the young girl in front of me.
"Young master, here, I made it all by myself," she said with a wide smile.
"Thank you. What's your name?" I asked warmly.
"Chrystal. Young master." She replied proudly, puffing out her chest.
The pride Chrystal displayed deeply moved me, and a light laugh escaped me. The little girl was covered in dirt, her clothes torn, and there were visible wounds on her arms and legs, signs of her difficult life. Yet, despite all that, she had made me a gift. It warmed my heart.
I placed my hand on her head and, instinctively, ruffled her hair. Then I asked her:
"How old are you, Chrystal?"
She raised her hand and showed five fingers, smiling.
"I'm five today!" she said, her eyes shining.
I don't know why, but my next actions were instinctive. I lifted her by the armpits and carried her like a child. I then asked her if she had any parents. She replied that her mother and father had died recently. Despite this tragedy, the little one kept smiling.
Sery seemed a little moved by the situation of the little girl. Ester's expression softened, but his jaw tightened, clearly affected. Zeyone, Raphaël, and Pery remained impassive, but I saw that Raphaël seemed like he wanted to help the little girl.
I had decided to take Chrystal with us to our quarters. On the way, Chrystal asked a multitude of questions, to which we all answered, one by one.
Chrystal awakened a strong sense of protection in me. I didn't know why I was showing so much affection for a child I didn't even know, but I felt that if I abandoned her, I would regret that decision for the rest of my life.