Vandresk. The capital of the kingdom. A vast city located at the very heart of the realm. Its wealth comes from agriculture and livestock raised in the surrounding lands. As the trade hub of the kingdom, its security is tightly enforced. The city is divided into two parts. The first houses the lower humans, while the center of the city is a grand fortified district surrounded by walls. Here live the high nobles and the king himself. All government centers and the royal council reside within.
Our story takes place in one of the orphanages located within this central district.
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First Victim: Varelin
Varelin was a kind-hearted man. He worked as a clerk and had been appointed by the king to manage the orphanage. Cause of death: 15 stab wounds. No culprit was ever found.
Second Victim: Garrik
After the case was closed, Garrik was appointed by the king to manage the orphanage. He was a hot-tempered and aggressive man. Cause of death: poisoning. Again, no culprit was found.
Third Victim: Brother
Brother replaced Garrik. The case was reopened. This time precautions were taken. It was suspected that the killer was either one of the children or a staff member. Garrik had been a powerful knight—he was appointed mainly to find the murderer. His strength would have allowed him to subdue the killer. Cause of death: suicide. After him, Rowen was appointed.
Following these events, the public began to see the orphanage as a cursed place. A house of death, where every caretaker ends up dead. Some council members suggested the king shut it down—but he refused.
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Thamir was about to start eating.
Everyone had sat at the table. Rowen sat at the head. The children had begun eating. Just as Thamir was about to take his first spoonful—
"Brother, I need to talk to you urgently. Can we go to our room?"
"What is it this time, Serelis?"
"I said it's urgent. Don't put me in a tough spot."
"Alright, alright. Let's talk and come back to dinner."
He stood up and, bowing his head,
"Master Rowen, we request ten minutes. May we?"
Rowen, surprised, responded,
"Be back before your food gets cold, children."
Serelis had also stood up. While the rest of the children continued enjoying their delicious meal, Thamir was visibly annoyed. He grabbed Serelis' hand without a word and headed to their room.
Once inside—
"Brother, the thing is… I've fallen in love with a boy."
Thamir paused for a moment and burst out laughing.
"This is what ruined my dinner? Haha! Are you messing with me?"
As he said this, Thamir suddenly clutched his head in pain and collapsed.
"BROTHER? ARE YOU OKAY? WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU?"
"I feel sleepy... My head hurts. Can you carry me to bed?"
Serelis was laughing the whole time.
"Of course."
She gently helped her brother to the bed. As Thamir fell asleep instantly, she whispered:
"Don't worry, brother. They were just pawns. They'll never replace my queen."
Serelis sat beside the bed. The door had been locked.
---
Thamir did not dream. He slowly opened his eyes. The ceiling he saw wasn't the one he was used to. As he lifted his head, he realized he was in a hospital. Confused, two large knights entered from his right. Before he could understand anything, he heard their conversation.
"Are you alright?"
The knight with glasses asked.
"I'm fine, but where am I? Who are you? What's going on?"
Thamir couldn't comprehend anything. The knight's answer shocked him.
"Calm down. You are one of only two survivors. We have some questions—please listen carefully."
"WHAT IS GOING ON? DAMN IT!"
The knight told him that everyone in the orphanage had died. Apparently, they had turned on each other—children and staff alike had begun killing each other. Everyone… except two.
"WHERE IS SERELIS?!"
"Calm down, son. She's alive. Only you two made it out. We're just as baffled. Detectives are at the scene. It's a miracle you're alive."
Thamir was losing his mind.
"Everyone died? How? Is this a dream? A nightmare?"
"It seems you know nothing. Just answer this: what were you doing last, and what do you remember?"
Thamir frantically recounted every moment he could remember. At the end—
"You'll be adopted by a noble family. There's nothing to fear now. I understand what you've been through, but be calm and rest. Your sister is in the room next to yours. If you want to know more, talk to the doctor. You're old enough to be a knight now. Be a man."
With that, the knight with glasses and his companion silently left the room.
Thamir lay back in the bed.
"I hope I wake up back at the orphanage…"
But reality would not change.
The massacre spread through the kingdom like wildfire. It made headlines everywhere.
The king called it a disaster—and raised the kingdom's security to the highest level.