Tale of the Gifted Beings

chapter 22

chapter 22

DAYS HAD PASSED since Andreus arrived in Miss Alice's home, and as days went on he had slowly become comfortable with the rest of the gifted orphans. I observed his transformation from a guarded and cautious newcomer to a more relaxed and open-minded individual. He had even bonded with Wallace, whose composed nature seemed to complement Andreus's own. As for myself, I continued to focus on my own business. I would often bring a bouquet to the makeshift grave for Elliot. I believed that somehow he's still watching over me.

As I ventured to the back of the orphanage with a fresh bouquet of flowers to place on Elliot's grave, I stopped on my tracks as I noticed Bryce standing there. His back was turned toward me, so I was sure he didn't see me. He faced the grave as I continued to observe him. My curiosity piqued; I had never seen him visit Elliot's grave before, and I wondered what had brought him here.

As I approached, I hesitated, not wanting to intrude on Bryce. Instead, I watched from a distance as he stood there for a few more minutes before eventually walking away. Once he was out of sight, I proceeded to the grave, intending to lay my flowers down. As I neared, I could feel my heart swell with a questionable emotion upon seeing that Bryce had left a bunch of flowers at Elliot's grave. There, he placed white roses on top of his grave. I didn't know why he had chosen to do this, but I was grateful for it. Perhaps our conversation on the porch one night had revealed the importance of Elliot in my life, and Bryce had decided to honor that. Why? I do not know.

I placed my flowers next to Bryce's, their vibrant colors mingling together in a beautiful light. For a moment, I closed my eyes, allowing a silent prayer of thanks to escape my lips. I was grateful for the people in my life, both those who had passed and those who were still with me. In that moment, I felt happy. In that moment, I couldn't help but smile.

As I turned to leave, I couldn't help but think about the many mysteries that still lingered in Miss Alice's home. How gifted orphans with unique abilities were brought together under one roof for reasons that were not entirely clear. All we know is that we were here to escape from the men in black and their mysterious group. And yet, despite the uncertainty, we had formed our own little family, bound together by mutual respect and understanding.

I walked back towards the orphanage with a contented sigh, feeling the warmth of friendship and the promise of new beginnings. In this ever-changing world, I knew that I could rely on those around me and that together we would face whatever challenges came our way. And with each day, our bonds would only grow stronger as we forged our paths into the unknown future.

***

The sun set low on the horizon as I sat with Mamori. She had been working for hours with Augustus within the past couple of days, improving her control over her gift and learning how to amplify it further. The both of them would perform their session, where Mamori was tasked with meditating. Of course, she couldn't contain herself at first, knowing that she's this hyperactive person. However, the improvement in her abilities was nothing short of remarkable; it is pretty evident in her progress, though.

As we sat there, I couldn't help but notice Noelle on the other side of the courtyard. Her dark, past-shoulder-length hair seemed to absorb the sunlight, making her appear like a living shadow. She was distant, even hostile, but I was never one to let such things bother me. Noelle had always been that way since I arrived at the orphanage, and I couldn't help but feel that there was more to her story.

"Noelle's been alone lately. I mean, she is always by herself. But lately, she's been locking herself in her room," Mamori said, noticing that I was staring at her.

"It's important for us to understand her, you know," Mamori added. "Despite her hostility, she needs support and empathy. Maybe, with time, she'll see that not everyone in this world is to be resented."

"I hope so," was all I could say.

As I listened, I saw Noelle leave. She was still distant, the sunlight casting shadows over her face, but I felt a newfound empathy for her. For some reason, something told me to approach her—to talk. I then decided to come close to her, my heart anxious, unsure of how she would react. But I don't know. Something told me to reach out, that she could be safe.

"Hey," I said softly, my voice barely audible over the rustling leaves of the trees.

She just glared at me, not saying anything. She then sat on a vacant swing on the playground at the back of the academy. I followed her and sat on the other side.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"I..." I stated. "I, uh, I just wanted to say that if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."

She looked at me, her eyes questioning, but I could see the faintest glimmer of vulnerability in them. She didn't respond, but I could tell that my words had reached her. I knew it would take time for her to trust me and to let me down. I mean, I remembered our first encounter at the orphanage and how Noelle had been so hostile towards me. I knew, even then, that there must have been a story hidden behind her actions.

Also, Noelle's ability was powerful, and she wielded it with a certain air of arrogance that I found both intriguing and infuriating. We had never been close, and I knew that she despised me. Yet, somehow, despite our differences, I found myself feeling a strange sense of empathy towards her. Perhaps it was because I understood, on some deep and primal level, that Noelle's power was a double-edged sword. While she could manipulate the emotions of others, she was also forced to feel their pain and suffering.

In a way, she was constantly bombarded by the emotions of those around her, unable to escape the torment that others experienced. I could only imagine the torment she felt when trying to control herself—the raw and visceral agony that echoed through her very soul. Whatever her coping mechanism is, I understood the isolation that came with experiencing the suffering of others and the way it could make one feel both powerful and utterly powerless at the same time. I knew that, despite my differences with Noelle, we both encountered pain in any shape or form that ruined us.

As for me, I knew that I could never go back to the person I was before my own trauma—the trauma of losing a loved one—but perhaps I could find a way to move forward. To embrace the pain and the scars that defined me, rather than running from them.

And maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to help Noelle do the same.

I was taken aback by this sudden surge of emotion. I had never been the type of person to care about how others felt or reacted. I was stubborn, rebellious, and a street rat who'd been stealing money from the unsuspecting citizens of Perthlochry before Miss Alice took me in. But somehow, the people at the orphanage changed me. They had made me feel at home, and in doing so, they showed me that I was capable of feeling emotions I had never felt before.