"I will protect you."
As the caretaker of the Warm heart Orphanage made her way back to her room after checking whether the orphans were sleeping or not, she didn't expect the orphanage door to be knocked on. The knock was so quiet that if she were not checking the door lock, then she wouldn't have known.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoXurOsR7z
Tired and afraid about who would knock on an orphanage at such late hours of the night. She asked who it was, gaining no reply. Thought, maybe, she was hallucinating, after all, she was dead tired. If it wasn't for the sudden child's whimper, then there is no way she would've opened the door.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAtL39Q9g2
Opening the door, she couldn't expect what she saw. A child, looking around the age of 4 or 5, holding a not even year old baby. Trembling in the cold winds of wintertime, the child said something she couldn't hear properly. She immediately pulled them in without a single hesitation. Wrapping them in a blanket and lighting the fireplace, she heated a bun and made powder milk for the baby.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimcDlIZWBh
The child watched in fascination at what she was doing, still holding the baby tightly. He clutched the baby even more tightly when seeing the unknown blazing object which was exerting so much warm air. Wrapping the given blanket around the baby, his stomach grumbled at the lack of food.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaNp7vFFPA
The young and sweet caretaker provided him with the bun to eat, which he looked twice at before taking it and eating it.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF8JrZF9l0
"Can I feed the baby you are holding?" Immediately, he got up, clutching him tightly with a fearful look. "No! I am sorry, I won't do anything to him, I will just give him some milk and the give him back to you."222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhRBqbSjrW
She assured him in a sweet, warm voice which made him lose his strength, but hesitantly give his baby to her. She grabbed him gently and fed him. Furthermore, she smiled and held his small, weak hand and assured him that she would do nothing to him and his baby brother.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡist4x65aOn
"Can I ask you something, my dear?" He nodded shyly. "What's yours and this little cupcake's name?"222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ul3yPUFhe
He hesitated, opening and closing his mouth several times. The lady squeezed his small hand and smiled warmly, sending an unknown feeling within him. "M-My name is Azriel and this is my little brother Ares..." His voice was so soft and quiet, like a whisper. "And may I ask your name?" He removed his jet black hair, revealing his emerald green eyes, and glanced at her.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrk7enINXt
She beamed softly at the boy. "Well Azriel dear, my name is Lucinda, and I am a caretaker of this orphanage. You can just call me Lucy." The boy nodded and nibbled on the small bun. "How old are you, Azriel dear?"222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3aMyfX4xa
"I am 7, and he is 10 months!" Whispering while proudly showing me numbers on his fingers.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KzRvKTJis
"You know how to count! That's great!" Lucinda chuckled and ruffled Azriel's hair. "Now for the serious matters, where are your parents, Azriel?"222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw8MOO6e9B
Just like that, he started trembling on hearing just the word 'parent' and panting hard. Panic Attack, Lucinda immediately noticed and tried calming him down. Sucking in a deep breath, he asked in his now shaking voice. "W-Will you send me back if I told you?"222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZnFje1Cnr
Taken aback by the question, she observed the boy's state—many cuts lingering on his arms and two-three on his face. Shoeless, rough baggy clothes, malnourished, and hands burned. He looks like he hasn't slept in ages and would probably faint any moment. His personality, body language... All matched those of an abused child.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C9ynwI8d5
Softening her voice, holding his hand, even tighter. "Do you want to go back?" He shook his head, furiously. "Then you are not going back. You are staying here with me and many other children."222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36cZw8lVSE
"Really?" Those dull eyes, suddenly having a glee in them, made Lucinda's heartbreak.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XgIzZz3Xk
"Yup! Really!" She replied, now holding him in her arms along with Ares, the baby, while still sitting on the comfortable sofa. "Now, before we go to bed, we need to clean those wounds of yours."222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqILzzOE47
Upon mention, Azriel remembered his wounds. Pulling his oversize and dirty shirt down to cover the wounds on his legs, since he was only wearing shorts that didn't cover his legs much. Covering not doing much, he bit his lips, trying to stop crying. He didn't want to get thrown out or laughed at by Miss Lucy.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL9Q8Z4EHO
A warmth wrapped wound him, snapping him out of the mental state he was in. A gentle and delicate arm held him tightly. It's a hug, he realized, it's comfortable.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6pbq1TVbk
"I don't care about your scars or how you look, neither do I know you well, but you are already important to me. Every child in this world is precious, just as you and Ares are. I will protect you, just like any decent human would." Lucinda combed his hair with her hands. This child was only 7 years, yet he had already experienced things that even some adults had not. Clutching him even tighter, she whispered. "You are safe in these arms. I will protect you."222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoyDyh86k8
"Really? Will you protect me? Will you never leave me?" Still, in doubt, Azriel held her face in her hands, making her face him. "Will you stay with me and Ares forever and ever?"222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7Yzys10xk
"I will be with you forever. I promise."222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZDA2Xm7Y8
"I still don't believe you." Hiding his face in the crook of her neck. "But I want to believe you."222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq55VDa9Pc6
"I will make you believe in me." She giggled. "I don't know how, but I will."222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75txUZAH7A
"You don't know how, but you will? That's stupid." Lucy pouted at his words. "But it makes me glad that someone is making an effort with me."
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