“Big sister Lilis! What are the big metal men doing?” I demanded an answer, “Why are they taking Leonas away?”

I stared up at Lilis’s red-brown eyes, as she watched the men clad in iron drag Leonas away. Her warm hands gripped onto my own with incredible strength that would have come in real handy for Leonas’s hunting trips.

A strange feeling gripped at my heart, as Lilis’s eyes dripped with tears. The warm droplets rained upon my hand, inspiring my eyes to do the same.

At the time, I couldn’t have understood that he had just been taken away to serve in the army. Now that I knew though, there was nothing I could do. News came in a year later, announcing the enemy side’s win.

Our run-down orphanage hadn’t seen the full force of the war, but the booming cannons near the city could be heard, even in the depths of the forest we resided in. Even our strict caretaker trembled when the ground shook.

We never heard from Leonas again, and Lilis’s bright smile only imitated the ones that our beloved brother gave her.

“We’re the only survivors of this pseudo-family now, Killean,” Lilis told me, “we need to make sure we survive.”

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A few months passed before a newcomer came to our orphanage. I still remember the elaborate decorations from the fancy carriage she came in, painted in a shining white color. Some servant dressed in an expensive suit held the hand of the new girl, as he walked her to the orphanage.

She had soft skin, well-groomed hair, a yellow, silk dress made for a princess, and bright eyes that I could get lost in...I already didn’t like her. How could someone so noble descend upon our home while we were still grieving the loss of my brother?

“H-hi,” the fancily dressed girl greeted us, “My name is Octavia. Octavia Endruler.”

“Welcome,” our caretaker approached her, “I am Marius, and we will be welcoming you into the Jainus Orphanage.”

“How come I’m here?” she asked in a small voice, “And why’s everything here so dirty?”

“This is your new home now,” Marius explained, “and we’ll be your new family.”

“What! No!” the Octavia girl rejected, “It’s so filthy here!”

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I noticed a small twitch in Marius’s form, but he kept his appearance up when in front of the new girl’s attendant.

“Octavia, mind your manners,” her attendant reprimanded, “cause a ruckus, and you will be punished.”

“...Yes sir,” Octavia sulked.

“Mister Marius, would you be able to handle this one?” the attendant turned his attention to our caretaker, “If you wish to back out now, you may.”

“I’ll continue the transaction,” Marius answered, “bring the money into my office, and we’ll take this child off your hands.”

My attention drifted from the adult’s talking to Octavia keeping static. She made sure to stand upright, but also to not make herself present to the adult’s attention. As she did that, she also gazed at Lilis and me.

“Why don’t you come here?” Lilis whispered to her, going against my silent wishes for her to be gone, “Let’s do something together while our elders are distracted.”

A dorky smile spread across Octavia’s face as she hurried over to us, “What will we do?” she whispered in wonder.

“We have some fun games to play,” Lilis told her, “Do you know how to write?”

“Uh-huh,” Octavia nodded, “my tutor taught me!”

“That’s good then,” Lilis commented, “then you can easily play with us. Will you come, Killean?”

“No,” I responded, puffing my cheeks and crossing my arms in defiance.

“What? Why?” Lilis asked, clearly not expecting my reaction.

“I don’t want to play with her.” I answered, “How come we have to play with her?”

“Hey, that’s not nice,” Lilis scolded, as Octavia backed away a bit, no longer feeling welcome between us.

“Am I not allowed to play…?” she turned her pity-inducing eyes towards Lilis and me.

“No, no, you’re allowed to play,” Lilis comforted her, “Killean there is just being a bit stubborn, is all.” She turned and gave me a secret glare, but I refused to comply with playing with the ignorant, new kid.

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Now Lilis was gone too, just like Leonas. Marius went on a rampage, and he hurt her. I was all alone now. Lilis told me we were family, but it’s all gone.

As I drifted into sleep, Octavia’s voice disrupted my drowning thoughts.

“K-Killean?” she whispered, sniffling, “Can I sleep here tonight?”

I nearly yelled at her to go away, but I recalled Lilis. She wanted me to be nicer to Octavia, but why did I refuse? Octavia sobbed beside my bed as I kept my back to her. Back when we lost Leonas, didn’t I do something similar? Lilis accepted me without hesitation, couldn’t I spare something like that to Octavia?

“...Fine,” I responded, right when Octavia started to shuffle, “you can sleep here, but just for tonight, okay?”

Instead of instantly cheering up, Octavia just continued to sob. She climbed into the bed, letting herself cry freely. Despite my bed getting more cramped than usual, I felt just a little bit more at ease. I let my tears flow, knowing that Octavia was doing the same.