If there was one thing Ione hated, it was childcare.

Day and day out, it was a hellish repetition. If it wasn't caring for babies, it was propaganda-filled theory on why kids four and above should go either to a sword training academy, or a school centered on raising children.

Of course, this did not appear to succeed all that much. Many of Ione’s peers were increasingly agitated, thanks to the harsh and boring curriculum and lack of play time.

It was more than just physical punishment, it was mental and physical abuse.

Sannie seemed all too eager to lay her hands on children, her eyes lit up everytime she spotted a child refusing to do what was asked, only to drag them away behind the nearest door.

Ione tried to stop Sannie, she would interrupt the vicious nun right before she would grab the unfortunate child. This resulted in her taking the punishment for them, but on account of [Pain Resistance], it was nothing. However, as time went on, this only worked sometimes, and it must have become apparent to Sannie that Ione was doing it deliberately because she soon stopped punishing the mouthy white-haired girl altogether.

If there was one thing that Ione wished she could do, it was to kill Belan and end this whole charade altogether. Take Coranne and the kids and lead them into the woods. Realistically, she knew that was a farce. It was too idealistic and removed from reality. How would they be able to feed 80+ children? Also, Coranne would be horrified if she killed Belan, and would refuse to become a forest dweller. Especially since she had to provide income to her family. As of right now, Ione decided on another course of action.

Ione was going to kill Sannie. She really didn’t have a choice. There was no way this was going to continue.

She was going to enlist Coranne’s help, of course, without her knowledge. Her interactions with the young woman were increasingly sparse, which Ione assumed was due to Belan's interference. Yet, Ione knew she could arrange something.

The opportunity came three months later.

~~~~~

Ione finally could ask Coranne every question she wanted. Where does Sannie sleep? When does Sannie go to sleep?

She laughed. Those questions were too obvious. Also, kind of fucked up. Regardless. she could use [Tracking] to find the answers.

It was currently midday, lunch time, and she was hiding behind a small rock at the forest line outside of the orphanage-of course, in the shadows so that [Stealth] could help protect her. She often skipped lunch, [Hunger Resistance] and [Thirst Resistance] working in tandem to give her more time to think. Plotting Sannie's death was one of her favorite pastimes. It was risky, what she was planning. Things can go wrong; rarely any plan was ever 100% foolproof, but she was self-assured in her abilities. It would be one of the few times where she could actually do something, make some sort of a difference. She was confident. Hopeful.

Of course, she worried about Sannie’s replacement. She could kill one asshole only for them to be replaced by someone worse.

Well, if that came to be, she would kill them too.

Her past lives rarely ever featured child abuse. Most of the time she was a plant, or part of a simple animal species that were led by instinct. Even the species who had conscious thought didn’t abuse their children, or others. Orphanages existed in her other lives too, but not in the way this one did.

There were times where she did miss the simplicity of being a plant. Dancing to the tune of the wind. Or even following her mother as a rodent-like creature, navigating through dark passages under the soil. No deception, no manipulation, no scheming. Just having the will to survive was enough.

She closed her eyes. Breathed in the crisp summer air as the sun bathed the world in shades of gold. Then exhaled. She did like this world, however. The potential for classes, the potential for adventures. To see things she had never seen before. If there was one thing that kept her going, it was the potential for newness. Eternal life would have been boring if she saw the same shit everyday. Had fought the same struggles.

Killing someone for child abuse was certainly new. She had never done it before and the thought spiked some fear in her. In all her years of living she had never killed a person before. Animals yes, for survival, but this was vengeance. On a person. Mostly not even on her own account.

Of course, it wasn’t her that killed people when she was a space octopus. Certainly not. Every action of hers were controlled, her lack of free will came with the conclusion that Ione wasn’t killing people, and often she had dissociated. She felt her heartbeat rise, already on the cusp of fight and flight at even perusing the memories. She had never killed people before. She didn’t.

Calm down, calm down.

She breathed deeply. Then wondered if her lackadaisical attitude towards killing came from her desensitization of murder in that past life. She decided not to think too hard on it. Otherwise, she would wind herself up again and she would never get anything done.

She had to remind herself it was for the girls and boys who cried themselves to sleep. Those who felt the harsh sting of a palm and not the gentle hand of a parent. Those being forced to aid in a war they didn't create.

Ione knew she would be fine. Once she leaves the orphanage she will have the skills to survive. Let alone the resistances, and her future class. However, the same wouldn't be true of the children she was living with. They weren't born with the advantages she had. They were at the whims of people who wanted to provide the army soldiers and broodmares.

Did she feel responsible for them? Yes. They were children and needed help. She was a child that needed help and Coranne was there.

Stolen novel; please report.

Think of the angel and she shall appear, [Spatial Awareness] told Ione that someone had just entered the radius and shortly after Coranne's voice whispered against the buzzing cacophony of insects, “Ione, where are you?”

Ione smiled. Her [Prey Sense] and [Stealth] succeeded in keeping her hidden. It was always nice having the confirmation that her abilities worked, and weren't just in her head.

She stood and said in an excited whisper, “Coranne, I'm over here!”

The young woman was standing not 10 feet away, her head whipped around to Ione, her tan features scrunched in confusion before a beaming smile lit up her face. Coranne rushed over and hopped over the rock, crouching down to Ione so they were at face level.

“Can I have a hug?” Coranne asked.

Just as Ione nodded she was smooshed against the girl, Coranne's arms wrapped her in a bear hug before letting go, causing Ione to catch her balance from the whirlwind before looking into Coranne's green eyes.

“I’m so sorry! I was just so excited, I haven't seen you in a while,” pearly white teeth flashed in a reproachful smile, “how’s my girl been doing?”

Ione returned her grin, “I’ve been good!” she leaned against the rock, “I’m thankful that you came by.”

“Well, of course!” Coranne replied, “I love spending time with you.”

Ione grinned, sharing the sentiment. Coranne was a very sweet person, and knew Ione more than most. Around her, Ione could speak more naturally, rather than the cringe child vocabulary she had to adopt.

As they hid behind the stone Coranne got herself comfy, tucking her skirts beneath her legs, “I only have about 20 minutes before one of the other nuns notices that I'm gone,” she says with a glance towards the orphanage, “what did you wanna ask?”

Ione followed her gaze and nodded, "welI, I wanted to ask which classroom I'll be in once I go to school,” she said with a wistful look. “I know I'm not ready yet, but you know I like to be prepared for these things.”

Coranne smiled, “I understand where you’re coming from,” she sucked in a breath, “ideally, I would show you myself, but even I don’t know exactly which one you'll be in.”

Ione gave a disappointed frown.

Coranne huffed, “you know how Mother Belan is.”

“Yeah, well, Belan can fall in a ditch”

“Ione! What have I said about language!”

“I didn't swear!”

Exasperated, Coranne replied, “you got me there, but you can’t be saying stuff like that, you never know who’s listening.”

Ione wished she could tell Coranne that it was alright, [Prey Sense] and [Spatial Awareness] assured her that no one was around and eavesdropping, but she couldn't tell her. Not yet.

So, instead she nodded. Coranne ruffled her hair and gave a sad smile, “trust me, I wish I could say whatever I want, but Mother Belan is suspicious of me. I've gotta watch my step after breaking so many rules. I don’t even know how we havent been caught yet,” Coranne gave her a side eye, but then moved on. “Listen, I can't show you in person,” she started patting her dress pockets, “but can I draw you the route to the classrooms?”

She continued patting her pockets until stopping in a huff. “Shoot! Okay, I'll draw it later when I have the chance and I'll slip it under your pillow okay? I'm sorry that I couldn't give you a tour myself.” Her eyes were downtrodden.

Ione was beyond grateful, and she made sure to let Coranne know that.

“Coranne, you don’t have to apologize at all! Even doing this puts you at risk,” Ione put a hand on her shoulder, “don't get upset at all. You’re doing more for me than anyone else has.”

Coranne's smile dimmed at that last sentence, but returned when Ione jumped up and hid behind a tree.

The woman's voice was full of mirth when she said, “and what do you think you're doing there?”

“I wanna play hide and seek,” Ione whispered whilst peeking behind the tree.

Coranne laughed, “you always win though! You're too good at it.”

Ione grinned. It was a perfect time to level up her skills.

~~~~~

All too soon, Coranne had to leave.

“We’ll talk again soon, I gotta get going or else they’ll wonder where I am,” she said, her eyes glimmering with adoration, “you always know how to brighten my day.”

Ione grinned, “You brighten mine too!” She paused, “would it be okay if I gave you a hug?”

“Of course!”

Ione stepped forward, Coranne's lithe arms wrapped around her small frame and gave a small squeeze.

“I'm gonna miss you,” Ione said, “but I know we’ll have next time.”

“We’ll always have next time,” Coranne said as she rubbed the little girl's back, then slowly extricated herself.

Before Coranne turned around, Ione asked, “is it okay when you leave the drawing that you leave the pencil too?”

“Have you been thinking about drawing?”

No.

“Yeah!”

Coranne nodded, “I can absolutely do that. I’ll even leave some paper too.”

“Thanks, Coranne.” Ione beamed.

“Sure thing, okay, now I really have to go, see you later!”

“See you soon!” Ione watched Coranne scurry off, in a hurry to get back to whatever she was doing, and the little girl slowly made her way back to the dilapidated orphanage, the rickety old wooden doors revealed an interior not unlike a Japanese middle school mixed with some elements of Medieval European architecture. She made her way back to the lunchroom where she was greeted by her enthusiastic peers.

Not so long after she arrived, Ione activated [Peaceful Aura] and slowly, but surely, the kids quieted down to a manageable murmur.

While she had Fellis chattering away in her ear, all she could think about was the plan that she had concocted. She had to be sure that it all went well, down to the last miniscule detail, otherwise it would blow up in smoke. Ione regularly had to remind herself that she was going to kill someone. Not an if, but a when. She struggled with the idea of killing a person that had higher cognitive function; she was so used to killing animals that purely relied on instinct, that killing a human was an alien concept.

Yet, she knew she had to. For the children. Ione felt rage fill her body, and she nearly snarled at everyone sitting at the table. Anger was a perfect motivator. Ione can worry about her forlorn feelings after the killing, but for now, she would center herself in the wrath that bubbled under her skin.

Sannie has no idea of the temper that she unleashed. Fuck that bitch.