Even though this year has gone by fast with my study of magical tools, I'm happy.  I gained two new friends Reina and Alva along with figuring out more about my body.... not that I liked learning about my body.  I got more used to my period afterwards even though it was irregular for a while.  

I couldn't really bring myself to tell Reina and Alva why I left our first meeting, but I did tell Kylie and Rose about it.  Being made fun of wasn't as bad as I thought, but it wasn't just going to be laughing at me in the next couple years.  I smiled subconsciously at being able to make fun of them for a change.  Also, my goals weren't realized.  I couldn't figure out how to create an underwater lair, but I will do some experiments to help me understand.  My teacher should come in handy.

Another idea would be a floating lair, I wonder how much power it would take to keep a dwelling floating.  Well since today is the last day of the school year, I was able to convince Ellie to allow me to tour the entire capital.  This took a small amount of bargaining with my mom.

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"Mom is it possible for me to view the city.  I really want to see everything since everybody talks about places they've been."

My mom sunk into thought and responded, "Ally, you know that you have a target on your back right?  Keeping you away from trouble is my first concern as your mother."

This was inevitable so I retorted, "I know I have a target on my back, but you could come with me.  You could also send more guards or Mr. Hidden Uncle could come out in person."

She had a shocked look before saying, "You really are a troublesome child you know that.  Then again I never expected anything less coming from the person who is literally the champion of chaos."

She sighed before she continued, "I can accompany you and Mr. Hidden Uncle, as you call him can also come.  He might find it funny that you noticed him.  You two could get along well."  The then took a serious tone, "Ally, just so you know, as your mother I won't let you go with a small entourage until you become strong enough to protect yourself."

I responded, "I know mom, my situation requires precautions and it is also the reason that dad has to do so much.  Even though I do want to talk to him more." I paused before asking, "Mom, would you allow Rose and Kylie to come with also?"

She sighed and answered, "Ally... they can come"

Before she could respond I gave her a hug and whispered, "Thank you and I love you."

I don't know why, but felt very compelled to do that.  Maybe it was my hormones tilting rapidly or maybe it was my mind telling me that my mom has had to deal with an unreasonable daughter.  The fact that nothing I do is normal.  The feeling of being loved by my parents has always made me feel happy, and I guess that is why I feel undeserving.

She embraced me for quite a while before saying, "I love you too, Ally.  You should get back to school, your teacher isn't always patient."

We parted with smiles on our faces.

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Finally I will get to be able to see the city.  It looks so beautiful from the mansion and I wonder how everybody lives.  I haven't been able to go anywhere near most of the town since I was five, so it just makes me feel happy.

As I was subconsciously smiling Rose said, "Ally, you know that you become far less intimidating when you smile."

"I'm intimidating?  Hmmm, I guess I don't smile that often in public now do I.  Maybe I picked that up when people looked at me more when I smile, so it feels weird."

She muttered, "So you do notice some things."

Since I heard her, I mumbled under my breath, "I'm not always oblivious... only most times..."

After a while, Kylie showed up at the same time as mom did.  Behind mom was the bald middle-aged man, oh it's Hidden Uncle.  So he decided to come out today, I wonder how he is.  As he noticed my gaze he smirked at me, I wonder if it is my curiosity, but I wanted to talk to him.

I asked sweetly, "Hidden Uncle, how are you?"

He responded with a slightly gruff voice, "Alexandra, you seem to be doing well."

"Well enough to spot you."

He was taken aback by my comment, and mom cut in, "Sweetie, you are going to hurt his pride.  Why not talk about how you found him and not criticize his flaws."

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I laughed since mom also took a verbal jab at him.  Thus started on our tour of the capital, today had beautiful weather.  I like that there are gardens around with brightly colored flowers.  As I was distracted by the gorgeous surroundings of the upper quarters we reached the marketplace.  I haven't been here in forever, and they fixed up everything from when.... he died.

As I started to be engulfed in a downward spiral of self-blame, Rose pulled me forward and hugged me.  I snapped out of the trance and stared into her eyes.  Softly saying, "Sorry."

She pulled me forward to a clothing store.  Welcoming the distraction, I walked while being pulled.  To be honest, I most likely don't need any more clothes. Everybody made me try on clothes for a while before I asked to go to the middleclass district.  I ended up losing Hidden Uncle somewhere, oh yea I never asked him his name.

The middle class houses were decent and still gave the impression of well off.  So I have to wonder just how high the standard of living is here, maybe the government is run well.  By the time we got to the outskirts of the city, mom, Kylie, Ellie, Rose, and I were talking about the fun things we did at school this year when I saw a little boy and girl wandering nearby.

They stuck out because they weren't accompanied by anyone, so I felt compelled to follow them.

I asked with upturned eyes, "Mom, would it be possible to stealthily follow those two children?"

She gave in immediately, "I will follow you also, and I will leave your Hidden Uncle as the main escort for Rose and Kylie until you get bored.  Ellie, let's see how your training has improved."

"Yes madam, I will follow."

As we sorted this out I followed the children as they went to seemingly wander around, but if you looked closely you could see that the boy would bump into someone and the girl would grab a coin out of their victims pouch.  It got me wondering about where they were from, since there weren't many professional thieves in this city they must be amateurs.

After about half an hour I followed them to an older looking house that seemed to be a little larger than the surroundings.  

"Mom, do you know this building, it seems to stand out?"

She thought for a little while before Ellie interjected, "Mistress, this is the orphanage in the capital."

I mumbled under my breath, "Some problems will always stay."

I felt a strange pain in my heart that I haven't felt in a long time.  Pictures of my parents in my other life flashed through my mind as I dealt with my rising emotions.  My subconscious must have walked me to the building because when I started to focus again I was in front of the door.  As the thoughts dispersed, I knocked on the door to have an elderly woman answer, "Hold on a second, I will be right there."

As I waited, mom and Ellie appeared behind me and mom said, "Sweetie, are you alright?"

"Yea, I just felt... "

As I trailed off, the door opened with a loud creak and the woman appeared with a couple children hiding behind her.  I mustered my voice, but my voice was still a little soft as I said, "Hi, I was wondering if I could intrude on your home."

The elderly woman chuckled as she waved me in saying, "Miss, I would be honored to have you intrude."

As I entered I noticed more children in various places.  Some were playing a game, some were cleaning, and some were teaching the others.  It made me feel slightly better that they weren't completely bad off.  Something must be off though considering those two were being pickpockets.

Mom pushed me forward so I asked the elderly woman, "Would it be ok if I interacted with them?"

"Go ahead child"

As I left, my mom and Ellie started to talk to the elderly lady.  I walk up to try finding the two children that I followed here and they were both sneaking along the wall, looking very guilty.  I chuckled to myself as I approached them.

"Is there any reason you look so guilty?"

They looked up and then quickly back down as they held out the coins they grabbed.  I guess they don't know how to lie yet, but their acting is decent.  Truthfully I'm not sure how I should respond to these junior pickpockets, but I will just lightly do it today.

"You two should know that stealing is wrong, right?"

They nodded their heads and continued to stare at the ground.  "This will be a warning, but please do not steal again."

I guess I'm soft because I pulled them both back into my grasp and gave them a hug.  "Would you like to hear a story?"

When they nodded, I began to tell about the story of the White Knight.  I must have lost track of time, because when I finished the story all the children were around me and Rose and Kylie were looking on.

Rose smiled as she said, "So Ally, you seem to have a soft spot for children."

Kylie added, "Who would have known that the ice queen of middle school has a soft spot for little children?"

I scratched the back of my head as I responded, "I am not an ice queen and you guys know it.  Who even started that rumor, it feels like I'm being bullied."

Kylie responded, "Well, it was Tristan.  You should know as well as us that it doesn't take long for someone who uses ice and shies away from everybody except for close friends to have that title latch on."

Damn it, so it was that.  Well, I might as well accept it.  As we left I told the children with a smile, "Bye everyone, hopefully I will be able to come see you again."

The children responded, some happy for me coming and some sad for me leaving.  As I waved goodbye we headed back home since it was getting late and the sun was starting to set.