"Mummy..."

"What's wrong, my dear?"

"I can't sleep..."

"Come sleep with me, my dear, and I will read your favorite story."

"Can you read the Fairy Wizard again?"

"My, you really love that story, aren't you?"

"Yeah!"

"Alright then, let's read your favorite story."

"Yay!"

"There's once a time, there's poverty all over the land. The field doesn't give a good harvest, the river dries out and the livestock are dying. One day, a mysterious young man comes to visit those farmers, claiming he's a wanderer and need a place to stay. After seeing how poor the farmers are, he pulls out some strange crystal-like dust and throws it into the air. Like a miracle, the fields become healthier than ever and the water flows steadily on the river, even the seeds they planted are miraculously grow and ready for the harvest after one night. On the second day of his stay, two old couples brings their dying son to the wanderer and asks for his mercy to cure their son. With his mysterious power, he heals the boy back to health. On that day, he saves countless of lives, both young and old, from their sickness. On the third day, he gives his farewell and blessing over the village and disappears into the mist. Ever since that time, no one knows who's that wanderer and people call that wanderer 'The Fairy Wizard'."

"...mummy, is the Fairy Wizard real?"

"If you believe it, dear."

"Then, he will save your life too?"

"...of course, sweetheart. It's past your bedtime, let's go to sleep now."

"Good night, mummy..."

"Good night, sweetheart..."

0-0-0

"Wake up, you lazy girl!!!" That annoying voice of the Headmaster woke me up from my dream...while it has been awhile for me for dreaming, especially about my mother who passed away last year.

There's only two of us, me and my mother, who lived poorly. She worked in a factory to keep us living, even though she had a weak body. I never knew who my father was and my mother said he left before I was born. Eventually, she died due to her sickness last year and left me alone. Because I had no relatives, I was sent to this orphanage.

This orphanage looked nice from the outside, but inside, everyday was a living hell. The Headmaster used us to begging money on the streets or delivering some "packages" to the buyers. Some of older children, like myself, worked at factories that’s owned by one of her "friends" with our salaries went straight to the Headmaster. Only the young and the new children are allowed to play on the front garden to "make the place looks nice" as the cover.

"You stupid girl, I said wake up!!!" She dumped a bucket of water to my face, which I didn't really care about it. "Now, you make your bed wet. You sleep on the floor until your bed dries up!"

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Yes, ma'am..." I responded emotionless, which earning a painful slap.

"Don't talk to me with that tone, stupid girl! Now, go and deliver this package! Then go to work at fabric factory after that!"

With that, she dumped the package on my hands and kicked me out from the hidden back door, the only entrance and exit for us to do our "jobs". The front entrance is only for guests, so no one knew what she had done to the children. I bet those people didn't know the dark side of this orphanage.

Even I was just been in the orphanage, it was enough time to kill my emotions, hopes and dreams.

Reality was much harsher than those in the fairytale books my mother used to read for me.

But never in my life I thought my mother was a liar.

0-0-0

I could hear my stomach growling, which was a reminder I didn't have both dinner last night for punishment along with breakfast too since I was kicked out. I was too weak to walk to the factory after delivering that package and sitting down while observing the people passing by.

I was already expected they wouldn't care about me, a dirty girl on the streets. Hearing the London Bell, I knew I was late for work, but I didn't care, both the missing work and the punishment from the Headmaster. When I was daydreaming, I spotted an ugly old man with red cape among the passing people. He seemed like normal old man, if only there's no scythe on his back and sharp teeth. On that moment, I realized what I just saw and remembered my mother's words about those strange creature.

"If you see those strange creatures, you mustn't have eye contact with it and ignore it, walk away like you never see it."

Yeah, I knew perfectly my mother's words were true, but...our eyes met. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, I collected my remaining strength and moved away from the streets into the alleys, hoping that creature just thought it was a coincidence.

"You can see me...can't you?"

Or not.

On the next second, I could feel the cold hard wall on my pained back after that creature in red cape slammed me painfully, his hand of sharp claws on my throat. He lifted me high, making me choking for air and at his mercy. He was powerful, much powerful than the adult. I was on the edge of conscious and unconscious when he examined me from top to bottom.

"It's rare to find a human with powerful magic like you..." He purred in the most creepiest way.

"Too bad I want to eat you now..." With that, he took his scythe from his back and ready to slash my throat.

"Air of the Northern Land...banish this creature of evil."

A powerful gust of cold wind slammed that old man to the wall on the opposite, releasing his strong grip on my throat. I coughed greatly to get the air back to my lungs and looked up to see the newcomer who, I wondered, was going to save me.

He was a tall, slender and handsome man with blonde hair and oddly-looking purple eyes. He was dressed finely, like the way of a noble or rich people dressed. He was holding a black cane with odd-looking crafts and a strange stone with moon-like color on the top. I finally realized there was some tiny human-like creatures with wings flying around him. Those looked oddly similar with something...

Wait a minute...those are fairies?

Don't tell me...this man...

"Well...well...I never expect to encounter you, Sorcerer." That old man stood up and came face-to-face with that man in front of me. "I was just about to enjoy my meal, so hand her over."

"Bloody hell...I was just finished annoying errand and I had to fight you...Even you're one of us, you're different from us..." With that, he held his cane up to the same height as that old man's eyes.

"You never be like us, Sorcerer. From the beginning, you're enemy to my kind." With that, he came to him with his scythe on his hands, ready to slash this sorcerer.

"O Salamander of Volcano...I ask thee for your hellish fire...burn my enemy."

In the blink of the eyes, a fire appeared on his red cape and eventually burned that old man to the crisps. I was speechless as I watched what just happened in front of me. I didn't know if I could process everything that just happened. The man turned around and said something to me, but I couldn't hear what he was saying.

The next thing I saw was an oddly-welcoming darkness.