"I never knew you were from Groka", Luc spoke up in a surprisingly compassionate voice. They were all still inside Cale's memories, which is why they couldn't see each other, but could feel each other.

"One of the many things I have deliberately kept from you", Cale boldly replied as he mirrored the memory of his childhood. "I was born in Groka and raised in Bellator."

They were in a large house a few years later and many children were delivering through the hallways, including Cale. They were playing tag with each other, even though they were forbidden to run in the hallway. Cale skipped down the stairs, followed by two other children, and ran toward the front door when he spotted two men and his new mother.

<"I know. I beg you, give us a little more time. We don't have enough money to feed all the children">, his foster mother Maeria's voice could be heard before Cale stopped at the door and peeked inside. A child ran past him while the other boy also came to a stop and listened.

<"Are we poooor?">, the child a good two years younger insisted to Cale's left, causing him to look down at him.

<"Maeria said we don't have to worry about money">, Cale, who was already 8 years old, replied quietly. He gestured for the other child to be quiet before he could hear the men straighten up.

At that time, Cale did not know that Duke Loys of Freigoud had been involved in the welfare of orphans for years, and a few years later would begin to provide increased funding to orphanages. But since Cale was only a child, he didn't get to hear about this support until Mother Nicolett caught him stealing for the umpteenth time and made it clear to him that they would make it thanks to the Duke.

<"We know that establishments like them always have trouble paying the taxes. Until the end of the season, that's all the time we can give you.">

Immediately, Cale grabbed the little boy's hand and ran towards the front door, knowing they were forbidden to eavesdrop. With a lot of strength, he opened the heavy door and jumped barefoot into the snow, while the other child followed him with small steps.

<"Mom said we can't go out!">, he scolded Cale in his querulous voice.

<"Do you want Maeria to catch us spying! We'll be in trouble for that. Go on, hide">, Cale instructed him before running across the yard towards the trees. The little boy hurried after him, but Cale overtook him relatively quickly. Briskly, Cale hurried behind the nearest barn and hid there while he waited for the two men to disappear. He crouched on the ground and leaned against the wooden wall while watching his white breath. In the distance he spotted people walking down the dirt road and he saw a little girl in their arms.

It was the neighboring family, living in the house with the green window frames. Cale had seen her little family for the very first time that snowy morning and couldn't help but stare at the sight of the orange-red hair. Especially since it was in stark contrast to her relatively dark skin.

<"What are you doing out here, Caleb?">, a woman's voice suddenly spoke up, which is why the child was startled. His second new mother was standing a good meter away from him, looking at him sternly.

<"You're barefoot! By the gods, it's freezing. Get back in the house now!">, she scolded, causing Cale to quickly stand up. He stared wordlessly at the blonde woman as he pondered what would be worse. A sermon from Mother Maeria or from Mother Adeline.

<"By the gods... Caleb. Your pants are still all wet too">, the woman added, coming over to him before grabbing his arm to look at the extent of it. <"What's going to happen to you? You're just making extra work for everyone, and you're one of the elders. I really thought you were smarter.">

<"Nico says that I am very smart. I can even read and write really well already!">, Cale proudly replied as Adeline patted his ass to clear it of snow.

<"That's Mother Nicolette, not Nicolette and not Nico. I've told you that so many times">, Adeline admonished him and pulled him back to the house, forcing Cale to follow her.

<"But she's not my mother">, Cale complained and tried to free himself from her grip, but the tall, slender lady didn't let go of him.

<"We've had this discussion so many times. Your mother and father are no longer alive, Caleb. When are you going to realize that and behave?">

<"No! Mom and Dad are still alive, they are waiting for me at home!">, he scolded and let himself hang so that he could press his feet against the women's bodies.

<"I want to go home! Home! Home! Home!">, he shouted as loud as he could and shook the woman's arm, but Adeline ignored him. Instead, she politely greeted the two men who were just leaving the mansion and walked to the entrance of the house.

<"Did he run away again?">, Maeria remarked, who was standing at the door, carrying the other runaway child in her arms.

<"I don't know what to do with him anymore. He wants to run home all the time. How am I supposed to explain to him that his home no longer exists?">

<"He will understand that by himself one day, I hope">, the somewhat firmer woman replied and reached for Cale, who was still reluctant to go back into the house. But the older women were clearly bigger and stronger than him, so he lost the fight.

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Cale, who from the beginning wanted to show only a short part of this memory, changed the scene and all present ended up in the capital of Sylve. It was a scene many years later after the events in the orphanage.

Wearing dark clothes and a hat on his head, he strolled through the streets and watched the people as they diligently went about their daily business. He walked unobtrusively through the market and spotted an Anuxer, who was clearly carrying a bag of money under his vest. Cale didn't think twice, turned to the side acting as if he was about to look at something and bumped into the Anuxer with his shoulder.

<"Oh, please excuse me, I didn't see you, sir">, Cale replied with false politeness, tapping the stranger on the shoulder while taking his money with the other.

<"Watch where you're going">, the man scolded, slapping Cale's hand on both sides before grumbling as he continued walking, Cale making the bag disappear under his vest. Luck was not on his side, however, as just a few steps later the man noticed his loss, turned around and yelled. <"You rotten thief!">

Immediately, Cale started to sprint and ran miserably through the crowd of people, while the strange man hurried after him. Several times, he shouted things like 'stop' or 'hold the thief', but Cale ignored the statements and fled into the nearest side alley. A grave mistake, as the reduced number of people meant the man suddenly used mana and ran after him much faster than before. Cale's heart skipped a beat when he realized how close the pursuer was to him. Panic-stricken, he used every reserve of strength he had as he fled, knocking over boxes, pots, and laundry as obstacles behind him. He had only limited success with it, because the man was still on his heels. One sharp turn later, Cale turned again, but missed a step and crashed to the ground. Pain gripped him instantly before panic overtook him. He could hear the man catching up to him and wished he could miss him.

In the next moment, all onlookers could feel the young Cale release mana from memory, turn and look in horror at the man who was just rounding the corner. But the stranger had his eyes fixed on the intersection in front of him as he frantically scanned the paths, then turned to Cale.

<"Hey, kid. Did you see a young man with black hair and yellow eyes pass by here?">, he announced out of breath, causing Cale to hold his breath in horror, not daring to say anything back.

The stranger hissed with his annoyed and ran straight out along the paths, while Cale lay on the ground with his heart racing, clutching the money. He took a moment to compose himself before looking around and then at himself. His clothes were several sizes too big and his cap had fallen to the floor behind him, but most of all he noticed one thing.

He had become a girl.

"By the Elder's beard, that's her! The girl from my insight, that's that kid and that's the exact scene I saw!", Ziyad shouted loudly as Cale slowly let the memory fade. "Why didn't you say anything when we talked about it? You must have been aware of that, right?"

"I was. From the first moment, I knew you saw me. That was the day I first ever used magic", Cale explained, switching the action again.

"Then why are you hiding it?", Ziyad replied in irritation, but the question was answered by Odin with another question.

"How old were you then?"

"Eighteen", Cale explained calmly.

"18? That doesn't make sense, you were already a High-Magician by then", Joshua replied, which silenced the others. Cale didn't answer the statement, so the Eldest spoke up.

"That's why he's showing you his memory, otherwise it would be hard to follow. Just watch, feel free to ask questions afterwards."

Cale didn't let this moment make him think twice and jumped a few weeks further into the future to the day he had met Henry. With tousled hair and filthy clothes, Cale stood in front of the counter and watched the man cook in peace before taking a deep breath and walking up to him.

<"Need a helping hand?">, Cale finally raised nervously, causing the man to turn away from the hot plate and look at him.

"I know that man, that's Henry Larnge! He owns this really famous restaurant uptown!" exclaimed Rosalie excitedly, before the others let out a quiet "shhh".

<"Who are you?">, the man replied gruffly, eyeing him up and down.

<"Caleb is my name.">

<"Don't you have a last name or something?">

<"No. Caleb and that's all I know.">

<"What do you want from me?">, the older gentleman interjected, annoyed, and refocused on his work, while several soldiers squatting at the table cast irritated glances at Cale.

<"I'm looking for work">, he declared truthfully, which made the cook instantly start laughing.

<"Can you even cook?">

<"No, but I certainly can learn. I'm a quick learner">, Cale tried to emphasize his advantages, but the cook didn't seem impressed with the statement. He placed a delicious smelling piece of meat in the pan and reached for a cloth to dry his greasy fingers.

<"Can you even read and write?"> he finally asked, causing a smile to appear on Cale's face.

<"Yes, I can read and write!">

<"And how can you not have a last name then, when you're clearly educated">, Henry threw in challengingly, slinging the cloth on his shoulder as he turned his attention to preparing other dishes.

<"I'm sure I have one, but I don't know it. No one was able to tell me who exactly my parents were.">

<"Are you an orphan? What happened to your parents?">, one of the soldiers, who had joined the small restaurant for lunch, interfered in the conversation. He raised his glass in the air and took a few sips while Cale answered.

<"Yes. They told me that my parents died in the attack on Groka back then.">

Immediately, the soldier spat out all the liquid again and began coughing loudly, while Henry dropped his knife on the floor and stared at him in disbelief, as did everyone else. Silence enveloped the room, causing Cale to look around nervously.

<"How old are you?">, another guest finally asked, causing Cale to turn to this one.

<"I'm about 18 years old.">

<"By the gods, that's the only survivor from the attack back then">, a third man interjected in shock.

<"Has it been that long again?">

<"Oh my goodness...that poor boy.">

The soldiers lapsed into conversation among themselves, while the cook picked up his tools again and washed them down with water. Again and again Cale's name came up, but no one seemed to include him in the discussion. Instead, they stared at him like a rare animal that you couldn't get too close to because it was poisonous.

Irritated, Cale's attention turned back to the cook, who ignored what was happening and focused on the work, which made Cale sad. He really had tried many times to find work somewhere, but people usually kicked him right back out on the street. The fact that anyone spoke to him at all gave him hope, but it was slowly fading.

"Let me think about it", Henry finally spoke up, causing Cale's heart to give an excited leap and he looked up at his future father figure with a big grin on his face.