The next day, after finishing cleaning up after lunch, I knocked on the door and, after she told me to come in, I stretched, turned the handle, and entered.

Once the door was closed, I put my hands in my pockets and approached Emilia, who was standing while looking at me with a gentle smile.

—You're late.

Emilia spoke with her arms crossed, while a pile of documents adorned her desk.

—I was talking to Cassie.

I replied while approaching her.

—And? What's going on with her?

—Nothing out of the ordinary. She's focusing on escaping as soon as possible.

—I see, she's still a naive child.

I met Emilia's gaze and tried not to roll my eyes.

—Do you really plan to hand her over just like that?

I narrowed my eyes while staring fixedly at Emilia.

—Oh, don't look at me like that. You're too young...

She let out a sigh.

Forcing what I hoped would be an understanding but slightly incredulous smile, I opened my mouth.

—Come on, we both know how important Cassie is to you.

My words made her smile dangerously and she raised her head to look me directly in the eyes.

—And here I thought that of all the children here you were the most rational one, Arceus.

Emilia smiled sadly and looked away.

—Between the girl you raised as if she were your own daughter and your life, which would you choose, child?

Rage, anguish, helplessness, and pain invaded Emilia's face when she laughed mockingly.

There was no right or wrong answer to that question. I wasn't one to judge this woman's actions, she was simply someone else wanting to survive...

I held back a sigh, knowing I was treading on very delicate ground.

—Then... Why did you tell us the deadline?

If they were going to take Cassie in a week, it made no sense for Emilia to have told us if she really wanted to hand her over. She wouldn't have told us anything and Cassie would still believe she had two more years to escape.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

—Are you judging me?

Emilia narrowed her eyes dangerously, which made me frown. Her response made my heart grow cold and the smile on my face hardened.

—Not at all.

I shook my head.

—Good, watch over Cassie in the meantime.

Emilia took a step forward and gently caressed my cheek.

—Yes, mom.

Walking around her desk, Emilia ruffled my hair.

Understanding that I could now leave, I dragged my feet out of the small office, walked with difficulty down the hallway toward the dormitory.

I remembered the conversation I had yesterday with my two friends where we had agreed on our respective tasks.

Reinhardt had agreed to convince the other children in the orphanage, while Cassie developed a master plan based on all the information we had gathered. Nothing was asked of me because I had already done enough for them. On the contrary, because I had been unconscious and bedridden, my friends asked me to rest and prepare to search for the artifact tonight with them.

After leaving the Paradise Tower, I had realized that I could enter the tower whenever I wanted.

Since I had awakened in the tower, it recognized me as a user and as long as I could complete the assigned floor mission I could enter and exit whenever I wanted.

That was a great advantage.

The sharp creaking of the floor beneath my feet pulled me from my thoughts.

I knelt on the old misaligned wooden board and put it in place. I tested the floor with my feet and nodded with satisfaction at the board's silence.

Looking up, I saw a group of children running down the hallway, chasing each other.

—Arceus! I'm going to tag you!

Said a little girl named Annie laughingly while walking toward me with her arms stretched out.

—Oh, yeah?

I stuck my tongue out at her.

—I bet you won't!

Annie accepted the challenge and quickened her pace. As soon as I was within her reach, she gave me a blow to the waist hoping to grab my shirt, but I escaped without problems.

I let out a victorious laugh.

—You're going to have to try harder than...

I lunged to my right, just in time to avoid little Thomas's hand.

The rest of the children Annie had been playing with joined in, deciding that they were all "the protagonists" of this improvised game of tag.

All the children wore the same uniform every day, which consisted of a white long-sleeved buttoned shirt, a white skirt or pants, and brown boots.

The children were made to believe they were orphans living in a happy orphanage and that when they were "sent away" they were sent to live with foster families.

Our days consisted of taking a daily exam, eating delicious gourmet food, helping with household chores, and playing with our siblings. The older children were assigned tasks such as washing clothes, washing dishes, and taking care of the younger children while the rest of the children helped clean the house while we took turns preparing meals for everyone.

While the boys and girls approached me with their arms wide open to cover more ground, I ducked and easily dodged my companions. They desperately waved their limbs while trying to use all parts of their bodies hoping to catch me, but it was useless.

Annie and her friends got smart and surrounded me, approaching slowly while laughing excitedly.

Once they were close enough, the children grew impatient and jumped toward me.

Just when their hands were about to touch me, I jumped and grabbed onto the broken chain that held an old chandelier. Taking advantage of my jump's momentum, I swung from the chain, holding on tight to avoid slipping.

Annie, Thomas, and their friends stumbled among themselves for not having reached their target.

Swinging from the old chain, I landed a few feet away and planted my hands on my hips, laughing victoriously.

—You are three to five years too young to defeat the mighty Arceus!

—It's not fair!

Thomas growled, rubbing his head.

—Yeah! You're too fast!

Agreed Annie, while moving away from the tangle of children.

—Silence! Only the weak complain when faced with defeat! —I said, making my voice deeper—. Now I'm leaving! My heroic powers are needed elsewhere!

I ran off while the children laughed among themselves.