Chapter 10 Book 1 Bid of Farewell
The flickering candlelight cast long, dancing shadows on the walls of the Holy Hand Orphanage's main hall. It was a bittersweet sight. On one hand, the hall was decorated with bright ribbons and handcrafted paper flowers, filled with the excited chatter and laughter of children. On the other hand, it was a farewell party, and the subject of everyone's joy was also the subject of a collective, quiet sorrow. Xu Mei, with her wide, curious eyes and a smile that had won the hearts of every child and adult in the orphanage, was leaving.
Director Anya Jing watched her from a corner, her heart a tangled knot of pride and reluctance. She was happy for Xu Mei, genuinely so. To discover one's lineage as a magii and be accepted into a prestigious school was a dream come true for any child born in this world. Yet, Xu Mei was more than just a child to her; she was a light, a beacon of hope and kindness that had made the orphanage a brighter place. The thought of her leaving was a heavy weight on her soul.
Later that night, long after the last of the party's echoes had faded and the children were fast asleep, Director Anya called Xu Mei into her office. The room was simple, filled with books and a scent of old parchment. Xu Mei sat in the sturdy wooden chair across from the Director's desk, a small travel bag by her feet.
"Little Mei," Director Anya began, her voice soft and laced with emotion. "I still cannot believe this. A magii. My little Meimei is going to be a magii."
Xu Mei smiled shyly, a hint of nervousness in her posture. "I can't believe it either, Mama Anya. It all feels like a dream."
"It's very real, my dear," the Director said, a fond smile gracing her lips. "I'm so proud of you. But I am also… I'm a little worried."
Xu Mei's smile wavered. "Worried? Why?"
"Because the world out there is big and it can be dangerous. The magii world, even more so. According to the letter, your father was a Heumane scientist and your mother was a witch, Rin Mary. This is a rare combination, you know. I guess that's the reason why our little Mei is so clever. I may not know your mother, but I could tell that she is a very kind and lovely person. But your father, I have heard of him before. I remember there was a piece of news about him. He was a man of science. Who would have known that his wife is a magii and you are their lovely daughter. Science and the magic. I can see that in you." She paused, her eyes searching Xu Mei's face. "You have the intelligence inside you that is beyond your years. But you must also be careful. The world is still healing from the Second Magii War. There are still those who resent the magii, who see them as the cause of all their troubles."
"Like those men that took me and Ethan?" Xu Mei asked, her voice a low whisper.
Director Anya's eyes widened slightly. She knew of the trauma of the child and did not want it to grow and scar her forever. "I want you to try and forget about that, Little Mei. You will grow if you can overcome that obstacle."
"My dear girl, what you did back then was incredibly brave, but also incredibly dangerous," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "You could have been hurt. But… you also acted with such… such bravery. You have helped Ethan."
"I was so afraid at that time, Director Anya," Xu Mei said with a trembling tone, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "What could have happened to us at that time if Ethan had not done anything?"
Xu Mei stuck to her excuse as she did not want anyone to see her as a monster.
Director Anya reached across the desk and took Xu Mei's hands in hers. "Xu Mei, what happened to you and Ethan was a terrible tragedy, but it was not your fault. You and Ethan were just protecting yourselves. What happened… It was a reflex. It was a raw, unfiltered expression of power in a moment of pure terror. Hopefully, this will not happen to you. You must control yourself and your… powers."
"I'll try, Director Anya," Xu Mei said, her voice filled with resolve.
"I know you will. Now, about your journey. Mr. Han will be with you. He's a good man, he's been with us over the years, since before you were born. He's strong and dependable, and he will see you safely to the docks in Misty City. From there, your school has arranged for your transport. You'll be taking a ship, a special one, a magical one. You must be brave and trust those who are a part of your world now. They will guide you. Don't be afraid to ask for help, and don't be afraid to make friends."
The conversation continued late into the night. Director Anya shared stories of Xu Mei's childhood at the orphanage, her first steps, her first words, her natural kindness and leadership among the other children. She spoke of the importance of her studies, of the need to be diligent and respectful to her teachers, and most importantly, of her duty to always remember where she came from.
"You are not just Xu Mei, the magii," she said, her voice turning firm. "You are Xu Mei, the child of Holy Hand Orphanage. You are a part of us, always. And we will be here, waiting for you to come home for the holidays."
Xu Mei promised she would, and for a moment, the tears she had been holding back finally fell. Director Anya pulled her into a warm embrace, the comfort of it a familiar anchor in a world that was rapidly changing.
…
The steam engine train was a marvelous contraption. Its massive metal body gleamed under the morning sun, and a thick plume of white steam billowed from its chimney. The whistle was a high-pitched, triumphant cry that announced its readiness to depart. Xu Mei sat by the window, her nose pressed against the glass, utterly captivated. Mr. Han, a man of few words and a perpetually calm demeanor, sat beside her, his large frame a comforting presence.
"First time on a train?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.
"Yes, Mr. Han. It's… It's amazing. The size of it… It's so… amazing! I learned from the books that the speed... is so much faster than a horse carriage. Am I right?" she exclaimed excitedly.
Mr. Han chuckled softly. "It's a marvel of Heumane engineering. We've come a long way. This train, with its energy shield, is one of the safest ways to travel. Nothing can touch us while we are in transit. I hope that you become such a magii that would make things that would benefit our world." Mr. Han showed a slight smile on his face.
Xu Mei nodded her head. "I will, Mr. Han. I will make something as great as this." Her words were filled with determination.
As the train rattled on, Xu Mei watched things pass by the window, going faster and faster. Soon, she became a bit dizzy from her antics and felt a bit tired. Xu Mei began to close her eyes, not to sleep, but to practice. She had discovered that her telekinesis, her first awakened power, was more than just a tool for moving objects. It was an extension of her own senses. She could feel the vibrations of the train, the warmth of the sun on the roof, and the gentle swaying of the other passengers. And then, she felt something else. A flicker of malice. A cold, sharp sensation, like a hidden blade. She focused her senses, her mind reaching out to the source.
"What is this?" Her heart began to pound anxiously.
Three rows behind her sat three men.
Their auras were dark and menacing. She could feel the sharp edges of hidden daggers and the cold metal of other weapons concealed beneath their long, hooded robes. She held her breath, her heart beginning to pound a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She was right. They were here. For her.
"The girl," one of them whispered, his voice a low hiss. "She's the one. The one we are told to take."
"Are you sure?" another man asked, his voice raspy. "According to the information, the target was a boy named Ethan last time. Is she the little girl with him?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Look at her. Those eyes. The same ones in the drawing." Everyone nodded.
"That little old man with her… he's no match for us," said one of them with a sneer.
The third voice, the cruelest of them all, was laced with a chilling excitement. "Finally. We can avenge our brothers. Five of them, killed by a child's dagger. What a joke. Since we cannot touch the boy, we'll show this girl what happens when you mess with the Anti-Magii coalition. We'll take her, torture her until she tells us what really happened to their five comrades, and then we'll send her to the boss. That would teach her not to defy us."
Xu Mei's blood ran cold. The nightmares of that night, of the five men Ethan had killed, the carnage that she had been forced to witness, came flooding back. She had rendered them unconscious with her telekinesis, but it had been Ethan who had finished the job, his small hands holding the blood-stained dagger. The image was burned into her memory, a scar on her soul.
Her hands began to tremble. Fear. It was a familiar feeling, but this time, it was different. She wasn't afraid of them, not really. She was afraid of herself. Afraid of the rage that boiled beneath her calm exterior. Afraid that she would lose control like what had happened to Ethan, that her hands would be stained with blood, even if it was with a power she couldn't physically touch. She didn't want to go back to having nightmares. She didn't want to become the monster they thought she was.