The children of Oreta part 1

The letter of acceptance was in front of them but everyone found it hard to believe. The court was given permission to open up by Holy Maiden Lunadel herself which was a big shock.

"How did you manage this? No, it's not important. We need to make arrangements and arrange for a place. We also need to relocate some of the people" the sultan seemed to be in a panic as she looked over the place.

They were an official body now and it would take time for them to get everything in order.

They would not be ready to open the place up for a few more months which suited Iris just fine. She had other things to take care of in the meantime after all.

"I will need a few people who can be trained as healers. I won't be able to stay here often" the sultan gave her a sharp look of betrayal.

"You would be leaving? You cannot do that!" she sounded panicky and it was understandable.

It was a historic moment, the permission of the council for a subsidiary court belonging to Isis and in Oreta no less.

"I cannot run such an establishment alone so it would be inevitable to have help. Also, I cannot allow the council to get their hands on me and there are also things I need to finish. However, I will make sure the establishment would be able to take care of itself" Iris finished.

The sultan finally looked a little calmer at her claim.

"And where would those healers come from? I don't think the commission would want to part with their own" even if they would agree, Iris would not allow them anywhere near here.

"I would find them on my own. I do not want anyone who I cannot trust in there" she would make sure to set up wards and other magical protection as well. Maybe traps as well.

The sultan just looked on fondly.

"Need help? I can hurt people and you can find your healers as they try to help" Misha offered eagerly. Her eyes shone at the thought of violence and Iris flinched at that.

"There will be no need. I should get going now. Tell me once you approve of the place. I want to put my one input and I already have someone in mind for its construction" it would take a few weeks so Iris was not worried.

"Fine" the sultan agreed and went back to planning. Her back was hunched over the city's plan, likely to find an appropriate place for such an establishment.

Iris left her to it and went into the town.

The news of the court had spread by now but no one recognized her as the one who had been addressed. The cloak she wore was likely a big reason for it.

There was a familiar feeling in her head and she side-stepped the incoming hand. Her hand automatically went to the wrist that was about to hit her hip and she finally looked back.

The face in front of her was familiar but hazy. She was sure she had seen it before.

"How do you do that? Do you have eyes in the back of your head? It is the second time" the child protested but seemed content about her position.

It identity of the child drew on Iris.

Of course, this was the child who had tried to rob Diana and Arya on their first day here and Iris had caught her.

But how had the child recognized her?

"Your eyes are recognizable, the icy red of them. Hey, think you can let me go? My shoulder is kinda uncomfortable" the child asked as Iris let her go.

The child clutched the shoulder in pain and Iris decided to take a look.

But not in the open.

She dragged the child into an alley and looked her over. Nothing serious was wrong, just the same smokey lungs and the dislocated shoulder.

"Wicked. So the others were not lying. You are a healer and not one from the commission either. Are you also the reason the court is back?" the child asked, her eyes sharp.

She was good, the child, and her mind was sharp as well. It gave Iris an idea.

"Hey kid, want to learn a little healing? You might make it if you have potential" Iris asked the other and saw her eyes brighten.

"Really? Can I? But I'm not special and only special people can be healers" somehow, the phrase drew anger in Iris.

Michael felt it consume him and Iris and everything. It was her's, the original Iris and there was no knowledge inside them why that was so.

"Try" Iris forced out through the haze. The other was not wrong but it still left a bitter taste inside her mouth.

"Let me check. Gather as many children as you can and I will check you all for this ability" children were good, safe. Especially in Oreta.

The original novel had done over length about the loyalty the orphans of this place were capable of giving once they recognized you as one of them.

"You sure?" the child asked and Iris nodded.

"I will look over you all as well and see if you need treatment. Also, I have a few jobs you can do for me and I will pay you all for it" Iris bargained. Oreta was a poor place and money was hard to come by for orphans.

She saw hope shine in the child's eyes as she left.

Children were rare in this world. The main supply had been maintained by the council so it had always been a wonder how Oreta had so many orphans.

Was it because parents adopted them and then decided they no longer wanted them? Or was there a different reason? Iris was not sure about it but it felt like it was important to know.

"I've gathered all of them" there were well over 100 children there, most of them in rage, and Iris took a deep sigh.

"Make a line and I will check you all" since they were in an alley, no one questioned her and the force of children.

In the end, only two people held healing magic in them but surprisingly enough, most of the children had some capacity of magic inside them. It was untrained and was potent enough to kill them.

It also felt forced and it was only after decent treatment that it could be corrected. 90% of these children would have died in a year or two from that magic and no one would have known.

The realization left a bitter taste in Iris's mouth.

"E-Excuse me. I heard that you would give us all jobs?" a child asked, her voice breaking. She was one of the older ones and one of the worse affected ones as well.

"Yes. I will discuss this with the sultan and create jobs for you all. It also helps that you all have some kind of magic inside you" the children looked stunned at her answer. Had they not known that they had magic?

"B-But isn't magic rare? And controlled by the commission? What will happen to us?" a child asked with a scared voice.

"Nothing will happen to you. But I do think it's time to give you all a new home. Just give me a day and I will sort it out" the children looked hopeful and Iris felt hope as well.

There was something fundamentally wrong here but it was also an opportunity.

And she had a feeling that the Oreta's council would look at it that way as well.