Chapter 9: Refuge

In a quiet hospital room, Kaia gradually opened her eyes, slowly adjusting to the bright light on the ceiling.

Mrs. Abba immediately saw her granddaughter wake up. They're not blood related, but they treat and look at each other like a real grandmother and granddaughter. She stood from the seat beside the hospital bed and approached the young lady.

"Kaia! You're awake, sweetheart. How are you?" She questioned, helping her sit up on the bed.

Kaia roamed her eyes around, scanning the place. She noticed that she's inside a private hospital room. Her hand traveled to her forehead where her wound was, which is now patched. Fragments of the past flashed through her mind, remembering the malevolent syndicate and the sorcerer who helped her.

"I-I'm okay now, grandma. What about the kids?" she asked, dropping her hand on her lap.

"They're in the orphanage now. They're okay, don't worry about them. Did they do something bad to you? Where did you get that wound?" she asked worriedly, placing Kaia's hair behind her ear.

She lowered her gaze to the couch, biting her lower lip. "They only threatened us that if we don't comply with what they want, they'll kill us. They were also pushing us, pushing us to follow their commands. And this wound? I got it when I fell on a rock," she explained, clenching her fist.

Despite being an elemental sorcerer, Kaia couldn't do a single thing to protect the children. She blamed herself for being weak and for endangering them. From her point of view, it was her fault that they all fell into the hands of those men.

"Those bastards! They really deserved to die! It was all thanks to Miss Levina and Professor Evans. They had managed to defeat those men!" She rubbed Kaia's back. "Are you hungry? I brought you food." She went back to her seat and took the lunchbox that contained rice and chicken curry.

Kaia remembered the woman who attacked the van she was riding along with the syndicate. She thought that woman was probably Levina. The one who saved her life.

"Here, sweetheart. You should eat." Mrs. Abba handed the lunchbox to her granddaughter. "You should eat to have energy."

"Thank you." She nodded, opening the box, and started eating. "How about the other kids? Did they continue their training?"

"Yes, I told the staff to continue it since they were already at the spot, so it'd be a waste of time if they also backed out. I just reminded them to be extra careful because of what happened to us," she answered and paused a little bit. "Also, Hestia and one of her comrades helped them with their training and also with protecting the children."

Kaia paused after hearing Hestia's name. She gulped the food she swallowed as memories of her past with the latter reminisce in her head like a flipping page.

"Are you still—"

"I don't want to talk about her," she cut off. "I'm sorry if I sounded rude. I just don't want to converse about her."

Mrs. Abba nodded. "I see. I'm sorry for asking. But I know everything will be alright."

Kaia didn't speak. She just ate quietly, pushing Hestia out of her mind.

"Also, I asked Headmaster William if he could look after you. Since the orphanage couldn't provide adequate protection for you, I think it's the best way for you to stay in Mysthic Academy and also to learn in that school to know a lot more about your ability," Mrs. Abba explained, sitting on the edge of the bed in front of Kaia.

Kaia shifted her gaze to the old woman. She knew that she was a burden to the orphanage ever since she went there when she lost her parents. She was different from the other kids. Unlike them, she's a sorcerer with an elemental power, and possessing this power is enough to be a threat to the safety of the other kids—to the whole orphanage itself. Knowing that there are plenty of people who like to kidnap powerful people, including the Black Void, her staying in the orphanage isn't a good idea anymore.

"I understand."

"Don't worry, you can still come back to us. I'll also provide everything for your education. Just ask me, okay? But you need to stay in their dorms now. You'll be safer there." She tapped her shoulder. "Tonight, we'll go back to the orphanage, and tomorrow we'll proceed to the enrollment, so you can start studying there the following day."

"I see." She smiled. She agreed with her grandmother. For her, this is also a better way to stop being a burden to them.

Mrs. Abba took one of her hands. "But don't think that I'm pushing you away, sweetheart. You're like a family to us. You're like an older sister to the children and a granddaughter to me. I'm just doing this for your safety. I want you to mingle with people who have the same ability as yours."

Kaia nodded and closed the lunchbox before holding her grandmother's hands. She smiled and said, "I know, Grandma. Everything you did is for my own sake, so thank you."

Tears formed in the corner of Mrs. Abba's eyes as they embraced each other. Kaia also started to cry, burying her face on the old woman's shoulder.

"Thank you for everything, Grandma. Take care of yourself in the orphanage. Don't let the children stay up late, too." Kaia sobbed, hands trembling.

"Yes, I will. You should take care, too. Don't forget to update me, okay? Always call me every time you need someone to talk to."

"Yes, grandma."

—

Kaia and Mrs. Abba arrived in the Mysthic Academy at 1 in the afternoon. Most of the students are in their respective classrooms, while some are in the open field or different places on the campus.

They went to the headmaster's office and proceeded with the enrollment. Mrs. Abba and Headmaster William had a brief conversation before she introduced Kaia to him.

Kaia introduced himself to the headmaster and shared some of her information with the middle-aged man. Headmaster William was amazed after discovering what element Kaia possessed. It was powerful and opposite to Levina's ability. In fact, it was Levina's weakness.

After the enrollment, the headmaster gave Kaia the dorm key to Kaia. He offered to tour her around the academy, but she refused. She wanted to roam around by herself or with Levina since she wanted to know her and also thank her for saving her life.

Mrs. Abba and Headmaster William exchanged thankful words before the two left the office. They were on their way to the dorms when Kaia noticed that most of the students were climbing down the building. Their classes must be done.

"Are you sure you'll be okay to tour around by yourself? I can accompany you and roam around now," Mrs. Abba offered, holding Kaia's arm.

Kaia smiled and politely refused the offer from her grandmother. "No need, grandma. I'll be fine tomorrow. I'm not a kid anymore, and also, if someone tries to do something inappropriate to me, I'll fight them." She raised her fist, making the old woman laugh.

"But will you be alright with Miss Levina? I know she saved your life and the children, but upon seeing her attitude yesterday, it kinda made me doubtful. She didn't look friendly at all," she said worriedly, rubbing her granddaughter's arm.

A silence erupted between them. Kaia hasn't talked with Levina, and she hasn't seen her closer, so she doesn't know the woman's attitude.

Despite her doubtful thoughts, she smiled and assured her grandma. "Don't worry, it'll be alright. She saved my life, so I think she's kind."

"I see. Just be careful in this place, okay? Call me anytime."

"Yes, grandma. I'll be going now." She walked towards the girls' dormitories, waving her hand to the old woman before entering.

Kaia stepped into the elevator and bowed at the students who were inside. The others also did the same and greeted her.

When she arrived on the floor, the headmaster told her, she step out and steer to the exact room. She inserted the key into the knob but hesitated to turn it.

"Is she inside? How am I going to greet her?" she asked herself nervously.

Taking a deep breath, she turned the knob and found no one inside, but the lights were on. She closed the door behind her and locked it before roaming her eyes around.

There's a steel double-deck on the left side and the right side is the air-conditioner, with its wind traveling directly to the beds. There's a window below the aircon that was covered with blue curtains. She spun on her heels, seeing a white round table with two chairs on each side. Behind it are the sink and the stove and above them is a white cupboard that contains a few utensils inside.

Kaia couldn't help but be amazed at the dorm. Even though it was not that big, it was big enough to accommodate two people.

Her attention was disrupted when she heard a click of the door. Frantically, she swerved her gaze at the bathroom door, located between the double-deck and the window. Her eyes landed on a woman who was only wearing her black undergarments and a towel on her left shoulder.

Levina scowled upon seeing Kaia standing a few meters away from her, gawping at her like a little child.

"The hell are you looking at?"

***