Chapter 9- An instinct

  The diner had transformed into a symphony of constant clatter. Orders were being called in quick succession and the steady backdrop of the rhythmic sizzle of the kitchen utilities hummed beneath the buzz of conservations.

  The warmth of fire and food filled the air, thick and comforting.

  Taya stood inside the kitchen watching it all unfold.

  The girls moved briskly between tables, balancing trays, and calling out dishes.A few other servants, hired hands, were dealing with the heavier task, restocking and cleaning.

  At the counter Sir Edward sat comfortably, taking in receipts and transferring credits.

  The customers greeted him with respectful bows, and more than once he threw his head back in laughter, joking freely with them.

  The whole place felt alive...

  As Taya observed the scene, her gaze drifted across various customers and stopped on a particular hooded figure.

  His face was obscured by the dark cowl, yet she felt his eyes were fixated on them.

  Through the glass panel that separated the cooking from the dinning hall, he watched- not casually but attentively, as though engraving every face , movements and patterns into his memory.

  A faint uneasiness spread through , her stomach twisted, and instinctive tightness in her chest.

  She didn't feel any good intentions from this guy.

  That's when Lucy appeared beside her, leaning her back against the wooden counter.

  "So, Lucy said lightly, balancing around the bustling hall

  "What do you think? Do you like the environment here?"

  She tilted her head studying Taya's expression.

  "Are you planning to stay with us, then?

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  "Well... from the looks of it," Taya said slowly, "this feels like a good place to start."

  While speaking, Her eyes never truly left the hooded figure. She watched him from the corner of her vision, careful not to make it obvious.Then lowering her voice, she spoke again. "Hey... do you know that guy? The one in the black cloak. Just don't look at him directly."

  Lucy caught on immediately. She cast the usual sideways, locating the figure. "Oh, him? He's been coming here for the past two days. Always quiet, always like that. He hasn't done anything strange. So, you don't need to be afraid."

  Then she added with a grin,"Besides, Sir Edward's here. What could possibly go wrong?"

  "...Right," Taya muttered, though the uneasiness in her face didn't vanish.

  By the time the hooded figure stood and left, slipping out along with the rest of the customers,the tension in her shoulders eased slightly.

  Time flowed on. And Taya gradually joined in with the girls, helping where she could, learning the rhythm of the place. By the time, the clock neared six- thirty, the rush had thinned. The nearby shops began closing and one by one the remaining customers trickled out. Sir Edward, finally rose from behind the counter. He walked to the entrance, flipped the sign from Open to Closed, and turned back to the girls.

  "Alright," he said firmly.

  "Time to wrap up. Curfew's coming. Pack up quickly."

  The kitchen fell into swift, efficient motion, to close in everything. Once all was done, the girls gathered the food—the usual routine of taking them back to the orphanage. Taya picked up one of the bags and followed them outside. Sir Edward locked up, and accompanied them partway, before turning back with a wave.

  The girls continued on alone, their laughter and footsteps echoing softly as darkness slowly crept over the streets. Soon, the familiar outline of the orphanage emerged ahead of them, giving them the sense of safety and peace.

  On forward, They shared dinner together, laughter filling the hall once more, eventually the girls drifted off toward their dorms. Taya was about to follow too, when a gentle voice stopped her.

  "Taya, my child.”Mother Tera called out. She stood nearby, her expression warm.

  “We didn’t really get the chance to introduce ourselves properly, didn't we.”

  She then guided Taya toward a couch near the open ground. A faint breeze brushed against their skin, signifying the changing weather; mornings and evenings had become colder with the winter solstice soon approaching.

  The boundary walls surrounded the grounds, electric coils humming softly as they pulsed with power. For a moment, silence lingered. Then Mother Tera spoke.

  "Taya you can stay here as long as you want," she said kindly. "From now on, you can consider this as your home."

  “I’ve heard a little about you from Lucy. I’m not one to pry into people’s pasts… but as the head of Aurora Orphanage, it is my responsibility to care for everyone here.”

  "As she gazed at the darkened yard, memories flooded her mind."

  “When I first decided to start this place, the world was far worse than it is now. The plague just started, there was no order, no shelter and no safety.

  We didn’t even own this land back then. Yet… somehow, we endured. That itself feels like a miracle.” She smiled faintly.

  “Ever since Edward opened the diner, food hasn’t been much of an issue. But there are still many things we lack. Financial troubles never truly leave us.” She sighed.

  “At least the electric fencing is provided by the government. It has worked well so far—some creatures tried to get in, but fortunately it held.”

  Then her voice softened. “Still… time changes everything. I fear that unforgivable day, we might have to leave this place behind.”

  She looked back at Taya. “These children… they are our hope for the future.”

  Mother Tera continued to share her thoughts as Taya listened carefully, absorbing everything.

  Taya then shared some of her own stories, things about her past—of how she was took care by her blind grandmother— that day when she lost her and started wandering alone until she arrived here.

  Mother Tera didn’t press further, sensing the boundaries Taya carefully maintained. She trusted that, one day, Taya would speak when she was ready. As they stood to head back inside, Mother Tera paused.

  “My child… why do you keep your hair tied with those ribbons so tightly?”

  She studied her gently. “I can see the discomfort in your eyes.”

  Taya fell silent. Then she offered the only lie she could come with.

  “Where I come from,” she said softly, “it’s a custom. Something I wish to remember.”

  Mother Tera searched her face for a moment. Then she smiled.

  “I understand.”

  “Go now. Get some rest.”

  Taya nodded and walked inside, the night closing quietly behind her.