After some time, the two kids, Ren and Mill stopped crying as they vigorously ate the watery oatmeal they were given. It was slightly hot but they didn’t mind their burned tongue and continued to empty the bowl. Not even leaving a bit of grain as they licked the bowl clean.

“Just eat slowly. Here’s some water.” Rebecca gently said as she handed the two of them a glass of water each.

Gulp, gulp!

Clearly, the kids were thirsty. Rebecca looked at Ted and said, “Go get some more water.”

“Okay!” Ted ran off.

Rebecca looked at Ren and Mill, They were still trembling. Maybe it was because they were in an unfamiliar environment. They didn't seem to be good with strangers either. She sighed and kept quiet as she waited for them to sort their thoughts first.

After some time, Ted came back with a jug full of water. He poured water for the two kids and then placed the jug on a small table beside the bed.

“Drink it first. You can talk to me about your situations once you’re ready.” Rebecca said with a gentle voice. “Just help yourselves again if you are thirsty.” She continued, pointing at the jug of water.

Ren and Mill only nodded their heads l and slowly drank the water they were given.

“Okay. I’m going out. I have some work to do. Just ask Ted if you need anything else.” She said, smiling before leaving the room .

“Just tell me! I’m here with you guys!” Ted said as he smiled.

Half an hour had passed and the two kids were still quiet. Rebecca returned soon after just to check on the kids. They finally calmed down and had fallen asleep again. Now they were less stiff and looked a bit more comfortable .

Even Ted was sleeping beside the bed.

She smiled but a look of worry could be seen on her face. She sighed and went outside to do her work on the field.

...

The wind was blowing slowly, the birds were chirping in rhythm as they flew away towards the horizon. The orangish sky veiled the world as the sun was about to say goodbye.

It was evening when Rebecca finally returned home from work. She looked tired, wiping the seat off her forehead, using her sleeves

She was frowning the whole time. Even when she was working on the field, she couldn’t throw away the worry in her heart.

‘That person must be looking for those kids… but I can’t just abandon them either…’

“Hey, Rebecca!” A feminine voice came from behind calling out for her.

“Ah! Wh-what’s the matter, Aunty Serda? You surprised me.” Rebecca turned around in shock.

“I was calling you out your name three times already!” Aunty Serda rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “What’s the matter? Something in your mind?”

“Uhm, nothing… I was just thinking about what we should have for dinner.” Rebecca said with an apologetic smile.

Aunty Serda observed her with suspicious eyes and then after sometime she sighed. “Okay… Here, take this.” She handed Rebecca a small basket which was filled with two fishes. “From my husband. He said you and your brother should eat other things too, don’t just eat oatmeal.”

Rebecca hesitated for a while but then decided to take the fish and bowed. “Thank you Aunty! Please give uncle my thanks!”

Aunty Serda smiled and walked away as she waved her hand. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. Just go. Make something good for your brother.”

Because the village was very small, the community was good. Everyone cared for their neighbors. Aunty Serda and her husband were examples of it.

The reason why Rebecca didn’t want others to see her helping the two kids was because she didn’t want to implicate them.

Looking at the two freshly caught fishes in her hand, she sighed and headed home.

‘Let’s just go home first.’

…

Rebecca, with Ted helping her cook the fish she got from Aunty Serda, made dinner for all of them. She cooked the fish, together with some cabbages from the farm and mushrooms she found in a nearby forest.

The tasty food as well as the extrovert Ted made the atmosphere that evening really warm. Ren and Mill were eating like there was no tomorrow.

Rebecca could only sigh as she studied the two kids. This must be their first ever proper meal they had, excluding the oatmeal before.

After the joyous dinner. Ren suddenly asked after hesitating for a while.

“A-are you not curious about us?”

Rebecca was surprised when Ren finally talked. She then smiled. “It’s okay. I can roughly guess what happened. Though, I want to know directly from you, child.”

Ren and Mill didn’t seem surprised. After some time, Ren continued on. “I… will tell you what happened...”

“Okay, we will listen and please don’t force yourself.” Rebecca reassured gently. No matter how curious she was, recalling awful memories must be hard. Not to mention they were just children.

Ren nodded and took a really deep breath. He then started reenacting what happened.

Their family was normal. Their dad ran a business before it fell to bankruptcy. He had no way to pay his debts. Because of that, their whole family fell into slavery and this was the beginning of their nightmare.

They were bought by a slave trader who was the lord of this area, the House of Partdwin’s Lord Vanstorm.

When they arrived, they never had the chance to see their parents again because they were working in a different place from their parents. Their sleeping place was different too since their resting areas were separated.

Lord Vanstorm was very abusive. They were getting beaten almost everyday and that was why they had bruises all over their bodies.

One night after they were beaten by the lord, they were taken to an underground prison where all the slaves were held.

The prison cells were very small. One prison cell could only hold two people at most. The two kids were lucky that they were at least not separated.

The guards who were supposed to lock their cell left their door unlocked because they thought that with those kinds of injuries, these kids wouldn’t be able to run away.

They clearly underestimated their will to survive and went back to drink on their post all night. They were dead drunk and fell asleep.

This was when the two children were able to escape from there.

They sneaked out from there and ran away by hiding in the dark.

Their injuries at that time were bad, but not as bad when they were found by Ted. Their injuries only increased after they escaped into the forest.

Inside the forest, they were chased by wild beasts. It was fortunate that they were still alive as the beasts inside were also killing each other. It seems that the other beasts were much better predators/prey than the children.

After that, they continued to run with no direction. The forest was dark with only moonlight lighting up their paths. Their bodies were injured by sharp branches and they kept falling and slipped due to not being able to see properly. Because of that, their conditions worsened.

By pure luck, they ended up at Rebecca’s wheat fields where Ted found them.

“I see… you've been through a lot, kids.” Rebecca walked closer toward Ren and Mill. She then hugged them tightly, patting their heads. “It’s okay, now.”

The two kids jumped in surprise, a shocked look on their faces. They became stiff, feeling strangely warm. This was because they were not used to being comforted like this. It made them confused that they do not know what to do.

Despite all this, they do not hate these feelings as the walls that they built around themselves began to crumble. Tears welled in the corner of their eyes.

Sounds of sobbing were heard for quite some time that night.

Soon after, the kids finally calmed down and talked much more compared to before. With Ted present, they feel more open and talk about a lot of things with Ted leading the conversation.

Time went by and it was already quite late at night. Rebecca then sent the three of them to bed..

A few minutes later, they were sleeping peacefully in one bed. Although the bed was small, Rebecca thought that the three kids didn’t mind after seeing their expressions.

Rebecca looked at the sleeping kids with sad and worried expressions on her face. She then sighed deeply. She closed the door softly and went to her bedroom.

‘I can only hope that nothing will happen.’

…

But, fate said otherwise… The next morning , there was a big ruckus just as people were getting ready to do their work.

The weather was terrible where the sky was covered by dark clouds. It was an odd day for summer.

“ALL OF YOU! GATHER HERE!”

Shouted the soldiers as they came into town, armed with weapons and armors. .

Rebecca’s face turned pale when she heard the noises outside.

‘Oh no…’ She hurriedly ran towards Ted’s bedroom.

“Kids, this is bad! The guards are looking for you, go hide!”

Ren, Mill, and Ted woke up. All of them had pale faces and were trembling non-stop.

“Wh-what are we going to do, sister?”

Rebecca rubbed her gabella with her thumb to calm herself. “Ren and Mill, go hide in the granary! Don’t let the guards see you! Ted and I will gather with the other villagers.” Rebecca looked at Ted and said. “Come with me. Just act like you usually do, okay?”

“O-okay, sister…” Ted nodded repeatedly.

Ren and Mill were still trembling non-stop. The anxiety and fear could clearly be seen on their faces.

Ren bit his lips and braced himself as he grabbed his younger brother’s hand and gave Rebecca a heavy nod.

“The barn is right behind our house. Go there and hide!”

The two kids repeatedly nodded their heads and ran toward the back door led by Rebecca and Ted.

“Okay, Ted. No matter what happens, just act like you know nothing, understand?”

“Ye-yes, sister!”