Walking out of the city, Xel and Xue saw the beggar girl still sitting down by the city gate. Whether she was waiting for them or not, they did not know.

There were not many people around. Most of them had gone out the moment the match was over. Xel and Xue had stayed back for a while talking to Narf and also waited for the crowd to disperse. Mixing into the crowd was not something he liked to do. He would rather walk freely at his own pace, without anyone rushing him, without rushing anyone, and without squeezing in a tight place with everyone. Like what he was doing now.

Upon seeing them, the beggar girl got up and followed them. Xel turned back, smiling, and said, ‘So you have decided to work at my place there. No salary for you, you know… I’m a poor guy. I only have simple food and a small house and crappy clothes like the ones we are wearing now.’

The girl nodded.

Then Xel said, ‘Oh well, you are hired. Hahaha.’

To the girl, this kind of work, with no salary but with food and accommodation was already much better than the previous jobs of no salary, no food and no accommodation. She had worked and ate on leftovers from roadside stalls, and kept on telling herself that when she got her salary life would be slightly better. But no, she was always, always sacked before her salary was given.

Did she make any mistakes? No. if there was a mistake, it was she was a little slow. But that was all. The boss knew, and they had agreed on a lower salary than her colleagues. But still, she was sacked based on that reason. Was it fair? Of course not. But what could she do? There was nothing she could do. Who would want to listen and help a dirty, sick and poor girl like her?

She was slightly younger than Xue, but she had been through a much harder time than her.

This job that she had just taken - to work in the orphanage, at least food and lodging is provided. She would not need to eat leftovers and sleep on the outside. Well, at any rate the man and the girl did not look like they were people who would be so hard-hearted as to let her sleep outside the house but within the compound and eat leftovers, although technically speaking that was still ‘food and lodging provided’.

Not that she had any choice if that was the case. She would take on any work she could do. She would give it a try. Anything was at least better than the guaranteed state of sleeping in the cold and eating rubbish of not working.

Xue said, ‘Come walk with us. What is your name?’

The beggar replied, ‘Yan.’

‘So that’s your name.’

Yan looked at the girl and the man who walked together with her. They did not mind her current state of dirtiness. They did not even say anything about her smell. She was like a normal human to them, not a pest to the society. They had not bothered about the stares people looked at them as they continued their way. The two of them had not despised her, and had not felt embarrassed to be seen together with her. So they walked away from the city gate back to their home, the orphanage, to the girl’s new home.

Behind them, Lin and Kelf were watching.

‘So that guy and the girl there had taken care of her,’ Kelf said.

‘Why? You jealous? After the girl with the hood now you are setting your eyes on the girl?’ Lin asked.

‘Open your mouth.’

Lin asked, ‘Why?’

‘Just do it and don’t ask any questions,’ Kelf replied simply.

Suspiciously Lin did that and in the next instant a big block of ice formed in her mouth and she could not close it. She immediately jumped around due to the cold and due to the fact she could not spit out the ice.

Then Kelf walked away, ‘Your punishment for saying the wrong things.’

Lin was cursing and swearing, but of course no words could be formed with the ice in her mouth. She chased after Kelf in an attempt to make him melt the ice. She would get her revenge one day for doing that to her.

The next group that came out from the city was Yue and her group, all wearing hoods and cloaks.

The second in line behind Yue, spoke, ‘We need to hurry as there are still things waiting to be done.’

And Yue, who was in front replied, ‘Whatever you say. You are the leader.’

With that the 5 kids ran towards the next destination, towards their next task, in a straight line.

Up on top of the city watch tower, Narf stood there with Tor, Bor and Rif, looking at the people going off.

‘Looks like there are a lot of talented people compared to last year. It is such a pity none of them wanted to join the military. Seems like their motivation is the money only.’

Bor said, ‘If they don’t join us, in the future there might be the threat that they will be a hindrance when we are going on with our plan.’

Rif said, ‘Don’t worry too much. There are even more people who are much better than those who showed up today. And not everyone would really bother us even if they have the power.’

‘Even if they really did come, I don’t think they would be much of a hindrance,’ Tor continued.

‘I just don’t like to take risks. You can never predict the future. The weakest man can make an impact if it is done in the correct time and place.’

Narf spoke again, ‘Don’t mind that. The military has more than enough power to handle those people if we really need to. Rif, it is time for you to get on your task. The time is drawing near.’

With that, Rif turned and walked away. And as the day approaches an end, everyone walked in different directions, towards their goals. At a time when people were all preparing to rest from the day’s work, there were people whose work had only just started.

(Character names list updated. Click the link under the categories section for more details.)