The two guards, having seen enough for one morning, gave each other a shrug and returned to their post—watching the road, checking passing carts, pretending the last five minutes of absurdity never happened.
"Back to work, I guess," one muttered.
"Yep," the other replied. "Until he does something weird again."
Then, with one last look toward the gate Hazuki had disappeared through, she muttered under her breath—
"Can't believe I have to chase someone just to deliver a meeting request…"
She straightened herself, pulled out a folded note sealed with the guild crest, and began walking steadily toward the orphanage.
Hazuki arrived at the orphanage gate, a paper-wrapped bundle slung over his shoulder like a sack of treasure.
In the courtyard, Elvia and Chasia were crouched near the flower patch, playing with smooth stones and petals. The other kids were running around, chasing one another, giggling in the sun.
Hazuki stopped just outside the small gate and called out:
