As I said goodbye to the kids, my gaze instinctively drifted toward Alice.
She stood off to the side, her face lit with a warm, quiet smile.
I took a few steps toward her, the crunch of my boots barely audible over the rustling leaves and distant chatter of children.
"You're going to be at the academy for priesthood too, right?" I asked.
She nodded lightly, a faint chuckle escaping her lips. "Well, I still have a two-week break left. So technically, you're ahead of me."
"I see," I murmured, a breeze brushing past as I looked back at the orphanage for a moment. "I'll be visiting when I can. I want to stay grounded a d remind myself of where I came from, no matter what."
"You don't need to humble us so much," she replied with a quiet laugh, her eyes kind. "We're fine, really. Just live your life the way you want."
