Chapter 55: Adopted
Mr Raymond chuckled slightly as he gently patted Arora on her disheveled brown hair.
"It's really gut to see... you Arora, but uh, can you let go now?"
Arora's eyes widened slightly when she realised how hard she was hugging him. She stepped back, finally releasing him as she apologized awkwardly.
"Ah, I'm so sorry Mr Raymond!"
"Haha, it's alright Arora. I just, almost couldn't breathe there." He said with a laugh.
"It's just that it's been so long since you've visited the orphanage, and we've really missed you." Arora continued, her excitement returning.
"Yes it has, hasn't it? I'm really sorry about that dear girl. I've had a very busy year, you could say." He responded with a smile.
Roger stood to the side with a stunned expression, no longer chasing after Arora. He remained silent for a while, simply watching her interaction with Mr Raymond. He stared at Raymond with a complicated look.
"Raymond... You're back." he said eventually, his brows furrowed in what looked almost like disappointment.
Mr. Raymond looked over at him, his own expression turning complex.
"yes, I'm back again."
Arora looked between the two men, a bit perplexed by the awkward tone of their conversation. They had always acted like best friends in the past.
"...Okay, then. I'll get Ms. Ann for you" Roger said as he turned away, ascending the staircase with heavy steps.
Raymond watched him go before turning back to Arora.
"Um... Is something going on between you and Mr. Roger?" Arora asked curiously.
Mr Raymond raised a brow then smiled warmly.
"Nein of course not, we're just having a slight disagreement, that's all." He said with a chuckle, before quickly changing the topic. "My, how you've grown. You're already half my size! It feels like only yesterday that I'd scoop up that tiny little Arora."
Arora puffed her cheeks slightly.
"Of course I have, I'm 13 now!" she said, flustered.
"Haha, I know, I know. I sent you a birthday cake, remember? I hope you enjoyed it with your friends."
Arora's expression froze for a few seconds, then grew somber.
"Yeah... I did," she muttered softly.
Mr. Raymond noticed her shoulders slump slightly.
"Was ist los? You look so down, little one."
"It's nothing, Mr. Raymond. I just wished you were there to celebrate it with me."
He sighed regretfully. "I wish the same. But I'm here now."
He paused for several moments, holding in a deep breath, then continued. "...And I bring good news as well."
Arora's eyebrows shot up in excitement.
"What is it, Mr. Raymond?!"
"Don't worry, little one, I'll tell you soon. After I have a chat with Ms. Ann. I'll also say hello to the other kids since I'm here." He said as he walked past her toward the stairs.
He stopped at the bottom step, turning back to her.
"I hope none of them are giving you any trouble, like before?"
Arora remained silent for several moments as she pondered whether to tell him about the morning incident and her precious letters that had been heartlessly torn apart by Beth.
Eventually, she simply gritted her teeth slightly, deciding not to burden him when he'd just returned.
"No, everything is fine. They've been good this year, like you told them to be."
"That's good to hear," Mr. Raymond said with a nod before ascending the stairs.
Arora clenched her fists in frustration for a moment, before releasing them and following after him.
_________
When they reached the top of the staircase, they found Ms. Ann waiting agitatedly in front of her office door, with Mr. Rogers standing quietly beside her. She was a woman in her late thirties with raven-dark hair and tired brown eyes. At the moment, she seemed almost reluctant at the sight of Raymond.
"Mr. Raymond is here!" one of the kids leaving the common room shouted as he spotted their guest.
Most of the other kids ran out shortly after, rushing to greet him with bright smiles and eager voices calling his name.
Beth and a few other girls in the orphanage's library nearby didn't have the courage to do the same. They hung back in the doorway, studying his expression. They were scared of what Arora might have said to him about this morning, since they saw her head down first.
Mr Raymond greeted the kids that swarmed him with smiles and hugs as well.
"Alright, alright, settle down, all of you. Unfortunately, I didn't bring gifts this time, but I will on my next visit."
Most of them let out groans of obvious disappointment before heading back to the common room, while the younger ones didn't seem to mind too much.
Arora watched all this silently while also observing Ms. Ann's reluctant expression. She felt like something was definitely wrong.
After a while, Roger finally decided to step in.
"That's enough, children, run along now. Mr. Raymond and Ms. Ann have things to discuss," he said as he ushered all the kids toward the common room.
Eventually, he turned his gaze to Arora.
"You too, Arora."
Arora nodded as she headed to the common room's window to wait patiently for Mr. Raymond. She couldn't help but wonder what news he had to tell her.
Mr. Raymond's smile faded somewhat as he walked toward Ms. Ann and bowed slightly.
"Ann, it's been a while. How have you been?"
She stared at him with barely concealed contempt before ushering him into her office.
"Don't bother with the small talk. Just tell me everything."
After about ten minutes of waiting, Arora grew tired of staring out the window, her impatience winning out against her usual restraint. She glanced toward the common room's door and noticed that Mr. Rogers had returned downstairs to the reception desk at some point.
She stood up and headed for the door moments later, unable to wait any longer. She tiptoed all the way to Ms. Ann's office, pressing herself against the locked door as she did her best to listen in. She was hoping they would bring up the surprise he had for her.
"So, after everything... it failed as well?" Ms. Ann asked, her tone dripping with exhaustion and frustration.
Mr. Raymond paced around the office, remaining silent for several moments. Finally, he sighed wearily.
"Not exactly. But we did suffer a setback. The level was almost completely pushed back to stage three because of the backlash. As of right now, everyone's trying their very best to come up with a solution to fix it. But we both know there's only really one way. Elijah knows it too. Which is why I'm here."
Ann's gaze shot to Raymond, quickly turning into a glare.
She gritted her teeth in indignation as she watched him.
"They're not ready yet, none of them are. Also, this will be a tremendous loss for us in the future!" she argued loudly.
"There will be no future if we don't do this!"
Mr. Raymond shouted back furiously.
"Siehst du das nicht? We have no choice!"
She furrowed her brows in confusion, genuinely wondering what they were talking about. What had failed? What was stage three?
Ms. Ann remained silent for several moments. Then several moments more. Finally, she sighed and stood up from her chair behind her desk.
"...So which child?" she asked eventually, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Raymond remained silent as well, mirroring her own hesitation.
"As of right now, we're at a critical juncture that could determine the success or failure of the Great Expanse. We've lost months, if not years of progress in one fell swoop, thanks to the failed advancement."
He drew in a hesitant breath, his expression becoming somber.
"As of right now... we need the best one possible."
Ms. Ann's eyes suddenly widened at what Raymond was alluding to.
"Don't tell me you mean..." she said, her voice quivering slightly.
"Yes... Arora is being adopted today."