The sound of winds singing calmly, consonants with the sound of feathery leaves as it guided me towards my destination. It was peaceful, but the butterfly in my stomach makes me restless. I thought to myself, I have to gain the children's trust, but could I do it. No one would follow a person blindly. I started to doubt myself. I despised my personality of always being pessimistic. I wanted to change, but who could change their personality in a few days. It was no one to blame as I was embedded with this personality throughout my whole life. I have to snap out of it. Then I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. I have to believe in myself. There's no one here to save me but me.
The journey that I chose, the decisions that I make, was all mine. This wasn't the time to doubt me. I have to fight for this. I have to fight all my negativity and the feeling of inferiority that I build while I grew up. Me, who always thought I am not good enough, vowed that I would try to change myself as I am me and I am the best.
The sound of laughter and music could be heard as I got closer to the town. The closer I got, the more excited I felt. Each step I took, I played many different scenarios on how to gain the children's trust. The circumstances that happened in their life makes them harder to trust people.
I have reached my destination. It breaks my heart to see the townspeople here. How could it be so different from the town that was just up ahead? There are children everywhere, but what should I do now. I felt frustrated. I was never the one who would start a conversation because I didn't know-how. While walking around, I kept on thinking of how to start a conversation. Suddenly, I heard a little girl shouting from afar.
"Miss! Miss! Wait!"
The girl shouted as she ran towards me. I turned around to see who it was. As I saw the figure, I smiled brightly as I am happy and glad.
"Felicity, I am glad you were okay."
"Miss, why did you leave? I was worried."
Felicity asked me softly. She looks sad, worried, and somewhat glad. That day I left her without treating my injury and she doesn't know what happened to me. She felt sorry, as she thought it was her fault.
"Don't worry. I am fine. I had to go home that day, that's why I couldn't wait for you. I am sorry. Look, I bought lots of cookies and muffins for us to share."
I spoke cheerfully as I showed her the desserts. Truthfully, I didn't think that she would be worried, so I just left her that day. Now I felt guilty as I was thinking in her position.
"Wow, it looks delicious. But this is a lot. I don't think both of us can finish this."
Felicity spoke happily and her face lightened up like the sun after the moon left.
"Hmm, should we share it?"
I asked, curiously, but with hidden intention.
"Yeah, we should. I go call my friends. Miss, could you wait at the field behind that building. We can eat under that big tree."
She spoke excitedly as she pointed towards the tree in front of us. She looks very happy.
"Okay. Be careful."
I walked towards the field and sat myself down under the tree. It felt like having a picnic. Although it was tiring to walk all the way here, it was totally worth it. In my basket, there were some cookies, muffins, and sandwiches. On my way here, I also bought two big bottles of juice from one of the stalls. I couldn't wait for them to come.
The gentle breeze that brushed against my skin makes me feel so relaxed. I felt like this was the perfect place for me. The air, the sky, and even the smell of grass here make me feel calm. A few minutes later, Felicity and her friends came running happily.
"Miss, sorry we're late. These are all my friends that I could find."
She looks happy yet out of breath due to running just now.
"No, it's fine. This place is really nice. Since they are your friends, they are my friends too. I am Anna, nice to meet you."
I introduced myself as I remembered I hadn't even told Felicity my name yet. I'm introducing myself using my nickname, which my friends in my original life called me. Everyone there smiled and laughed happily as they introduced themselves while enjoying the dessert that I brought.
"I am Cato. Thank you for helping us before."
He spoke with confidence and from his character, I knew he would be a great man one day.
"You're welcome. You're very strong, Cato, but never attacked blindly, strategizes first. To win a battle, you must have the upper hand. Despite that, you must always take care of yourself."
I advised him, as I knew his desire to protect others was higher than himself. For example, like last time when he tried to fight the robber by himself. The difference in strength was too high. So I just wanted him to cherish his life a bit more.
"Cato, lost the first time doesn't mean that you will lose forever. Asking others for help doesn't mean that you are weak. If anything happened that was beyond your capabilities, asked for help. You are stronger when you know your strength and as well as your weakness."
I continued my advice with a warm smile. I didn't want anyone to get hurt. I looked at all the children's faces, I felt like my throat was tightening. I felt like crying. I wanted to protect them, their smile, and their dreams.
"I will remember."
He spoke softly, but I am sure he understood what I meant.
Without further ado, I asked the question that I have been dying to ask since I have met these children.
"I am sorry if I am being rude, but may I know what you all usually do every day?"
I spoke with curiosity and one by one answered my question.
"I sell flowers in the morning and when there were shorthanded at the tavern, I would go help them. My mother works in a tavern as well, she's a waitress, and sometimes she brought home dessert. I really like it."
She said happily, though i couldn't believe how a child could worked in a place that she had to handle alcohol. That's absurd.
"Next time, I will bring more desserts."
I could saw Felicity's eyes sparkled as she talked about desserts. She must love it a lot, but who wouldn't and she's just a child. I listened to all of their stories. They smiled brightly, despite their circumstances. How could a child who was supposed to nag, and be stubborn when things didn't happen their way be this strong?
"My sister once told me that by reading a book, you could see the world. I trusted her, and here I am now. This is a big world, thus there are many things we could learn, from baking to inventing. Would you all like to learn with me?"
I asked them and smiled warmly with the hope that they would agree. I wanted these children to do what they wanted and be happy. All parents wanted their children to live well and have better circumstances in the future. I knew it was all out of love, but sometimes I just wished I could have said what I really wanted to do. I also wished to say that they were no job lesser than the other. All jobs were designed to accommodate each other.
The children were shocked and disbelief at what they heard.
"Miss Anna, do you mean I can learn too?" Felicity asked.
"Yes, everyone can and should learn. We all have to grow, but not just our body but our mind as well."
In this world, only the sons from wealthy families were allowed to enroll at school. They would learn seven liberal arts subjects, which are language, grammar, rhetoric, logic, astronomy, philosophy, and mathematics. Besides, they were also taught on how to handle a sword, bows, and a small horse or pony. The other noble's sons who weren't qualified were taught on how to be a knight. As for the daughters of the nobles, they weren't as fragile as some would have thought. They would learn how to run a household, as they would on behalf of their future husbands when they are absent. This meant that they needed to understand everything from budgeting, to delegating, to sewing by hand, and to throwing a feast for hundreds. Lastly, those poor unfortunate children wouldn't even dare to dream of learning. Every day would be like a battle as they lived from hand to mouth, not knowing if they would have any food on their plate each day.
Although the children were happy, they still seemed a little bit worried. They were never granted the luxury to learn something. All-day, their lives would be filled with works.
"Miss Anna, we didn't have anything. Are you really going to teach us?"
"Yes, I am more than happy to teach. You all were like my little siblings. I wish and pray that your future will be brighter than the sun."
I wished that I could do more for them. I saw teardrops fell down from their pure eyes, and I was the one who was smiled just now, started to cry as well.
Then a few minutes later, everyone started to calm down. We discussed when and where the class should be held. As some of the children were working in the morning, we decided to do it in the afternoon and twice a week.
An hour before, in the same old town, there was a man who tried to search for clues on children's slavery. The problem kept on arising, but no traces were found. He walked from one block to another until he reached an empty field where the grass seems greener and the sky seems clearer. Then he spotted a woman with a group of children sitting under a big tree.
"Isn't she was the one lurking around before? Is she working with them? I ignored her that time because she seemed weak and vulnerable. I should observe some more."
He thought to himself as he sat there quietly and observed the situation.
Her beautiful black hair was dancing with the wind and when she smiled, he found himself smiling as well. He couldn't believe that he caught himself in a shameful thought that threatened his pride as one of the protectors of this country. He blamed himself for being weak-minded. He snapped out of those situations and said to himself.
"A criminal is a criminal no matter what they look like, and it is my duty to arrest them."
Suddenly, the woman started to make a move. She took one of the girls with her. He stood up and followed her, as quietly as a mouse. She walked past an alleyway and stopped in front of an old wooden house. If this is her destination, this might be the place where the children were kept. Without further ado, he started making a move.