When we arrived, the common room was already in chaos — just like every morning.
At the center of the room stood an old wooden table that was heroically trying to survive the shouting and the banging of spoons from all the children surrounding it.
Until today it had endured bravely… but tomorrow? The day after? The future was dark and uncertain for poor Bob, the wooden table.
Oh yes, the table had a name. Or, to be precise, I had given it one. In case one day a bard happened to pass through this village and, moved by Bob's deeds, decided to sing his epic tale to the whole world.
In such a scenario, simply being "a table" wouldn't have been enough.
It needed a name.
An identity.
Something that would set it apart from all the ordinary wooden tables you could find anywhere.
And so Bob was born.
Very moving, in my opinion.
I headed toward a corner of the hall, Arthur following behind me, where Mrs. Sonia was distributing the contents of a half-empty large cauldron into several bowls.
When I was close enough, I put on the most innocent expression I could manage and recited:
"Good morning, Mrs. Sonia! It's truly a splendid day today."
She stared at me with her obsidian-black eyes, completely indifferent to my charm.
"Good morning, Kian. And no — before you ask — you won't be getting more soup than the others."
"Tsk."
Negotiations had failed before they even began.
Maybe next time I should try crying?
Hmm… not a bad idea.
"Take a bowl and go sit with the others at the ta—"
"Bob."
"Right. Go to Bob."
Arthur stepped forward.
"Good morning, Mrs. Sonia."
"Good morning to you too, Arthur. You may take a little extra."
I froze. I stared at her as she had just spoken in some ancient forgotten language.
"EEEH? Why does he get extra and I don't?!"
This time, a clear mix of irritation and exasperation appeared in her gaze.
"Because after breakfast Arthur will help the adults in the fields, under the blazing sun, until the afternoon. You, on the other hand, will stay here. You'll probably sit in the shade under a tree and, at best, read that book you're holding. At worst, you'll simply go back to sleep."
"Alright, alright. That many details weren't necessary. I get it."
I couldn't argue with that.
Especially since this conversation happened every single morning and, while she kept coming up with new arguments, I had long since run out of excuses.
Yes. Next time we execute the crying plan.
Resigned, I made my way toward my only ally in this world: Bob.
Yes, he was the quiet type, a table of few words, but he had never judged me.
He was a patient, reliable listener and, most importantly, I always knew where to find him.
As soon as I sat down, the familiar noise of the hall wrapped around me like a blanket, mixed with a series of confused greetings.
On the other side of the table, four kids around my age were watching us with particular interest.
"Mmm… Kian unharmed. Arthur slightly injured. Rayan missing… You win, Lucas. Here's my share."
"How do you guess it right every time? Did you awaken your element?"
"I think he made a pact with Rita."
"I'm simply better than you. Now pay up. Especially you, James — yesterday you barely gave me a sip of soup."
Oh.
So they were betting on us.
"I don't think it's very fair to bet on other people's survival. We don't even know what happened to Rayan."
I said this while Arthur nodded, his mouth full.
"He'll be fine… probably. And it's not our fault you wake up late every morning and Rita has to come drag you out. And it's definitely not our fault that waking you up normally is practically impossible."
"Lucas is right."
"I basically take afternoon naps now out of fear of Rita."
"Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, afraid I've overslept."
I wasn't an expert, but the last one sounded like some serious trauma.
Well… they were right. The problem was the three of us.
At first, we had decided to ignore anyone who tried to wake us up.
Then, one day, Rita arrived.
I don't know exactly what happened — I was asleep — but I clearly remember that was the day I discovered the incredible power of violence.
The rest I'll leave to your imagination.
As if summoned by the thought, Rayan made his entrance.
Or rather, what was left of him.
He looked like a soldier who had just returned from war — at least that's what his lifeless eyes suggested.
Behind him, Rita smiled calmly, as if his condition had nothing to do with her.
"Good morning… Mrs. Sonia."
"Mom, I woke them all up."
"Good morning, Rayan. Thank you, Rita. Go ahead and sit down."
"Come on, Rayan! You're so slow!"
"My body is already giving its all… any more than this and I think I'll break."
"You're so dramatic!"
"I wish I were."
As victim and executioner approached, I started eating while flipping through my book.
Oh, right: Rita didn't even belong to the orphanage.
She just came to help her mother with the meals and wake up the late sleepers.
Incredible luck.
I didn't even have time to finish that thought before Rita shot me a glance.
No, seriously.
What kind of power is that?
Did she awaken an element that allows her to read minds?
If that were true, I would have to leave this village immediately for the sake of my own survival.
Fortunately — the gori— I mean, Rita — sat down next to Rayan on the other side of the table.
Bob stood between us.
I was temporarily safe.
Thanks again, Bob.
I kept bringing spoonfuls of soup to my mouth while trying to decipher another damaged page of the worn-out book in my right hand, ignoring the world around me.