The children's laughter extinguished in the gradually dimming light of the kerosene lamp, and their reality closed with the fairy tale in Catherine's hand and became a corner of the dream.
But maybe none of them really fell asleep, just like Lehman faced with the memory of separation in the past, just like Lehman at this moment...
The sound of extremely restrained footsteps came to his ears, and the creaking sound came from the bed belonging to Max not far away. Lehman understood that Max was about to be taken away, even though the sky was already filled with heavy fog.
But until the dim kerosene lamp went out again and the door quietly closed, he did not sit up to say his final farewell, because the seeds of what needed to be unlocked had already been planted before.
What he needs to do now is just to sleep and respect this orphanage's unique way of saying goodbye.
Just an ordinary day is not worth remembering, and there is no need to shed tears deliberately. Just like the bread in the morning is sometimes stiff and sometimes soft, but it will always be there. Children move towards the life they expect, but they do not leave, because they
Will always come back.
Even though Lehman knew the cruelty behind these words, he also understood the value of their existence and what Pask and the others really wanted to protect.
But is this really happiness?
Lehman wrapped the quilt tightly around him and fell into a deep sleep again.
........................
The chirping of birds in the forest in the early morning awakened the light of dawn and penetrated the dark night, and a pair of hands gently patted away Leman's deep sleepiness.
His fingertips lightly touched the warmth of the mattress and he reached out of bed to welcome the chill. Lehman opened his eyes and got up and glanced at the owner of those hands.
Catherine chuckled lightly, put her index finger up to her mouth, and then made a dressing movement. She slowly stood up and walked to the door of the dormitory, calmly looking at the sleeping children and the awake Lehman.
.
After they had changed into newly prepared cotton clothes and came to the door, she extinguished the kerosene lamp on the wall and led the two of them out of the room.
In the still dark corridor, the extinguished lights were quietly lit. Ada walked towards the two of them from the direction of the door, but was slightly stunned at the short distance, then shook her head and looked at Lehman, who was slightly shorter than herself, and spoke.
Scattered in the air together with the mist.
"Lehman, I am so happy for the honor you have received. Completing the adult ceremony at the age of 10 is an achievement I have never seen. I am proud of you."
After saying that, Ada stepped forward and gently hugged Lehman.
"I will miss you, remember to come back often."
The dim light in the cold wind stung Lehman's eyes, but it failed to stop his expected emotions. Tears still fell, and the warmth across his cheeks left cold tear marks.
Lehman: "Okay, sister Ada."
Hearing the calm reply, Ada's eyes flashed slightly and she let go of her hands unwillingly. However, when she glanced at Lehman's eyes, she unexpectedly saw the faint traces of tears and smiled reassuringly.
"I prepared a gift for you, because it happened suddenly, so it may not be very pretty, but I still hope you can take it with you."
As she spoke, Ada took out the small sewn pendant from her pocket, but accidentally dropped it on the ground.
Looking at her trembling hands, Ada couldn't tell for a moment whether the trembling at the moment came from the cold or the hidden uneasiness.
He squatted down and stretched out his hand, looking at the ugly pendant that fell on the ground, but failed to pick it up decisively.
Until Lehman squatted down and picked up the cute pendant, with the sewn smiling face, he gently held it with a smile, looked at Ada and said.
"Thank you, Sister Ada. I will keep it well."
Ada's nose twitched and she opened her mouth hesitantly to say something but was interrupted by the sound of the door opening.
The cold wind dispersed the warmth between them wantonly, and Pask stood at the door and said quietly.
"I think it's almost time to go."
Catherine's fingertips moved slightly, then she leaned down and straightened Lehman's collar again.
"Is it cold?"
Lehman smiled and shook his head.
Catherine sighed softly, said nothing more, and led the two of them to Pask.
After taking Lehman, Pask took out the beret he had prepared and put it on his head.
"Let's go."
Lehman pulled off his hat and nodded slightly, following Pask's footsteps and walking forward, but the brim of his hat hit him directly on the back.
Pask stopped where he was and sighed and turned around and said
"Let's go, sister."
"Be careful on the road, Lehman will be left to you."
"Don't worry..."
As the words he choked against his will fell, Pask turned around and left quickly with Lehman without hesitation.
The door lock was lightly clicked, isolating the cold air and the figures of the two people who were gradually retreating.
Ada stood there, a drop of tear falling crisply and hitting the floor.
"Teacher Catherine...Have I properly become their sister this time...Teacher."
Catherine patted her head gently with her hand, then slid it down her hair and flicked Ada's forehead.
"Ada, being strong has nothing to do with tears. There is no difference between moving forward with your head raised and moving forward with your head down. I say to be strong, but I don't mean to deprive you of the right to cry in front of your loved ones, my child."
Sighing softly, he knelt down and watched Ada wipe away her tears, and said with a wry smile
"Don't worry, Ada. You are a good sister, you always have been."
............
White mist spat out from Pask's mouth, and the mysterious mist that filled the night quietly dissipated at some point. Brad's figure in his sight gradually walked towards the direction of the two of them.
"Leaving now?"
"The kids are in your hands for now, Brad."
Brad raised his eyebrows and stretched.
"Of course, I am their miracle. You should go back to Ubuzi next. After all, little Lehman still has a lot to learn. Even if he is already very powerful, I'm afraid it's still worth the baptism, right?"
?"
Pask walked forward casually and sighed.
"Don't you say this time that it's the same in Lenk and Ubz?"
"Hey, people will always change. I don't even understand this."
Pask's eyes flickered slightly, and his brows furrowed but couldn't bear to let go.
"Thyssen is very concerned about the combat value of the orphanage recently. Do you have any idea? Brad."
Brad glanced at Lehman next to Pask, then looked at what was conveying in Pask's eyes, and said lightly
"Thyssen gets sick from time to time, so you care about her so much. You are not attracted to her, right? In this case, I will monopolize Sister Catherine~~~"
Paz sighed deeply, stopped and stared at the confused Brad in front of him
"To be honest, I don't know who the instructor of the new orphanage is, because the timing was so coincidental that I thought it was you at the time. But now that I think about it, everything seems too unreasonable.
How could the organization send someone who is conducting covert operations to take over as an instructor? What on earth are you covering up, Brad."
The smile on Brad's face quietly disappeared and he looked in the direction of the orphanage.
"...You are still as sharp as ever. You are right. I am just going home normally this time. I am glad that you are here and gave me a God-given excuse.
In fact, I was relieved when I heard the news that the orphanage was about to be moved.
To be honest, I don’t know what the mission is this time. I only know that there are currently many gold medal killers within the organization gathered in Lenk City. This is not a good sign.
So take little Lehman and leave this city first, Pask."
Pask looked at the serious Brad in front of him, raised his eyebrows and laughed.
"You still don't suit the serious style. No wonder Sister Catherine always treats you like a child."
"I'm not joking, Pask. If you don't think about yourself, I won't allow you to take Lehman on the adventure. Just go back to Ubuz."
Pask took a deep breath and exhaled it, looking at the person in front of him calmly.
"Actually, I also received an order from Thyssen last night. There is only one order: Lehman and I are not allowed to leave Lenk City."
"No! Even if he is talented, little Lehman will not survive now. Otherwise, let Lehman return to the orphanage and be transferred with Catherine!"
"Thyssen and the others are not retarded, Brad. Don't worry, Lehman is not as unbearable as you think. I'm afraid he is much more reliable than you, really."
Brad looked at the person in front of him with serious eyes, but for a moment he didn't know whether to be happy or angry, so he could only sigh.
"Okay...be careful."
Pask waved his hand slightly, Lehman lowered the brim of his hat and bowed his head to bid farewell to Brad, walked through the water curtain hiding the orphanage, and walked towards the huge city of Lenk at the end of his sight...