The Second Adam [ENG]

The tall bushes behind him began to rustle. Something was approaching.

Raagnol, noticing it, immediately picked up a small stone nearby. He stood ready in case something jumped out to attack him.

"Raagnol…"

Raagnol recognized that voice.

Something emerged from the bushes. It was clearly Madam Fyto.

"Madam Fyto? Why... are you here?" Raagnol asked in confusion.

"Let's talk about that later. For now, come with me," said Madam Fyto, pulling Raagnol by the hand.

They pushed through the tall bushes, going deeper into the forest.

Faintly visible ahead of them was an old hut. Madam Fyto and Raagnol entered it together.

"Raagnol… you're back…"

All the children from the orphanage were there, including Leyko. Raagnol hugged them all. He had thought he would never see them again. But now, they were together once more. Amid this joyful reunion, Madam Fyto approached him.

"Raagnol… I'd like to talk with you for a moment," Madam Fyto said.

Raagnol followed Madam Fyto outside the hut. It seemed she had something important to tell him.

"So… you've figured it out, haven't you?" Madam Fyto asked while gazing up at the stars.

"What do you mean…?" Raagnol asked back, his face filled with confusion.

"I haven't told you the whole truth. But I'm sure by now you know… that you are a sorcerer."

Hearing that, Raagnol went silent, swallowing hard. That response alone showed he already knew.

"Why… didn't you tell me earlier?" Raagnol asked.

"I… didn't want you all to live in fear," Madam Fyto replied softly, her voice filled with guilt.

"You all?" Raagnol asked again.

"Yes… every child at the orphanage is a sorcerer. And I… am a sorcerer too."

Raagnol's eyes widened at Madam Fyto's words. He couldn't speak. He had never imagined that it wasn't just him, but that all the children at the orphanage, including Madam Fyto, were sorcerers.

"You must be surprised… but that's the truth."

Madam Fyto sighed and looked at Raagnol with honest, sincere eyes.

"Raagnol… I'm going to tell you something you need to know."

Raagnol looked back at Madam Fyto and listened closely.

"Fifteen years ago, five years after King Sirius rose to power, magic was outlawed. The Academy of Magic was shut down. Sorcerers were hunted down one by one. Many of them went into hiding among the common people and stopped using magic altogether."

"Many children lost their parents, because their parents were sorcerers. That's why I opened the orphanage, for them. And now that the soldiers know you're a sorcerer, the orphanage is no longer safe. That's why I brought them all here."

"Your parents were sorcerers too, Raagnol. But I don't know who they were."

Raagnol continued listening intently to everything Madam Fyto said. He began to understand the reason behind her lies. All this time, he had thought Madam Fyto just didn't want the children to know about their pasts. But it was actually to protect them.

Raagnol asked Madam Fyto about the soldier who had saved him. He still felt guilty for leaving him behind, and the sadness was clear on his face.

"The soldier who saved you… he's my student. I asked for his help earlier. Don't worry… he won't die that easily," Madam Fyto replied with a confident smile.

As night deepened, Madam Fyto told Raagnol to go inside and rest.

She remained outside, gazing at the stars alone. Her hands were trembling. The cold night air made her feel weak. Her face was full of resignation as she thought about what she had to do next to protect the children she loved.

Before the night chill could overwhelm her, Madam Fyto turned and headed back toward the hut. But just before she stepped inside, she noticed something or someone watching her from the shadows beyond the trees.