Adventures in Fáfold

In the Capital city, Hofsfell, in the icy lands of Skógrland....stands the city orphanage. Many young children abandoned by people who couldn't keep or didn't want them....one in particular was a brown haired boy, who was brought to the orphanage 14 years ago by unknown persons. The head mistress was BARELY called nice and made sure the children in her keep were worked to the bone rather than have them believe they would be adopted or have a better future, and for those who tried to run away?......oh boy that was not pretty.

The girls were doing laundry while the few boys were chopping woods and the boy....called a trouble maker, was given 'special' jobs to do himself. "BOY! You BETTER make that pile is ALL chopped by noon!!" the old hag shouted at him. No one else was to help him or risk a beating.

Though the work was hard, he was quite used to doing it himself and had gotten skilled at it* Jokes on you old hag *He said to himself* I'm almost done so you're not beating me tonight *He brought the ax down making a perfect cut*

The old mistress had him chopping since dawn. One of the girls, Named Jala, snuck over when the old hag wasn't looking, "Kaj, here." she brought a mug of water to him. "Are you alright?" she asked quietly.

Kaj-smiled* it's fine, I'm used to this, thanks Jala...go hide before your caught...I'm almost done

She smiled and took the mug back, and scurried off before the old witch came out. Which luckily just as she was out of sight, the old mistress came out, "NO STOPPING YOU BRAT! BACK TO WORK!" she shouted. Jala snuck back around, to head back inside to the kitchen.

Kaj-wiped his brow and went back to chopping* Just what I needed *He started to power through the rest of the wood, after years and years of mistreatment his stamina had increased, he was used to going all day*

A bit later, It was noon and the pile was just finished. "Good, now go clean up, you're flithy." she said with disgust and went inside once again.

Kaj-put the ax back and headed for the bathing area, a few times he had thought of using that ax in a different way but chose not too, he sighed when he got out of sight and earshot* Hate that old witch *He grumbled*

Winter was on its way so the air had a chill and made it hard to bathe sometimes in the outside. Jala then came out with a bucket to collect fresh water from the well not far format he bathing spot, "Kaj are you there?" she called out.

Kaj-yeah I'm here, thank you for earlier *He cleaned off his sweat and dirt* I needed that

She smiled, "No problem." she said, flowering the bucket into the well, "I'm just sad she works you the most." she sighed.

Kaj-I know, it's annoying but someday we'll get out of this hell hole and I'm going to travel the world

".........With how everyone just walks by, i don't think will happen......I'de say we wait until we're 16 and we'll be able to go on our own...." she said.

Kaj-I don't think they intend to let us walk *he said simply*

She looked to the ground, ".........WHat will you do then? if we try to run we'll be locked in the stocks for a month." she said.

Kaj-I think I have an idea on how to expose them...but It'll take time

"We might have much time, the Moon festival is coming and the city will be closed for a fortnight. No one can leave or come." she said reminding him.

Kaj-...oh right the Moon Festival* he had forgotten due to always being busy*

"And that begins in four days." she said, "........"

Kaj-...four days...*he smirked* that's plenty of time

"But how will you be able to do it? You don't even have money." she said.

Kaj-I'll need a bit of help on this but if it works, then they'll be exposed for what they are and they'll be replaced and we'll be freed from this hell

".......Kaj.....I don't want you getting in trouble or worse hurt." she said.

Kaj-...you know what'll happen if I stay here...there is no place for me, you know this.

"............." she knew he was right but didn't want to say it.