Will I ever find a place to call home?

Still, I have to go tell them how much it meant to me to have one, even for a small bit...

Anciel was coming closer to the orphanage, but as he did, he realized that something was wrong. There were a lot of unfamiliar grownup voices coming from the direction of the windmill and the thing itself was... broken.

“We'll put that there... Hmm.. we'll need ladders. Alright! I'll go bring them, you guys help with the...” it was the villagers that came to help repair it.

The children were gathered outside and Inala was explaining to them, “It's going to be alright. The workers will fix it in no time. But until then, I want you to be good to the neighbors that offered to take you in. They are doing us a big favor ok?”

“*sniff* but mom... I don't wanna' go,” Miko was protesting. Metena hugged her, “Hey, don't be like that. We were lucky we can stay together at Maaya's place. Others have to be alone,” and so the little girl calmed down for other's sake.

“Marco, you sure you want to go to mister Luk? He's an old man already and he won't be able to watch over you all of the time. Especially when he goes fishing.”

“Then I wee go wit' him. An' when I come bak, I'll no how to fish!” Marco was already feeling a lot better today.

“You are my bravest son Marco, but I doubt it will take so long to repair it,” Inala pat him on his red hair.

“I wanna' sho' bwothel Wabel tha' I can fish!” Marco put a hand in the air.

“How is he anyway? Is there any news?” asked Ezel.

“He's going to be alright,” Anciel walked in over the broken wooden fence door.

“Anciel, thank goodness!” the mother jumped, “I was so worried!” she caught him in a strong hug.

His eyes widened and he blushed a red hue as an unexpected hug landed. “Where did you go!?” she kept squeezing and now he knew why Label was always reaching for air.

The others laughed at him, even small Tina seemed to enjoy it and Ezel was smiling, relieved that nothing happened to him as well.

“I... It's a long story. Label will be fine. He's just resting now,” he looked at the windmill's broken wings, “Can I help with repairs?”

“Of course. Everybody will help. There's always something you can do to contribute. If you push yourself hard, you leave the easy stuff to those who can't handle difficult things. It's bumblebee logic,” Ezel was proud.

* * *

The sky was orange and the Village of Stars was getting quiet.

Most of the noise was still coming from all the work and repairs being done. The beating of hammers, buzzing ratchets, planks clanking and random shouts here and there filled the sky as the sun was trying to stay up late to cast its light on the workers as much as it could.

A little while after Anciel, Label came as well and had to stop everyone from hugging him too tightly, since he was still hurting. Inala protested that he does any work, but didn't manage to stop him in the end.

He would leave his resting spot as soon as she turned her back and would grab some tools to help fix the windmill's roof at least so that the others maybe wouldn't have to go sleep somewhere else.

But be it as it is, the sea had swallowed the sun whole before even the basic repairs could be done and so all the workers returned home for a long-awaited meal.

Inala and the others thanked them and the neighbors came to pick up the children. All but Label and Anciel, who insisted to stay and help Inala however they could.

The windmill could house at least three people still if minor changes were made.

“It was a long day. Here, you boys deserve it,” she put dinner out on the table in the garden. The fellows were overjoyed and dug in straight away.

It was rather warm luckily and the crickets started their song. As the three enjoyed the food as a family, next to a small makeshift fire.

“You see, I was in this bunch of water. Trying to swim but the thing is, there was nowhere to go! It's like, if I was in the sky, but .... with water.....I dunno', anyway, I totally didn't mind 'cuz I could breathe and there was this other guy—”

Label was trying his best to describe his dream.

“Hm-hm-hm!” his mom was laughing even though her mouth was full.

“The other guy looked like you, but wasn't you?” Anciel interrupted.

“Whaaat? How do you know?”

“I had the same dream. You probably took it from me somehow, because this is not the first time I had that dream.”

“Oh-no,no,no. You took it from me!” the blond boy shouted and then filled his mouth with more food, “Yoo shee, I hadd dat drim sinche *gulp*.. since I remember!”

“It seems to me that you both have something else in common: talking while eating. And that will leave you starving!” she forked the biggest chicken breast quickly, the flames making her look rather evil.

“Hey!” Label hurried to get at least one piece on his fork, but Anciel beat him to it.

“Hahahahaha!” he laughed showing the piece on his fork, but as he opened his eyes, “Huh?” it was gone.

“*nom, nom, nom, gulp* There, all done!” Label emerged victorious, already using a toothpick as he grinned.

The green-eyed boy was left with a wistful look into an empty fork. But as he reminisced, Inala cut her piece in half and put the other half on his plate, “There you go. Can't have you go to bed starving, but I hope you learned your lesson.”

He just nodded and started eating, showing that the lesson sank in. She smiled at him.

“Good night. Don't stay up late. The workers are returning early morning!” she told them before closing the door of her room.

The orphanage was damaged pretty badly but there were still some parts good enough to spend the night in.

It was already late and the boys had to drop the tools because it became impossible to do anything in the dark.

They were on the roof and decided to sit down a bit before going to bed. Label took off his bandages and checked if there are any wounds left. There were none.

“So, how is it for you... being a nomad?” the dark-haired boy wanted to see other perspectives.

“I dunno'... good?” Label was happy his body is back to normal. It meant he could help finish the work tomorrow and his family would be together again. “You?”

“Me?.... Well, if I wasn't, I suppose I wouldn't even be alive anymore,” he looked down through the broken roof.

“Oh yeah, I never asked you what you did and where you lived before coming here,” the blue-eyed boy got curious all of a sudden.

“I didn't live anywhere in particular. So calling me a 'nomad' really nails the meaning of the word. It's funny, but I can't seem to remember anything from my early childhood.

But what I do remember is always fighting to stay alive. Be it forests or towns, I always had to hunt, find or steal food to survive and when you do that sort of stuff using 'magic' that most people fear and loathe, you find yourself leaving any place as fast as you got there...”

“I lived an almost ordinary life here, yet I somehow get what you’re saying. As if you’re a different version of me.”

“Someone like you, but not you?” Anciel looked at him, with complete understanding.

“I'm going to bed,” Label went down the ladders.

“I won't be long. I just need a moment for myself,” Anciel stayed, his eyes lost in the distance, “Good night.”

“Night,” he continued descending and finally laid down in the makeshift bed they prepared earlier.

He couldn't fall asleep for many reasons, one of them being that not only it was not his room, but it wasn't a room at all where he was now. More like his bed was under the stairs that were a substitute for a roof and from one side there was no wall, just a board attached to temporarily block the wind at least.

Tomorrow, I have to tell Inala… I have to leave.

* * *

The chatter of workers woke Anciel up. It meant he slept through the whole night without waking up. Good, now was the time to push himself and help finish the repairs. He wanted to go as soon as possible because the longer he waited, the bigger the distance between him and the hooded lynx became, but he couldn't just leave behind the people who generously took him in, now that they are in the time of need.

He went to the kitchen, “Good morning,” Anciel yawned, while Label was already taking in the much-needed morning sugars in the form of some freshly picked strawberries.

“Mowning!” he greeted with his mouth full.

Inala came with another cup of the delicious red fruit and put them in front of the boy.

“Did you manage to get some sleep dear?”

“Good morning. Yes, thank you. Compared to all the places I used to sleep, this was still much, much better. Oh, and I'm not sure I can intrude on you anymore..” he pushed the cup away a bit.

“Listen now you! It is rude to reject a gift, that's first and second, you will need these to give you strength for the work you are going to do today,” Inala scolded him.

He watched her leave the kitchen and join the workers in the garden with surprise in his eyes. So this is how it feels, he put a hand on his chest. It was the first time he got scolded by a mother. He didn't even think of rejecting the strawberries a second time and instead decided to enjoy them.

Label laughed at him. “You fought veeery hard.”

“Shuddup...” Anciel chuckled as well.

As they finished breakfast, it was time to get sweating. The eager fellows asked the workers how they can help around and at first, the grown men said there was no need, but in the end, gave in and let the boys assist them.

They learned a lot that day about some peculiar tools like an adze, chisel, auger, brace, awl, and how to use them. All those skills might come in handy one day, thought Anciel even though he would prefer to use his powers to deal with this stuff, however, he decided not to in front of everyone present.

It took the builders a few hours for the most necessary parts, but the actual mill and sails will take a couple of days. It was time for lunch, but to speed up the process and show appreciation for all the hard work, even though the workers were paid from the village's fund, Inala brought them bread straight from the oven and some vegetables from the garden.

The boys were asked to go bring some drinks beforehand and were now coming back with juice and beer. It took some persuasion to get the barmen to sell it to them, however, he was in a good relationship with Inala so he succumbed after reading the message she gave them; promising pastries in return as soon as the windmill is operational again.

“Cheers!” the bunch was full and took a small break before they return to work.

“You have some proper men here with you Inala,” a big dark-tanned man with a mohawk hugged Label with one arm and the boy grinned proudly.

“The most proper one is not here though. He's far too young to be working like this, so for now a good friend is taking care of him.”

“You mean Marco? I saw him with old man Luk just this morning. That boy'll be fishin' better than Luk in no time I tell ya!” everyone cracked up, some patting their bellies, and some choking on beer.

Anciel was the only one looking a bit down.

“Why the long face kid? Somethin' troubling you?” a heavyweight round man with a bushy mustache and eyebrows wearing a red bandana asked him with a gravely voice.

“No, I'm fine. Thanks for asking.”

“Oh, I know that look! Boy, you in loooove. Did your bird not like your song?” everybody laughed again.

Only Inala protested, “Put a sock in it Gerome. You couldn't sing if your life was depending on it,” and so even Anciel joined their laughter.

The bushy man accepted, “Leave me alone would'ya? Me wife's been feeding me only rocks and stones,” the hilarity didn't subside, “Besides, I can sing just fine!” he stepped up on the bench, “Inaaaaalaaa darliiiing, your cooking’s astoooooounding- *cough, cough*”, he choked on his own gravely voice and those around who didn't yet roll on the floor were either crying or gasping for air.

“Ahahahahha! Gerome, you didn't consider maybe that your wife was trying to stop you from singing?” Inala just couldn't hold it in, but the round man didn't mind.

* * *

Coming evening, Inala and the boys bid farewell to all the workers for today and thanked them for all the help.

Anciel stayed outside collecting all the plates and glasses when he turned towards the windmill.

The orphanage was still not fixed since things don’t always go as planned and thus he started to worry that the orgriash will be too far for him to track down if things continue at this pace. He had to talk to them about it but as he approached the door and was just about to enter; he overheard a conversation going on inside.

“... but Label dear... I don't want you to go,” it was Inala and her voice was shaking, so Anciel decided to wait for a bit before entering.

“We have to leave tomorrow. I told you what happened. If they come looking for us, we are putting everyone else at risk.”

“I knew you would have to leave one day. I just didn't know it would come so soon. It's been only two years since I found you down at the beach, I still remember it like it was yesterday; washed up on the shore, all alone, as if the whole world abandoned you.”

“Ehh... sorry to interrupt,” Anciel pushed the door slightly, “I happened to overhear.... what beach did you find him on exactly?”

“What beach you say? I believe it was Ovum; one of many beaches on the north shore. It's not far from here, but the Mrky canyon that separates the village from it was overrun by orgriash in recent times.”

“We are going in the morning,” Label cut to the chase as if not giving anyone any chances to convince him otherwise.

“Tomorrow in the morning some of our traders are taking a carriage to the river nearby and from there travel to Wasserstadt by a steam peddler. The fee is not too high and I will gladly pay it if it means your journey will be safer. If anything happened…” she sat down and buried her face into her palms.

“I will look after him. I promise,” he let these words set deep into his heart.