Chapter 2 Orphanage

Authors note I forgot to mention the fact that he has played genshin, but got reincarnated the day before the Fontaine trailer was released. So he's coming into this knowing everything until 3.8

We finished up our meal and I followed her to an orphanage, we didn't say much and I have a feeling we won't say anything to each other considering we are both introverts, I think?

She is leading the way while I follow beside her, the only thing I can think about is why now. She had followed me ever since I left the city, was she watching to figure out how desperate I was? What if I got bodied by Hilichurls Would she jump in to save me? So many questions we're not talking about.

"So what do want with me"

"You're strong, but your reckless."

"First of all I-"

"You got hit every single time without fail when you went out, you act like you have no control of your body, and I've only seen you eat 4 out of the 7 days I've observed you."

"I refuse to eat those seals, they're too cute to be eaten"

"Is that what you have a problem with?"

"Food is sacred, I draw the line at those seals. I couldn't bring myself to eat them with those sad-looking faces"

"You slept in a cardboard box"

"Allegedly, but continue"

"You have potential and people have denied its use. Then come to the house of the hearth," She said

'She has a point, I refuse to work a normal job. Not that people would hire me, I'm too good to do that anyway. I'm tired of always being hungry, and having nothing to my name. I refuse to be a nobody.'

"... Fine, but I won't stay they're too long."

"Alright, we are here arrived. Remember, since you have joined the house of the hearth you will call me Father"

'It's better for my own sake that I don't comment on that considering I got slapped the last time I said anything.'

The orphanage itself looks pretty big, more like an apartment complex-looking place, but the inside is insanely neat and decorated. It is breathtaking inside, but I catch a glimpse of a child sneaking around to avoid us it seems.

"Children," She says sternly but in a calm tone

With that 8 children run up to the door and stand stiffly in front of Arlecchino and me

"This is vyke, he will be joining the house of Hearth as a family. Make him feel welcome."

"And you" She looks at me " These children know how to behave, I suggest you learn quickly"

And with that, she walks away

The children kind of just look at me and all of them walk away

'Geez what a welcome party,

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Later

It's been an hour and none of the brats have approached me, I thought they would have come together to at least say hi. But no none of them have even tried to talk! They're all in their world, none of them are talking to each other.

'Are we even in an orphanage? A few decorations here and there, but ultimately there is nothing to do. With the rude lady in a private room, I'm free to explore the place.'

However, before I do I should count what I have after the week I spent in Fontaine. I have a total of 320 primos after 7 days' worth of commissions and opening chest. The worst possible thing also happened.

The banner changed

While the black knife was cool and probably op the six eyes were what I was after. They wouldn't work well with the 0 curse energy, I could always know everything about my surroundings. A heavy loss, but for everything lost there is something to be gained. I look at the current banner

Weapon banner

5 Star

Flame Alchemy- FMA

4 star

Web shooter- Spider-Man

Glock- Australia

Honestly terrible weapon banner, The only saving grace is Roy's Gloves, but I shouldn't waste primos. The ability banner isn't better either.

Ability banner

5 Star

Air bending- ATLA

4 star

Spirit Gun- YYH

Armored Titan Syringe- AOT

'Honesty what a horrible banner, Give me

10 shadows or something, God knows I need Mahoraga more than that Fraud. Well, at least I can save my primos till the next banner.'

I continued searching around the orphanage, but I realized something pretty disturbing. We all had a room, but it was decorated correlating to our best potential.

One kid had a room with a bed and piano and not much else, another had a swimming pool right next to a bed with a diver wallpaper next to it.

Turns out mine isn't any different from theirs, Mine had a gym inside with training equipment and a bed and that's it. This had just given me a realization.

'This isn't an orphanage, it's a borderline grooming center! This lady has 2 motives, For us to become our best selves or we become her little puppets on strings. Shit, I traded starving for this'

There's not much I can do here, if I try to leave she might just drag me back. Thought that didn't mean I wouldn't try. I just have to be careful, I'll just test the waters today with some commissions I haven't completed.

I walk out of my room and back to the main entrance, might as well try the easy way out right? I walk up to the door and now all of the kids are just looking at me. Are there consequences for leaving? Too bad nobody told me.

I close the door behind me and go to do some commissions, maybe I'll find some easier ways to get primos.

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Later

As I'm doing commissions I find Arlecchino just watching me again. Thought this time she wasn't just hiding unlike usual. She's just standing on a hill watching, weird.

'Is this her way of grounding me or something? I'm not going to let go of those precious primos for something so simple.'

I'm on my just finished my last commission so I was about to head back when suddenly I felt immense pain and wanted to throw up.

I got launched backward into a boulder when I saw the cause of my pain.

'This bitch has a death wish or something if she thinks I'm not going to retaliate'

I pick up the Boulder behind me and throw it at her. She just punches it into pebbles.

Huh, I think I overestimated my life in this little circle of ours.

Before I know it I'm sent flying again and now probably have internal bleeding.

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30 minutes later

'... Am I in Celestia yet? I would call what we had as a fight, but it feels like a slaughter honestly. I barely feel my body it hurts so much.'

She walks up to me and is standing over me

"Why did you find it fit to leave without letting me know?" She asks

"Commissions will be done by me until Katherine pays me"

"...You Missed your training, we dedicate 2 hours a day to what we have so we can become better. Now, because of you, we are falling behind"

"Don't act like you care, we are just puppets on a stick with a little potential to you!" I declare

"You were barely there for an hour, didn't talk to the other children, and made your conclusions. While yes the House of Hearth is a place for children with potential l, it's also a family" She says calmly

"First and foremost they know that they are a family, they defend each other and protect one another. If one child cannot solve something they go to find another child where their skill is better than theirs." She continued

"They are a community where they rely on one another for support. Now then if it is commissioning you want to do, then do them before or after training. Never during or you will not reach your potential. I will see you at dinner, if you are not home by then I will drag you back to the orphanage." She finally spit out

And with that, she left. Now I'm in pain with bruises and probably some broken bones.

"In all honesty, she's kinda right, I didn't know anything, so I did what I wanted and got the boot."

Once I can start feeling my legs I'll probably head back, but before I do something stays in the back of my mind.

'... Family huh? I already had one... but maybe if I give this one a chance it'll be worthwhile... ow My eye'

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Authors note

We know only so much about Arlecchino, I'm relying on guesswork until we see her in 4.1, so until then I'm using my thoughts on her character from voice lines and Wiki to get a read of her character.