Deep in the eastern lands, beyond the well-worn roads and the reach of known kingdoms, stood Evernest—an orphanage that was more than just walls and roof. To those who dwelled within, it was a world of its own, a sanctuary where birth and bloodlines held no weight.
Father Mathew, its guardian and architect, had not built Evernest with wealth or royal favor but with unwavering devotion. Alongside five sisters—Rajni, Stacy, Hana, Aisha, and Yasmin—he cared for the hundred orphans who called it home. They came from every corner of the land, abandoned by fate, yet no name stood above another within these walls.
The morning air was crisp, and as Father Mathew sat in his rocking chair, the warmth of his tea seeped into his palms. He cradled the cup, allowing the fragrant steam to rise, curling lazily into the dawn. Beyond the wooden walls, the orphanage stirred—soft murmurs of waking children drifted through the halls, mingling with the distant sounds of morning chores.
A gentle patter of bare feet on the wooden floor broke the quiet.
A small figure hesitated at the doorway—Vairagya, his hair tousled, his tunic wrinkled with sleep. He stepped forward into the dim morning light, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Father Mathew?"
Mathew smiled, setting his cup down. "Good morning, young man. Did you sleep well, or were you too busy dreaming of more cookies to steal?"
Vairagya let out a sleepy giggle. "Father Mathew, have you seen Raghav and Vanshika?"
Mathew took a thoughtful sip of his tea, his sharp yet kind eyes studying the boy. "Raghav and Vanshika? Hmm." He stroked his chin, drawing out the moment. "Last I saw, they were helping Sister Aisha with the morning chores."
Vairagya's face scrunched in disappointment. "Oh… chores?" He groaned. "I was hoping we could play before breakfast."
Mathew chuckled. "Ah, my boy, patience is a lesson we must all learn. But tell you what—help them, and you'll finish faster. Then, there will be plenty of time for mischief."
The boy let out an exaggerated sigh but nodded. "Alright, Father Mathew. But only because you said 'mischief.'" With a dramatic spin, he scampered off, his small feet barely making a sound against the floorboards.
Mathew watched him disappear down the hall, a soft smile lingering on his lips. These moments made the night's worries feel distant, if only for a while. He reached for his cup again but stopped as a shadow moved in the doorway.
Rajni stood there, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. "He's growing fast," she murmured, her gaze lingering where Vairagya had just stood.
"They all are," Mathew agreed, gesturing to the chair opposite him. "Join me for tea?"
She hesitated, then stepped forward, accepting the cup he poured for her. She took a slow sip, letting the warmth settle in her chest before finally speaking. "I couldn't sleep last night. Something still feels… off."
Mathew exhaled, his fingers curling around his own cup. "You're not alone in that. The stars were restless. The winds whispered things I could not understand."
Rajni nodded, her grip tightening around the porcelain. "I... I fear for the children," she admitted. "Do you truly believe they are safe here?"
Mathew stirred his tea absently, watching the ripples dance across the surface. "I don't know, Rajni," he murmured. "But if the new king is even a shadow of what the old one was, then the world will know peace for an eternity."
A hush fell between them, the kind that carried unspoken fears. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, Rajni asked, "But what of the cosmic play?"
Mathew looked up, his gaze steady. "We see what we choose to see," he said. "What we witnessed last night—it may have been nothing more than coincidence. You know what twin suns symbolize, don't you?"
Rajni nodded slowly.
"Peace," Mathew continued. "And this is the year of the twin suns. The year of peace."
Yet even as he spoke the words, the wind shifted, carrying with it a whisper neither of them could quite hear.
Meanwhile, outside the orphanage, beyond the lush fields and winding paths, a figure watched. Cloaked in the morning mist, they stood at a distance, their presence unnoticed by the waking world. They gazed upon Evernest—not with malice nor with admiration, but with something far more unsettling.
Vairagya padded down the dimly lit hallway, his bare feet making no sound against the wooden floor. The orphanage still smelled of sleep—warm blankets, lingering dreams, and the faintest trace of last night's candle smoke.
He wasn't exactly thrilled about helping with chores, but if it meant finishing faster and playing with Raghav and Vanshika, then it was a sacrifice he was willing to make.
The world around him stirred as he stepped outside into the crisp morning air. A gentle breeze rustled the trees, carrying with it the distant chatter of birds. The golden sunlight spilled over the courtyard, casting long shadows on the orphanage walls.
Near the well, Sister Aisha stood with her sleeves rolled up, her dark hair tied back in a loose braid. She sorted through a stack of freshly washed clothes, shaking out each piece before hanging it to dry on the wooden line.
Not far from her, Raghav and Vanshika were hard at work—or at least, one of them was. Raghav, his sleeves rolled up, was scrubbing a wooden bucket with a determined frown, his hands moving with practiced efficiency. Vanshika, on the other hand, was rinsing a cloth absentmindedly, sneaking occasional glances at Raghav rather than focusing on her task.
Vairagya crossed his arms and sighed dramatically. "Well, well, look at you two, working so hard. Should I even bother helping, or are you almost done?"
Raghav looked up, pushing back his unruly hair. "Honestly? I'd rather you didn't," he said, shaking water from his hands. "I already have enough to do, and the last thing I need is to babysit you while working."
Vanshika gasped, lightly smacking Raghav's shoulder. "Hey! That's not fair," she scolded. "We need all the help we can get, and besides, Vairagya isn't that useless… most of the time." She turned to Vairagya with a playful smirk. "Right?"
Vairagya placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "Excuse me? 'Not that useless'?" He scoffed. "I'll have you know, Vanshika, I am extremely useful—especially when it comes to avoiding chores."
Raghav rolled his eyes. "Then maybe you should go be useful somewhere else." He dunked the scrub brush back into the bucket and resumed scrubbing, his movements quick and forceful.
Vanshika huffed, crossing her arms. "Raghav, stop being so grumpy. If we let him help, we'll finish faster, and then we can all go play." She turned back to Vairagya with a grin. "Right?"
Vairagya sighed dramatically. "Fine. Since my incredible talents are so desperately needed, I shall bestow my assistance upon you." He plopped down beside Raghav, grabbing a spare cloth from the pile. "But just so we're clear, I expect to be rewarded."
Sister Aisha, who had been silently listening, finally spoke, her voice carrying the gentle amusement of someone used to their antics. "Your reward will be clean floors and a sense of accomplishment, Vairagya."
Vairagya groaned. "Ugh, Sister Aisha, that's the worst kind of reward."
Aisha smiled knowingly and dusted off her hands. "Well, since the three of you are working so hard together, I suppose I can leave this task to you and go help Sister Yasmin instead."
The three of them exchanged glances before nodding in unison.
As soon as Aisha was gone, Vairagya dipped his cloth into the bucket, wrung it out, and made a grand show of scrubbing—groaning, stretching, and pausing dramatically as though each movement was a great burden.
Vanshika nudged him. "Less acting, more scrubbing."
They worked in relative peace for a while, the sounds of brush against stone and water splashing filling the air. The rising sun's warmth cast a golden hue over the courtyard, and though the task wasn't exactly thrilling, there was something almost pleasant about it.
That is—until Vairagya flicked a handful of soapy water at Raghav.
Raghav froze, droplets sliding down his face. Slowly, he turned to Vairagya, eyes narrowed in warning.
Vanshika covered her mouth, trying to stifle a giggle. "Oh no."
"Oh yes," Raghav growled, grabbing a soaked cloth.
Before Vairagya could react, Raghav flung it at him. The rag smacked against his chest with a loud, wet splat.
Vairagya gasped, clutching his shirt like a wounded soldier. "You dare?"
Vanshika started backing away. "This is about to get messy…"
Vairagya didn't hesitate—he plunged both hands into the bucket, scooped up a handful of water, and flung it. Raghav dodged, but not entirely—droplets splattered across his cheek.
Vanshika shrieked as Raghav retaliated, hurling another soaked rag. She ducked, but it still caught her shoulder, leaving a dark splotch on her tunic.
That was it.
The scrubbing was forgotten.
Raghav lunged for the bucket, sending water sloshing over the edges as he grabbed another rag. Vanshika, now laughing, grabbed a handful of suds and smacked them onto Vairagya's arm. Vairagya retaliated immediately, flinging water at both of them with wild abandon.
Shouts and laughter filled the courtyard as the three of them slipped and skidded on the damp stone, launching soaked rags and handfuls of bubbles at each other like warriors in battle. Vanshika shrieked as Raghav chased her with a dripping cloth. Vairagya, laughing uncontrollably, ducked behind a bucket for cover, only for Raghav to dump an entire scoop of water over his head.
"Traitor!" Vairagya gasped, flicking his wet hair out of his face.
"Justice," Raghav corrected smugly.
Just as Vanshika was about to launch another attack, a sharp voice cut through the chaos.
"Ahem."
All three of them froze mid-action.
Sister Aisha stood a few feet away, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. She glanced at the soaking wet courtyard, the now-empty bucket, and finally, the three guilty faces staring back at her.
Ever the quick thinker, Vairagya straightened up and placed a hand over his chest. "Sister Aisha," he said solemnly. "We have—through much effort—tested the integrity of the water supply. I am pleased to report that it is very effective."
Vanshika coughed to cover her laugh.
Raghav muttered under his breath, "You're so dead."
Sister Aisha took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "All of you. Refill the bucket. Scrub the steps again. And this time, try doing it without turning it into a battlefield."
The trio groaned in unison.
As they dragged their feet back to work, Vairagya leaned over to Vanshika and whispered, "Totally worth it."
She smirked. "Definitely."
Even Raghav, still wiping water from his face, couldn't help but grin.