Hey everyone! Okay, I know I know. I haven't updated in a while, but I have an excuse! I've been sooooooooooooooooooooo uber busy, you can't even imagine! Haha anyway, I think this chapter is pretty good, and I hope you guys all like it! And you know what will make me update faster...? REVIEWS! I will accept any type of reviews, so if you have any tips, feel free to let me know! :)

Chapter Six: The Beginning of a New Life

MARKL POV

After eating lunch, I went up and made my bed then met Howl back downstairs. "I'm ready! I made my bed and everything!" I smile proudly, trying to impress him. I can see Calcifer roll his fiery eyes, but I ignore him.

"Great. So, you're ready leave, huh?" Howl asks, and I can tell that he doesn't want me to go. But it's my decision, and my decision is going to a wizard orphanage.

"Yup."I reply. I look at Calcifer and smile kindly. "Thank you Calcifer, you've been a great help."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." He says teasingly and sinks back into his hearth.

"All right, Markl, let's go." Howl walks over to the door and switches the dial to the Porthaven door. I walk out and breathe in the fresh air. I really hope we find a good orphanage. I'm so excited!

A huge smile appears on my face as I follow Howl into the town and down the streets. There are so many people walking, looking so happy, but others not so happy. I always wonder, what's going on people's minds? I glance up at Howl to see him walking calmly by my side. There is a certain spell for reading other peoples minds, and I wish I knew that spell right now...

HOWL POV

Once I heard Markl's little footsteps come down the steps, I knew he was ready to leave. I led him out the door and down the streets of Porthaven, searching for a good wizard orphanage. He is training to be a wizard, so I shall find him the best wizard orphanage there is. Although, staying with me would have been a much better choice...

"Howl, what are thinking about right now?" Markl asks, and chuckle at his random question.

I slip my hands in my pockets and take a deep breath. "To be honest, I'm thinking about how much I'm going to miss you, kid." I confess and my eyes meet his gaze. He smiles and copies my movements, sliding his hands in his pockets as well. I chuckle once again, and avert my gaze to the people walking around us.

"Oh, well I'm thinking about how excited I am," Markl tells me, and I frown. That's all he was thinking about? How excited he is to be leaving me? To be leaving THE MASTER HOWL? My anger boils up inside of me, but I keep my calm composure. I mean, he is a 10 year old boy. "Howl, that's now the only thing I'm thinking about right now though," Markl begins to speak again. "Did I make the right choice? I'm not sure and, Howl, to tell the truth, I'm scared."

I look at the poor boy as he holds back tears. I know he is going through a tough time right now. "Markl, I can't tell you if you made the right choice or not. It's your decision, not mine." The wise words make their way out of my mouth.

"I really don't know, and I'm really scared. What..." He trails off, and he sighs as he gets ready to continue what he was about to say. "What if it's hard in the orphanage? What if I'm younger or older than everybody else? What if I'm not as skilled, or if I know more than everyone else living there! There are many other things that I'm afraid of, but I could go on forever..."

Markl begins to tremble, and I stop in tracks. Leaning down to his level, I embrace the little boy into a hug as he cries into my shoulder. I shush him and rub his back soothingly. "Markl, oh Markl. Everything is going to be all right. I won't let any of that stuff happen to you, okay? I will find you the best orphanage there is!" I pull away to look at him. His eyes are filled with tears, and he is wiping them away as I speak. "Do you trust me?"

Markl pauses for a minute, thinking my question through. "Actually, I do. Master Howl, I do trust you. Thank you." He hugs me, and I smile. I'm really going to miss this boy...

We continue to make our way down the busy streets, finding some orphanages, but not good ones for Markl.

After about another 45 minutes, we both of us are exhausted and our feet are hurting really bad. Taking a seat on a bench nearby, we sigh with relief. "Howl, my feet hurt really bad." Markl complains, and I nod my head in agreement.

"Me too, kid, me too." I shut my eyes for a second, resting my against the brick wall behind us. I glance to see what was behind me exactly, and I see that it is a wizard orphanage. Oh my god. It's perfect! "Hey, Markl, look behind you." I suggest.

"Why? What'll that do to help?" He asks, and I just encourage him to do as I say. He sighs, and once his eyes land on the sign, his face lights up. "Oh my god! It's perfect!" I chuckle, because that's exactly what I was thinking in my head.

"Wanna go in and check it out?" I ask. He nods with excitement, quickly standing up and running inside the building. Chuckling again, I follow the boy.

"Master Howl, this is amazing!" When I got inside, the building was huge. Around us were pillars, and a brownish-reddish carpet leading to the front desk at the end of the room. I gaze around in awe as Markl runs down the carpet to the desk. Once I reach the front desk, a woman poofs out of know where. "Whoa! How'd you do that?" Markl asks in amazement.

"It's a spell." I inform, beating the woman now sitting on a chair behind the counter.

"Indeed it is," She says holding out a hand for me to shake. "If you are planning on staying here, then I will teach it to you. It is a very simple spell to learn, and I bet that you are a great little wizard."

"I'm not so sure about that, but thanks!" Markl replies happily, than glancing up at me.

"Oh, yes, um, I would like to register Markl into this orphanage please." I say in the most formal way possible, and the lady nods. "My name is Bliss. And you two are...?"

"I'm Howl, and this little fella is Markl." I tell her, and she nods.

"Nice to meet you Howl and Markl. I will get you signed in right away. Now, are you his uncle, or brother or...?" She begins and gazes at me.

"Oh no, I found him in the Wastes, and when I took him back home, the war had beat us to it..." I trail off, noticing that she gets the idea and she doesn't need to hear anymore. Bliss looked like she was in her 70's, with short gray hair and a flowery dress on.

"Oh, I see." She says that a little creepily, bringing out a pen and some papers for me to sign. "Just sign here, here, here, and... Here." Bliss flips through all the pages, pointing at where I need to sign, then leans back in her chair, waiting. A smile appears on her face as I make the last "l", and it really starts to freak me out.

"There," I say hesitantly and hand her the papers. Then, I look at Markl with a look that says are you sure about this? He just nods.

"Okay, I will take him now. No worries, he will be in great care..." Bliss tells me. Every time she talks or I look at her, it just gets creepier and creepier.

"Markl, be careful, okay?" I whisper so that Bliss can't here me. "And... And I'm really going to miss you." I give him a hug, and he digs his chin into my shoulder as he hugs me back.

"Thank you so much, Howl. This means a lot to me. And I'm glad that I met you," Saying that, Markl pulls away and waves to me as Bliss takes his hand and leads him to the back of the gigantic, beautiful building.

Soooo... Did you like it? I would really appreciate it if you reviewed... If you don't I will cry... Haha like I said before, reviews will make me update faster and I will accept criticism! :)