After Natasha made another glove to help combat the constant cold emanating from my hand, her sudden lecture surprised me. While yes, it was my mistake to let the previous glove get damaged, I didn't expect it. She constantly talked about how my hand was delicate and how preventing such incidents from happening again was crucial.

To put it bluntly, she nagged, but I… didn't find it annoying. While I wasn't sure if I simply wanted attention, or if her concern for me calmed down, it didn't matter in the end. Seeing her fret over me actually made me happy, and that was enough for me.

It felt like I was a part of this small community, and that feeling only grew stronger when I decided to let the other children come and go into my room whenever they pleased. It was hectic initially, but once Natasha set some ground rules, things calmed down somewhat.

While I still wasn't comfortable enough to share my illness—if it could be even called that—I had decided to let time do its thing.

And time mercilessly marched forward, just as I expected.

One week after another came and went, causing small but noticeable changes within the orphanage. The number of children constantly fluctuated. Some found new families to live with while others lost them either as war orphans, or were abandoned. It… allowed me to realize that not all children here were from the Underworld alone, and how much it affected them—another reason why these kids shared so many similarities with me, despite our different circumstances.

On another note, Natasha officially retired from the Silvermane Guards, focusing solely on her duties as a doctor in Boulder Town, and a caretaker, here in Rivet Town. She constantly jumped between her two jobs but mostly prioritized the orphanage.

However, that came with a lot of new problems for her. You'd think having two jobs instead of three would lighten up the workload, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

As I knocked on her office's doors, a quiet sigh reached my ears from the other side. "Yes?"

I carefully opened the doors, only peeking through a small opening. Once Natasha spotted me, she forced a smile. "Diana. Come in."

My lips pursed, but I still decided to enter. I could see the light bangs under her eyes, and her long hair was more disheveled than normal. The cause lay on her table, and administrative papers about the orphanage and the clinic were haphazardly piled into two stacks.

"Did I come at a bad time?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Of course not. What is it?"

While I didn't want to inconvenience her, she told me to come whenever I needed her help. I lifted my left hand. "Do you have a spare glove ready? I think the warming pad is starting to cool down."

"Oh, right," she rose from her seat and reached a drawer before opening it, only to let out a groan. Picking up one glove after another, she gave them a light squeeze. Her expression soured. "None of these feel warm either. Did I forget to make one?"

She turned around to face her workbench and reached her hand below it. Pulling out a battered crate, rattling with rocks and ore, she let out a small gasp. "Have I forgotten to make a trip there too?"

I leaned forward to see the inside of the crate and saw very little inside. Most of it was leftover geomarrow, lacking in its yellow ting and warm glow. "This won't do. I guess I have to make another appointment as well."

She pulled out her phone and tapped away at the screen, struggling to keep her eyes open. I started to feel guilty just seeing Natasha's lack of energy, so I hid my hands behind my back.

"Um… Natasha? Do you need help?" I blurted out without thought, drawing her attention away from the phone.

"No, don't worry. I just have a lot of things to handle, and adding one more thing to the list won't make much of a difference."

"But when was the last time you had a good night's sleep?" I asked her, causing her to flinch. She eventually let out a long sigh.

"Diana, you know you don't have to trouble yourself with my problems," she patted my head. "All you need to do is keep the kids occupied. You've been doing well in the past few weeks."

I blinked before jolting my head away while my cheeks reddened. "Look, I'm just as surprised as you are, but don't avoid the question." I gently pried her hand away from my head. "Don't you really need help when you're looking like you can collapse at any time? You've spent more time in your office than in your bed."

Natasha shook her head. "I don't have much of a choice. I left the Silvermane Guards because I couldn't juggle my jobs anymore, and now that I have the time, many things need to be taken care of, whether I like it or not."

"And like I said, you do not need to help me. I know your condition has gotten better, but that doesn't mean I can't worry," she sat back down next to her desk before picking up one of many papers from the stack. "As for the glove, I'll have it done once I visit the mines. The geomarrow—"

"I can go there," I interrupted her, making her blink. She opened her mouth to speak, and it took her a moment to process my sudden offer.

"But why would you go there in my stead?" she eventually asked.

"Because…" I grabbed my elbow, not meeting her eye to eye. "Because I think I've been freeloading for long enough, and it's about time I start pulling my own weight. I know I'm only fourteen but I can do simple tasks, right?"

I started to flail my arms around. "O-of course, if I'm intruding, I'll just wait until—"

Natasha suddenly chuckled before raising her hand with an open palm, making me stop. "Since when did you start using such big words to persuade me?"

A sheepish laugh escaped my lips. "I didn't say anything special. I just want to help, that's all since being pampered for so long rubs me the wrong way."

A grin spread across Natasha's features, leaning her head against the palm of her hand. "Oh, has my dear Diana finally entered her rebellious phase and doesn't want to be cared for anymore?"

My breath hitched. "I didn't say that!"

"Don't worry, I'm just messing with you," she reassured before again grabbing her phone. "Well, if you really want to help, then I guess it would be rude of me to refuse. I'll call someone to prepare a package for you to pick up."

"Alright," I exclaimed with a nod. "But… where am I supposed to go?"

"That I have covered as well," Natasha bent down to open the bottom drawer of her desk before pulling out another phone. It looked nearly identical; thin dark brick, but the touch screen had a few scratches and its edges were somewhat battered. She offered it to me. "I'll send you the exact spot where you need to go and who to meet once I make the call."

"Umm…" I brought my hands together, fidgeting with my fingers. "Should I really take it? It looks pretty expensive to me."

"No, it's not," she amusingly rebuked. "This old model I used a few years back is only gathering dust here. Besides, I'm pretty sure this won't be your last errand, so being able to stay in touch will make things easier down the line. I've already done a factory reset, so you can customize it to your liking."

Up until now, Natasha was nothing but accommodating, so my debt to her would only grow if I'd take up on her offer. Despite her speaking the truth about the conveniences the phone could bring, I still hesitated to take it.

Natasha saw right through my indecisiveness and haphazardly threw the phone, forcing me to catch it. I fumbled around, trying to get a good grip, before the phone rested in my hands, my reflection staring right back at me.

"Why did you do that!?" I shouted, breathing a relieved sigh in the process. "What if I didn't catch it!?"

"Then I would have bought you a new one," Natasha said breathlessly. "Like I said, if the phone can still find some use, then all the better. You'd eventually need one anyway, so doing this is nothing more than hitting two birds with one stone."

I… No, she was right. I'd eventually need one, but not for free!

"At least, I'll eventually pay back the money—"

"No, Diana. Take this gift as an appreciation for keeping up the small charade I made you abide." She picked up her phone and tapped the screen a few times before bringing it next to her ear. "Now, off with you, and be careful with that glove. It'll be some time before I can make a new one."

How is she able to rebuke anything I say? I defeatedly nodded and left her office, carefully closing the screeching doors behind me. I almost wanted to stay by her side to make sure Natasha wouldn't do the errand herself, but I secretly hoped she had at least some sense of self-preservation.

With nothing left to do, I decided to spend my time with the children outside until Natasha called for me.

{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}

As I sat on a bench next to the railing, a sigh escaped my lips before I pocketed the phone and lazily leaned my head against my hand instead. The children were as loud and hectic as ever, but keeping them under my watch was soothing compared to dreadfully waiting for Natasha's message.

Hours had already passed, and, at a certain point, I started to think she wouldn't send me anything at all. Was she that determined to keep me from going outside? I would understand if something could happen on the way there and the glove got damaged, but from what I remembered, the conflicts between the vagrants and Wildfire started after the Underground was closed off, right?

Or was she simply that worried about me? I honestly didn't know how it made me feel. It was new to me, but I couldn't put it into words. Was it happiness? Selfishness? Or frustration?

A groan escaped my lips, and I focused back on the kids to keep my eyes on them. Most of them were running around in the playground, but out of the corner of my eyes, I spotted two children who didn't contribute to the chaos. Seele and Bronya hid behind a couple of worn boxes at the edge of the playground, and no matter how I leaned, I couldn't see what they were doing.

I wasn't curious enough to know what, so I opted to continue my task, but it didn't take long for something to happen. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I eagerly took it out. Restlessly tapping away at the screen, I found a message that made me breathe a sigh of relief.

"Sorry for the wait, things were a little more complicated than I thought, but we got the green light," it said while Natasha's profile picture hovered next to it. A few jumping dots appeared underneath the message before a new one popped up. "I'll send you a link to the place where you need to go. The phone will automatically guide you there once you open it. Be sure to bring the kids to the orphanage before leaving, and please, be careful."

The message left me somewhat giddy. I slid my finger across the touch screen, making a keyboard appear, before sending a message of my own. "Alright, I'm on it. And don't worry, I'll be fine."

A quiet laugh escaped my lips before I stood up from my seat and pumped my fist. "Let's get to it."

I clapped my hands twice as loudly as possibly could to get the kids' attention. "Alright, everyone! It's time to go back inside!"

Several disappointed groans reached my ears, and I couldn't help but giggle. It didn't matter when we left the playground, they always wanted to spend more time outside than in the orphanage.

One of the kids, Lauder, approached me with puppy-dog eyes. "Do we have to, big sister?"

I knelt in front of him and nodded. "Sadly yes. Natasha decided to send me on an errand, and I can't leave all of you here outside alone."

"We'll behave, right?" Lauder said while turning around to face the other children behind him, and they all decided to double down with either pleading gazes or promises, hoping I'd budge.

Well, today I'd decided to be a little selfish. I shook my head. "No, can't do. However, if you'll patiently wait for me to arrive in the orphanage, I'll let you decide which game we'll play together next."

The way their eyes lit up with the carrot I gave them almost made me snort. I was glad Natasha taught me this small trick because otherwise, I wouldn't be able to rest.

"Alright, that's a promise!" Lauder shouted before bolting towards the orphanage, and the other kids followed him. It was as if he was both the voice and the leader of these orphaned children, which I didn't mind. At least it made things easier overall.

But not all the kids went with him. The ones left were hiding behind those boxes, still deep within their activity and oblivious to my initial call out. Once I made sure all the children left except for those two, I discreetly approached them.

"Hey, I forgot to ask, but where did you get this anyway?" Seele asked, tilting her head towards the Bronya, her platinum bangs hiding her eyes.

"I… don't actually remember," she admitted. "I always had it with me and never asked why."

Bronya's hands were holding onto a simple glass snow globe. She gave it a gentle shake, and the flakes inside the watery bulb came to life, coating everything inside.

"It looks nice though," Seele remarked before poking the snowglobe. "I wonder how it works."

While seeing them like this was cute, I had an errand and coughed into my hand. Both of them let out a startled yelp and whipped their bodies to face me.

"You can play with that in the orphanage," I said. "Everyone has gone inside, and you two should go as well.

"What?" Seele exclaimed. "But it's not our bedtime yet."

"It isn't, but there isn't anyone who can keep an eye out for the children right now, because I have to go to the mines," I explained, but all I got from Seele was a frown.

"But why send us inside? I can take care of myself, and so can Bronya. If anything, I am the one who should keep watch. Not you," she argued, and the smile I had faltered.

"I know you told me this orphanage doesn't need me, but this is more for Natasha's sake than mine."

"N-no, that's not what I…" she faltered before clicking her tongue. "Then what does that make you?"

I flinched before grabbing my elbow. "A burden, I know, but shouldn't I make an effort to change that?"

She whipped her head away and huffed. "Whatever, you're doing that thing again. Let's just go, Bronya."

She stormed out of their little hiding spot towards the orphanage, making Bronya reach out towards her, but in vain. "Wait, Seele!"

I… still didn't know how to handle her. It didn't matter what I remembered about her from the screen, her words were like knives that constantly stabbed at my confidence. Yes, I tried to justify myself, but my reasoning was shallow at best.

Suddenly, I felt a light tug at my Silvermane trousers, and Bronya gazed at me from below with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry. Seele can be a little… harsh."

I couldn't help but smile before patting her head. "I know, don't worry. It's just," my eyes glided to the retreating Seele. "I thought she'd warm up to me a little, but I guess I was hopeful to think we could talk to each other normally one day."

"S-she will come around, I'm sure!" she loudly exclaimed before hiding her mouth, and a light blush coloured her cheeks. "Sorry, I… didn't mean to yell."

"It's fine, and thanks," I nudged her a little towards the orphanage. "Now, off you go."

Bronya hummed, letting go of my clothes and holding her snow globe tightly. With a quick bow, he followed Seele inside, leaving me alone in the playground. I pulled up my phone and tapped the link Natasha sent me. The screen flashed a few times before showing me a map of Rivet Town and the shortest path towards the place I was supposed to go.

I took a deep breath and raised my head. "Alright, let's go."

The steps down guided me to Rivet Town below, and I reached the main street relatively quickly. It didn't change much back when I first came here, but it still gave me quite the whiplash with its bustling activity, despite me being confined in the orphanage for more than a month with children running around.

The fact that I received a few stares from them didn't help much either. I didn't know whether it was because of my attire, or that a teenager casually walked around the street with a phone in her hands. Whatever it was, I decided to ignore them completely and focus on the map on my phone.

Navigating my way into the mines proved to be more demanding than I thought. Despite the map showing exactly where to go, I had trouble figuring out which turns to take, and which streets to avoid. This place was way larger than I initially anticipated, and with me being too shy and stubborn to ask for help, I eventually found my way to the mines.

Or at least, the entrance to the mines.

Once I stepped inside, the usually muted sounds of minecarts and pickaxes loudly resonated within the narrow tunnels, and each hit that was too close for comfort caused me to jump in place every time. The air also felt stiff and hard to breathe, but that was something I'd gotten used to after spending so long in the Undergrond.

I double-checked the map at every forking path because getting lost here terrified me, and that extra effort paid off. I finally reached the place where I was supposed to be, and the sight in front of me made me gasp.

I found myself in a giant excavation sight, where geomarrow veins sprouted at every corner. Robots the size of people dug into the veins with their drills, miners pushed minecarts filled with ore to their predetermined destination, and in the middle of it all, stood a massive radiating geomarrow pillar. It was breathtaking, and no matter how many times I had seen this place through a screen, seeing it for real just blew my mind.

This place was also pleasantly warm, just like the glove on my left hand, and the thought alone made me curious. I took out my glove and touched the nearest geomarrow crystal with my bandaged arm. My eyes widened in surprise and contentment when it staved off the ever-present coldness. It even thawed out the frozen bandages with ease.

"I should come here more often."

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" I yelped before whipping my body in the voice's direction, and one of the miners stood next to me with crossed arms. "Kids shouldn't be in a place like this. Didn't you see the sign before coming here?"

"W-what sign?" I asked, and the miner groaned.

"Of course you didn't," he suddenly grabbed my clothes before dragging me back to the tunnel I came through. "Let's get you back before you get hurt."

"W-wait!" I exclaimed, trying to wiggle out of his grip. "I was sent here to get some geomarrow!"

The miner paused before looking straight into my eyes. "You sure you're telling the truth? Because if not, it'll only get you into more trouble."

"I swear I do! Natasha was the one who sent me!" I blurted out before taking out my phone. "I even have a message from her!"

The miner blinked and scrutinised the shining screen before a sigh escaped his lips, his hand easing the grip. "Sure, that looks real enough."

He dusted his hands off. "But don't touch anything, some geomarrow can be extremely hot. You're lucky enough that one," he pointed at the vein next to us, "has already been tampered with."

"Tampered with? Wait, I could get burned!?"

"More or less. Like I said, you were lucky," he beckoned me with a hand motion. "I'll take you to Sir Oleg. He'll probably know."

The sudden name drop snapped me out of my shock, and I vigorously nodded, following him down a mined path covered in gravel. Just imagining walking in this place without heavy boots made me cringe.

Eventually, we reached a campsite where several miners were taking a break, either cooking their food inside barrels with lit-up geomarrow, polishing turned-off robots, or resting inside their tents.

The miner beside me pointed at a vacant table next to the largest tent, filled with papers, a tiny pickaxe, and a lit lantern. "Wait, there. Sir Oleg should come around sooner or later. I gotta get back to work."

"R-right, thank you very much," I said with a deep bow, and the miner scratched the back of his neck.

"Whatever, just don't cause any more trouble, kid."

I lifted my head and nodded. "I won't."

He didn't say anything back, only waved me off and left the campsite the way we came. A sigh escaped my lips, and I reached the table. Grabbing a nearby chair, I sat down and waited for Oleg.

Hopefully, he wouldn't arrive as long as Natasha's message.

AN: This chapter is a bit on the simpler side more than anything, and thus, a little easier to write. Again, I don't know what spurred me into continuing this project when others would appreciate it more, but I guess this one is a good way to vent my... let's just say writing frustrations. I just hope it doesn't reflect on the chapter itself.

Anyway, as I stated before, this project doesn't have a proofreader, so please, keep that in mind with some of the spelling errors and such. Having English as a second language will always haunt me with each chapter I put out, especially when I deliberately don't ask my proofreader to help. (No, Cavik, I'm not doing this to spite you in any way, don't worry.)

I hope you liked today's chapter, even if it was a little uneventful.

God's speed.