In a place called the Love Orphanage, there are many abandoned children living. Some of these children were abandoned halfway, some were fatherless and motherless from birth, and some were abandoned because of congenital illnesses.

Life in the orphanage is not as pleasant as people imagine. Children will compete for food, will do anything for limited toys, and will cling to groups and isolate weak children.

Of course, there will also be covert bullying.

Not all children can get along well with each other. Just like a lion straying into a flock of sheep, it is difficult for lions and sheep to get along peacefully.

Alice never thought that she was the lion among the sheep. But Alice believed that she was as out of place among the sheep as the lion.

This year, several children of similar age to her were adopted by adults. In fact, some people choose to adopt them every year. But this year, there are just a few more people adopting.

No one adopts Alice. Alice will be nine years old tomorrow. Alice hopes she can have a meaningful birthday.

Alice sometimes envies those children who are adopted and go to a place where there is love. But most of the time, Alice prefers to walk to the open-air stage not far from the orphanage to watch an unknown child.

Magic show by a famous magician.

Alice has a small, unknown dream. This dream may make the children around her laugh, or it may receive disdainful looks or big eye rolls from adults. However, Alice does not tell others this.

Dreams, except for a little boy named Edward.

Edward, like Alice, is a child in a loving orphanage. The most important thing is that both of them are isolated. According to Alice's words, they are children like lions in a flock of sheep.

Alice walked towards the orphanage under the light gray sky. Due to unknown reasons, the unknown magician did not perform on time today.

After waiting for a long time, about an hour or so, Alice finally gave up her determination to continue waiting.

Alice likes to read books and listen to stories, especially stories about magic. Alice believes that magic exists in this world. It is as natural as eating and sleeping.

This is Alice's secret.

Because for children, magic only exists in stories and legends, and is not closely related to daily life. However, Alice is a special case. She regards magic as daily life.

This is not something that is difficult to understand. Alice has acquired unique abilities since birth.

At first, Alice thought that everyone had this ability. Until she used her superpower to save a cat that was almost crushed to death by a car. The key to the problem is that this happened in public, in full view of everyone.

Alice was not discovered by everyone, but the young Alice, who was only five years old, had already understood from the exclamations and fears of the adults that those adults who had beautiful love and happy families might not

Don't like this scary ability.

As a result, Alice gradually learned to hide this innate ability. At first, this method of hiding could not be easily achieved, because using the ability has become the instinct of Alice's life.

Just like using your mind to cover your body with a quilt when sleeping, or taking things from a distance to drink water when you are thirsty. Of course, these things were fortunately not discovered by outsiders. Investigating the reason, it should be because before the age of five

The extremely ugly birthmark on Alice's face.

When Alice realizes that she needs to hide her abilities, her birthmark begins to fade. When Alice learns to hide her superpowers, her birthmark miraculously disappears.

But Alice is still veiled, as if to hide her abilities, not letting people know that the ugly birthmark that occupied half of her face has disappeared. Alice also wants to play with the children, but Alice is afraid of her

Will accidentally expose his secret ability.

Because of this, Alice is used to being alone.

Until she met Edward. Edward was also the first person to discover Alice's secret.

Edward became Alice's only good friend in the orphanage, a true partner who could be honest with each other without fear of revealing her secrets.

So when playing with Edward, Alice never hides her innate abilities.

When Alice returned to the orphanage, she put away her depressed mood a little. Although not many people would pay attention to her or care about her, she needed to care about herself.

Because I ran away secretly, I was inevitably scolded when I came back, but if I could see a magical magic show, it would be all worth it. It's a pity that there wasn't one today.

Alice found Edward in the corner of the room. Edward looked at Alice, the look in his eyes was different from the usual happiness.

This expression was so complicated that Alice couldn't understand it in a short time. But Alice seemed to understand something obscure from Edward's eyes.

Edward was often abused by children. Alice was isolated and ugly.

Alice always thought that she and Edward were the best friends at the Love Orphanage.

Until now. Until Edward slowly stood up from the corner, looked at Alice with that obscure look, and slowly but firmly pointed his finger at the girl's veiled face. Under the malicious gaze of the children, they gloated.

, saying words that Alice could understand but didn't want to.

The thread of friendship that connected Alice and Edward was broken in an extremely brief moment. It was completely broken.

It's as if they never met.

"It's this ugly monster. She is a perverted monster who is born to bring misfortune. It is she who makes us all become unknown!"

Edward's words were like the thorns of a hedgehog, piercing deeply into Alice's soft heart. They were unhesitating and ruthless.

Alice didn't hate Edward, she couldn't quickly accept the fact that she was accused by her only friend, just like she couldn't turn a friendship into an enemy.

But Alice had no idea of ​​forgiving Edward. Alice lowered her head in silence, and clenched her little hands hanging by her sides into fists. It was as if she was holding on to the last bit of warmth, or maybe just holding on to that trace of stubbornness that refused to admit defeat.

strong.
Chapter completed!