Psychokinetic Eyeball Pulling

Chapter 104: Playtime in the Orphanage

Christian Sinwen was currently sitting at his desk with the usual sight of a mountainous pile of paperwork in front of him.

He had already begun his moves against the unknown assassin that dared eavesdrop on his conversation, but he, or whoever it was, had exceptional skills in hiding their tracks.

Next on the more immediate chopping board was the Pirate King Darcey, father of Prince. The moment his troops figured out where his ship was… If they wanted to claim themselves as royalty, then they better be prepared to meet the sovereign.

Christian’s knuckles crackled like lightning. He was itching for the opportunity to display the Sinwen might that others had seemed to have forgotten.

Christian sighed. If only he had a scouting class, with his level, he would be able to sniff out wherever the pirate king was, or the assassin came from in seconds. Regardless of their skills.

He glanced at the paperwork once more. Thankfully Eli was there to lend a helping hand this time.

He sighed and signed another piece of paper. This one was a mission report from Town F-23, the one that his daughter had just returned from.

It was a habit of his to scour the contents of whatever missions she had ventured out on. In some ways, she reminded him of himself back in his younger years.

Travelling without a care of responsibilities of the house and the politics that plagued them on a daily basis. He wanted to keep it that way. There was no reason to subject her to the same fate that he had suffered through.

Boredom.

She has always required constant stimulation. Without it, she causes trouble. Christian smirked as he rubbed the corners of the pale paper.

“There’s only one person that can make you smile like that,” Eli said. “Another woman perhaps?”

Eli placed her finger to her chin as she teased her husband.

“I couldn’t handle another woman I’m afraid,” Christian joked.

“Astrid?” She flashed a knowing smile.

“When is it not,” Christian mumbled.

He glanced back at the paper. It was surprising to discover a group of kobolds had learned the Sinwen Sword-Arts.

They had either stealthily watched Astrid display the martial art using some form of evolved intellect, or Astrid had gotten up to no good and done something to warrant their skills.

Did she train them? It was the thought that wandered through his mind, and it was the only reason he hadn’t ordered them to be wiped out.

The last time he had interrupted his daughter’s plans… He shuddered at the thought. The wrath of his little girl was not to be understated. He could feel his overpowering aura stripped away whenever she entered tantrum mode.

Although in recent years she had managed to reign it back and treat him as the lord. Whenever she said Lord Sinwen and not father, it was as if a dagger had pierced his heart. It was unbearable.

A repeated knock of the door awakened him from his thoughts.

“Come in,” Christian said

A man wearing a simple dress shirt, tailored trousers, and smart shoes walked in. The badge of Sinwen was stitched onto the shirt right at the breast. His hair was slicked back in a side-parting style that was popular with the young men on Rebirth.

His name was Leyton and he was Lord Sinwen’s right hand man. He was a terrifying man underneath a gentleman's disguise.

If Tennyson had the name of the Wild Hound, then Leyton was the man that held the leash.

“My lord, I have a report from the Lower District,” he said.

“Does it need my attention?” Christian raised his brows.

He knew Leyton for a long time, and that was the same for the young man in front of him. The happenings of the Lower District were never enough to warrant his time. The only thing he had ever had to deal with in the Lower District was the spawn subjugation mission. Everything else was dealt with by other parties such as the Humanity Corps.

“It involves your daughter, my lord,”

Christian sat upright in his chair as Leyton’s lips curled.

Leyton debriefed Christian on everything that happened down in the Lower District.

“The Forscythes are complaining that Astrid has gone too far this time,” Leyton said.

“Too far?” Christain continued. “Bunch of hypocrites. Tell me about the Nightcrawlers.”

“That’s the thing–” Leyton paused. “On the surface they are just yet another underground group of hoodlums that steal, gamble, and are in general, a pest. But that’s not all that they are.”

Christian tapped his finger on the table. “Go on.”

“We have sent the Iron-Shadow Corps to gain information, but they discovered something surprising.”

“Surprising?” Christain asked.

“There are remnants of blocking magic deep within their ranks.” Leyton placed both his hands behind his back. “It’s not low level either.”

“Blocking magic,” Christian continued, “especially when we are under attack by numerous threats and assassins eavesdropping on my doorstep.”

Christian stood up, his chair creaked. “We will head out.”

“Together?” Leyton’s eyes shone.

His tongue crept out from his mouth as he nearly licked the corners of his lips in excitement. He seemed to notice at the last minute as he resisted the urge.

“Together,” Christian said, “how can I let her have all the fun. Let’s finish what my daughter started.”

Christian rotated his shoulders as the latent power of lightning surged through his body. His iris displayed a crackling of high intensity electricity.

Astrid hid within another alleyway as she quickly stashed her robe and mask within her void storage.

She had no idea what the aftermath of her little stunt would be, but she was curious to find out. Something within her mind told her that it wouldn’t be long until she found out what the result would be.

Now that I’m free, and no doubt Daniel and the others are still working on getting everything ready for our departure, I should go and see the kids at the orphanage. Astrid thought.

Since she had said she was going to go, she was now bound by contract--her word.

Better go now before I forget. Astrid slumped her shoulder at the thought of forgetting about Leena’s mother once more. She still had a lot to improve on.

Astrid dipped out of the dark and damp alleyway and out onto the streets. She instantly realised that she no longer had a disguise on as everyone looked at her. Others approached in excitement at meeting their idol and Astrid of course said hello to every single one.

It didn’t take Astrid long to find the orphanage with the help of the younger generation that followed behind her.

The building was dilapidated to say the least.

It was made from scrap pieces of wood and scrap metal that a builder had bolted together. Although it did look better than most of the surroundings, presumably thanks to the people who had donated to help their cause.

The lower windows were mostly broken and boarded up with wood. Judging by the lack of glass littered on the floor, it had been like that for a long time.

Shouting, screaming, and laughter were all the sounds that emitted from the house. Astrid approached and striked the door with the metal door knocker. Not even two seconds passed when the door was slowly pulled open.

Astrid was met by a little girl that clearly didn’t have enough strength to pull open the heavy wooden door. She exerted herself until her small pudgy face was bright red. She grunted and stomped on the floor repeatedly.

Astrid chuckled and pushed open the door with Psychokinesis. It was a habit to use it for most mundane things. Especially with her Intelligence ever increasing. The mana needed for such small activities was negligible, even more so now that she had multiple mana recovery skills along with mana cost reduction.

“Hey,” Astrid said, “what’s your name?”

The little girl took a deep breath as she placed her balled fists to her hips.

“Kashie!” she yelled.

Loud footsteps tapped against the hard-wood floor as someone else was approaching.

Must be the caretaker. Astrid thought.

“That’s a strong name–” Astrid paused, then her eyes widened at the newcomer. “Losef?!”

Losef was wearing a tight black shirt that displayed his muscular frame. He paired it along with some slim fitting grey trousers that were tucked into his combat boots. He had his hair in a neat side parting along with some brown, rounded glasses.

He looked two parts smart, and ready for battle. He would be if it wasn’t for the baby that was being cradled within one arm, and the other was busy feeding it with a see-through bottle.

“Ah, Astrid?” Losef said. “What brings you here?”

“I have an appointment, or meeting.” Astrid paused. “Well I don’t really know what it is, but I promised to come over and say hello. Weren’t you with Daniel and the others?”

“They have everything under control,” He said.

Astrid asked, “Do you come here often, Losef?

“I try to make it a regular occurrence,” Losef smiled as he patted the baby girl in his arms. “They’ve not had many visitors lately.”

Astrid gazed at the baby within his arms as she felt a strange pang in her heart.

So cute, yet sad. Pupil thought.

“Astrid!”

A pair of rushed footsteps bounded toward the door. Isobelle peeked her head around it as she displayed a bright smile that could light up any room.

She ducked past Losef and grabbed Astrid by the arm. With a pull, Astrid was hauled into the house.

Astrid felt something move towards her head at high speed. Her mind latched onto it within half a second and stopped it in mid-air.

Three boys looked at Astrid in wonder, then started clapping and cheering.

Astrid wryly smiled and handed back the small ball to the boys.

“Astrid Sinwen!”

“Everyone look, it’s Astrid Sinwen!”

“It’s the Levitating Goddess.”

"No, it's the Eyeball-Pulling Goddess!"

“No, Itsh the Wevitating Witch!”

The last girl was Kashie from the door, she started to have doubts whether her name was actually Kashie or not. It was the first time hearing a name like that.

Where the hell are all these names coming from? Astrid thought, before her mind turned to Freya and her knowledge of information. Don't tell me... Astrid was awakened from her thoughts as the little girl tugged at her hand.

“Kashie, right?” Astrid squinted her eyes.

“Ah, no, this little one is Kacie.” Losef appeared alongside Astrid, he leaned in closer. “She has trouble with her speech.”

Astrid nodded and kept a mental note not to mention it.

Kashie, or rather, Kacie, grabbed hold of Astrid’s hand and pulled her into a large room. The temperature was hot from the fireplace that was located at the back wall. A large metal chimney brought out the toxic smoke, presumably it travelled through a crack in Rebirth that led to the outside.

A sprawling, tattered rug lay just in front of it where numerous kids were sitting listening to an elderly woman tell a story.

As Astrid made her appearance the kids turned into a frenzy. The younger children ran up and begged for her to play.

Astrid did the only thing she knew how to do and that was to use her abilities. She lifted them up with Psychokinesis and swirled them around the room as they broke out into fits of laughter.

Astrid picked up on their personalities. Some like to be thrown around, not caring if they were being hurtled through the air upside-down. While others were more timid and like a slower ride.

As Astrid was playing with the kids, she noticed an older boy barely into his teens sitting by himself in the far corner of the room.

I should ask if he wants to play. Astrid knew how it felt to be excluded, and she didn’t want for another person to go through what she had experienced.

Astrid approached. “Hey, would you like a shot?”

Astrid smiled as the kids carefully flew through the air behind her.

“No,” he spat, his face filled with disgust. “Get away from me.”

He quickly got up from the chair and vacated the room.

Is it not loneliness? Astrid bit her lip.

Had she made a mistake?