The orphanage had a strange rhythm when outsiders visited.
Caretakers pretended to be decent people.Children were lined up and told to "smile naturally" — which never worked.Rooms that were normally ignored suddenly mattered.
Rafe noticed it the moment he stepped into the hallway.
The floors had been swept.The windows washed.Even the broken doorframe had been awkwardly hammered back into place.
Mara appeared beside him, arms crossed.
"…Someone important is coming."
Rafe nodded. "And they're desperate to look respectable."
Mara leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"Do you think it's another test?"
"No," Rafe murmured. "They're preparing for something worse."
She frowned. "What's worse?"
Rafe looked at the staff — fixing their hair, straightening clothes.
"Potential adopters."
Mara stiffened.
A minute later, the head caretaker clapped loudly.
"Everyone! Line up in the main hall! You will behave yourselves. A very generous couple is visiting today."
The words "generous couple" made Rafe scoff internally.
Generosity had nothing to do with it.
Couples who adopted from places like this usually wanted one of three things:
A servant.A child with hidden potential.Or someone easy to shape into a future asset.
None of those were good.
Mara tugged his sleeve once.
"…Stay close to me."
Rafe raised an eyebrow.
"You think they'd pick me?"
Her voice was quiet.Sharp.Almost frightened.
"You stand out, Rafe. Even when you try not to."
He blinked.
It was the first time she'd admitted that.
They lined up with the rest of the kids — small bodies stiff and nervous.Rafe noticed Mara positioned herself just slightly in front of him, like a shield.
He pretended not to notice.
Then the couple entered.
A man in a tailored suit, clean-shaven, eyes dark with calculation.A woman in a white coat, elegant, with sharp features softened only by her artificial smile.
Awakened bloodlines?No.But wealthy. Influential.
The kind of people who treated adoption like shopping.
The caretaker bowed excessively.
"Mr. and Mrs. Hale, welcome! The children have been so excited—"
"Mm." The man waved dismissively. "Let's begin."
They walked down the line slowly, inspecting the children like merchandise.
The woman tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"We're looking for someone calm. Well-behaved. With potential to adapt."
Potential to adapt.
That phrase made Rafe's instinct flare.
It meant someone moldable.Someone they could shape into whatever role they needed.
He kept his gaze down and his posture neutral — average, forgettable, harmless.
Mara, on the other hand, looked like she was ready to fight the couple if they even looked at him.
Rafe whispered, "Relax."
She whispered back, "No."
The couple moved down the line.
A girl forced smiles.A boy tried to stand tall.Another kid looked ready to faint.
Then they reached Rafe.
The woman paused.
Her eyes narrowed.
"This one…"
Rafe felt Mara tense beside him like a bowstring drawn to its limit.
The man adjusted his tie.
"Hm. He's small."
The woman leaned forward slightly, studying Rafe's face.Her gaze sharpened.
"He has an unusual expression for a child his age. Composed."
Rafe kept his breathing steady.
The woman tilted her head. "Look at me, dear."
Rafe raised his eyes just enough — polite, quiet, nothing more.
The woman's brow lifted. "See? Controlled posture. And he's not frightened."
The man crossed his arms.
"Does he have any health issues?"
The caretaker shook her head quickly.
"No! Very healthy. Extremely obedient."
Rafe internally laughed.
Mara stepped forward half a step, eyes cold as ice.
"He's not obedient."
Rafe blinked.
The couple looked surprised.The caretaker glared like she wanted Mara to vanish on the spot.
"But he is strong," Mara continued, voice calm and firm. "He learns fast. He doesn't break easily."
The woman gave a soft, interested hum.
"Is that so?"
Rafe felt a strange mix of emotions.
Annoyance.Concern.And… something like faint warmth.
Mara was trying to protect him — by praising him.In the most awkward way possible.
The man looked between Rafe and Mara.
"Are they close?"
The caretaker opened her mouth — probably to lie — but Mara spoke first.
"Yes."
The woman's eyes softened slightly.
"Do you want him adopted?" she asked Mara.
Mara's face hardened instantly.
"No."
Rafe's chest tightened unexpectedly.
He stepped forward, just enough to break the moment.
"Is there a problem with me?" he asked.
The woman blinked, surprised by his directness.
"No, child. Not at all."
Rafe held her gaze steady.
"Then… I'd prefer to stay here."
Mara shot him a shocked look.
The couple exchanged glances.
The man shrugged.
"Let's move on."
They continued down the line, checking other children.
Mara leaned close, whispering with controlled fury.
"Why did you say that?"
Rafe whispered back, "Because leaving with them would ruin everything."
"You scared me."
He paused.
"…I didn't mean to."
She looked away, cheeks warm.
The couple eventually reached the end of the line.
After a short discussion, they approached a girl from the younger group — shy, quiet, fragile-looking — and selected her.
The caretaker cheered fake gratitude.The little girl trembled with mixed fear and hope.
Rafe watched silently.
No matter how much he changed the timeline…some things stayed cruel.
When the couple left with the girl, Mara softly touched Rafe's arm.
"You're staying, right?"
He met her eyes.
"Yeah. I'm not going anywhere."
"…Good."
As the tension faded and the children returned to their routines, Rafe felt his System stir.
DING!New Prompt Available"Opportunity Hidden Within Loss"A new branch has opened. Choices made here may alter multiple future events.
Rafe exhaled slowly.
This was the first real ripple.The timeline had noticed him.
And the world was beginning to shift.