The Past Winter
Her name is Rubi
“How is your head, does it still hurt?” Serena asked a child who was still turning her head to the ceiling of the room at her command.
Just a moment ago, the three girls, this boy's roommate were trying to help himself get out of bed. However, because it was suddenly awakened the child who had just regained consciousness after one week unconscious in this room instead fell on the floor.
Because his body was weak, he could not stand up straight and instead made himself and his friends fall. As a result, the child's face hit the wooden floor in the room hard which resulted in his nose experiencing nosebleeds.
“Sorry... Because we suddenly woke you up, so your nose was bleeding.” Said Elyn, a cute girl with short hair shoulder to shoulder with a sad face.
“What still hurts?” Now it was Olive's turn with her worried face that asked.
“You want me to replace looking up? It feels like your head is almost dislodged.” Allen said with a serious look that made Serena chuckle.
“Try me to check your nose again, still bleeding or not.” Said Serena directly checking on the state of the child.
After it was confirmed that her blood would not flow out again, Serena allowed the child to duck. Then he asked her to take off her clothes and would replace them with new ones. Because the clothes he was wearing were covered in blood that spilled from his nose with quite a lot. After the little boy was treated and changed his clothes, finally the five of them sat in a circle inside the room.
Serena as the oldest woman and as a foster mother introduces herself, and also she introduces three other girls who will live with the child in the same room. Twenty-three-year-old Serena volunteers on behalf of the god Eos, the Sun God, who is worshipped in the Estheria Empire.
Serena also told him that the boy now lives in an orphanage on the border of the region. More precisely they were in a small town on the outskirts of the southern region of the empire. And since it's a small town, the number of children living in these parlors isn't much. Fewer than twenty-five children including the girl were in it.
The children living in this orphanage were not natives of this small village either. But children who are victims of war, victims of violence, orphans, children who are deliberately abandoned by both parents because of poverty, or indeed their parents do not want to be responsible. There were even those who were left homeless and family due to the monster attacks were here.
Although this orphanage looks shabby and poorly maintained because of the lack of incoming funds, but the children in this orphanage are very happy. Moreover, they had Serena as one of the most kind officers and was someone who could be called a family who would care for them selflessly with great affection.
“We've introduced our name, now it's your turn.” Serena invited the girl to speak.
The girl hesitated at first, but when she saw that her three new friends were excited to see her introduce themselves, she confidently opened her voice. “Na... My name is Rubi!” He said, short, solid and clear. Her three friends including Serena were silent for a moment.
“Suitable for you..” Mumbled Serena while continuing to pay attention to Rubi's funny behavior.
“What is Rubi?” Allen asked, he glanced at Serena.
Serena who regained her consciousness immediately answered the question thrown at her. “Hmm... The Ruby I know is one of the names of jewelry that is often used by nobles on his body.”
“Really? How's it shaped?” Now it was Olive's turn to ask.
“Emm... How ya how to explain it.” Said Serena while teasing her foster children.
“Tell us Serena!” The whine of the three children and the girl who had become their new family.
The four of them were curious, what kind of jewelry did Serena mean. Serena immediately took something from inside the pocket in her skirt. He pulled out a dark blue-colored pouch decorated with beautiful silver around it.
“Yes right, this bag is beautiful.” Serena was happy. “This is a money bag, and this is the decoration.” Clearly introducing the thing in his hand and pointing at the silver slab featuring a woman. Serena's eyes were sad, her eyes glared at the bag she had just taken out was not a look of happiness, even though her voice sounded carefree.
“What's in it?” Ask Rubi.
Serena smiled at Rubi, in Rubi's gaze hinting that Serena should not be lingering in her own mind and should explain to the little cats that thirst for this curiosity. The woman took out a piece of jewelry she called Ruby from her money bag. A beautiful necklace with a deep red stone like blood glistened as its pendant, as if hypnotizing anyone who saw it.
“The color is similar to your eyes, Rubi!” Said the children cheerfully while paying attention to Rubi's eyes and comparing it with the original Ruby in turn. The four girls were busy admiring the gemstone that became a pendant decoration on Serena's necklace.
“Oiya, who gave you that name, Rubi?” Serena asked the busy little boy compared to a rock.
“Rossie and Rainar.” Answer Rubi straightforwardly.
“Are they your parents?” Ask Serena again.
“No, no. They are my friends at the slave auction.”
“What!? What do you mean slave auction!?” Said Serena who was unable to adjust her facial expression in surprise.
“Do you not know Serena? It was a terrible place that would sell us to the bad guys on the surface.”
How shocked Serena was to hear the phrase from the five-year-old, from which she could recognize such a terrible sentence. “La... Then... How did you get out of there!?” Ask Serena who is increasingly unable to condition her facial water.
“I can't remember. All I know is, I've been here with you guys.” Answer Rubi origin more impressed not care.
“Ka-If Rainar or Rossie, do you remember them?”
“Sure! They were my friends, they were very kind to me and always protected me. Many times we had trouble getting food, but Rossie would always share half that hard rye bread with me. Because my teeth hurt when I eat that bread, Rossie often rubs moss from the wall on my bread to make it feel softer. And I love to eat bread with moss, because I will never starve again.”
“If Rainar usually helps me keep away the guards who will take me to the surface for sale. He would usually growl and put a scary face on the guard who touched me. Because they're both I'm protected there. Unlike my other cellmates, it was just me, Rainar, and Rossie that lasted the longest in there.” Clearly Rubi, recounting his experience in the underground cell of the slave auction with joy.
Serena suffocated her breath, in front of her was a five-year-old little girl who said happily discussing the slave auction she experienced in person. As if it was nothing to him. Serena's hands trembled and her body shook. I don't know what he's going to do, between anger, sadness, and pity.
Serena hugged Rubi's body tightly into her arms. Serena felt very angry, but it wasn't the fault of this poor girl. This kid only knows how to survive so as not to be sold to dirty nobles. Until Rubi can tell a cheerful story about his friends, Rainar and Rossie, it means there is trauma in his small brain until there is a memory lost during the torture there.
Serena was sad and sorry for the poor girl in front of her. Just hearing his name ‘slave auction’ only, it was definitely a condition in that place of great concern. And it is impossible to be told in a very happy tone as Rubi said. Moreover, Rubi who was a child experienced such a thing, Serena's heart was like being torn apart by thousands of swords.
Serena did not discuss further about the slave auction, she was worried that Rubi would remember her bitter experience there. The young lady simply hugged him tightly, pouring out endless affection in his arms while whispering. “Maybe the loss of your memory is a blessing from the gods for you.”