Under Shirley's guidance, Merlin and Scarlett walked through the church lobby and came to the backyard of the church. In the backyard of the church, there was a small garden full of colorful flowers. When the breeze blew, the fragrance of flowers filled the air.
The church's backyard is spacious and bright. The sunlight shines on the green grass, as if covering the earth with a layer of golden gauze. The air was filled with a fresh scent, and with the gentle breeze, the small flowers on the grass swayed gracefully, as if they were dancing happily.
Several nuns wearing the uniforms of the Church of Light and several maids were busy. They were hanging up the white sheets and quilt covers while talking in low voices with warm smiles on their faces, as if they were enjoying this peaceful and beautiful time.
"This is our backyard." Shirley said proudly, pointing to the surrounding scenery, "The Church of Light is not only a place of faith, but also a warm home. We have opened an orphanage to help orphans from the lower classes."
Merlin and Scarlett looked in the direction Shirley's gesture. The orphanage building in the distance was simple and elegant, and bursts of children's laughter could be heard from the yard. Several children were chasing and playing on the grass, with innocent smiles on their faces, as if they had forgotten the hardships of life and were enjoying the fun of childhood.
"These children are orphans adopted by the Church of Light," Shirley continued, her eyes sparkling with concern and tenderness. "We provide them with food, clothing, and education so that they can grow up healthy and happy here. The church hopes to create a warm home for these children and give them the opportunity to change their destiny."
Merlin was moved, and his thoughts gradually drifted back to his life on Blue Star. He was also an orphan adopted by an orphanage, and such a scene easily resonated with him.
"Master Merlin?"
Merlin's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden voice. He turned his head and saw a maid standing in front of him. She was wearing a black and white maid's dress with a neat hem and white lace edges at the neckline, which made her look elegant and decent. Her hair was tied up high, revealing a gentle and dignified face.
The maid was about thirty years old, with a faint smile on her face and a hint of warmth and kindness in her eyes, as if the sunshine was shining on a warm spring day.
"Hello, Master Merlin." She bowed respectfully, her voice soft and clear, with a hint of kind concern.
Merlin knew this maid. Her name was Alicia. She was the head maid of the senior dormitory of the Arcane Academy. She was usually responsible for cleaning the rooms of the senior dormitory and providing laundry services for the students living in the senior dormitory. He was surprised by her appearance and couldn't help but feel a little curious. "Alicia? Why are you here?"
Alicia smiled slightly, her eyes gently sweeping across the scene in the backyard, as if she was recalling something. "I and the maids behind me were orphans adopted by the Church of Light. We grew up here and received help and care from the church. When we grew up, we entered the Arcane Academy to work as maids. When we have time, we will return to the orphanage to do what we can."
Shirley looked at Alicia and said to Merlin and Scarlett, "Sister Alicia donated most of the money she earned from the Arcane Academy to the orphanage to maintain the operation of the orphanage and ensure that those children can live a better life."
After hearing this, Merlin's admiration for the head maid deepened. He could feel Alicia's deep affection and sense of responsibility for the orphanage. She is not just a maid, but also a guardian full of love and dedication.
"That's amazing and great. I feel a little ashamed compared to you." Merlin admired sincerely. After he entered the society, he paid less attention to the orphanage where he stayed before. The daily necessities and pressure of life made it difficult for him as an orphan to take care of himself.
Alicia smiled slightly, with a warm light in her eyes. "This is what we should do. The Church of Light has given us hope and a future, and we also hope to pass on this love."
Just then, a little girl ran over with a smile on her face and two leaves in her hands. She asked in a childish voice, "Sister Alicia, Sister Shirley, who are these brothers and sisters?"
"This is Merlin and Scarlett, they are our friends." Shirley squatted down and responded gently.
The little girl blinked and said excitedly, "Hello, brothers and sisters! Welcome to our place!" After that, she raised the two bird-like leaves in her hands and showed them to Merlin and Scarlett, her eyes full of innocent expectation.
Merlin squatted down and rubbed the little girl's head, then took out a bag of cookies baked by Stacy from his space ring and put it in the little girl's hand.
"Ah! Stop it! You bastard, what are you going to do to Rachel!?"
A childish voice came from the direction of the orphanage. Merlin and the others turned around and saw several children rushing over. The leading boy ran to Merlin with an angry face and protected the little girl behind him.
Alicia frowned and said angrily, "Jeff, don't be rude!"
Merlin looked at the little boy and felt that he looked familiar. Suddenly he remembered that this was the little boy who stole his ring in the square just now. He smiled and said, "What a coincidence?"
"You bastard, give us our money back!" Jeff stared at Merlin with gritted teeth. It was this guy who stole all the money they had worked so hard to get for three days, causing him to be taught a lesson by the Thieves Guild.
"Money? What money?" Alicia's face changed after hearing Jeff's words. She looked at the group of children behind Jeff and found that they all had more or less bruises on their bodies, which made her face darken.
"Jeff! You little rascal, you took your brother and sister to contact the people from the Thieves Guild again? How many times have I told you not to mess around with them!" Alicia lifted Jeff's arm and looked at the bruises on his body with some heartache, but she still spanked the boy named Jeff hard on the butt.
Snap, snap, snap——
“Hey, hey, old witch! Old witch! Stop hitting me, stop hitting me! I just want to learn some real skills from them!”
"What real skill do you have? Stealing is not a real skill! You took your brothers and sisters out to beg! Do you know how dangerous the downtown area is? If the church didn't know that you were adopted children, you would have been abducted long ago!" Alicia said in a very stern tone.
Merlin crossed his arms and watched the scene happily. He walked over to the head maid and advised, "Alright, alright, the children are ignorant and are getting hurt. It's better not to beat them up. It's not good to hurt their bodies."
"Don't be so hypocritical, if it weren't for you..."
Before Jeff could finish his harsh words, he let out a howl and Alicia spanked his butt even harder.
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