[b]Asylum Island, late evening

Dodo[/b]
[@Blight Bug]

Everything seems normal to you from your vantage point. You could still see people scurrying around here and there on the island, but that was nothing strange - there were taverns on the island which were open through the entire night, and some people were returning from their work in other parts of the Dirt Town. Still, the activity was dying down as the whole island was slowly going to sleep. 

Beyond the island, looking at the rest of the Dirt Town, you could see hundreds of lights coming from various sources. Here and there you could also see fires, which made you appreciate the fact that you lived on an island, safe from any possibility that they might spread to your home. Even further on the horizon you could see tall spires and glow of the Yire Island, with the Tower standing by far the tallest. It was a place you have never been to and could only occasionally gaze upon from the distance like this. 

So far, everything was peaceful, except for the muffled cries of the children in the orphanage bellow. It was barely able to reach your ears, so you could assume that the rest of the island couldn’t hear it. Old man Fritz’s passing went unnoticed by the world, for now. 

[b]Mary [/b]
[@Dead Cruiser][@Zi]

Mary is not a strong person. She could take care of the children, she could cook, she could wash the children’s clothes and the dishes and clean the building the Orphanage was located in, but asking her to be a leader, to be decisive when lives are at stake, to be able to pick the most optimal of many choices, that is asking for too much. 

Shaken by Fritz’s death and fearful of the future, anyone who could come and appear as the solid pillar of support would’ve taken Mary’s loyalty. Unfortunately, Zahny’s call to action was not enough to give her any hope and Mary first response to it was pessimism. At least other children calmed down a little at his words.

[b]“W-we can’t leave the Dirt Town,”[/b] she spoke while wiping tears from her eyes. [b]“Outside is even m-more dangerous, Grandpa Fritz told me. There are always some armies clashing and bandits would gladly capture us all and sell us to slavery.”[/b]

At that point Luca made his own suggestion and Mary’s eyes widened. Of course, find a guardian! Find someone to protect them, just like the old man did. But who in the Dirt Town would do that? Hardly anyone would burden themselves with the fate of some 30 orphans if they had nothing to gain out of it. 

[b]“I-I don’t know if Grandpa Fritz had any friends outside of the Asylum Island… And most of our finances are contributions from the people on the island.”[/b] They all know who they can thank for the relative peace that is present here.

She paused for a few moments to think.

[b]“Instead of waiting to be attacked by the gangs, maybe we can pre-empt them and ask the gang we think is the lesser evil for protection?”[/b]