The Perfect Specimen

Alistair looks up at Sebastian and just as he is about to say something, he sees the sky above him turn from a finely decorated ceiling to the thunderclouds that he is all to familiar with.

Alistair looks back down to in front of him and sees a pristine building with a black iron fence all the way around it that has no weeds or vines growing anywhere near it. The focus in the center of the yard is a statue over 12 feet tall immortalizing an elderly rotund man smiling warmly off into the distance.

Sebastian suddenly moves his hand and pulls his two fingers apart. As he does this, a slightly blue transparent sphere flickers around both him and Alistair.

He then says to Alistair as he is sizing up the building, "This is your new home from now on. My family has repaid it's debt to you as of now, however I will leave you with one piece of information. You are not human. I could tell from the moment that you came to my families estate that the aura you give off is that of the undead."

Alistair looks up to Sebastian and asks, "Human? Undead? I don't know what you are talking about...I'm Alistair aren't I?"

Sebastians previous jovial mood completely disappeared the moment he left his estate. He does not look down and only continues to stare off into the distance, "I do not know what you are, however you are to stay away from my family in the future. This is the only warning you will get as a courtesy."

Sebastian releases the sphere around them, he flicks his finger and from seemingly nowhere the rotund man that the statue is depicting shows up in front of Sebastian and Alistair. The man is confused and gets angry,

"Who has the audacity to pull such a prank on me?! If I find out who it is I'll-" He quickly shuts his mouth as he gets a better look at the duo in front of him, particularly Sebastian.

He quickly hides all sorts of indignation away and bows in a 90 degree angle towards Sebastian, in a timid voice he speaks out,

"L-L-Lord Brightstar! To what do I owe the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e of your visit?"

Sebastian looks down at him and says, "Wallace, you are to take this boy into your orphanage. His name is Alistair. After this, I will cut all ties with him. Do I make myself clear?"

Just as Wallace looks upwards to agree, he notices that Sebastian left immediately after making that statement.

Wallace looks towards Alistair with a frustrated scowl on his face, "Brat, I don't know what you did to make one of the top families on the upper side of Utopia make their ascended escort you personally here. I do know however, that he said he cut all ties with you. Meaning you don't have any fancy backing here."

Wallace takes out a small medallion and hands it to Alistair and then points his finger towards the entrance of the estate, "So hurry up and get inside. There are caretakers there who will get you situated at the door as soon as you enter."

After speaking so much, and not paying anymore attention to Alistair, Wallace walks away from the estate towards the market side of the city. All the while grumbling to himself about what just happened.

Alistair feels perplexed at not having a chance to speak during the entire interaction. He walks towards the front door of the estate and the doors slowly swing open with to reveal a middle-aged woman who was able to retain most of her youthfulness.

She has a warm smile as she looks at the medallion in Alistairs hand and says, "You must be new here, Please follow me and I'll get you situated."

The lady turns around and walks through the estate through the various hallways leading Alistair behind her.

Alistair could not contain his curiosity and asks, "This is an orphanage? When do I get to eat, make friends and get a family?" He asks with pure innocence and expectation.

The lady does not stop or even slightly pause. She turns her head slightly to acknowledge Alistair while still walking forward and says,

"Yes and thank you for choosing our orphanage, I think you will be very pleased with your stay here. Well, food will be provided to you two times a day. One in the morning and one in the evening. You will get the chance to make new friends as soon as we get done with your evaluation. As for that last part... I'd like you to think of us as your family until someone who you really like comes along."

Her face never changing and never losing the warm smile she continues, "As I said before though, I hope you are able to think of us as your family."

She abruptly comes to a stop at a bolted metal door with caution signs posted on it and says, "Your evaluation starts the moment you enter this door. I wish you the best of luck and I would like to formally welcome you once more to the Diamond In The Rough Orphanage"