章 98: Chapter 98

The orphanage was quiet, the stillness of the night broken only by the occasional creak of old wooden beams and the soft rustle of the wind outside. William lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind restless. Everyone else was sound asleep—the younger kids dreaming in their shared rooms, and the caretakers no doubt exhausted after a long day. 

But William couldn't sleep. Something about being back here brought a longing to experience the freedom he hadn't felt since joining the academy. With a smirk, he swung his legs off the bed and crept toward the window. 

Carefully, he slid it open, the hinges whining softly in protest. He froze, listening for any sign of stirring in the rooms nearby. When none came, he climbed out, landing softly on the ground below.