Chương 12: The Years the Orphanage Almost Turned Into a Circus

Years 0 to 7 – Saint Lunalie Orphanage Children present (in order of arrival): Joker – half-demon (human + succubus) (the only boy) Harley – half-demon (human + lilim) (partner in crime since the cradle) Sylvara – forest half-elf (4 years older than the chaos twins) Rina – fox beastkin (3 years older) Lirien – pure elf (same age as Sylvara) Kuroe – human with Loki's Divine Mark (2 years older) Astrid – half-orc (1 year younger than Joker and Harley) Marina – aquatic dragonewt (same age as Astrid) Of the eight children, only two are genuinely insane from the cradle: Joker and Harley.

The other six are… just kids. Some more mischievous, some shyer, but all normal. Except for three who have "something extra": Kuroe (Loki's Mark) – sometimes speaks alone in languages no one knows and laughs at jokes that haven't been told yet. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Lirien (pure elf) – has short prophetic dreams; wakes up crying or laughing for no reason.

Marina (dragonewt) – when she gets very nervous, she shoots bursts of steam from her nostrils like a boiling kettle. The others (Sylvara, Rina, and Astrid) are just cheerful, fearful, or feisty girls like any other child.

0–2 years Joker and Harley sleep in the same crib. When one cries, the other laughs. When both cry together, Lysithea appears in 3 seconds with a double hug. Result: they cry in sync at least five times a day just to get extra cuddles. 2–3 years Joker's first full sentence: "Sister Lys, the frog wants to live in your shoe." Harley's first full sentence: "I'll help him move in!" Graciela the dwarf nearly has a heart attack when she finds 17 frogs inside her winter boots.

4 years Joker discovers he can make shadows dance on the wall. Harley discovers she can make the shadows look like terrifying clowns. Result: storytime turns into a children's horror session. Sylvara and Rina fall asleep hugging each other in tears, while Joker and Harley laugh until they roll off the bed. 5 years Basic magic lessons with Sister Mirella (retired half-elf archer). Joker learns black fire in one week. Harley learns murderous clown illusion in two days.

Mirella bans both from practicing magic "in front of the other children." They practice secretly in the attic. The attic catches fire three times. No one ever finds out who did it (lie—everyone knows). 6 years Kuroe (the girl with Loki's Mark) starts making "predictions."

"Today the soup will have dwarf hair in it." At dinner: Graciela serves soup and finds one of her own mustache hairs in the bowl. Kuroe just shrugs: "I warned you." 7 years (present) Daily routine: 06: 30 – Lysithea wakes everyone by singing Lunalie hymns. 07: 00 – group breakfast (Joker and Harley steal each other's sweets just to see the other get mad, then swap back while laughing). 08: 00 – lessons in letters, numbers, and the world with Sister Mirella.

10: 00 – basic magic class (Joker and Harley sit in the back making little fireballs juggle like circus performers). 12: 00 – lunch + nap (half-orc Astrid snores so loud the roof shakes). 14: 00 – garden playtime (racing, tag, "hunt the Joker"—because he always disappears and reappears hanging from the roof). 18: 00 – bedtime stories with Lysithea.