CHAPTER 338 THEY ARE DIFFERENT

"Clang!"

Silvanus had just opened the drawer to grab some paper when a sharp, piercing noise suddenly rang out from the balcony. He couldn't help but turn his head immediately, only to see the egg-after

"overcoming countless obstacles"-hopping its way right in front of him.

Silvanus: "..."

He glanced at the pile of shattered glass on the balcony, then back at the egg happily bouncing in front of him. One hand lifted almost automatically as he grabbed the egg.

Squeak!

The egg, seemingly unaware of what it had done wrong, kept wiggling and hopping about.

"This is the third floor! Just how high can you even jump?! And what's with all this mess? Hurry up and clean it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Silvanus tossed the egg to the ground. It rolled and tumbled through the broken glass, then suddenly sprang upright again, making a pitiful sobbing sound as it began pushing the shards together with its round little body.

Moments ago, Silvanus hadn't heard it make a single sound-but now it was sniffling.

No, he thought, this egg's real talent must be acting-pretending to look pitiful.

The glass shards suddenly lifted into the air, dragging the egg up with them until it floated gently into Silvanus's hand, while the pieces of glass reassembled themselves onto the window.

Silvanus didn't know any spell or how the glass restored itself; he had only willed it to be fixed.

Light spread along the cracks of the broken window, flickering faintly, and then-just like that-the glass was whole again, as if it had never been shattered.

Silvanus held the egg up and asked, "You're quick at running away, but why come back to me instead of escaping for good? Aren't you afraid I'll boil you?"

He examined the egg in his hand and nodded thoughtfully. "You're the biggest egg I've ever seen." Then he licked his lips. "Bet you'd taste pretty good."

The egg flinched and immediately burrowed into Silvanus's chest, rubbing against him like a spoiled child.

Silvanus shuddered. Pulling it off him with both hands, he said thoughtfully, "You're not cute at all. Things that aren't cute shouldn't try to act cute."

The egg: "..." It was visibly offended, but Silvanus paid it no mind and focused on revising his speech for tomorrow.

The egg nuzzled against him again, and when Silvanus wasn't looking, it hopped right into his stomach. The icy chill of its shell made him jolt slightly.

"All right, you stay out here-on the sofa."

After finishing everything, Silvanus wasted no time tossing the egg out of his stomach.

The egg, forced out of its "nest," immediately began wriggling in protest on the sofa.

Silvanus gave it a disdainful look. "Didn't I tell you not to act cute, you rotten egg?"

The egg: "..." It wasn't rotten at all.

But Silvanus truly left without even glancing back once, leaving the egg unable to stop him.

Angrily, it bounced twice, then hurled itself at the tightly shut door, banging against it wildly.

Silvanus could hear the door rattling incessantly. He yawned,

frowned, and went to open it.

The moment he did, a white blur shot into the room without

hesitation.

Silvanus glanced at the egg, now sitting triumphantly inside, and chuckled. "Feels like I just got haunted by a ghost."

The egg: "..."

Moments later, it was caught firmly in both of Silvanus's hands. He carried it straight to the bathroom. "You know," he said, "since there's water, you might as well take a bath. You spend all day bouncing on the floor and still want to get on the bed with me?"

The egg realized it was being looked down on, but since it couldn't talk, it could only squeak in protest.

When it saw the basin of water, however, it practically bristled- shaking furiously to show it would never take a bath.

Silvanus couldn't care less about its opinion.

He shoved it into the basin and scrubbed it nonstop, as if he were washing a pair of shoes.

The headmaster was truly thoughtful-Silvanus's wardrobe already had a perfectly fitted uniform and even a few sets of loungewear

prepared.

During class hours, Lumina Academy students weren't allowed to wear anything other than their uniforms, so at least Silvanus didn't have to worry about clothing right now.

After a reluctant and entirely unwilling bath, Silvanus placed the egg on the bed.

The egg bounced happily, the soft mattress making it jump even higher.

Silvanus climbed onto the bed as well, caught the egg in both hands, and said, "First time seeing such a soft bed, huh? Country bumpkin."

The egg squeaked in protest, and Silvanus immediately flicked it on the shell, then set it down on the bed and pulled the blanket over himself. Closing his eyes, he murmured, "It's my first time seeing such a soft bed, too."

He could feel the egg restlessly wriggling its way back into his stomach. Silvanus clicked his tongue but decided to let it be.

Meanwhile, Matthew was also getting ready to sleep.

The dorm beds were bunk beds with rigid wooden boards, but the blanket was soft and warm.

At least now, he didn't have to sleep in some filthy corner wrapped in torn newspapers or ragged cloth full of holes, nor out in the cold

forest.

This place was dry, clean-it was... it was really lovely.

Matthew narrowed his eyes, wondering how Silvanus was doing right

now.

He thought back to when they were still in the orphanage. Every winter, the cold wind cut into their skin like knives.

Silvanus never liked playing with the other kids, but his fists were

hard-no one could bully him.

That was why Silvanus's sleeping spot was the biggest, and he had the

most blankets. But Matthew... Matthew was always the one getting

picked on.

He couldn't even sleep from the cold. His small, filthy body shivered constantly, and he often thought he might freeze to death without anyone ever knowing.

His body was already covered in bruises-it hurt so much... Matthew couldn't help but glance toward the farthest corner of the

dormitory.

They didn't have beds back then-they slept directly on the ground.

Over there, Silvanus was wrapped in his blankets, only a few strands of his blond hair peeking out.

Matthew pressed his lips tightly together. He just didn't want to die,

that was all. His body hurt so much-so much that he could barely keep his eyes open.

If Silvanus hit him... so what? That was still better than doing nothing

and freezing to death.

Instinctively, Matthew licked his lips. They were so dry and cracked that the skin had split, stiff and painful.

He winced as tears began to fall uncontrollably.

He didn't want to be like this, but he...

Silvanus suddenly felt someone tugging at him.

He frowned, assuming it was some clueless kid trying to steal his spot again. But when he sat up, he saw another boy-tear-streaked, nose running -staring at him. The moment their eyes met, the boy flinched back in terror. His mouth opened in a soft sob before he hurriedly covered it with both hands, as though afraid to make too much noise. Silvanus frowned at him and muttered under his breath, "I haven't

even done anything to you yet. Don't you dare start crying!"

Matthew froze, his hiccuping sobs catching in his throat.

"S-sorry... I'm just so cold. Can I... can I sleep with you?" he stammered.

Silvanus frowned at Matthew, his small face expressionless and cold.

He knew this kid-Matthew. The one who always followed the others around, trying to please them, but without their boldness or cruelty. Frail, weak, and easily the smallest one there. Judging by his appearance now, he'd clearly been bullied again.

Facing Silvanus's icy stare, Matthew felt the air around him grow even

colder. He thought maybe he really would die tonight. The thought made him start sobbing again.

He was only six years old, and he had always dreamed of seeing the world beyond those walls... but perhaps he never would.