Back to Atlantis

going to waste it. Thanking Gloriana, she turned and nearly ran for the town.
It was as cozy and loud as she remembered it. The town of Greenway, named for the many hills all over town, was like every other town in the world. Busy streets, kids playing, and people going to work. But the similarities ended there.
Signs were put up all over the town, saying things like, the mage is back! And, we will win against the rebellion! The royal flag of Atlantis held up by a statue of the previous king, decorated the town square.
There was a market place instead of a mall. Apparently the town didn’t want one. But in the marketplace, so many fascinating things were sold. Magic balls that told the future, paintings that moved, birds that talked to humans, and so on. It was the greatest difference between this place and every other small town in the world: magic.
As Yasmin walked through the busy streets, her ears open for gossip, she felt her body start to relax. No one thought of her as the mage here. No one knew who she was. Well, except for the kids at the orphanage, and that was because she visited them often.
“Hello!” A perky voice called to her.
Yasmin turned.
A happy-looking middle-aged woman was coming toward her, merchandise in both hands. “Would you like to buy some sweets?”
“No thank you,” Yasmin replied. “But I would like some information. Do you happen to have some?” It was a tricky question. Most of the people she had asked this had become suspicious immediately.
“For the right price, honey.” The woman winked at her, making Yasmin’s heart leap.
“Have you heard of Arthur town?” She studied her nails, pretending to be bored. It was stupid, but her nails really needed work.
“You have to be more specific.” The woman was feet away now. She could see the blue of her eyes.
“Have you heard of the rouge army?” Yasmin looked up in time to see fear in the woman’s blue eyes.
“You’re a rebel spy!” she hissed, making Yasmin take a step back. “I won’t answer a thing for you, no matter how much money you offer me!” Turning around, she marched back into the busy square.
Yasmin stood there for a moment, confused, before she sighed and turned around, walking toward the orphanage.
Nearly every time she asked this question, people thought she was a spy. Who the hell were these people? Were they that afraid of a rebellion that had barely done anything in years?
But then she knew that wasn’t true. The rebellion had shown, if nothing else, that they couldn’t be stopped. Not by the queen, and not by her spellcasters.
As she opened the rusty old gate to the orphanage, she smiled. Every time. Honey Hills Orphanage may have been rusty and in need of repair, but the people here were full of life.
“Yasmin!” A chorus of voices greeted her, and she almost laughed. This was the one place in Atlantis where she was welcomed with open arms.
“Whoa!” she said, stumbling back under the assault of three little boys. They grinned up at her, some with missing teeth.
“Are you here to play again?” Eight-year-old Jace asked her, looking up with wide eyes. Not that he had to look up much. He was almost her height of five foot five.
“Yes—”
“Why didn’t you visit us last week?” Ten-year-old Britney asked, coming up to her. She looked hurt. “You said we could play catch!”
Yasmin looked down. “I’m sorry, Britney.” Last week had been when Arthur town was attacked. She hadn’t even visited her family.
“Hey now, I know Yasmin said we could play catch, but she was probably really busy!” A newcomer said.
Yasmin looked up, startled to a pair of bright green eyes, framed by blonde curls. She blushed in surprise.
“Who are you?” she asked, confused. She had been here multiple times, and never seen anyone near her age. And he looked, what? Sixteen, seventeen?
“My name is Lucas.” He held out his hand. Lucas was tall for his age, about a head above her. He had caramel skin, and his face was full of freckles, hinting he was always up to mischief. He was also grinning at her, trying to figure out why she was staring. She blushed again. “I’m new here.”
She looked at him in surprise. “Aren’t you a bit old to be an orphan?” She bit her lip, wishing she could take that back.
“Seventeen by my last count.” he said, grinning.
Did he ever stop grinning, she wondered, looking into his green eyes.
“My parents died when the nearby village was attacked. I was lucky to survive.” He looked a bit pained at this, but his grin remained.
Yasmin’s gut tightened with guilt. If only she had made it to the village earlier. If only she was stronger, than he wouldn’t have lost his family. His parents. “I’m sorry,” she said, knowing full well that it wouldn’t change a thing.
“Don’t be.” He grinned at her, so contiguously, that she had to grin back.
There was a happy energy that radiated from him, and it made others around him happier too.
“Thanks,” she said, but was stopped from saying more when Jace tugged at her shirt again.
“Are we playing catch, or are we playing catch?” he demanded, looking cross. “You said we could!” He looked so hurt that Yasmin’s heart melted.
As orphans, nobody paid them much attention. And because of the rebellion, many of them had lost their families, so every orphanage was full to bursting. And this one was in dire need of repair, too.
The grass was overgrown because all of the adults were too tired to care for it, and everyone was hungry all the time.
Yasmin did as much as she could every time she came here, but what could she do but play with the kids?
“Yeah!” added Britney. She was holding her little sister’s hand. “We want to play!”
“Fine!” Yasmin said, making a face at Britney, who only grinned back. “You’re it!” She lunged and tried to tag Britney, but she dodged