Chapter 47

• From that night onward, Oberon became the family I never had, the only one I could truly rely on. I was grateful for him, more than I could express. He didn’t just teach me how to fight; he showed me how to survive—how to adapt to my circumstances and navigate the world in a way that would keep me alive. I learned how to feign interest in the lessons the nuns gave to the children at St. Augustine's, and I began to use that to my advantage. They offered me more freedom, less labor. In return, I accepted the label they gave me: the "demon's child healed by God's grace." My clothes remained tattered, and the food still disgusted me, but the eyes that once watched me so closely began to avert their gaze. That little bit of space allowed me to practice with Oberon, and for the first time, I felt like I was gaining control of my life.
• Oberon often said that I had a natural talent for martial arts. Though my body was small, he saw something special in my agility, and he taught me how to use it to my advantage. By the time I was ten, I could take down a grown, moderately skilled man. But martial arts weren't the only skill I was honing. Oberon soon realized I was a quick learner, particularly when it came to academics. I breezed through my classes, grasping everything almost effortlessly, but there was no real challenge. The orphanage school didn’t offer anything beyond the basics, so I grew restless. Fortunately, Oberon supplied me with books, and I devoured them all. With his help, life began to feel easier, lighter—even happy, for a brief time.
• It was Oberon’s guidance that led me to a cunning plan: I would convince the nuns to allow me to pursue my education as part of a special, individual arrangement. With that, I managed to graduate from St. Augustine’s High School in under two years, and I even managed to convince them to let me live independently while working part-time at a bakery. When Mother Superior gave her approval, I felt like I could breathe again. It was a small victory, but it felt like the end of the nightmare. Little did I know, it was just the beginning.