what a sad, bitter and still so beautiful start in your story. I'm glad the ancient found and rescued us, no one should ever do this to a child. (nor to other living beings.) i'm happy my MC trusted Havard and it was so sweet to 'see' them hugging each other :D I'm looking forward to read more and meet the other characters <3
oh and I found a writing mistake, it should be coughing, not couching (if you mean the 'cough, cough' sound when we try to talk to Havard C: )