After dinner, Elise went to wash the dishes in the kitchen. Gilbert and Russel went to have a talk in the living room with the absence of their wives who have gone to discuss some stories in the family room to weave some sweaters. The crackling sound came from the fireplace when Gilbert added new logs to raise the temperature.

“Elise has really become an adult. When she came to this house the first time, she was really inconsolable with sadness and very quiet that she couldn’t speak a single letter.” Russel spoke from the couch, his eyes remembering the nostalgic memory of Elise getting frightened by everything that she saw or talk to. After being sent from the White’s Mansion, strangers were something she saw as monsters and always avoid.

Gilbert walked back to his seat with a gentle look. “You’re right. Time does fly and before I knew it she has turned seventeen next week. Her birthday would be held in the house, don’t forget and attend her birthday.”

“Of course! Elise to me isn’t a niece but more of a little sister how could I be absent on her birthday? But… Seventeen, huh-” Russel repeated. “Then it’s time for her to find her husband. As a beautiful lady, I guess many men have lined up to ask her hand in marriage, aye?”

Gilbert shook his head making his brother to slant his head to the side. “The problem is… Elise rejected all the marriage proposals with the reason that she wants to work.”

Russel saw his brother sighed and patted his shoulder, trying to console his brother. “What are you worried about? It’s only working, there are many women work in the town now as a shopkeeper or perhaps a kitchen worker.”

“She didn’t want to work there. I’ve asked where she wants to work, but it isn’t a place for a normal human especially a lady to work at.”

Russel placed his cup down. “What do you mean?”

“She wants to work in the Church. Not as a nun but as a Churchwoman. She wants to work as a person who would be protecting the Church’s order for mythical beings to live with humans.” Gilbert showed an even devastated expression. To work in a Church as the Church member is a great honor especially for the humans, however, to become one, Elise has to overcome three tests given by the Church. And as the Church’s works are very dangerous, to die in the line wasn’t a rare thing.

A gasp of surprise slipped out of Russel’s lips. He took a few long moments to process what his brother said about his niece and still couldn’t believe his jokes. “You made a very dry joke, brother.”

“I also hope that her words are a joke but unfortunately for us, it isn’t.” Gilbert leaned back to his seat and murmured. “I want to value and support her choice, but this one I can’t.”

“Is it because she was saved and adopted from the Church and is grateful for it?” Russel questioned.

“I don’t know perhaps that’s the reason but I’m set on opposing her idea of working there. It may sound righteous and honorable to work as a Churchwoman, but with her own life on a stake I can’t let my daughter in the thin line of death.”

Russel said nothing as he would also oppose Elise’s aspiration to work in the Church. They both have a long silence. Russel took a sip from his warm tea and continued, “no offense but working in the Church needs to take a very difficult test. I know that she’s a bright child, but I still think that she would not pass.” He rubbed his brother’s shoulder and gave a light advise. “Let’s respect her wish to take the exam first.”

“Diana also suggested that, but she’s the type of child who would do whatever it take to pass the test. I’m afraid that she’ll pass.” Gilbert replied. “She is my only daughter, as much as I want to respect her wish, I do not want to lose her.”

Standing next to the door with a slight gap between it, Elise stood still while holding a tray with two cups to overhear her uncle’s and father’s conversation in silence. It had been a week since she told her parents of her decision of wanting to work in the Church.

Although she knew that her adoptive parents would be worried about her working in a very dangerous environment, it didn’t change her will of wanting to work there. She is the Sweet Child, the only human that stood in the border of Mythical beings and Humans. She had seen Mythical being by her own eyes and knew how they were different from the rumors people in her Town had.

They were also a living being and have a heart, it was something that Elise want to believe in as she was helped by a mythical being from the Slave Building. She was too young at that time and didn’t understand the consequence and how lucky she was to be able to escape from the slave building before they place a binding mark on her that was called the slave pact.

Slaves are not seen as a human and they were far less than livestock. Killing them will not mean anything and people wouldn’t bat an eyelid at them being tortured in the street, she had seen all of it by her own eyes.

Elise stole a peek a little from the room and decide to bring back the drink in the Kitchen and take her rest for the day. Elise who has changed into her nightgown blew out the candle and walked over the small window beside her bed to pull up the bottom of the railing. The gentle night breeze blew over her pink cheeks, bringing a sense of calmness to the night.

She brushed her hair to the side and tucked a few strands behind her ears to gaze at the sky above, trying to find the moon that had disappeared because of the clouds. She tore her eyes a little from the sky and trailed her fingers down at the red bracelets that had stayed with her for over than ten years of her life. It looked a little tattered now and her guts were telling her it wouldn’t be soon that she would have to live without its protection.

“You have protected me well.” she praised the little bracelet.

Working in the Church would be the best place for her to use her power for kindness and learn how to protect herself, she thought. She hadn’t yet told her adoptive parents of her power and decided not to.

Her adoptive parents, Gilbert Scottand his wife Diana Scott are very kind people with the kindest soul she had ever met. It has been almost nine years after the day they adopted her.

When she came to the house for the first time, she was filled with insecurities and fears when they adopted her but nevertheless, the couple and Russel took care of her well.

It must’ve been hard for a young couple with a five-year-old child to take in a little girl with how busy they were, however, they gave their best on giving care and love to her. Until in the end, Elise grew into a bright young lady as to what her parents wished. Her uncle Russel was much more of an older brother to her as he lived with the Scott couple until she met Sharon who is now her aunt.