While Selv was talking about Death in the lord’s mansion, Annatashya was getting to know the girl who called herself Nely.

“I see. So are always trapped in a room by those people that chased you. When you find a chance you escaped and Selv came and helped you. Fufu, that’s so like him,” Annatashya said, putting her hands together on the table and placed it below her chin.

The place was still Annatshya’s humble café. At the time of Selv’s absent, the two had gotten well and just started talking about Nely’s circumstances. It was mainly because Annastashya’s character that the girl had opened up in such little time.

“It must be hard. Did you hurt yourself somewhere when you run away?” Annatashya asked, leaning forward to check on her.

She reached out forward, but Nely touched her hand and shook her head.

“Then I’m glad. Oh, your cup is empty. I will go make a new one,” she said and went behind the counter.

Their conversations were not awkward, even when Nely replied with gesture alone. Annatashya was not too mindful of the fact she was mute and interacted with her normally.

Of course, a certain amount of mindfulness was needed in certain cases. She, however, was not that different than others except she uses gesture to talk. It was a common communication problem among people of a different country. Their different languages would hinder them from communicating, but that did not change the fact they are fellow humans.

No one would feel good to receive special treatment when there was no need for it. It was the nature of human. Although they wish to be different from the others, they also do not want to be alienated. That was why Annatashya did that.

Nely, on the other hand, was slightly happy that someone can understand her. People usually treat her differently because of her handicap but dislike their treatment because it was similar to those of patients.

She was not different from the other. They only communicate with different ways than her, Nely thoughts.

Fresh tea fragrance drifted the air as Annatashya brewed drinks. It suits the shop’s atmosphere soothes one’s mind. Shortly after, she came back with new cups in hands.

“Sorry for the wait. Shall we enjoy the tea before we continue the talk?” Annatashya said, offering the freshly brewed drink.

“Be careful, it’s hot.”

Nely took the cup with caution because of her warning. She put it in front of her mouth and blew it one, two times. Her timid figure that hesitantly touched the cup was adorable in Annatashya’s eyes.

She copied Annatashya and smelt the tea. Her mind became peaceful from smelling it. As one could expect from the owner of a café, she knows well how her customer well.

Without words, the two took a sip.

Such tranquil moment, Nely thought.

Annatashya broke such moment with a question.

“So, why did you escape from that place?” Annatashya asked, putting her cup down. “Their treatment was not bad, right? Sure, they limit your space. But for the most part, they took care of you. What is there to complain?”

Nely moved her hands to reply.

“Myth?”

Annatashya said, tilting her head to the side.

Then, Nely started to talk about this town’s myth, the being that grants wishes.

In the distant past, when people were at war with the demons, a being roamed the world. It moved from one place to another with no destination in mind.

Through mountains, seas, and towns, it explored the world. Finally, at the end of its journey, it settled down here, in the town that had no relation to the ongoing war.

The reasons why it settled down varies. Some said because it fell for a human, another said it was tired, or perhaps it was addicted to this town’s specialty. Nevertheless, it found its place here.

However, unable to escape from the ongoing event, this town got caught by the war. Escape was impossible. The demon’s army had prepared to capture the town.

In that hopeless situation, someone begged. He begged the being to save the town.

From the feeling of gratitude alone, it granted his wish. It took a weapon in hand and headed toward the enemy’s force.

One after another, it slashed, cut, and stabbed. As if the numerical advantage was nothing, it slew hundreds, even thousands.

By the end of the day, the mighty army was no more. Only It stood on the devastated battlefield.

Such deeds were not in the realm of humanity, which proves its identity as something else.

Yet, unlike other tales where people become afraid of it, they worshiped him instead. The feeling of gratitude was greater than fear.

It found its place.

So, this time for real, it settled there and granted their wishes. The people were grateful for its existence. But, only later problem occurred.

“The price of their wishes, Annatashya said, putting her hand above another. She had remembered the content of the myth while Nely was conveying about it.

You knew about it, Nely asked.

“Well, yes. But, I think it’s closer to a folklore than a myth,” Annatashya said. “After all, it wasn’t a God or something divine. It's merely an unfortunate being that desired a place.”

It was a tale that had been passed down for a few generations in this town. The story of a being that grants wishes in exchange for a place and the foolish people that wish without thinking about the price.

It was truly, “A laughable tale.”

Annatashya uttered such thing in a mocking tone. The tale told about there is nothing more expensive than free. She and the people in the story’s situations were the same.

One could hear a self-mocking snort coming out of her with enough imagination.

Seeing her, Nely looks concerned.

“No, it’s nothing,” Annatashya said, brushing it off with her hand. “So, can I take it that you came here because that tale intrigued you?”

Nely nodded.

I want to meet it, she conveyed her will.

“Who told you about that!?” Annatashya said, widening her eyes from the shock.

My father, Nely replied.

“Is he, perhaps, someone from here?” Annatashya asked.

I don’t know, Nely replied with hesitation. Annatashya’s sudden change confused her. No, she scared her.

The so far gentle and kind elder sister had put a thick mask and gave out an intimidating air. A tone of agitation was mixed on her words, but she felt what lies behind it was not the previous her or something timid.

“Then, tell me your father or mother’s name. Depending on their identity, we might need to have a looong talk,” she said with a smile with a deeper meaning in it.

Nely could only stay on her spot, making herself as small as possible. She did not know about her circumstance and why she intimidated her. The only thing on her mind was fear.

For the second time today, she sought help with her voiceless plea. And, her prayer was granted for the second time by the opening door.

“Sorry, it took a while. Did you already have dinner?” Selv entered with a bag on his hand.

Annatashya changed her smile to a genuine one and said, “Welcome back. No, we haven’t.”

She went behind the counter and put an apron.

“I’m going to make something. What do you want to eat?” She said while checking the available ingredients.

“Then, can you use this to make something?” He said and placed the bag of Apples on the counter.

Annatashya let out a groan as she racked her brain, searching for a suitable recipe for dinner.

“Got it,” she said upon enlightenment.

Without a moment of delay, she took at the ingredients and lined it up on the table.

“Do you need help?” Selv asked.

“No, let me prepare a feast for you!” Annatashya said, pulling the sleeve of her clothes to show her confidence.

He thought it would be wise not to bother her.

With nothing else to do, Selv took a seat that was Annatashya’s and said, “Hey, how is it going?”

No reply came. Not in the meaning of voice. Nely just did not give an ear from trying to process the previous thing.

What happened? She thought.

Relieved from fear, she occupied herself with thinking. Her previous was strange. Why? Because she knew of its existence? The last part of the tale, which ended it with an ‘Even now, it keeps granting people’s wishes.’

Such a common ending of a tale. But, the difference lies in the truth of its existence.

It exists. In present tense. Only a few people in this independent town knew of it. And, they made it a secret for a good reason. So that people won’t abuse the Being.

Nely did not know. She did not realize. A leak of information can cause a wave of turmoil for the Being. And, that was unacceptable for a few who knew.

Oblivious to that, she kept following Annatashya’s figure with her eyes and that filled her mind.

“Hey,” Selv said and delivered a chop to her.

“!?”

“Reply when someone talks to you,” he said and pulled her cheeks. Stretching and squeezing it like a tender rice cake.

Nely let out a strange voice as Selv played with her face.

She wanted him to stop. It was unpleasant.

“If you understand, then do a nod or something!” Selv said, slapping her face with both hands.

Surprised, she nodded by reflex.

“Good,” Selv said and lightly put his hand on top of her head.

Again. He patted her, Nely thought.

“Did you cause Anny any problem while I was gone?”

Selv asked as he rested his hands on the table. Upon watching her expression, Selv tilted his head.

“What’s wrong? You’re making a strange face,” he said. “Well, I guess it bounds to happen after I did that to your face.”

In response, Nely puffed her cheeks and curled her expression.

“Don’t be so meek. It’s just a joke,” he said with a teasing smile. “Well, seriously speaking, what did you do while I was gone?”

Nely did not feel like answering after being teased, but he did save her. She felt the obligation to answer him. So, she conveyed her words with signs.

Forgetting the fact Selv could not understand sign language, Nely conveyed her words.

But, Selv did not interrupt her. He let her do her language as he tried to decipher it. Out of the whole context, Selv could only understand around tenth. Furthermore, that was not from her signs, but rather her gestures and expressions.

Well, this was rather a rare sight, he thought.

Seeing a child doing sign language, surely, it was not a daily occurrence. For Selv, it was like a refreshing stimulant for his soul.

The sound of boiling water, a rhythmical chopping sound, the smell of old woods mixed with many types of beans, and the figure of a girl moving her hands into various shapes.

Soon, a humming sound came. Annatashya hummed as she cooked. It was a song of a distant country with a soothing melody. The composer was unknown, yet it spread even to this independent town.

Selv knew that it was her favorite song. And, like usual, a nostalgic feeling struck him.

Ah, he thought.

This seemed familiar. The sound, smell, and the air, it triggered a part of his memories.

When? Who knows.

Where? Somewhere similar.

Why? For dinner.

How? Invited.

With who? …

What?

A static like noise blurred his memories.

“Again,” he muttered, holding his head.

It had happened again. The annoying noise, it came again.

Every time he tried to think of something that caught his mind, it obstructed him. He speculated it was some sort of age diseases because of his age.

Lately, his memories also had gone bad. Forgetting people’s names were on the better side. One time he forgot what he was doing, and had a mood swing.

A disease with the initial A. He had forgotten the full name of it.

Nely, soon, realized his strange state. She pulled the hem of his sleeve and he jerked up in response.

“Ah, what is it?”

He tried to cover it up with a smile.

Still unaware of her mistake, Nely asked in sign language.

Are you okay, she conveyed.

“Sorry,” Selv said, scratching his head. “I have no idea on what you were saying.”

Upon realizing her mistake, Nely opened her mouth and made an expression as if a lightning had struck her. She then slammed the table a few times as if to say why he did not tell her earlier.

“Well, you seem to have fun?”

Selv said, half-unsure.

Just when she was about to explode, Annatashya came with a tray of foods on her hands.

“Sorry for the wait. Today’s dinner is Apple soup!”

She said with a smile full of confidence.

Nely shrunk again from her appearance. She had become bad with her.

Together with a loaf of bread and salad, a simple dinner was served.

As one would expect, Nely’s eyes were gleaming as she scooped the soup. It seemed anything with Apple suits her taste bud.

Nothing happened at dinner. Selv and Annatashya had some trivial talks, but that was it.

Nely sipped on her drink, forgetting her thoughts before dinner.

“So, did you find anything about her?” Selv said.

Annatashya, who had washed the dishes, wiped her hands and replied.

“Hmm, I got a little of her background, but I haven’t done with her objective. Isn’t that right, little Nely?”

Nely twitched. She peeked toward her direction and averted upon eye contact.

“So you have gotten that close,” Selv said when he looked at the two.

“Really? If that’s how you look at it, then it must be true!” Annatashya said with a smile, blushing from his remark.

In contrast, Nely widened her eyes and could not mutter a word. Not that she could in the first place.

Annatashya came closer and put her hands around her. Nely tried to push her off, but she snuggled her, ignoring her futile resistance.

“You sure are getting along,” Selv said again, but with a kind gaze.

This level of skinship was fine, he thought. He ignored Nely’s half-crying eyes and sipped his drink.

Few good minutes later, Nely was freed. Her eyes were hollow. She changed her seat to beside Selv and started at the space.

For the current her, everything was void.

“And so, that’s her situation,” Annatashya said, finishing her explanation.

“I see. Thanks for the hard work,” Selv replied.

He organized the new information as he tapped the table.

It was an easy request, he thought.

As one of the senior members of this town and the Guardian, granting her request was easy. It could be done in a moment of notice. Her request was something of that degree.

But, he wondered whether that was the right thing to do. Like how stars are beautiful because they are unattainable. Her dream was better unfulfilled.

Was it better if someone realized the uncle in red that brings presents on a certain night was fake? Perhaps.

But, that would also mean a dream had died. Depends on how much they believe it would affect them in both positive and negative ways. The worst that could happen was the loss of ability to believe.

So, taking the safe way, the dream should be left alone.

Even if it would leave unsatisfied feeling now, with enough time it would become a good childhood memory. She could use this as a topic and get a laugh or a smile for her future self.

That was she, who lived at present, should do. Or that was Selv’s thoughts.

“Hmm,” he pondered with a hand on his chin.

After careful thinking, he finally decided.

“Nely, do you want to meet it?” he asked.

With no hesitation, she nodded.

“What if it was not like the tale and cannot grant wishes?”

Nely did not answer. She just looked down at the floor and clenched her hands. That was enough to know her feeling.

Selv let out a sigh.

“Fine,” he said in a tired tone. “If you’re fine with it, do you want me to help you?”

Nely looked at him and he showed a strange expression, half-feed up, half-embarrass.

Selv scratched his head with an awkward motion and said, “Well, around here people me as something like a handyman. I would mind helping you here and there.”

Fufu. He could hear a giggled from Annatashya, but ignored it.

Nely stopped for a few second before she let out a smile. But, her smile was weak and bitter. It was because she did not expect Selv to be able to grant her wish.

He can’t. At least, a normal human shouldn’t able to. Only the Being in the tale could.

Nevertheless, she appreciated his effort and conveyed her reasons.

This time, Selv understood her gestures’ meaning. He perceived it. No. if one thought about her, it was clear what her wish was.

Still, he asked for the translation.

“Anny, what did she say?”

“I wish to speak,” she replied.

As expected, that was her wish.

Selv held the bridge of his nose and thought about it. No, actually, he just acted to think. He needed time to lament his prediction was right.

A person wouldn’t always hate themselves, at some point, yes. Whether because they were fatter, slimmer, bigger, taller, poorer, richer, or even healthier than others. Humans would always find reasons to hate and compare themselves with others. But, later they would accept it as part of themselves with enough maturity.

It was all in the process of an ever ending road to adulthood.

Selv had hoped that she wanted to meet the being for trivial reasons, such as become a friend or proving its identity. Such bummer, he thought.

“Well, it’s already getting late. Why don’t we continue this topic tomorrow?” Annatashya said, clapping her hands together. As if agreed with her, the bell rang. It was time to rest.

“Fine,” Selv stood up.

Before he could another word, Annatashya said first, “Stay the night. You haven’t got a place to spend the night, right?”

Selv stopped for a few seconds.

“No. I shouldn’t-

He was about to decline before Annatashya added, “There’s also the case this morning. Who knows what might they do.”

I’m so scared, she said, hugging her body and let out a weak voice.

“You know-” Selv was about to let out a sigh, but stopped. “No. You have a point.”

He changed his mind. There were more than enough reasons to think the ruffians from this morning were outsiders.

Generally speaking, even people from the lowest stature on this town were kind compared to the people outside. The value of kindness had deeply rooted in every citizen. More the reason if it was related to Selv. They would never try to bother someone under Selv’s protection. His title held such power.

But, the people outside were different. Outsiders were not a part of this town. The value of kindness had no meaning to them.

Who knows what they might do if Nely was left unprotected?

For that reason, he decided to stay the night. Annatashya literally jumped with joy and even said something about night crawl. Selv took the liberty to ignore her remark.

As for the person of the problem, she had fallen asleep. It was not a surprise and the two had noticed her state.

“Where’s the available room?” Selv said, carrying Nely on his arms. She needed to eat more, he thought.

“The first two rooms on the right,” she replied.

Selv moved, only to stop at the stairs.

“Isn’t one of the two is your room?” he asked.

“You remember right. My room is free tonight,” she said with a big smile.

Selv feigned ignorance and only said, “I see.”

He put Nely on Annatashya’s bed and went to the other room. Just in case, he made sure to lock the door. And, night enveloped all.

The moon was full. Moonlight seeped through the glass, illuminating the dark corridor. Not a sound as far ears could hear.

The floor creaked. Someone was walking this late at night. Who?

It was Nely. She had woken up in Annatashya’s chest, panicked, she fell off the bed. For seconds she just stayed on the floor, confused. Then, nature call came.

She remembered the relieving room was on the first floor. So, she went.

The floor creaked. Once every three steps, Nely would find herself surprised by the sound. She clung to the wall, taking her time before continuing.

Her last hurdle was the stairs. Light could not reach it. Nely saw there was something deep in the darkness.

No. It must be just my imagination, she thought.

Still, her legs were shaking.

It was fine, she told herself over and over again.

In the end, urged by something other than courage, she took her steps. Nely closed her eyes and relied on the wall as her guide.

Creaked. Nely thought she heard another creaking sound, which was not from her.

No. It must be just my imagination, she thought, shaking her head to shake the thoughts off.

Still, with her eyes closed, she went down. The stairs felt like an eternity, but she finally reached the end.

She let out a breath of relief and opened her eyes to confirm her location. It was then a hand appeared and covered her mouth.

A ghost appeared, she thought. She flailed her arms around in panic and hit the culprit in the face.

Pissed, he slapped her.

Nely’s thought stopped for a moment. Before she could let out a sound, her mouth was covered and pushed to the wall.

“Don’t make a noise,” a man said.

His voice sent a shiver through her body. It was a cold monotone voice, nothing like she had heard before.

She never knew someone could let out such voice. Was he the same human as her? She thought.

No, she answered.

No, she repeated.

No, she refused to accept it. The black shadow in front of her was not a human.

She caught a glimpse of a shining object in the shadow’s hand. It was a knife.

Tears gathered in her eyes. Her mind screamed to escape, but her body would not move.

She could not stop the shaking, which was of a different magnitude than before.

“Good. Now do me a favor,” the shadow said, showing his knife.

But, that was Nely’s least concern. She could not turn away from its bloodshot eyes and felt it was coming from her continuous shaking.

The shadow moved its knife closer and let it tasted a drop of blood from Nely’s neck. It did not show any compassion or kindness even though she was just a child.

However, a drop was all. Shortly after, a blade appeared from the darkness and touched its neck.

“Not an inch or your head is gone,” someone said.

It was a slender blade, praised for its sharpness. The cold blade could behead someone with ease and kill many with enough skill.

Nely did not think she was saved. Her tremble stopped and was replaced with cold sweats and dread.

Even if the situation was in her favor, she did not at ease. After all, to her, the situation had escalated from bad to worst.

But wait, she thought. The blade seemed familiar.

Its slight curved one-sided blade. And, the three-legged bird on its hilt.

“Would you explain this?” The person with Blade said.

That voice. She recognized it.

Could it be, Sel-.

In that moment, the shadow pulled its knife into a reverse grip. Without hesitation, it drove it at the person behind. To dodge the blade, it also jumped back to tackle someone behind it. But, faster than any of its action, Selv sliced his neck.

Blood splashed to the wall, some also to Nely’s face. Then, it went limp to the ground.

As soon Selv cleaned his sword and sheathed it, Nely fell flat. Something liquid and warm mixed with the pool of blood on the floor. What followed next was a sniffling sound.

Selv had no idea whether it was from fear or relieve. He hoped it was the latter.

But still, what a mess, he thought.

“Can you get up?” He said, lending her a hand.

Nely did not take his hand. Instead, she shrieked and made herself small. It was not because her hands were dirty with mixed liquid. Her body froze when she looked at it. In her eyes, Selv’s hand and the shadow overlapped with each other.

She was not in a good state.

“Then, I will get Annatashya. Just shout if there’s something wrong,” he said before going away.

Left alone, strength left Nely’s shoulder. Tears began to overflow from her eyes. For the young Nely, this was the first time she saw pure violence. It was different compared the incident this morning.

Never did she know humans have this much blood in them. And, it was also her first time receiving a bloodlust.

Nely was scared and vexed. She hated herself because she could only watch and being swept by the situation.

But, it was nothing to be ashamed of. After all, she was nothing but a child.

Yes, she was a child. One which had just experienced her second dangerous situation and seen how easy someone could die.

For that reason, she wept tonight. Crying was nothing to be ashamed, for it would help her grow.

Stuffed her heart with the feelings, and recorded it as her memories, Nely grew as a person. However, for it to show effect, a tiny bit of time was needed.

For now, let as many dews of tears to fall as eyes allowed. While the time and people still forgive, let it flow.

Once someone matured, it was too late, for the effect would decline or simply cease.

So, cry, Nely. Cry!

Because tomorrow, she would see the world with different lenses and might face something similar. But, show no fear, for the tomorrow Nely, was stronger.

In a puddle of her own liquid, Nely graduated from a clueless child to an adolescence.