The Demon’s Bride

Elise pulled a rounded chair next to the window and took a seat. She leaned her head on the hand that was resting in the window sill and glanced to see a fire torch aglow from the house beside her and remembered the little Sulix that she befriended was also able to use fire magic.

"Aryl, are you there?" Elise asked a little hesitant. Although she couldn't see the Sulix for nine years, she remembered that Aryl had always stayed by her side after she left the Mansion.

To her disappointment, Aryl didn't reply. Even if Aryl did reply, Elise wouldn't be able to hear her with the red bracelet on her wrist surpressing her power. She knew it yet couldn't help herself to feel disappointed. "I'm guessing that you're here." Elise pulled a cheerful guess and leaned to continue her chatter.

"The test to work in the Church would be held next week, the day after my birthday. I hope I could do well." She hummed a melody that she learned in White's Mansion for a few moments. It was a song That man sang all the time. Her eyelashes fluttered down a little and when a small yawn escaped Elise decided to tuck herself in to end the day.

When the small chickadee came to hang on the yellowish branches near her house, they sang out a bright melody and brought the morning to the land. Elise began her day with a light stretch for her sore body and followed by making breakfast. As today the house had an extra two people, the dishes that she made were a little extravagant. She was too delighted by the little baby that would soon be born from her aunt and couldn't help but make nutritious food with them in thought.

Diana who woke up a little late after her unending chat with Sharon went to the kitchen to see various food had been made in the early morning. "Elise."

Elise heard her mother calling her and turned her face to see her gazing at the food that she made and scratched her head with a giggle. "I guess I was a little too worked up today."

"I've told you to take easy, didn't I?" Diana scolded but her tone had a sense of proudness in it. "Did you forgot that you studied too much two days ago until you fainted? You should be resting not working when you had the chance to do so. I can take care of household care."

"This isn't too much." Elise wiped her hand on the white apron above her dress. "It's a rather simple dishes and I'm stronger than what you thought, mother." She gave a peck on Diana's cheek and left the kitchen to serve the food in the dining table.

When she was on her way to the dining room, William appeared out of nowhere and clutched his hand on his older sister's skirt. "Good morning. I'll help you, sis."

"Good morning, Will. You don't need to help me, ah could you just take the plate there?"

William turned her drowsy eyes and nodded adorably. "Uh-huh."

Elise turned back to see her little brother walking in drowsiness toward the dining room and giggled. No matter how old William is, his adorableness is always endearing.

After the family ate their breakfast, Russel and Sharon had to go back to their house. They waited for the coach to arrive with their small trunk that they prepared to stay for a day.

"Are you sure you wouldn't want to stay a little longer here?" Gilbert asked and saw Russel shaking his head.

"I have to go and bring my darling to her mother's house now. Their town is near here so we thought to stop for a few days, but the weather wouldn't do well if we travel late. Don't worry, we will come next week to attend Elise's birthday." Russel promised.

Elise half-knelt in front of Sharon to rub her aunt's stomach gently and at some occasion placed her ears to hear the sign of life that was inside Sharon's stomach. "What would you name her, aunty?"

Sharon glanced over her husband with their hand linking. "Bethany," Russel replied.

"Bethany? Betty. It's a wonderful name." Elise praised and stood up from her spot to dust off her skirt and hand. "I can't wait to meet her."

"Us too." Sharon returned while rubbing her stomach.

Gilbert noticed the couch coming not far from their spot. "You should go now, the coach has come."

"Aye, brother, sister, Will, and Elise we will be going now." Sharon waved their hand while her husband picked the trunks inside the coach and rode it to the next town.

When they were about to go back inside the house, Elise felt a tug on her skirt and found William asking her. "Elise will you be busy studying today too?"

Seeing William's hesitant expression, Elise noticed that she had been to busy on her studies and unknowingly forgot to play with her little brother. "Not that much, what is it?"

"Oh- William must be wanting to ask you to accompany him to the main town, they're holding a fair there." Diana fielded the question and walked toward them. "This is a good chance, please take care of your little brother, Elise," Gilbert replied, with a little hope that Elise would lose her time in studying and fail the Church's test.

Elise looked down to see William waiting for Elise to reply with an expectant look. She rubbed his head. "Let's go then." Happiness danced on William's face.

The fair in town where Elise lived in was not as merry as the once she had seen in Afgard. Nevertheless, the town was quite cheerful and packed with children that couldn't wait to experience the joy that the fair brought. Bright melody with soulful trumpets and singing resounded from not far from their spot. Sounds of chuckling and giggled lifted the mood even more for the siblings.

In order not to lose sight of each other, the sibling linked their arm to strolled down the road. William looked at the shopkeeper holding a glass ball with a miniature of a small house made out of clay and asked Elise, "What's that?"

"Snow globe, young lad!" The shop keeper popped its head after crouching down and startled William for a moment. "Haven't seen one before?" William shook his head naively.

The shop keeper shook the rounded glass and the snow-like particles inside the water and when he placed it down, the snow scattered down to once again cover the small house inside the globe. "That's pretty," he commented brightly.

"How much is it, uncle?" Elise asked with intention to buy it as she had the pocket money that she accumulated by time to spoil her little brother a little.

"Two silver. But for you, a silver and two bronze." The shop keeper looked down at the pair brother and sister that reminded him of his own past.

"No, I don't need it, sis." William waved his head.

Elise placed the coins over the shop keeper's palm and waited for him to pack the snow globe and ruffled William's head. "That's fine, it's a present for you."

"But-"

"I insist. Be obedient and just accept your sister kind wish!" Elise took the brown box from the shop keeper and passed it over to William.

"Then... Thank you," he muttered out a little shy.

"No problem," Elise replied and they continued to venture to the vendors in the fair They bought some snacks on the way and Elise also bought some colored yarns with soft texture as her mother requested.

When the Sky had turned in a hue of oranges, Elise exited the rowdy place over to the short-cut road that would lead her to their house. "Elise, about the dark sorcerers." William began to speak after a pause. "Do you also think that Mr. Wade is a dark sorcerer?"

"I don't know," Elise replied truthfully and saw William's head dropping down to continue. "But I don't think he is one."

"Why?"

"If he is one, the Church would have taken him into the prison but whether he is affiliated with them or not, I can't say for sure. Suspecting someone is good, in life we have to keep vigilant and liking someone is a blessing as you will have a new person to protect. However, don't forget people are like a coin. In a flip they could be good in another they could be bad." Elise spoke her mind aloud fluently, half of it perhaps were to herself.

William frowned her straight brows, having trouble processing Elise's words and at the end grumbled out. "I can't understand well, sis."

Elise chuckled at his innocence. "It means you have to be careful we couldn't guess people just by their appearance and don't let our guard down just because you believe they are a kind person."

William hummed in response and breathed out heavily. "That's too hard. Trust a person but can't trust them too deeply-" The worlds of adult have it hard, William commented in his heart.

"Well don't think too much now, you're still young soon you'll get what I mean. But I hope you'll never find someone who will betray you." She continued speaking with her face down and unknowingly bumped at someone.