The next morning upon waking, I sit up, stretching my sore muscles. Ugh…

I get the feeling that today will be more demanding. My temporary life as a maid has only just begun. 

Yawning, I attempt sitting up, finding that my upper body is bound.

Looking down at myself, Ela’s arms are tightly clamped around me. A tear rolls down her cheek where many have already left their fading trails. Morning light glistens through the windows, illuminating the teardrops in a dazzling display as they fall, pitter patter to the pillow we share. Her lips writhe around her teeth and she mutters soundless.

Etching Ela’s beautiful, gentle, sad face, in my memory, I slowly stroke her hair. Her horse’s ears spring out from her messy hair mid-pat in response to my attempt to soothe her. “Ela…” I smile softly.

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The girl so tightly clings to me, whimpering and whinnying..

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“Ela? Are you awake?”

“eeeeeeee…” She softly whines as more tears fall from her tightly closed eyes.

“Oh…” Sighing softly, I pull her tightly against my chest, unable to resist the urge. Gently, I stroke her back. “It’ll be okay, sweetheart… when you wake up, we’ll…”

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“..D-don’t… d-don’t l-l-leave… m-me…”

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“P-please…” 

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“I-I… can’t…”

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“No…”

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“Eeeeeee…” 

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Swallowing around heavy tension in my throat, I continue my gentle stroking of her ears.

“I won’t, Ela. I’ll never leave you behind, no matter where I go. I want you to always be by my side.”

“eeeeeeee…” Ela whimpers and her sobbing ebbs as I pet her hair.

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“I promise. We will be together forever.”

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Ela’s eyelids slowly shudder open and she looks into my eyes with liquid-filled eyes. “Hana… do you really … mean it? Y-you won’t ever abandon me?”

“I promise, really. I want to do everything I can for you.” I shake my head, giving her a warm smile as I rub my face against her sweaty forehead. 

…

“.........” Ela sniffles softly, trembling for a long period and suddenly the dam that barely held back the torrent of sadness that was contained within her gives way as she starts wailing loudly, sobbing into my chest.

The door creaks open quietly and Bret pokes his head inside, looking concerned. He watches us for a long moment and quietly closes it.

Ela rubs against me as though she would like to make herself home in my body like a nymph and tree. She clings so desperately that I feel as though she truly would like to hide inside me. What would it take to make me break like her? I don’t want to know.

Wordless, I hold Ela and pet her gently, whispering gently into her flicking ears. So gentle and sweet. I don’t want her to change from the beautiful girl she is. I want to shield her from all harm in this world. My wavering heart steels as new determination fills me.

And to do that, I’ll save this world while I’m here. I’ll somehow make it happen or die to see it done. Do you hear me, goddess?

“...” No answer comes, naturally.

There’s no goddess lurking in my head. Of course speaking in the silences of my own mind won’t reach anything like a god.

Ela looks up at me, releasing her steel-like grip on me. She gazes into my eyes, her ears twitching wildly. Clasping her hands before her, over her chest, her face redder than a tomato and beyond damp. Ela licks her lips, panting softly and gazes at me with soft and loving eyes.

Leaning forward she presses her trembling lips against mine and pushes me back. It’s not a passionate kiss, per se, but ever, so sweet. My heart hammers in my chest as I share her kiss. Flashes of Kairi’s face go through my head and I sigh softly. I’m so sorry, Kairi. I’m falling in love with a girl in my dream… No… I can’t do this. It… 

Breaking the kiss, Ela smiles softly and says, “Thank you, Hana. I needed this for courage. I feel like I might have borrowed some of it.” With a fierce little grin, she raises her hands and clenches them into fists and pumps them in the air. “Eeeeeee!”

I laugh softly, covering my mouth, joyful that Ela has found some happiness. And I’m fortunate to be part of that.

“I understand now.” Ela declares. “I get it. This is what Dad wanted to teach me for so many years. There are things worth fighting for. He was always right. That’s why he was our leader.”

At first stunned, my shock fades again into a soft smile and I touch Hana’s cheek, nodding. “Yes… but don’t change too much. I love who you are today.”

Nodding, Ela rubs against my hand and her eyes don’t lose any of that fierce and determined look, despite her agreement.

I think she won’t keep this promise. Not entirely.

After a brief breakfast of bread and eggs, Ela and I leave Bret’s home together, replete with our maid dresses. Ela walks by my side with her arm wrapped around mine. Her gentle eyes still carry that feel in them from when we woke up, something I have a hard time fully defining. It's an aura that projects determination, and yet there’s more to it than simply that…

No way…

It finally comes to me, the best way to define the new Ela, the word that best describes what her eyes portray.

“Oho…” Jak says from his yard as we walk up the street. We freeze in place as he vaults over his fence, a feat that I wouldn’t have expected from him. He bustles over to us with a grin and strokes his beard, not looking tired in the least. “Oh, has it come so far in such a short time?”

I blink at Jak with a faint blush staining my cheeks. “What? What do you want?”

“My intention was merely to greet the two of you before going to the café, but that was but a pretext.” He laughs merrilly. “Ohohoho! I can see that some things have indeed changed.” He takes Ela’s hand and looks into her eyes. She stares back into his, wondering what he’s up to. 

Ela gives Jak a firm look and pulls her hand free with a wry smile. “Good morning, Jak.” She offers one of my bows to him and turns to me, ready to move on to work. Unlike her usual self, she smiles warmly, none the worse for having a minor confrontation. She pulls on my arm.

“Indeed.” Jak chuckles deeply, joyful. “It’s time, then.” He fixes me with his eyes, his expression conveying immense dignity as he becomes more serious. “I’ll teach this girl how to use a bow today and give her some of what she’ll be needing. Since she’s showing such fire today, I’ll ask if you mind if she accompanies me for a few days. I hope you can cover her shifts at the café, Hana.”

Turning my eyes on Ela with a questioning look in my eyes. Ela returns my look with a thoughtful expression, an eyebrow raised slightly and her lips pursed as though she tastes something bitter. With a little shiver, she makes up her mind and nods with determination and acceptance.

This look in her eyes is self-confidence. It’s not a thing that I thought Ela would ever show. It seems that we’ve come to the same conclusion, thanks to each other. We’ve realized that there are things that we both want to protect.

Nodding at Ela, I seize her head and kiss her forehead. “For good luck, Ela. Do your best!”

Ela softly whinnies and giggles softly. Her cowlick trembles with excitement. “I will, Hana. Trust me. I’ll give Jak’s training everything! Here I thought I would be a burden to you. I didn’t think that I’d ever…” She shrugs and tilts her head with a silly smile. “But I’ve made up my mind now. Thank you, Hana. I’ll do it for you and also for my people.” Her lips purse somewhat nervously, but she turns towards Jak and stands by his side.

“A warning, Hana.” Jak says, maintaining his serious demeanor.

“Lady Asuseni may seem a good woman, but remember that she’s a Lapvian noble through and through. Be wary. They’re ... dangerous people.” He rubs his beard again, fiddling with his mustache. “Duke Cedrin was among the most ruthless during the war of the Lapvian invasion.”

Ela nods, knowingly. “She is scary. Very… scary…”

Jak chuckles, adding, “Just don’t get on her bad side. Err on the side of caution, hrmmm…”

He turns a thoughtful look towards Ela and returns his gaze back to me, chuckling ruefully. “I’m not a superhuman— am I? No, certainly not. Not a spring chicken anymore. Hahahaha! Had I but a glimmer of my youth for a mere month…” He waves a gnarled hand dismissively. “Never minding that, I’ll do what I must.” He turns, gesturing for Ela to follow.

Much of me wants to follow them and join them in their training, since my goal isn’t to become the ultimate maid and never will be. Learning how to shoot a bow seems to be a very valuable and useful skill. Even despite my desire to run after them, I watch them go with regret. Someone has to hold down the fort at the café.