Two girls are walking in the frozen land surrounded by trees covered with snow.

One is a girl with beautiful golden hair that grew past her feet and is being dragged in the cold sheet of winter dressed in clothes that loosely fits, the other girl is much taller with brown hair that grew past her neck and has adult features contrary to the other girl.

They are walking with considerable distance as if they are subtly avoiding each other but kept a closeness that they could hear each other’s snowy breathing.

“Where do you think you’re going in that state, Archpriest?” Ask by Alef, the girl who is wearing thin clothing that seemingly ignores the coldness. In her hand is a radiant staff that should have belonged to Genesis.

“I have no words to offer to a spawn of hell. If possible, get away from me and leave my staff behind.” Genesis replied with cold words without even looking back at Alef.

“You know well that I am not dumb enough to do that. You are also not that type of person that would think that I myself don’t have any motive.” Alef said with a grin that seemingly mocks Genesis.

“Say, come with me obediently. Don’t make it difficult for yourself.” Alef added as if it was a suggestion.

“Why not force me? You have my only weapon and not to mention, you have tricked me for more than three years of your servitude.” Genesis provoked Alef.

“I like it when you become the obedient one. Think of it as a payback for all the years that I served under you. I am taking my time and as you said, I have your Claimh Solais, your only weapon.” Alef bravely replied while toying with the staff on her hand.

From her words, Genesis stopped from her track and turned her head with a gaze that states that she is looking at nothing but an object.

“Even without Claimh Solais, my goal won’t change. I have a mission for the God I served and my will won’t break from such childish provocations.” She said as she turned around again and continues walking.

“I know that, I am just trying for a little mettle. I didn’t serve you for the past three years for nothing.” Alef inwardly said to herself as she started following Genesis’ strides again.

“Pursuers will eventually come. Don’t think that King Lodh will stay put like that. Even so, do you plan to be that stubborn?” Alef once again asked a question that we seemingly ignored.

“Hey…you don’t even know where you are right now! Heck, even I don’t know! I’m really going to use force if you stay like that!” Alef warned Genesis.

“Don’t talk to me as if I am a reckless child. I have lived far longer than you and if I am not mistaken, I have come to my early hundred of year old.” Genesis replied with yet again cold tone that befits the weather.

“That doesn’t mean you are not short of being a fool! Before long, they will find you and you will be taken back. If not, you will starve here or freeze to death.” Alef now said those words tinged with seriousness.

“Why are you anxious about my situation? Come to think of it, you motive is my divine power, right?” Genesis said as she faced Alef with furrowed brows.

“That is correct. Take a look at this…” Alef said as she took out the dagger that she once tried to use at Genesis. “This dagger will absorb any divine energy that you have and by my will, it will be in my use.” She explained.

“Is that right? Then come and stab me with it then. After that, leave me and my Claimh Solais behind. It’s disgusting to think that you are showing a fake concern for me.” Genesis said as she exposes her chest towards Alef.

Genesis looks at Alef with eyes overflowing with seriousness and willpower that none could break. Her eyes maybe cold at this moment but it also shows that she is fully devoted to her goal.

Upon seeing such resolve and selflessness, Alef was taken aback and looks at Genesis with widened eyes. At this moment, instead of drawing the dagger out from the pocket of her apron, Alef just smiled and said the next words.

“You still don’t have enough divine energy stored up so I refrained from doing so. For now, I will keep an eye on you until the perfect moment.” Alef explained.

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“…You are quite a peculiar one to think that my overflowing divine energy is not quite enough. Simply drawing out the power of Claimh Solais would require tens of years of devotion and training. Using it proficiently is a proof that I have reached a point where I am confident that I have divine energy unmatched.” Genesis said as she turned away again from Alef and continued her delayed walk.

“Don’t flatter yourself. Besides, I could actually take it anytime since you don’t even have anywhere to go.” Alef said with a smile until something from afar behold their sights.

Ahead of them is a small village with lightened lamps. At the edge of the forest, they found a village that is somewhat self -sufficient with road tracks across its heart.

“A…village…?” Alef said as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. “Well, this is as far as your luck could go now I guess.” She added as she watches Genesis striding faster.

The small village has livestock sheltered in a large barn. Beside the barn is also a frozen river that signifies that the village doesn’t have any problem with water. As of now, with winter, they seem to be using water well as a source of water.

The houses aren’t bad either as it is built of stone and wood. Not something really gallant or feasible for the eyes but it can boast its durability. At the entrance, there are several armed guards that lightly greeted Alef and Genesis.

Seeing that the two of them are girls, looks harmless to boot, he smiled at them and greeted lightly with a bow.

Overall, the village seems wealthy for its state and has sustaining lifestyle.

However, Alef and Genesis immediately noticed the lack of pedestrian in the place. Even in the middle of the day, people should have been going about from places to places despite the light fall of snow.

Going wherever their feet took them, Alef and Genesis finally found where all the people are. They spotted them in a large house that seems to be the biggest around the village. Quite a population of the village has gathered in front of that particular house and they are talking with each other.

Naturally, Genesis is drawn to them and started walking towards them.

“I would like to inquire about your circumstances here. I am Genesis, the arch—mmhhpp!!” Genesis started talking to two men in the middle of their conversation. She was about to introduce her identity when Alef immediately muffled her mouth with her hand.

“I’m sorry for the rudeness of my little sister. We’ve just arrived here and we are still looking for a place to stay. Well, for what we are seeing right now, this commotion must mean something, right?” Alef smoothly covered up and weaved a lie for their identities while enduring Genesis biting her hand.

“Well, about this…it’s a little shame that you two arrived at this time. We are quite…in a tragedy here…” The man with a beard and thin frame said.

“Tragedy? What could it be?” Alef inquires further.

“The village chief is now grieving as his son just died of an illness…right at this moment when the two of you came. Also, his other son is also dying from the same illness at this moment…” the other man said with grief painted all over his eyes.

“Wha--! That’s…no way…” Alef’s eyes naturally drop down upon hearing the news.

“Yeah…they are both lively young men. Nice and handsome, full of vigor and dreams. Their demise…will surely break the chief’s heart…” The first man said while gripping his palm with his nails sinking into his palm.

Alef slowly absorbs such news to her mind. She tried to dismiss such news as nothing as she doesn’t even know the two young men but it still bothers her. Knowing that she can’t do anything, she just stares at the faces of the crestfallen men.

Not until someone tugs on her clothes…

“Maria…my staff, give it to me!” Genesis said as she tries to reach for her staff.

“Wha--! It’s Alef! Also, don’t take this chance to get this back!” Alef replied as she raises the staff to a height that Genesis won’t reach.

“I’ll return it to you then after I use it.” Genesis said with serious eyes. “Give it to me.” She muttered closely to Alef again.

“…You better not use it to me.” Alef easily submitted to Genesis’s demand handed the staff to her.

Upon receiving her staff back, Genesis holds it tightly in her hand.

“Out of the way.” She started saying towards the people as she parted them with her presence. People naturally moved out from her path as her voice is extremely commanding.

Genesis then entered the house without any prior notice to its residence. Alef who saw this had her eyes popping out from her socket and started following Genesis in panic. She remembered that Genesis doesn’t have much common sense to begin with.

“What are you barging here for!? My sons…! My sons are…” A man with a long white beard wearing an expensive robe that seems disordered shouted as soon as he saw Genesis entering his house without even any words.

Genesis didn’t listen to his words and instead, proceeded to walk towards a room where some doctors with troubled expressions are standing. They are surprised of Genesis appearance that nonchalantly entered the room.

“Ah, I’m sorry! I’m really sorry! I don’t really know what to do with my little sister anymore! Genesis!” Alef apologizes to the dumbfounded Village Chief and Doctors and tried to follow inside.

The Village Chief showed an angry countenance upon Genesis’s disrespectful act. The Doctors also tried force Genesis out of the room where two men in separate bed are in.

One is breathing heavily, hanging onto the last thread of his life and the other is a lifeless body with no motion at all. It is as the two fellows from the outside said, they are quite handsome with brown hairs.

“Hey! Get away from there!” One of the Doctors said as he was about to grab Genesis but before he could do it, Alef gets in his way.

“I’m sorry! I’m going to drag her out of here now!” Alef hastily said as she looks at Genesis who walks in the middle of the room. “Hey…!” she shouted again.

“I am going to bestow the two of you the miracles of the Gods for I, the chosen apostle of Lord Eresti, will grant your lives extension!” Genesis muttered as she taps her staff on the ground.

The whole room immediately lightened in the golden radiance that flowed from her body.