The first rays of sunlight broke the umbra of the previous night.

As the light crept it's way up across the land it passed through a certain church's window, and shone on the sleeping eyelids of a young priestess.

While normally Eve likes to sleep in, she got up early today.

Reason being today was Eve's 16th birthday.

"Today's the day. My last day."

Sluggishly Eve washed her face, changed her clothes, then a knocking on the door was heard.

"Eve! Are you awake? Breakfast is in 5 minutes!"

"Yes, sister Mary!"

As Eve was about to close the door she took one last look into her room that she grew up in, and headed for the kitchen.

Upon arriving at the breakfast table it was all her favorites.

"Eat up, Eve. Today's my last day with you so I made all your favorites, but don't forget to do your chores."

"Geh."

As Eve was eating she felt some tears welling up in her eyes. And sister Mary just watched her silently, smiling all the while.

After Eve finished her chores she grabbed her luggage and headed for the front of the church.

There sister Mary was waiting for her.

"Eve, I raised you for 16 years and consider you my daughter. Live with no regrets."

"Mhmm. I know. I love you. Heh, I think I shed all my tears yesterday. Then I'm off."

Eve took one last look at the church she grew up in all her life. Then one last look at her adoptive mother who took her in and raised her as an orphan.

She is headed for the next town over, Venne, to register as an adventurer.

While walking down the familiar roads she waved good-bye to all the locals who have been good to her for all these years.

Just then Eve heard booming from the sky.

"Of all days, today would be the day it would rain. Ah, how lucky."

Out of the corner of her eye, Eve spotted a building as she started running towards it.

-Splish splash splish splash-.

As she got under the cover of an abandoned chapel she let down her luggage.

"Where's my clothes? Oh, need to take out the things for dinner too."

After she wrung out her clothes and was about to hang them to dry her eyes locked.

Frozen in place Eve's body did not move. The only thing audible was the rain outside and the drops of water falling from her body.

Because in her line of sight was a man sitting with a half eaten apple.

The reason they were frozen in a deadlock was because Eve was fully naked, with all her glory to be seen in plain view.

"Kyaaaaa!"

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Eve darted back behind a pillar and reached for her longbow.

"Woah! Calm down there missy. I mean no harm."

"Bunch of lies, and a perv! Who are you?"

Readying her bow she took a good look at the man. Fairly built, brown hair, with a goofy smile.

"The name's Albert. I was here first enjoying my apple, when you came running in and stripping. Here look you can see how little the apple's flesh oxidized."

"Don't move! If you aren't someone suspicious why didn't you say anything when you saw me first? For all I know you could be a wanted criminal."

"Look here. In the open world it's kill or be killed. Why would anyone reveal themselves first if they aren't sure if the other is an enemy or not."

Flushed to the ears Eve clenched her teeth as she couldn't refute Albert's train of logic.

"And besides no man would say no to seeing a cute girl naked."

Eve released an arrow but missed Albert's head, only taking a few strands of hair with her arrow.

"Wah! Calm down. You really mad over a little thing like this? I promise I'm not going to kill you or anything."

"Shut up!"

"Well for starters can you put down that bow? ...... Do you want to see me naked then, you know to be even?"

"........."

"You hungry?"

As Eve slipped into her night attire the cold weather helped bring down the redness from her face.

"So what's your name? Whatcha doing out here?"

"I don't talk to strangers. Especially when I don't even know their name."

"Yet you're eating the food I made you? Besides I already told you my name earlier. It's Albert."

"Ahhh. Ehh did you?"

"Yeah. I'm headed to Venne to register as an adventurer. In hopes of finding someone I lost. My parent's said I was old enough and kicked me out of the house. They said it was a good way to build character."

"Ehhhh. Looks like you've got a long ways to go."

"Oi."

"What a coincidence I'm headed to Venne as well to become an adventurer. I'm Eve by the way. Just turned 16 today."

"No kidding. We have the same age and birthday. Do you think this is some sort of fate?"

"....... Disgusting. I'm also on a religious mission."

"Oh?"

"Yes. It's to spread the word of Elbi, and correct the mindset of imbeciles such as yourself."

"Oh so you believe in the goddess?"

"Huh, no. Elbi has no gender. Though he is portrayed as a man with long flowing blonde hair. So it says in the scriptures."

"Interesting. Sorry to say I don't believe in Elbi."

"That is fine. I can only spread the word."

"Say are you travelling alone?"

"I am. And no."

"Wha? You didn't even list-."

"You were going to ask me if I wanted to join your party, right?"

"Well how about just until we reach Venne? It'll make dealing with random setbacks easier for the both of us."

Albert said while scratching his cheek while wearing his goofy smile.

"Fine."

"Good night, Eve. I'm headed to bed. We'll move 1st thing tomorrow."

And with that Albert went to bed in his respective corner of the chapel.

Eve still gazed at him while having suspicious thoughts. She laid on the cold pavement.

Her bedding too thin to prevent her warmth from seeping into the ground.

With the soothing sound of rain on the roof Eve too fell asleep.

As morning drew closer. Eve's biological clock has been set to get up at the crack of dawn.

Stretching and drinking her cup of water she looked at the opposite corner of the chapel.

Surprisingly enough Albert was still sleeping.

After getting dressed and having breakfast she looked over at Albert.

He was still sleeping.

From the sun's position it was almost noon.

And Albert was still sleeping.

"Hey. Albert. Wake up."

"Wake up."

Eve nudged Albert's shoulder with her shoes.

"Wake up!"

Crouching down next to Albert's ears, Eve took a big breathe.

"WAKE UP! IT'S ALMOST NOON!"

Finally Albert's eyes start to open.

"It's about time we get going don't you think?"

Albert just smiled as he sluggishly got his belongings together and started to head toward Venne with Eve.