Nine years later….

Redne, the fourth largest city in Arcadia Empire after Myrcalia, Vochaux and Xenticen was a trading city near the eastern border. It was located on the very strategic crosspoint between three neighboring countries, Arcadia in the west, Borgia in the east and Regia Confederacy in the South East.

Aside from its strategic values, the city of Redne was famous in the entire Aurelia Continent due to at least its two specialities.

One was the vineyards abundant in the villages surrounding the city. Red and white wines of Redne had special quality, distilled into very valuable and legendary vintage for kings and nobles. It was no wonder that the name “Redne” itself was inspired from the word “red wine”.

The other specialty was a renowned building, the pride of its citizens. It was called the Saint Ambrosius Monastery.

One reason being, this monastery was built on top of the hill in the middle of the city. From afar it appeared to stood gracefully and almost as regal as a palace. However, its walls of unpainted stones made it look gloomy as castles typically were.

The monastery used to be a castle for a noble house and then became the center of the city governance. A century ago, on the initiative by Cardinal Ambrosius and the Emperor of Arcadia, Sage the Third, it was turned into a monastery and a center of religion.

Behind the tall, colorful windows exhibiting painting-like pictures, silence and tranquility reigned inside. The Vadisian monks and nuns walked to-and-fro silently and went along with their prayers, worships and religious studies.

In contrast to the poignant silence inside the monastery, the vegetable garden on the monastery backyard was lively. It was filled with dozens of little boys and girls playing cheerfully to their hearts’ content.

Even as the sun glared brightly, its heat didn’t deter the orphans' youthful spirit, at least to fill the spare time with fun and joy before going back to their work and study.

However, not all of them shared the joy. As three kids were playing, a little girl with brown hair approached them.

She said, “Can I play with you?”

One of the boys, the one with his belly sticking out longer than his nose yelled, “No way! You can’t!”

The twin-tailed blonde girl beside him also bellowed, “Hey, Maven, haven't we already told you many times? You’re an elf and we don’t want to be friends with strange creatures like you! Look, you have pointy ears! Disgusting like a donkey!”

“Go away, Mave, don’t bother us!” interrupted the third kid, a girl with greenish blue hair with a hand on her hip. “Go to the vegetable garden and help your ‘Brother Declan’ there. Come on guys, let's play on! Don’t mind her!”

The three children returned to their play, leaving Maven alone. With her little fingers, the elf girl touched her leaf-like ear. It was sharp and a bit longer then a human’s.

Her pair of charming green eyes were filled with tears. The wet, warm drops began to flow on her adorable reddish cheeks. Maven turned around and ran away from her peers.

Maven's steps were light and agile. She bolted faster then those kids playing chase. She then found herself standing among the patches of soy beans, lettuces and other plants in the monastery’s vegetable garden.

Walking slowly, Maven looked right and left. She then approached a boy who was slightly taller then her. Maven then simply stood and bowed her head in silence.

The boy turned to her, wiping the sweat that soaked his forehead and blond hair. His blue eyes looked at the little girl and his lips uttered, “Maven, had you just cried again?”

Maven simply paused, and then nodded.

“Your friends made fun of you again?”

Again, a nod.

“Geez, it’s getting worse.” The blond boy smiled bitterly. “It can’t be helped, children our age don’t usually understand about this verse written in the Holy Scripture of Imlavadis, ‘every being is created alike and equal’. Maybe they will understand once they grow up. As for today, it seems you can only have fun by taking care of these vegetables with me.”

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Maven’s sad face turned cheerful. “Yaay! thanks, Brother Declan!”

That afternoon, Declan and Maven sat together for a rest after work.

“Umm, Brother Declan, I’m curious. Why do other kids always avoid me?” asked Maven naively.

Declan rubbed his chin, pondering. ”Hmm… why indeed? Ah, I know. Maven, you’re an elf, right?”

“I guess so. I’ve been called an elf due to my ears." She pointed at her ears.

“Mave, it’s not only about your ears. You still remember when they actually played with you back then, right?”

Maven nodded.

“Now, tell me, how often did you win?"

“Always.”

Declan flicked his fingers. “Exactly! Whatever the game was about, whether 'twas a game of speed or brains, you always prevailed over others.”

“Aren’t you the cleverest student in this monastery?”

“That is because I read often and seldom play,” the blonde boy patted his own chest. “However, the elvenkind like you prevails over most humans in many things, like in agility, intellect and magical affinity. Elves live long, ageless lives, however, they can be killed and are not immortal. They live for hundreds of years at average, some even reach thousands.”

Maven looked confused. “Wow, if elves live that long then shouldn’t I still be a toddler now?”

“Well… not really. From what I’ve read, elf kids grown as humans do up to twenty years old, but then stay that way until they are a thousand years old.”

“Then why do they hate me?”

“That is pretty obvious. I think they’re jealous of you. You always win in games, making them sick and bored."

“Really?”

“Of course. Perhaps from now on you need to learn to let others win at times. I’m sure, slowly but surely they’ll want to be friends with you again.”

Maven stretched a very wide, happy grin. “Thank you, brother! Wow, you’re so smart, eventhough the kids your age still like to play.”

Declan patted her godsister's head. He said, “Yeah, I always think of reading as fun, especially learning about wonderful things we can find in this monastery. It feels like an adventure! Remember when I told you about the Saint Ambrosius Rosary, the holy relic of our ? One day I’ll study it more deeply.”

Maven patted his shoulder. “Way to go! Good luck, brother! I will support you… with prayers, that is.”

Delcan glared towards the little girl. ”But there’s another thing that's just as exciting for me to learn about, that is about elves… yes, about you.”

“Learning… about me?” Maven frowned, it can’t be…

Declan was stuttering. “Eh, no! I don’t mean anything aside from wanting to know more about you…. as a sister."

“Oh really?” Maven teased him.

“I swear by Vadis…”

“Come on… you don’t need to swear. I believe you.” Maven answered, smiling again.

“Now you did it!” Declan quickly reached his hand to pinch Maven’s ear. The little girl swiftly dodged and ran away.

“Wheee! Catch me if you can!”

And so these two little children played chase all the way to the corridor. They were so absorbed into their own fun that they didn’t notice a pair of hands suddenly caught Declan’s collar and Maven’s ear.

“Oww! Who picked my…” Maven turned around and was surprised to find out who pinched her ear. “Father Nigel!”

“Maven! Declan! How many times have I told you not to make loud noises inside the monastery?” Nigel reprimanded the kids. “You will be grounded to study until midnight! Now!”

As he spoke, Nigel strengthend his grip on Maven’s ear until she screamed louder, “Oww! Oww!”

“Maven, if you shout again, I’ll increase your training portion by twofolds!”

The threat silenced her at once. She beared with the pain of the purple bearded man's tough guardianship.

It seemed that Father Nigel deeply cared for Maven and Declan like his own. However it had not crossed the children’s mind the reason behind his strict education.

For Maven, Father Nigel DiMessina was like a real father to her and Declan Pervius her older brother. Not once Maven thought to question them about her origin.

It was the best life she was living, for now.

==oOo==

Several days later, the quiet morning routines in Saint Ambrosius Monastery proceeded as usual, orderly and disciplined. The orphans under the Monastery’s care had breakfast at dawn and went straight to study in classes until midday.

Only two children didn’t participate in today's morning lessons. Instead, they were training with wooden sticks in the backyard of the monastery.

A martial arts instructor shouted instructions. “Declan, move your right knee forward! Straighten up your body! Maven, when you swing your stick, bend and then straighten your knees to strengthen your attack! Ready? Now!"

Father Nigel swung his own wooden cane, followed by his pupils at the same time with vigorous yells.

After giving another example, Nigel approached Maven and corrected her form. “Your elbow should be more forward, tap your feet more firmly to the ground.”

Nigel then observed Declan and smiled. “Good! Keep it up and two weeks from now you can begin to learn the art of tridentmanship!”

“Thank you, master!” Declan was too excited that his concentration broke. His form deteriorated, even his stick swing almost hit his teacher.

Nigel evaded with ease and commented, “Correction, make that two months."

Declan loosened his shoulders. “Yes, master…”

Suddenly a nun approached the master. She spoke with utmost respect, “Pardon my intrusion, Father Nigel. The bishop is summoning all children to the chapel, including Declan and Maven.”

“Aaah, it must be a candidate parent for one of our kids,” Nigel complained, resting his wooden cane on his shoulder. “All right, Mave, Dec, you go ahead at once and I will follow. After we’re done there, it'll be back to training.”