The church of Loki was in such high demand across the continent that they couldn’t spare a priest for every tiny village. As such, it was decreed hundreds of years ago that monasteries would be torn down and monks/nuns would spread the word of Loki instead.

They would live in seclusion, inside tiny communes, aiding the weak and bringing them closer to God. But alas, what started with noble intentions was reduced by greed over time.

Nun Martha cared little about her holy quest. She had joined the church for an easy life and took on the pilgrimage for coins.

Unfortunately, her first year was a bust. The people of Shallow Creek couldn’t even pay for clothes, let alone sermons or blessings. She wasn’t invited to a single baby shower, funeral, or wedding, until now at least.

Joe had visited her months prior and had been steadily gathering funds for her fee. ‘Truly, a man among men,’ she thought of him, ‘a droplet of rain in the desert.’

And now, his son came to her too, hungry for knowledge. Of course, not even Joe could pay for an education. But there was something about this kid...

“Why?” she asked tentatively. ‘Why are your eyes glowing, brat?’

“I’ll do anything. I’ll clean, cook, I’ll even tend to your garden.”

Finn buried his face into her lap before Martha grabbed his nape and pulled him off.

“You’re strong,” the boy grinned. “Can you teach me how to fight too?”

“Shut it. Knowledge is more expensive than you think.”

“I’ll build you a two-story house with a swimming pool.”

Finn gave the nun a thumbs up, and she paused, slightly taken aback. She didn’t know what a swimming pool was, but she wanted it. Even so, …

“No,” Martha shook off the thought. “Listen up, little elf. Even if you learn how to read, there are no books here anyway. At most you’ll become a traveling scribe to a bored priest or noble, and that’s not really worth my investment. The only way I’d bother teaching anyone is if you’d get into a mid-ranked academy. Kid, do you even know what that is?”

“I’ll do it anyway.”

“You’ll need more than reading to pull that off. I’m talking about years of studying at least a dozen subjects, maybe even swordsmanship and magic. Even if you learn all I have to teach you, and that’s a big if, you’ll still be competing with thousands of other brats from all around the country. You're not going to get in.”

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“I will.” The boy grabbed her robe.

“Nonsense,” Martha reached for more wine.

“I will! No matter how much I have to study, no matter who or what stands in my way, I will not let you down. Order me and I’ll do it!”

The fierceness in his face made Martha let go of her cup. ‘Is this kid really four?’ She looked at his burning red eyes and green hair, and then clicked her tongue out of reflex. ‘Maybe elves really are special.’

“Kid, do you know how to dance?”

“No,” Finn shook his head.

“Well, you have until this party’s over to learn. Afterwards, ask that one for a dance and kiss her goodnight.”

Martha pointed at a teenage girl who was currently beating the crap out of a boy. She didn’t know what he did to ‘deserve’ it, but the red-haired girl was stomping his stomach while screaming such obscenities it would make a drunkard blush.

“What’s it gonna be, little Finn? Are you really willing to do anything I say or will you whine and complain like the brat you are?”

However, when she turned her head back towards the boy, he was already gone. Like a bolt of lightning, he pierced through the crowd stopping only once he found his parents.

“Mother,” he scrambled for words, “you two were really beautiful, and... you’re really good dancers, so can you teach me?”

Suddenly, the music stopped. Unbeknownst to Finn, he had rushed into the middle of the improvised dance floor and had even stopped the newlyweds in their tracks.

Fortunately, Joe smiled gently. He let go of his wife’s hips and signaled the band to continue.

“I’ll go entertain the guests,” he kissed Elizabeth goodbye. Though a bit sad to see him go, she grabbed the boy’s hands and started teaching him the steps.

“One, two. One, two.”

Slowly but surely, Finn understood. “I got this, what’s next?”

“I think that's enough for your first dance, don’t you?”

“No!” A bunch of people stopped and stared, and Finn swallowed his saliva. “I mean, I really like dancing with you, mother. Can you teach me more?”

There was something off about her son. He was impatient, even more so than usual. From afar, Joe gave her a nod.

Whatever happened to Finn, it must’ve been important. Feeling her maternal instincts stir, Elizabeth started teaching seriously. She taught the boy the steps of one song, and once he learned them, she signaled the band to move on to another.

As time passed, the crowd started cheering them on. Other children joined them, eager to learn from the bride. Elizabeth wanted Finn to dance with a girl his age, but the boy stubbornly refused.

‘Leave amateurs!’

From afar, two pairs of eyes amongst many watched their every move.

“Are you really going to start a school?” Joe asked the brown-haired lady beside him.

Although her arms were crossed, a slight smile appeared on Martha’s lips.

“Is he the type to pay off his debts?”

“Yes. And if he is shameful enough to forget, I will definitely remind him.”

Martha’s smile widened. Countless plans formed on top of each other. Her eyes wandered towards the retired knight in charge of guarding their village, and her brain recounted the requirements of joining an academy.

"It will be an uphill battle, but... Mr. Andrew, how old is your boy?”

“He’ll be five by autumn.”

"Good,” the nun turned to leave. “Then, he’d better give that girl one hell of a smooch.”

Martha left for the old knight, and Joe turned back towards his family. As he watched from afar and scratched his head, he thought: ‘Give which girl a what?’