'As expected. There is something unpleasant about this place. Just looking at this door is enough for me to feel like leaving."
Yohan had always been a rational man. He had prided himself on being a calm and collected figure and that was why he had been awarded powers beyond human control.
To tell you the truth, he did not remember who his parents were or who had raised him until his teen years. All he remembered was that he grew up in an orphanage funded by the temple.
And that was the reason he had entered the temple's services. It was all to help the 'children of god' to succeed.
His fellow brothers and sisters had called him a fool for believing a prophecy that had faded away. No one even knew what the real words of that oracle even were.
All they knew was that the world would see new light when the descendent of the dragons will be born and he will be helped by a force from another place.
Everyone had mocked him and his devotion until the crown prince had been born.
When Yohan had first seen him, he instantly realized that the crown prince had been special. There had been an inhuman aura around him that no one else but him could feel.
And he knew that the time for the fulfillment of the prophecy had come at last.
The second time Yohan had felt the same power was when he had found Eve. Just like the crown prince, he had felt the same desire to protect the girl and he had submitted to those desires.
So when he had seen the girl head priest for the first time and felt that dooming aura, he knew she would be trouble for the future.
His instincts were telling him to get rid of her right in this instance. To suffocate Elysia so that she would not become a problem later on.
'She needs to survive until it's the right time. She is six years old and she has not done anything yet. I cannot kill her without reason.'
Yohan knew in his mind that the desires and the thoughts running in his mind were not right. The child was innocent for now.
But the more time he spend in Elysia's company, the more Yohan wanted to run away. Even standing in front of her door was enough for him to want to turn away.
'Someone is in the other corridor. Who?-Eve? Was she here to see Elysia? I will have to tread carefully in the future and make sure Eve stays away from this evil.'
Yohan was sure the red hair he saw could only belong to Eve. That girl had a presence he could never mistake for anyone else.
'It seems like she is determined to make friends with Elysia. In that case, I have no other choice but to deal with this situation quickly.'
Yohan gave a single knock at the door before finding the door open. He doubted it was Eve or Elysia who had been able to break open a magical lock. They did not have enough control over their powers.
'So someone was here before me? But that person was not the head priest since he was with me. Did this wicked girl have allies? I doubt it.'
The man quickly entered the almost-bare room but he refused to feel any sympathy for the little girl.
Her black hair and light-blue eyes were irritating to look at. Just one look at them and Yohan could feel the dark feelings in his heart rise.
"Come, sit down. I have some things I need to discuss with you. Don't worry, I won't harm you yet so just listen to me for now."
The child looked startled and clumsy. At that moment she looked similar to Eve and Yohan found himself unable to look at the child.
"What are you afraid of? It's not like I am going to kill you. I just want you to know your place in the temple hierarchy."
Yohan's voice came out more frosty than he had anticipated it to be. The harsh tone even took him aback.
Despite his cold and unfeeling attitude, Yohan had never been harsh to people who did not deserve it. And despite his feelings, the girl in front of him had not done anything yet.
"My place?"
The question was filled with hesitation but also curiosity. The twin pair of light blue eyes sparked in his direction with curiosity.
Yohan steeled his heart to not fall victim to those eyes. No matter how much they looked like Eve's, they belonged to an evil creature.
"In the start, I wanted to keep you away from Eve and the Crown Prince for her safety. You must have realized that they are special and your presence will harm them."
"But you are already engaged to the Crown Prince and Eve considered you as a friend as well so we cannot go down that route. Instead, you will have to become their shield. Only then will your cursed powers have any meaning."
Yohan was conflicted about his plan but this was the best course of action.
Just as his instincts had told him that Adam and Eve were precious and this girl will turn evil, they also told him that their destiny was interweaved already.
And if that was going to be the case, then it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Become their shield? But I want nothing to do with the Crown Prince. And I e-even punched him so we don't have to get married."
Ah yes, the famous incident. Yohan had heard about it from the head priest.
Not that it meant anything. The royal family had not retaliated against the girl's action yet which meant that they had no intention of canceling this future marriage.
It seemed like the royal family was desperate to have a superpower in their hands and they were even willing to sacrifice the Crown Prince to get that power.
"The royal palace decided not to break the engagement over such a small issue so you better behave yourself in the future. A second mistake will not be tolerated from your side. Understood?"
Initially, Yohan wanted to break off the engagement and have Adam be engaged to Eve. they were each other's destinies after all.
But then he had held himself back from doing that.
He did not doubt in his mind that the crown prince will fall in love with Eve and this issue will conclude itself. But the opponents of the crown will put the royal fiance in trouble.
He did not want his sweet Eve to be subjected to such scenes. So it was better if Elysia held on to that position for the time being.
"A-About being the s-shield. What do I need to do? Can I be Eve's friend if I agree to be her shield?"
Yohan was surprised to see Elysia agree to his proposal. Any sane person would not have even considered putting his life on the line for someone else.
'Then again, she is six. My instincts are confusing me to see her as the absolute evil she will eventually become. But this is also alright. Maybe there is time for me to save her as well.'
"What you need to do is simple - follow my orders and everything will be alright. Hand your life over in my hands and you will be able to live."
Something changed in the girl's eyes after he spoke those words.
Had Yohan not been paying attention, he would have missed the small spark light that lit inside Elysia's eyes.
"I will be able to live? I-Can I trust you? You will keep me safe?"
The child was looking at him with trusting eyes. But this unconditional safety was not something Yohan will be able to promise the kid.
After all, there will be chances where he will have to choose between her and Eve and his answer will always be Eve.
Still, he did decide to answer her words.
"I voe to protect you as far as I can. As long as it doesn't conflict with my interests, you will be able to live."
The child looked relieved at his words. He was not able to understand why a six-year-old kid had concerns about her life.
Maybe someone else had felt her uncomfortable aura and decided to threaten her? Not that it concerned Yohan.
He had just gotten the most vicious guard dog he could for Eve and he had tamed it for her. But if this dog ever became ferocious and bit its owner, he would end her life.
"It's good that you understand what you must do. Now, go to bed and be ready for tomorrow's ceremony. I wanted to have Eve participate but she's not ready to play a part yet. So you will have to take over your regular duties tomorrow."
The child quickly looked up at him with hope. It was irritating to be looked at by those unpleasant light-blue eyes.
"T-Then, I will do my-"
"Don't misunderstand. The mercy I am showing is for Eve's sake. The day you become useless to her, your life will end by my hands."
With those parting words, Elysia's door was closed for the last time that night. This time, the closing was accompanied by a timed spell that would keep her door closed until morning.
The night sky was the only one who witnessed this exchange but it left Elysia restless for the rest of the night.
And when the sun finally rose in the sky, the six-year-old pulled herself from the bed with much difficulty.