Melisa sat in the main room of their home. Her parents stood across from her, both clearly very pensive.
Margaret took a deep breath as if steeling herself for the conversation to come.
"Melisa, sweetheart," she began, her voice almost reluctant, like she didn't want to face the possibility of what Javir had proposed. "What do you want to do? About Javir's offer, I mean."
Melisa looked down at her hands.
Her dreams all flashed before her eyes.
"I want..." She looked up. "I want to be a hero. I-I like it in this village, it's a nice place, but..."
She took a shaky breath.
"I don't want to spend the rest of my life here."
Melistair leaned forward, his brow furrowed with concern.
"But Melisa, you heard what Javir said. The human kingdom, it's not kind to nim. You'll face so much hardship, so much opposition. Do you understand? People like Striker," he added, "they'll be a dime a dozen over there, and no less awful."
