Adele finished her story with a flourish, a big grin spreading across her face. Her friends leaned in, eyes wide with excitement. "Please, tell us more!" they begged, their voices full of eagerness.
"Tomorrow," Adele replied, her eyes sparkling mischievously. The girls sighed, knowing they would have to wait. One of them chimed in, "Your stories are way more interesting than anything Priest Decker tells us!"
Adele chuckled, a warm feeling blooming in her chest at the praise. She loved the way her friends hung on her every word, their imaginations ignited by her tales of adventure and mystery. But as the sun began to dip below the rooftops, she knew it was time to leave the safety of their company.
As she walked toward the market, the cheerful chatter of her friends began to fade. The reality of her surroundings hit her; most townsfolk avoided her. Whispers and side glances followed her wherever she went. They saw her silvery hair and ice-blue eyes, rare traits in the Holy Empire of Malia, and felt wary. To them, she was an outsider, a mystery that they didn't want to unravel.
Adele was an orphan, left behind by parents she could barely remember. She lived with her neighbor, Victoria, a highly religious woman who insisted on taking care of her. Victoria meant well, but her constant guidance often felt like a heavy weight on Adele's shoulders. She didn't like being helped and fought against the kindness pushed onto her.
Every day, Adele found a way to fend for herself. The tightness in her stomach reminded her that life without parents came with struggles. Driven by her strong desire to survive, Adele made a habit of stealing fruits from the market. She believed that if no one offered her help, she might as well take what she needed.
Today, as she strolled through the crowded market, her eyes scanned the colorful stalls filled with ripe fruits and vegetables. She felt the familiar thrill of mischief light a fire in her chest. There it was—a shiny red apple, gleaming like a precious gem. Without a second thought, she quickly grabbed it, hiding it under her tattered shirt. The excitement of her small triumph filled her heart as she slipped away unnoticed.
The journey home felt quick, adrenaline pumping in her veins. She savored the apple in her mind, already imagining the sweet taste. But as she arrived at the small house where she lived with Victoria, guilt crept in.
The moment Adele stepped inside, she felt the weight of secrets. "Adele, is that you?" Victoria's voice rang out from the small kitchen, where she was preparing dinner, a mix of herbs and vegetables wafting through the air.
Adele's heart raced as she tried to keep the apple hidden. She snuck into the adjacent room, hoping to stash it before anyone noticed. Just as she thought she was in the clear, Victoria appeared in the doorway, her eyes narrowing.
"What's that you've got there?" she demanded, pointing at Adele's shirt.
Adele's stomach dropped. She fumbled for words. "Um… nothing." But she knew it was too late.
"Adele!" Victoria's voice was sharper now. "You can't just take things that aren't yours! That is wrong!"
The heat of annoyance rushed through Adele. "It's just an apple! I was hungry!" she shot back, her voice full of defiance.
Victoria crossed her arms, her expression unwavering. "You will learn your lesson if you continue like this. You are going to church with me, and that's final! You need to start acting like a good girl and stop running your mouth on the street, telling silly stories!"
Adele's frustration bubbled over. "But they're not silly! They're real stories! Stories of creation, the gods!"
Victoria rolled her eyes, not willing to hear any of it. She stepped forward and grabbed Adele's arm. "Enough! You need guidance! Come on, it's time to go."
Adele felt the fire of her resentment blaze brighter as Victoria dragged her toward the door. "I don't want to go! I just want to stay here and be myself!"
But Victoria wouldn't listen. The old woman's determination was unshakeable. "You'll thank me one day. We need to instill good values in you," she said as she led Adele outside.
As they walked through the empty streets, the sun sank lower in the sky, casting shadows across the cobblestones. Adele felt trapped, resentment bubbling beneath her skin. Why couldn't Victoria understand? All she wanted was to share her stories, the ones that made her feel alive and connected to the world. Instead, she was being dragged to a church where she would have to listen to Priest Decker drone on about rules and morality.
Adele sighed dramatically, unable to contain her annoyance. "This is so unfair!" she muttered under her breath.
But Victoria, focused on her purpose, didn't respond. As they approached the church, the towering structure loomed over them, its stained glass windows glowing warmly in the fading sunlight.
Adele took one last look at the street, her heart heavy with frustration. She longed for freedom, for the chance to be herself without rules holding her back. But as they stepped through the doors of the church, she knew she was in for another evening of rigid lessons and the weight of expectation. All she could do was hope that tomorrow would bring a new opportunity to tell her stories.
Victoria loosened her grip on Adele's arm as they stepped into the cool, quiet church. The heavy wooden doors swung shut behind them with a soft thud, muffling the sounds of the outside world. Adele's heart still pounded with resentment, but she couldn't help but notice the sudden change in Victoria's demeanor. The sternness that had been etched on her face outside melted away, replaced by a sugary-sweet smile that sent a shiver down Adele's spine.
"Isn't it peaceful here, dear?" Victoria asked, her voice now gentle and soothing. Adele just shrugged, her eyes darting around the empty church. The tall, arched ceilings seemed to stretch endlessly upward, and the stained glass windows cast colorful patterns of light across the stone floor. The silence was thick, broken only by the soft echo of their footsteps.
Victoria led Adele to a wooden pew near the front, the smooth, worn surface cool beneath their hands. "Come, let's say a little prayer to Sanita," Victoria said, her voice almost a whisper. Adele reluctantly knelt beside her, feeling a knot of unease tighten in her stomach. She didn't dislike Sanita, the goddess of light and healing, but she wasn't sure how she felt about praying in this forced way.
"Now, close your eyes and focus on Sanita's radiant light," Victoria instructed, her voice soft and encouraging. Adele closed her eyes, trying to picture the stories she'd told her friends, the ones about Sanita and Mūntia, the god of chaos. She pictured the two gods battling for an age of light or darkness.
"Sanita, please guide Adele," Victoria began, her voice filled with earnest devotion. "Help her to understand the importance of honesty and kindness. Help her to follow the path of righteousness."
Adele didn't repeat Victoria's words. Instead, she silently sent her own prayer into the quiet space. "Sanita," she thought, "I hope you see that I'm trying to share your stories, the stories of you and Mūntia. I hope you know that I tell them with respect and wonder. I hope you see that I'm trying to educate my friends, to show them the beauty of your creation."
After a few moments of silent prayer, Victoria stood up, her face serene. "There, that wasn't so bad, was it?" she asked, smiling down at Adele. Adele just nodded, her mind still swirling with her own thoughts.
As they turned to leave, a figure emerged from the shadows at the back of the church. It was Priest Decker, his white hair gleaming in the dim light. He smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Adele felt a flicker of wariness. There was something about his gentle gaze that made her uneasy.
"Victoria, how lovely to see you," Priest Decker said, his voice deep and kind. "And who is this young lady?"
"This is Adele, my neighbor," Victoria replied, her voice filled with pride. "I brought her here to say a prayer."
Priest Decker turned his attention to Adele, his smile widening. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Adele," he said. "I'm Priest Decker."
"It's nice to meet you too, sir," Adele replied politely, though she kept her voice low. She didn't like the way he was looking at her, his gaze lingering on her face.
"So, you're new to our church?" Priest Decker asked, his eyes still fixed on her.
"No, sir. I've been here before," Adele replied, shifting uncomfortably.
"And those beautiful locks of yours," Priest Decker said, his eyes now focused on her silvery hair. "Are they natural?"
"Yes, sir," Adele replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
A strange look came over Priest Decker's face. His smile faded, and his eyes widened. For a moment, he simply stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then, suddenly, his smile returned, brighter than before, and he reached out, grabbing Adele's wrist.
"My dear child!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a strange mix of excitement and awe. "You are Sanita's chosen one!"