"Then... would you take me in?"
"I ran away from home. I don't have anywhere else to go..."
Although this was their first meeting, Ryuu trusted Elise for reasons she couldn't explain, even though Elise had not given her a particularly good first impression at the beginning.
Even Ryuu herself found it strange.
For some reason, she felt an incredible sense of familiarity from Elise.
Almost like her mother...
How could she possibly say something like that out loud?
The other girl clearly didn't look much older than she was.
"Since you ran away from home... don't you plan to go back?" Elise noticed Ryuu's expression. "When you mentioned your hometown earlier, you seemed quite happy..."
"No! I can't go back!" Ryuu suddenly grew agitated, a troubled look appearing on her face. "My family... they..."
"If you don't want to say it, or don't know how to explain it, then don't force yourself."
Elise gently pulled Ryuu into her arms, letting her lean against her.
"You just escaped from somewhere so dangerous. You should rest properly."
Faced with such closeness, Ryuu's face turned even redder.
"It feels... really reassuring..."
Since leaving her village, Elise was the first person she had been able to touch normally. She had also given her many unfamiliar experiences.
"Then, Ryuu, may I call you that?"
"Mm..."
Her reply was so soft it was almost like the flutter of butterfly wings, but Elise still caught it with her keen hearing.
"Your question is whether I'm willing to take you in, right?"
"If it's my personal answer, then of course I'm willing. You look very talented. But even so, I don't intend to hide anything from you."
"You should have heard it before. My title is Saintess of Scales, and I belong to the Astraea Familia."
"Astraea is the goddess of justice. So every member of our Familia must follow justice."
"So, Ryuu—what do you think justice is?"
Ryuu listened very seriously to Elise's words. The moment the question was asked, she immediately understood.
This must be a test.
If she passed, she would be able to join Elise's Familia.
So she began to think carefully.
What exactly was justice?
"Justice is... it's..."
Yet the more she thought about it, the more confused she became.
"Eliminating... all evil?"
Recalling what she had experienced recently, she cautiously gave that answer. Perhaps because she lacked confidence, her voice was very quiet.
Just like the younger version of Ryuu...
"Then do you think that me rescuing you from those people counts as justice?"
"Of course it does—mm!"
Ryuu answered immediately. But the moment she finished speaking, confusion spread across her face.
"Don't rush. I'm not asking because I need you to give me a definite answer," Elise said gently. "I just hope that in the future, no matter what you choose to do, you follow your own heart."
"After all..."
Elise slipped behind Ryuu, wrapping her arms around her slender waist. Her hands even showed signs of drifting upward.
"You're such a beautiful girl. Whatever you do, as long as it follows your true heart, it must be justice!"
"Eh—eh—eh?!"
As Elise's palms moved higher, Ryuu's face flushed bright red once again. But she did not resist fiercely. She only symbolically blocked for a moment before giving up.
The golden-haired elf girl lay quietly against Elise's chest, enjoying this rather peculiar massage.
"If you knead them more, they'll grow bigger, you know!"
"If you meet someone you like in the future, you'll have better capital to pursue them..."
"That would never happen!"
Elise merely smiled at Ryuu's denial.
Who could say what the future would bring?
...
In the end, Ryuu still decided to join the Astraea Familia and even displayed part of her determination.
Though she still had immature aspects, there was no issue with her joining.
After all, she had always been a predetermined member.
"Are we heading to Orario now, Elise?"
After talking long into the night, Ryuu was finally able to converse normally with Elise. Even the way she addressed her had grown more intimate.
"Yes. There's nothing left to do here in Melen. Our original task is finished. I even bought you new clothes."
Elise looked Ryuu over.
She wore a simple white short-sleeved shirt on top, covered by a green cloak. Below were brown shorts and long boots.
Combined with her cool and serious expression, she now looked considerably more heroic.
It was worth mentioning that Ryuu still chose to cover her face with black cloth, unwilling to let others see it.
Strangely enough, Elise covered the area above her nose with black cloth, while Ryuu covered everything below her nose...
Was this some kind of twisted fate?
No.
I absolutely have to fix this.
Elise covered her eyes because of their special nature. Ryuu was different. She did it because of her obsession with cleanliness... and perhaps a bit of shyness.
In any case, covering her face was not a good choice for Ryuu. It was like adding another layer between her heart and the world. Elise felt she should help her get rid of that habit.
Since Ryuu had decided to join the Familia, she would definitely need to meet everyone.
And when that time came...
Hehe.
Elise thought of something amusing.
As for letting Ryuu off...
How could that be possible?
How could she let this little girl off so easily?
After all, she had already let her off once yesterday because of special circumstances. There was no way she would let her off a second time.
An hour later.
"Elise... what are you doing?"
Inside the carriage, Ryuu sat facing Elise, confusion written across her face.
Because Elise was holding something white, about the size of a brick but thinner, tapping at it with her fingers nonstop.
It was something Ryuu had never seen since birth. Could this be a new magical device from Orario?
"Me? Oh, I'm editing a video."
"Ed... editing a video?"
A large question mark practically appeared over Ryuu's head.
"Can I take a look?"
Naturally, she was curious about such a novel item. But Elise refused.
"Not yet, Ryuu."
"I prepared this especially for you. Once you join our Familia, we can all watch it together. I guarantee it'll help you integrate much faster."
"After everyone sees it, they'll definitely like you even more!"
So that was it.
The thought that Elise had gone to such lengths for her moved Ryuu deeply.
"Thank you! I definitely won't disappoint your expectations!"