8 The Worries of a Small Girl and the Goddess

"Francesca, I'll be back again in a bit," Throwing his torn pants away on the couch and putting on new ones he had 'obtained' legitimately, he rushed off from the house, leaving the girl on her own.

"I wonder where Alias went off too?" Back and forth, the girl paced around the room with a worried expression. "He's been with me forever, my hope and my.." Francesca blushed at her thoughts as she spoke them out loud.

"He's been out and about at night and comes back with food on the table... I'm worried, what has he been doing?" The girl looked down at the floor and pouted. "I haven't done anything for him yet. I wonder what I should for him?" Even though the little girl was alone, she felt as if there was someone close to her, always watching from somewhere far, far away.

A sudden inspiration came to her, "I know! Since he's always away and always wears these run down clothes, why don't I sew him a new one? Let's check out his size first.... Though." She glanced at the clothes he discarded on the furniture. Uhm, this wouldn't be called peeping would it? I'm not going to be called one of those old men who leer at people right? That's what Alias kept warning me about."

Scrounging through his clothes and checking his sizes, Francesca suddenly stumbled upon a little ticket.

"N-Night club? What has he been... E-Even though he has me?" She started panicking. Suddenly, a small parchment fell out of one of his pockets.

"Kill order, a blonde haired boy of medium stature possessing Light particles and a scarlet girl of small stature? Last seen...." She trailed off.

Guilt engulfed the young lady. "No, I don't want him to get hurt anymore. He's suffered enough because of me! I know I'm a burden and useless to everyone around me. But at least let me fight alongside him."

She recalled a book she had once read in the orphanage where the children had treated her kindly in the past, though once her hair had shown its true colors, so did the children and their fear of it. She had seen Alias carrying it around and hid it beneath an opening within the floors under his bed. Curiosity got a hold of Francesca and when she though she would only take a peek, she read the entire picture book.

"Once upon a time, there were Seven Goddesses of the Seven paths, there was Earth, Air, Wind, Water, Fire, Darkness and the dominant, Light. They had fought one another in a never ending war though had come to an agreement. Several domains were created and the Goddess of Light had the largest territory with her loyal knight serving her, the Youngest Champion of Light." She trailed off, "At the end of the story... Laid a tragedy."

"I don't know exactly who Alias really is, he's been with me forever yet I had no clue he could use such amazing power. But I don't care about that, I don't care whether or not he's cursed or had a tragic past, I just want to be with him. But I can't if I remain this weak."

Determination flooded the girl's eyes as she steeled herself, "It's once said that if you pray hard enough to a Goddess, you'll receive their blessing and wishes!"

With her hand clasped and yearning expression, she looked at the stars outside the barred wooden windows, small glints of star light reflected off the girl's eyes and face.

"Oh dear Goddess of Light, may I hear your voice to this pitiful prayer in hopes that I would wield the same strength as my beloved? I sincerely pray to you and seek that you will guide this lost soul to the Light where it may be reborn and grown stronger as you meld it!" These words seemingly rolled off the tongue of the young girl feeling a high affinity and familiarity with the spoken chant.

The girl in her dream, beaming with a bright smile enough to wake those asleep descended from the ceiling of the dilapidated home. With the same scarlet, blazing, ruby hair that she had. Suddenly, nostalgia overtook Francesca, "You were the girl that was talking to me wasn't it? I remember the countless dreams I've had and I was unable to recall them... Until now."

Her elegant demeanor and loving smile reassured Francesca.

Light particles gathered all around the mysterious petite lady and she had a beautiful dress, seeming like a bridesmaid with a distinguished air about her.

The comparison between them was like an abyss, the dirty and unkempt Francesca looked about her, she felt as if she was not worthy to be within the other party's sight, let alone in such a close proximity to her.

The silence was suddenly broken and the surprise completely caught Francesca off guard.

"Wasn't it about time you finally woke me up, took you awhile didn't it? Phew, I nearly thought I'd be stuck within that endless loop of a dream for the rest of my young life!" The Goddess exclaimed as she gave a sigh of relief. "Say, do you have any sweets around? I'm craving for some!"

"Huh?" Completely unexpected turn of events surprised Francesca and she could not help but whimper.