Chapter 1

"Young miss, stop! Please!"

Screams could be heard thru the hallways of Elysium castle, home to Archangel Michael and his family.

"Please stop. It's time for bed..."

Two maids could be seen chasing a red hair child. The child who was wearing a light blue dress and loose hair kept on running away from the maids with visible tears on her face. Her aim was clear. She had to reach the castle's stables were her best and only friend waited for her. She soon saw the grand entrance and she sped up feeling her destination so close. She could taste freedom. The entrance was just there, mere meters away. After crossing it she knew the stables were easier to reach.

"A few more steps, almost there." Emilia kept repeating to herself. Encouraging her young heart, however, suddenly, and unexpectedly Emilia tripped on her beautiful blue dress.

"This is why I hate wearing dresses! They are always on the way." Emilia grunted but she had no time to waste. She still had a destination to reach. Eclipse her best friend was waiting.

After Emilia took a stumble, the maids felt a sense of relieved. They thought they were going to be able to get her and take her to bed, but as always, they misjudged the mind of this ten year old.

They fell to notice the bow and arrow that Emilia had been holding all this time. This was her alternative plan: scare the maids in order to escape.

Just as the maids were two steps from Emilia who was still face down near the castle's entrance the child turned around bow in hand and aim the arrow at them.

"I am leaving, and no one will be able to stop me!" Emilia the child declared.

The maids were taken back. They were both young and had no experience dealing with this child. The child's nanny was an older woman who was yet to reach them.

"Please young miss its late. It's time for bed"

"Your nanny is waiting for you back in the room"

Emilia knew the maids mentioned her nanny as a threat. They were hoping this would scare Emilia and will convince her to go back, but Emilia was beyond convincing. She wanted out of Elysium. She wanted to experience life outside. Throughout her childhood she had heard over and over how she was the next general of God's army. How her training was helping her to fulfill her destiny and while at her young age this was amazing the thrill soon disappeared because at the end Emilia was but a child who longed for friends. She was a child who wanted a childhood and a "normal" life.

"You think nanny is waiting for me in my bedroom?" Emilia asked knowing fully well that nanny was not waiting for her. "She is most likely heading to my dad's office right now to inform him of this." Her tone was mature for her age, but it still hinted of youth. "He will be here soon so if you don't want to feel the pain of this arrow stop right there and do not follow me anymore. I am leaving and no one will stop me."

As Emilia spoke these words she managed to stand up and start retreating. The maids could hear her demanding voice, but her trembling hands and teary eyes were giving her away, she was still a child. Although the maids knew Emilia would never purposely hurt them, they couldn't guarantee that her nerves were not going to make her lose control.

With no other choice the maids stopped and allowed Emilia and her bow to leave.

Seeing that the maids had given up Emilia bolted thru the door. Her destination her beautiful white charger Eclipse who was waiting in the stables.

Emilia swiftly reached the stables and after opening the wooden door she run inside and without thinking of saddling her horse she jumped on Eclipse and directed him out.

The maids were left speechless standing by the entrance to the castle. The guards were all dumbstruck and had no time to react.

Emilia rode Eclipse like the wind. Her orange hair moving to the sound of the wind that was created by her fast pace. She soon exited the castle and for a mere moment she finally felt free. For a second, she thought she could live a normal life with no more responsibility, no more been caged in the castle.

As she was riding up a hill, she turned back to see Elysium one last time. The castle was still close, but far at the same time.

"Goodbye" Emilia whispered. In her mind this was really a goodbye. She was on her way to live and discover all that she had been deprived of until now, but just as that goodbye escaped her lips a blinding light shutter her vision.

Eclipse sensed no danger, so he maintained his calm demeanor.

As Emilia open her eyes, she could see a beautiful being in front of her. White wings emerging from the back of the familiar person in front of her.

Eclipse soon jolted to a stop and no matter how much Emilia urged him to continue Eclipse knew better.

Sensing that she was caught and had no other choice Emilia relented and stopped urging Eclipse.

The beautiful creature who was in front of her with beautiful white, gray hair and piercing green eyes just like Emilia's was only a few steps away from her. His jaw dropping and gorgeous face exhibiting calmness and peace. He was not a threat at all.

As the creature came closer to Emilia the beautiful wings that had appeared suddenly vanished as if they had been nothing but an illusion.

Both Emilia and the majestic creature stared at each other. Their eyes lock, not one of them willing to conceive this eye staring contest. However, Emilia knew she was no match for the divine being in front of her and she was the first to give in.

"Father, please!" Emilia whispered. Pain and worry evident in her voice.

"Emilia, I hear that you are leaving Elysium" Michael replied, "Without saying goodbye to your mother or me? I'm hurt.." As he said these last words he placed a hand on his heart. The exaggeration that he was displaying was evident, almost mocking.

"Father please do not try to stop me!"

"I will not do such a thing. If your plan is to leave, then you may leave. I merely wanted to say my goodbye"

Emilia was stunned at Micheal's words, but she knew her father very well and she was not going to fall for this trap. No matter what she was leaving home tonight.

"However, you are my daughter and I do worry about the world that waits for you out there. A world full of evil and pain. Monsters invade these lands!" Michael said this while making sure he locked eyes with his daughter. "But if you feel you are ready to face them by yourself than there is nothing more I can say..."

"No there is not! My mind is made up" Emilia declared back.

"Very well then. Let me just warn you about the beasts that live in these hills. They say they come out at night to feed on the hearts of young girls." Michael started telling with a hint of terror on his voice. He was sure that giving his daughter a fright would end this tantrum. "Young girls around the age of ten,"

"But I am ten," Emilia quickly exclaimed while her right hand clutched her chest.

Michael noticed that his plan started to work. Emilia was still a child and making up a monster was the easiest way to take her back home.

"Yes, yes, you are so I must ask you to please be careful. I will not stop you from leaving your home, but I at least want to advice you about the creatures that roam the night." Michael continue. His voice almost a whisper that send chills down Emilia's spine. "They say that these monsters are black giants with deep red eyes. The moment they lay those horrendous eyes on their prey the pray enters a deep state of hypnoses. Not asleep, but not awake and then in that moment they reach out and take their heart!" His calm voice was like a sound effect that made his story even more scary. "But if you are ready to face them..., then my daughter I bid you farewell."

At his last words Michael stepped to the side giving way to Emilia and Eclipse.

Emilia could do nothing but stare at the darkness ahead of her. Her young imagination kept picturing black monsters lingering in the trees waiting for her.

"Unless..." Michael suddenly whispered shaking Emilia back to reality.

"Unless?" Emilia asked with hope in her voice.

Michael smiled at Emilia's reply knowing that he had gained access to his daughter's determination.

"Unless... you tell me why you want to run away, and we find a solution together?" What do you say?"

No! He did it. Emilia was sure her father had gotten into her mind and now there was no way back. She was too scare to leave. In her mind the monsters her father spoke about were waiting for her to take her heart. She could not leave. She wanted to keep her heart. Knowing that she was so easily defeated Emilia took a deep breath and dropped her shoulders admitting defeat.

"Father" Emilia started but realized that retreating was hard. She was sure that by tonight she would be far away from Elysium.

Michael did not want Emilia to feel defeated. He knew very well that she felt alone in the castle with no friends and no outside relations to keep her mind in. He knew that this loneliness that she was feeling was his fault. He had acted on his impulse to prepare her for her future role that he forgot that Emilia was just a young girl. Yes, she was an Angel, a direct descendent of the Archangel lineage, but at the end she was still a young being. He had entrusted too much to her from the moment she learned to walk and now he was regretting it.

For Michael it was not only expected but required for her to become the best at everything from sword fighting to bow holding to physical combat. She had to be prepared as no one knew how long peace on Earth would last and if it were ever broken she had to step up. It was her responsibility as heir to Archangel Michael's dynasty.

But Emilia was just ten. War was not knocking at their door and Michael had now accepted he went too far.

"Father I respect you and I respect the responsibility you always say that I am destined to carry, but father I want friends. I want to go to the village and just see. I want to laugh with someone other than Eclipse. I want to share words with another female my age. Please, I will not stride from my destiny, but please..."

As Michale stared at his daughter he could see how mature she was for her age. Her words were not those of a child, but those of a young adult and this pained him. He had taken away her childhood and there was no way to give it back.

"Is this why you have decided to run away?" Michael asked obvious to the answer.

Emilia nodded, tears streaming down her eyes.

"I see" Michael's heart hurt by the mere sight of those celestial tears.

"What if we make a deal" Michael started "You agree to come back to Elysium and tomorrow you will be allowed to continue your training at the village's academy?"

Emilia could not believe her ears. After so many years she was going to be allowed to leave the castle. This was unbelievable.

"Really? You mean with other beings?" Utter shock could be heard in Emilia's voice.

Michael smiled. He had finally understood that his daughter needed to grow up at her own pace. She was not him and he need to start treating her as his daughter and not a mini version of himself.

"Yes, with other beings. Humans, demons, and other angels. You will go to the academy with all of them"

Emilia immediately jumped down from Eclipse and into her father's arms. Joy was evident in her face, her tears that had been a symbol of pain now resemble happiness.

"You promise?" Emilia tried to reassure herself and asked before her father could take it back.

"Yes, I promise, but there are two conditions you must meet."

"Yes, anything!!" Emilia replied feeling as if she would agree to anything as long as she was allowed to interact with other beings.

"First you need to apologize to nanny and to your two maids" Michael stated with a firm tone. "I heard about your bow, and you will be punish for that. Never threaten anyone who has done nothing, but care for you. We do not use our strength to take advantage of those who are physically weaker than us, understand?"

"I'm sorry father, I was not going to hurt them really. I just wanted to scare them a little"

"That was not the way. You will apologize and make amends."

"Yes, I will do that" Emilia had already planned to apologize someway. She knew her actions had been horrible.

"Second you have to come back to the castle with me now. I do not want monsters to take away my daughter's heart."

At this last sentence Emilia trembled with fear. She looked at the black hills in front of her and she was ready to go back home.

Michael carried Emilia and sat her on Eclipse. He then also climbed and sat behind her.

Emilia's heart was content with the promise of tomorrow.