Chapter 25

Two weeks later.

Esther sat by the window, basking in the rays of the sun, and tensely controlled her hands.

Both of her cheeks turned red from such concentration.

– It doesn't matter how many sheets of this expensive paper I use... this is really a wonderful place, – murmured the girl who had just finished drawing and put the paper aside.

The paper for the «notes» was very expensive, and Esther could not even imagine that she would ever be able to use such paper.

This was due to the fact that candidates of lower rank, such as Esther, were given only stubs of paper left over from candidates of higher rank.

– What else would you like to draw? – the girl reached out and took a doughnut.

It was a doughnut that wouldn't be enough for even one bite, however, it was very tasty.

During the last two weeks, Esther was constantly served sweets, so she could eat as much as she wanted.

Suddenly, the girl's face lit up, opening her mouth, she looked ahead.

She caught sight of a butterfly that landed on a vase of flowers.

Esther's eyes, seeing this picture, shone.

Twirling a pencil in her fingers, the girl started drawing, when suddenly there was a knock.

Startled, Esther turned her head towards the door:

– Who?

– It's me, – As soon as the door opened, Dennis entered the room, clutching a book to his side.

Staring in amazement at the halo near the boy's head, Esther quickly rubbed her eyes. Only after that, the radiance surrounding him disappeared, as if it had disappeared into thin air.

– Mr. Dennis, – the girl hurriedly got up from her chair, and then bowed in a greeting bow.

Dennis, who entered the room, frowned upon seeing this:

– I don't like it, – stopping in front of the girl, he crossed his arms on his chest with displeasure.

'Did I make a mistake?' – Esther's face darkened at Dennis's bluntness.

In order not to leave Esther at a loss, the boy spoke quickly:

– I was going to say that last time, but why are you calling me that? You call Judy a brother.

Embarrassed, Esther looked away.

'Dennis, who always looks serious and mature, said something like that?

They really are twins…

The first time I met Judy, he also told me to call him brother, just like Dennis. I thought they were completely different, however, in this matter, they are exactly the same.'

– Good. Big brother! – it wasn't so difficult to say it a second time.

When Dennis heard «big brother» from Esther's mouth, his face softened again and his smile widened:

– Great, from now on, call me that.

Dennis didn't really care when they called him brother. And the reason for his request was not that he wanted to hear it, but that he simply considered it unfair, because the girl called Judy a brother.

...So the boy thought, because he didn't know himself well. The moment the words «big brother» left Esther's lips, an irrational feeling of happiness swept over him.

Dennis's smiling face and eyes glowing with joy were like honey.

The boy's hand reached out of its own accord and almost stroked Esther's hair. It seemed that if the girl had looked at him a little longer, he would not have been able to resist and hugged her.

– But, what happened?

This question gave Dennis a chance to think straight.

– Oh, I thought you'd be bored alone, so I decided to read you a book, – holding Esther's hand tightly, Dennis sat down at the table.

Naturally, his gaze immediately turned to the papers scattered on the table.

– Oh! Don't look! – frightened, the girl, like an arrow, instantly jumped to her feet. She gathered up the pieces of paper, and those that did not have time, covered with her palms.

– Did you draw?

Esther was very confused:

– These are just sketches.

– Do you like to draw? – Dennis's eyes lit up with curiosity.

– No, not really, – hesitating, the girl pressed her lips tightly, and her face burned as if she had been caught for something bad. – This is…

In Esther's mind flashed memories from the past, about life in the temple.

All the candidates who saw Esther's drawings laughed. They mocked the girl, saying that she should not even think about starting to draw again.

Esther couldn't say how much she was offended by these words, and how low her self–esteem dropped after them, but she was afraid that Dennis would also start making fun of her.

The girl opened her lips to say «no», but immediately stopped herself.

'This is not a temple.

And I decided not to cling anymore and start changing,' – Esther, who hesitated for a few moments, sighed:

– I can't draw…

– I don't care.

– Then… I'll draw another drawing.

Dennis nodded, and a bright smile lit up his face.

When Esther saw his smile lighting up everything around her, she stopped hesitating and got down to business in earnest.

Of the tools – only a pencil.

Although it was a simple sketch put on paper, however, both Esther and Dennis were serious.

Dennis crossed his legs and began to pose. Shrouded in sunlight, he looked like a true aristocrat.

Shrugging her shoulders, the girl began to draw Dennis without hesitation.

The boy was greatly surprised by this sudden change of mood. It was an amazing sight, the way Esther's features changed in an instant.

'I didn't think she could have such an expression on her face,' – Dennis noticed that the girl was completely absorbed in drawing.

Usually the boy could not find anything strong and lively in Esther, but her current appearance was completely different.

Her eyes were shining.

'I want to help her always look so beautiful…

M? Esther's eyes look different?' – Dennis tilted his head and looked closer, trying to figure out if he was imagining it.

Esther's eyes, which were usually pink in color, now shone with gold.

Dennis looked at Esther again, thinking it was strange.

'Younger sister.'

The boy had little understanding of what it meant to have a younger sister. Although Esther was not yet fully mature, she was still beautiful for Dennis.

– Done, – Esther said, taking a deep breath. Beads of sweat stood out on her forehead, she was so focused.

– Already? So fast! – Dennis, who was watching Esther, raised his eyebrows in surprise.

At that moment, Dennis, without any hitches, received his drawing. However, as soon as he saw him, he froze.

– Very strange?.. – Esther asked cautiously, worried about Dennis' reaction, who still hadn't said anything.

'I shouldn't have agreed to draw him...' – the boy's detached expression made Esther regret.

Her heart was beating fast, she blamed herself for not refusing right away.

That's just the reason why Dennis was silent was completely different:

– Esther, you're really good at drawing. Incredibly beautiful!

– ...Eh?

– Did you really draw this? No, I saw it, but... wow! It's just unbelievable! – Dennis's exclamation came late, simply because he didn't know how to express it.

His eyes were round like a rabbit's, and his words sounded confused. Dennis was so excited for the first time.

– There are many people who can do the same.

–Where are they? I've never seen them.

Esther's cheeks, unfamiliar with praise, instantly turned red.

– Esther, this is a blessing from God!

Dennis grew up receiving an art education from an early age, so his artistic flair was very strong.

The boy saw many works of art and paintings by famous artists, which were considered the treasures of the Tersia family.

However, for Dennis, Esther's drawing was better than them.

Despite the fact that it was only a sketch of himself, his face looked strangely grown–up, and his appearance was refined. Besides, looking at this drawing, Dennis's mind was strangely cleared.

Dennis sincerely admired Esther's abilities, and the girl was confused by his reaction.

'Am I good at drawing?' – The boy's unexpected reaction made Esther's eyes fill with incomprehension.

– Did you learn to draw in the temple?

– No... I didn't even dream about it, because I almost didn't have any paper.

– Then, you're a genius! – Dennis said, giving a thumbs-up.

Due to the sudden praise, Esther's voice trembled:

– Am I really good at drawing?

– Yes. I have to tell my father about this, your talent should not be lost.

– But everyone said I couldn't draw, – Esther said with a grim expression on her face.

Dennis's gaze, which had just been gentle and glowing with delight, instantly became hard:

– Who?

– People of the temple, – countless curses flashed in the girl's head:

[– Why can't you do anything well?

– Forget it. It's all because she's an orphan.

– Don't tell us that you're ever going to draw again. It would be a disgrace to the temple.]

Every time someone in the temple saw Esther's drawing, it was torn to pieces. Therefore, the girl stopped showing her drawings to someone.

– Disgusting people. They must have been jealous of your talent, – Dennis didn't like Esther's darkened look at all.

When she stopped drawing, the sparkle disappeared from her eyes, and the look hated by the boy, without a single glimmer of hope, took its place again.

– Esther, look at me, – Dennis said gently, bending down and bringing his face closer to the girl's face.

Since Dennis forced Esther to look at him, the girl, who was lost in memories for a while, was forced to meet his gaze.

– From now on, do whatever you want and don't look at anyone.

The moment Esther looked at him, Dennis really felt like her older brother. When this thought flashed through his mind, he was so shocked that he involuntarily hiccupped.

Dennis reached out and stroked the girl's hair.

– Ah, the hair… – Esther, unfamiliar with the touch of a man's hand, shuddered for a moment, but did not pull away from Dennis's hand.

After a while.

Esther, who was left alone after Dennis left, was in a daze.

After hearing words that you hear extremely rarely, it is very difficult to understand whether it is a fantasy or reality.

The girl looked thoughtlessly at the drawings scattered on the table:

– ...There are things I'm good at…

Esther thought she was a person who was not needed by anyone in this world. Even though her Divine power was huge, there was nothing good about her.

That's why she felt so relieved by Dennis' praise. It seemed to Esther that she had been told that she, too, could be a part of this world and could do something.

Esther, who only wanted to disappear from this world, without realizing it, began to change.

The thought was growing in the girl's head that she did not want to die like this.

– I want to be praised again, – Esther murmured softly and touched her hair.

The girl's twinkling eyes turned pale pink again.