Edited by: Flubbykin

Elana was supposed to travel for three days but, luckily for her, a merchant appeared riding a cart from the capital. Apparently, he was also driving north. It was rather strange, because there was no bigger trading route ahead, at least not a legal one. Few knew that on the far north through the hidden passage in the mountain you could reach the illegal trading center - the pirate's bay.

- "Young miss!" the merchant called "...going north? If yes, hop in!"

- "R-really? Can I?" girl's eyes sparkled.

- "Of course! You are so little that my horse will barely see any difference!"

- "Thank you!"

With a big bright smile, she got on the cart. Seconds later the merchant lightly hit the horse with reins forcing him to resume the journey.

- "Where are you heading miss?" man asked with a gentle tone.

- "To the next village on the path, and you, sir?"

- "My-my, didn't that region became somewhat dangerous lately? I heard about monsters infesting the forests ahead... as for me, well, I am always looking for goods to buy and sell, and that's what I am looking for!"

- "But I thought that there was nothing further to the north." El became a little bit puzzled.

- "O-ho, already so smart? Did you, perhaps, took lessons on geography? What you just said is not necessarily true. In official records, there indeed is no other settlement ahead... unless you know what you are looking for. But, sorry miss, I can't tell too much. You know, merchant's secret."

- "What are you selling?" her legs were hanging over the edge of the cart, she was weaving them very happy that she found a companion in travel.

- "O-oh, you see, that and this... bits and pieces, really..."

- "Sir, you sound like someone that is up to no good." she pouted loudly.

- "My-my, you really are something else, child, aren't you? What else can I expect from an adventurer..."

- "How do you know I am one?"

- "Kid, I am a merchant, it's my job to evaluate people - how much can I sell them for how much. Well, I will let myself be a bit more honest with you - I took you exactly because I noticed who you are, it is always safer to travel with someone who knows how to use a sword..." here he took a glimpse at her weapon "... or fruit knife."

- "Moo! It's a dagger! Throwable dagger! I can hit a moving object from five meters!" she started weaving her hands over her head annoyed.

- "That's definitely good to know! You have just boosted my morale, young miss!"

- "You still didn't answer me!" El noticed.

- "You sharp beast, fine, but promise me you won't tell anyone! about five to seven days from here there is a settlement of smugglers. You can find there many exotic or illegal goods. Later, I will resell them in the cities."

- "So, you are a bad guy?" there was no ill intention in her voice. The man burst into a pleased laugh.

- "Depends for who. Alchemist's guild hates me, that’s for sure. I am resupplying White Raven Apothecary in rare herbs. Guild lost monopoly for selling potions, so now they are trying to monopolize providers. I won't let that happen."

- "That's... very noble of you, but why are you doing that?"

- "There are two main reasons - one, if I would help Apothecary now, as it is struggling, it would help me once it would grown-up.... the second reason is that White Raven's potions saved my wife. I owe them that much, I guess."

Elana got up, headed bit closer to the merchant and patted his head.

- "Sorry for calling you a bad guy before. I was too quick in judgment. You are a very nice person with a sense of duty. Just like Mr. Zariel, you try looking cold and calculated, but you really do care about people, right?"

Seeing this beautiful, pure angel's smile melted something in heart's of the merchant. Then, he quickly snapped back.

- "Wait, you know Zariel White Raven?! Like, in person?!"

- "You could say so, he saved my life too. I wanted to repay him but didn't know how, so he suggested to me that I should start doing good deeds. I became an adventurer because of him... now, I am heading toward my last exam. I am so nervous..."

- "It will be fine, young miss, I believe in you!" man, though usually skeptical, really meant what he was saying.

Something changed inside of him once he saw how good that young miss is. He just fell in love with her. The purest form of love and admiration. Like, just to see this smile again he wanted to help the Apothecary even more!

To think that White Raven saved such a walking-miracle! This little girl is a goddess, and the person that saved her - a saint!

The man for the entire journey was telling his tales about the places he visited and the people he met. After an hour of talking non-stop, he was afraid that he would bore the little girl to death, but once he turned his head toward her he noticed that she was listening to him with eyes and mouth opened in amazement. He didn't know that girl had barely seen the world past her room and window, so his stories were more than just thrilling her. Bah, once he stopped talking to drink water from the goatskin, she would urge him to continue as fast as possible.

That little creature was just divine!

The next morning they reached Elana's destination - the village, surrounded by rich farmlands to the south and west, and deep forest to the east and north.

- "Miss, we have arrived at your destination! It breaks my heart that we have to part our ways here... so goblins, right? I bet you already know this, but I will repeat it just in case! Those bastards are sneaky, smart, and completely deprived of morals. Promise me that you won't drop your guard! I... I don't even want you to go into that forest."

The man appeared to be even more nervous than Elana.

- "I-I will be alright! I had a great teacher! If I would do everything in the way she told me to, I bet I will somehow manage! A-and I want to make a world a bit safer place... For my family and friends, and that also means you, sir!"

A...A...AN ANGEL! LOOK AT HER! JUST LOOK! HOW COULD SOMEONE LET HER BECOME AN ADVENTURE?! HOW COULD SOMEONE LET HER RISK HER PRECIOUS LIFE!?

For a moment or two the merchant was battling with his own thoughts - some deepest part of him wanted him to take a sword and rush into the forest to kill every goblin in her name, just so she wouldn't have to dirty her gracious body with their filthy blood!

But...

- "I already see that you have some funny idea, so let me just tell you this - you are needed somewhere else, please, if you really wanted to do what you said you would, then please - don't let anything stop you!" El encouraged him.

- "V-very well. Be safe, little angel..." he stretched his hand toward the girl but froze in place "... would that be all right if I... You see, I have no ill intentions... But that would be... no, no, no. I am not worthy enough.... But then again, I have no idea when the next opportunity would appear so..."

- "I am not sure if I understand, but if it would make you happy..."

Man put his hand on her head and started petting her slowly.

Her silky hair! Her bit blushed cheeks! Oh, the divines! She is so beautiful, so wonderful that he could... he could... literally change the world to her liking!!! If every man on this world could see how wonderful she is, if they were allowed to pat her head like that - the world would finally be at peace. There would be no more wars nor crimes because everyone would be afraid of making this little creature sad.

One final pat on the head.

Man raised his dominant palm on his eye level.

- "I will not wash this hand for years..."

- "T-t-that's not good! Sir! You have to take proper care of your hygiene!"

WHY WAS SHE SO PURE!?

- "Miss Elana... I hope I will see you again, but, if I wouldn't be so fortunate... just bear in mind - I will keep doing my best to make this world better!"

- "That's great! I believe in you! I will also try my best! Next time, please, tell me even more of your stories!"

With peace in his heart, the man resumed his journey. First, he turned west, just to avoid the treacherous forest, before resuming his journey north.

Elana, once she jumped off the cart, headed toward the village.

The settlement was quiet. Too quiet. People indeed were working all around the fields and houses, but they were somewhat lifeless, completely deprived of energy.

- "E-excuse me!?..." El called one of the ladies that was cultivating the vegetable growing by her house. El couldn't not notice, that many plants were trampled and small footprints were located all over the soft soil "... I am looking for a mayor. Or elder. Could you please show me the way?"

El bowed her head slightly while addressing the woman.

- "What are you doing here, child, don't you know that goblins appeared in the area?! It's dangerous! Especially for such a young and beautiful girl like yourself!"

- "T-that's why I am here! I... I..." Elana hesitated for a moment "... I was sent by the guild to deal with your problem!"

She lied. For the first time in her life, she lied.

- "But you are so young... I heard that the rookies were the one usually dealing with goblins... but.... Where is rest of your team?"

She was just a small girl, she knew that they wouldn't trust her skills, definitely not if she was alone. Because of that, El knew that she had to lie. Again.

- "They are waiting in front of the forest. We didn't want to alarm goblins that could be watching the village. I am a rouge, so we agreed that I would meet with an elder, get as many details as possible before joining my team. You have nothing to worry, madame! We may be young, but we are treating this quest very seriously! There is no way we would underestimate these goblins!"

She tried showing as much confidence as she could, apparently, it worked.

- "May the sun be blessed!..." the woman, so lifeless till now finally smiled. A smile that was so full of hope and eagerness "... He is in the hut in the center of the village, the one in front of a chapel! We believe in you, kids! Please! Do your best!"

Woman dropped her gardening tools and placed a kiss on El's forehead.

- "Please, save us all... save my daughter!"

- "I will do everything I can, madame... And even more!"

Seeing someone relying on her so much ignited a small spark in El's heart. She was still nervous, she was still afraid. Even though she knew that for these people dealing with goblins meant life or death, seeing that with her own eyes caused her to finally realize what it meant.

In what kind of terror they have been living up until now?

There was no way that El could run away. Not now.

She had to be strong. For her family, for her friends. For all those in need.