To the Depth of Abyss

Chapter 121: Her Determination

Saint Arcane Church / Girl's Dorm 

Two days before the festival /

In one certain room.

La and Li are so delighted of what are they watching. 

"You are so pretty with your casual clothes, honey." "It's like seeing a modest, beautiful ranch girl who wants to hangout to the town."

Before them stood Elizabeth. 

"Please stop acting like you two are grandmother."

"Don't think too much about it." "We became like this because we finally could see our Eliz is growing up."

That statement made Elizabeth smiled bitterly. "So you think I will not grow taller."

Elizabeth actually made a big change in her half a year adventure in Floor 1. 

Elizabeth before is an arrogant, cold princess, which not many people like. She thought she is the smartest student in the church and claimed that she would be the ' Staff Saint successor'.

One year before, she barely smiled and close herself almost all the time. 

But she's changed a lot now.

She will politely talk to you and respond sincerely. She will laugh when you say a joke to her. She most likely will help if you ask her a help. 

Although she is still very closed to privacy matters, at least she is more open to subjective matters and is more expressive. Which makes her shine even more beautiful.

"You changed so much we couldn't recognize where our little Eliz. gone." "It may be tough, but we have no choice but to let you go if you choose to follow a good and handsome man that you love."

Thinking of how far Elizabeth had gone from them made La and Li shed tears of joy.

"By the name of Great Lord. You two begin to piss me off."

The old Elizabeth will never express her anger at you. She would have preferred to ignore you and erase you from her memory.

"My-my, don't be angry like that." "We are just joking." "Although, we are serious in the part where someday you will choose to go from this church forever and follow someone you love."

They are literally not joking about that. 

"I already think about that."

That's unexpected. La and Li knew the context in what Elizabeth was saying. But they want to confirm first.

"May we know?" "What 'think' that you already think about?"

The twins begin to get scared because the atmosphere became tense without them expecting. 

They thought Elizabeth would go along with their line of jokes and would keep rejecting on what they said. 

But the flow of life doesn't always go as they expect. Does Elizabeth already set her heart of her future? And will follow the man she loves and will leave them in the near future?

The two of them holding hands while waiting for Elizabeth's answer. 

"My decision may disappoint you."

That statement already told them what Elizabeth would say next. 

"I will – "

"Please don't go!" "Please don't leave us again!"

The twins can't hold their feeling anymore and jumped to Elizabeth. 

"E-eh?!"

Made Elizabeth wondering what made them cry and fear losing her.

"We know that we are not the best twin sister for you!" "We can also be so naughty at times and piss you off!" "But please!" "Don't leave us!"

The twins both started crying on Elizabeth's clothes. It made Elisha so amazed and wanted to cry with them.

"But well, if you don't go far from places we can reach." "We might approve your departure."

Elizabeth finally realized that her two twin older sister is fear afraid that she will leave the church again and leave them.

Indeed, Elizabeth's half a year adventure in Floor 1 didn't allow the twin to reach her. It created a feeling of longing so strong that they were unable to give up on her second departure.

"Don't worry."

But the twins did think too much. 

"I will not leave anymore."

Elizabeth's determination is the opposite of what they fear. 

"I already think about it since my return."

From the beginning, Elizabeth wasn't chose to leave the church and go to Floor 1. 

Despite the intention of becoming independent and repaying everything her foster sister gave her, she never thought of leaving Shield Town.

Her adventure to Floor 1 is upon the recommendation of her foster mother. Because of that, Elizabeth had no choice but to obey. Plus, she already in Silver rank back then.

Many things happen in her half a year of adventure as a Hunter. There are many things she doesn't want to remember. There are also many things that she doesn't want to forget.

All the little things happened, and all the big things surprised. 

"But I think that is enough for my adventure as a hunter. From now on, I will just dedicate my life for this town. I might be going to leave the church, but that is still a long time. There are still many things I need to learn in the church. That is why, I will not leave you, in the near future of course."

That is quite surprising determination coming from their little Eliz. 

Such a strong determination. La and Li were so moved that they unconsciously let out real tears at that time.

"You are crying again?!"

Elizabeth could not understand the way her two twin sisters thought.

Dosn't want to be dramatic, the twin wipe their tears in peace. 

"Well, we cannot help that." "Because you suddenly talked a very surprising thing we did not expect."

Elizabeth actually wants to talk about that with the twin since she already made her mind. But it is quite difficult to find the right timing and intention.

Elizabeth finally open about that at that time also an unexpected. Maybe that was because the festival is very near and she wanted to get rid of all the burdens on her head, so she spontaneously expressed what was on her mind.

Her two twin sister is understand about that. 

That is why, even they hold back their tears, they couldn't hold it for long. 

"Waaaaaa!" "Eliz!"

"Ehhhh!?"

The twin jumped to Elizabeth once more, but now with more dramatic and tears. 

The twin cries in her shoulders to their heart content. 

Elizabeth, just like them, just an ordinary little girl - well not really little, teenager - couldn't hold back emotions when there were other people crying nearby. So she cried with them.

The three girls crying for about half an hour in their room.josei

After one hour finally calming down, they look at each other face and laughed. 

"I didn't think the day I could let go of my sorrow with other people like this would come."

Elizabeth began to say things that would bring sadness once again.

"Don't say that, Eliz. You make me want to cry again." "Hey, stop that, It will not over and we won't be able to go to town like this."

Because it took them an hour to cry, they had forgotten that they wanted to hangout in the city that day.

"That's right! Let's go then!"

La took Elizabeth's hand, but Elizabeth didn't want to get up with her.

"I need to change clothes first."

"Ah." "Sorry, Eliz."

The twins realized that they had wet half of Elizabeth's clothes.

______________

Shield Town / East District

Like the previous days, the eastern district is so busy with activities.

There are a lot of stalls selling that the three of them didn't know. Most of them sell accessories or food that on normal days doesn't exist in town.

La and Li took Elizabeth around where they had planned.

Prior to that day, Elizabeth had never taken the time to leave the church. She never stopped training.

From the start, La and Li also didn't think of taking Elizabeth to hangout. 

They are impelled by the request of someone very special.

'She must not allow herself to feel stressed and pressed. Can I ask to the two of you to take her for a quick refreshing?'

They did not expect that person would come directly to them and ask for that.

But of course, they will accept the request with pleasure and will not disappoint the person. 

"Come on, Eliz!" "Let's go there!"

"Hey, wait!"

Along the way, Elizabeth was confused by the atmosphere in the city. Actually, that is the first time for her to enjoy the festival directly in the eastern district.

Last year, she joined the Shield Family and celebrated with the older women of the Major Office. Of course, being the only younger person in the group is not a happy thing for you. 

But this year is different. Elizabeth changed a lot, her surrounding is too. 

She finally realized that her world is not that lonely. There are people who really love you and considered you as their little sister, even though they are not related by blood. 

"What is it?" "Eliz?"

Elizabeth suddenly stopped herself from walking, then starts to shed tears for some reason. 

Her two sister immediately run for her. 

"What happened?!" 'Eliz?!"

Elizabeth tries to wipe her tears quickly. She didn't want to make a fuss when they were in a crowd.

As soon as her tears gone, she showed her smile once again. 

"I'm sorry, my eyes twitched suddenly."

La and Li know that is not a simple twitched. There is sadness in her quick weep. 

It seems like there are still things Elizabeth doesn't want to talk about to them. But that's okay, they still have plenty of time to get closer to each other. During that time, they would stay close to her.

"You are okay?" "Want to get home?"

"No-no, we are just arrived. Let's continue."

La and Li look at each other. 

"Well, if you say that. But," "If we see you looking sour." "We will get back right away." 

"Okay~"

Then they continue their little hang out. 

But when they think they will be alright.

"Ouch!"

Li bumped to someone until she fall to the ground. 

"Li!"

She bumped to a man who covers himself in a robe. 

Because of feeling current waves of emotion, Elizabeth gets mad a little at that accident.

"We are sorry, sir. But could you mind your – "

But when she looks into the man's face, she fell into silent right away. 

For one reason, the man is looking at her with a deep eye. 

"A...lice?"

She calls someone's name while looking at Elizabeth. Then suddenly, he lifts his left hand, intended to touch Elizabeth's face. 

There, La and Li took Elizabeth's hand.

"We are sorry!" "Let's go, Eliz."

Then they runaway, far from the man. 

While running, Elizabeth takes a moment to still looking at the man somehow, and wondering: "Did he say, Alice?"