1 The little girl

As it would happen, some time ago now, I found myself sitting on a cliff just outside of the west providence in the cold December snow. I sit as I often do, overlooking the valley, thinking if the world is ready for me to return. In my wonderings and thoughts, I hear a shriek in the white wood forest. It sounded like a little girl, but I couldn't be sure until I investigated further. I stand to survey further when I noticed a fire burning in the distance. It was small, nothing more than a lantern, but surely the source of the sound. I jump down off of the cliff, falling in the shadows of the underbrush.

Swiftly I head toward what I believe to be some sort of robbery., however despite my heroic intent, I have to stay hidden. Even though powerful families rule over this world, my presence is still terrifying to them. It takes moments before I come to the sight of an overturned carriage. I can see the driver has been slaughtered; upon further investigation, it seems to be wolves, but where is the passenger. I step over him and try to find whoever was in the carriage; I follow the dim light until I see a girl. All I can see from where I was at that time is she was young, no more than ten, cornered against a tree. I know what I should do, but it may lead to more bloodshed than there needs to be if she sees me.

Seeing no other option, I decide to act, and swiftly I step between both wolves. I place my hands gently on their heads, snapping their neck. I stand from the crouching position I was in to find myself terrified at what I was before me. The little girl had an "M" from the house of Minus. There the leading house under the queen; I couldn't help but think of what they would try to do if they saw me here. So, I turn to leave before any of her family search party finds me. But as I go to step away, I feel a tickle in the back of my head, and I turn to see her trying to use her gift on me. I stop and step back over to her.

"That won't work on me; I'm immune to it just like the wolves," I tell her in concern, as she might scream and give me away.

I see her calm down when I spoke like she was happy I was here. I crouch down to try and seem more comforting. Trying this is bothering me greatly; I've never been this close to another person. At least not in thousands of years, but the fact that this little girl hasn't run, screamed, or even wet herself is intriguing.

"Please… don't leave me. I need help getting home. I can't get there alone." I hear her say in the smallest scared voice.

The girl starts to cry, but I wipe off the tears. I can't explain the urge to help her, different than wanting to be a good person, more of a primal instinct. I never thought I could feel like this again in all the years I've walked the earth. So I did the only thing I could do, I pick her up and look where the tracks are heading. I see the walls of the Minus manor. I head off that way with no knowledge of what horrible things are waiting for me. We walk for a bit until we reach the cobblestone road in front of her home. I walk along the wall until I reach the gait, and I try to set her down. She clings to me in fear of being let down.

"Please don't let me go. I'm scared." She tells me all of this while tucking her head into my chest, shaking.

I want to comfort her, but I know I don't belong in this world. I stand back up with her to try and reason with her when I see the lights come on, and I hear the hounds being let out. Looking down at the girl, I decide to stand there and face my attackers; there's not much they can do to me anyways. Once the house's head and the dogs reach the gait, I place their daughter on the ground pulling myself away.

"Look, let me explain." I try to say in a non-threatening way as I can

But before I get a chance to finish, her dad speaks up.

"Thank you for what you've done. So many have tried to hurt our little girl because of who we are. Please let me repay you." His excitement is felt in his voice as he holds his daughter once again.

I wave it off as nothing for me to do, seeing as it's what I've come to enjoy about this world.

"No, No, I can't exactly take any kind of payment. Besides, it was just wolves." I say with a bit of pride in myself.

Hearing it, however, caused the man to pause for a moment. It was like he heard something impossible. He looks around at his men to take the dogs back, then sends his daughter in. so that it's just him and me.

"The wolves must have been from the house of Firmen, their changers. Any average commoner would have been torn apart, but you seem to be unscathed. I don't know who you are, but I want to offer you a nobility spot amongst our family. In exchange, you will protect my daughter with your life. What do you say," The man gives me this offer with sincerity that it may repay me for my heroism?

I think about it for a moment. Thinking of how many years I've been an outcast. I alone wander the woods and hills, trying to make a way for myself. All of these ways heave on my mind, but I agree for a different reason. I want to makes sure that the girl has a chance to grow up with our fear.

"My name is Adam, sir, and I will protect that girl with my life."

From that day, I became the sole protector of Eliana. As long as I was with her, I had the same level of nobility and power. I entered into this contract sixteen years ago, and now it's time for the four families to present a suitor for her.