Sacred Temptations

The meeting

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In the desolate surroundings reminiscent of a medieval European slum, two young souls found themselves crossing paths. One sat upon the worn ground, a girl with a mane of pink hair now tinged with dirt, her eyes like orbs of gold radiating with hope. The other, a boy slightly older, possessed an ethereal pallor, his skin as pale as snow, contrasting against his jet-black hair and captivating red eyes.

Without uttering a word, the boy extended a silent offering—a humble piece of bread tenderly placed in the girl's hands. Her face beamed with gratitude, and in that moment, a brilliant smile graced her lips as she expressed her thanks. Unbeknownst to her, the boy's porcelain skin turned crimson with a blush, overwhelmed by a mix of shyness and a flood of emotions.

Overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment, the boy swiftly turned on his heel and darted away, leaving the girl to savor her small but significant sustenance. The memory of her radiant smile lingered in his thoughts, leaving an indelible mark upon his young heart.

As days turned into weeks, the boy would always returned faithfully, his presence becoming a constant in the girl's life. He would come bearing morsels of food, sharing stories and laughter. Their bond deepened, and they became inseparable. Together, they navigated the challenging streets, embarking on mischievous adventures that tested their wits and survival skills. They were partners in crime, and in each other, they found solace and unwavering support. In the vastness of their shared experiences, they had become a family.

One fateful day, as they settled in their familiar alleyway, their sanctuary was disrupted by the discovery of an injured priest. The man lay in a dire state, his life hanging by a thread. The girl, unable to bear witness to death's approach, cried out to the gods with every ounce of her being. Miraculously, divine power coursed through her, engulfing her like a radiant halo. A healing energy emanated from her touch, mending the priest's wounds and breathing life back into his fading spirit.

As the priest regained consciousness, his eyes widened with awe and reverence. He proclaimed in a voice filled with conviction, "Behold, the new saint has arrived! It is the girl with cotton candy hair."

In a cruel twist of fate, when the priest proclaimed the girl to be the saint, anger ignited within the boy. His voice boomed with a possessive fury, vehemently rejecting the notion of losing what he believed belonged to him. The priest then demanded to know the name of the girl, but the boy, caught off guard, was unable to answer. He had never asked, never known.

The priest's gaze turned cold as he spoke with disdain, "You should at least name what is yours." With a firm grip, he whisked the girl away, leaving the boy behind. Desperation etched across her tear-stained face, the girl screamed after her dear friend, but the priest's hold was unyielding, making escape impossible.

Driven by love and a longing to protect their bond, the boy gave chase, his heart pounding with determination. Yet, a divine barrier encased the priest and the girl, preventing the boy from bridging the distance between them. With every ounce of strength, he pounded on the ethereal barrier, his cries merging with the anguish in his voice.

Amidst his futile attempts, the boy uttered his name in a desperate plea, "Alphonse! That's my name" The girl, still sobbing, managed to speak through her tears, "Anabell." She summoned her strength to conjure a smile, a bright and innocent expression that had always brought joy to Alphonse's heart, even in the darkest of times.

That was the last day Anabell saw Alphonse. She was whisked away to a foreign place, a holy temple unfamiliar to her, surrounded by faces she did not know. In her heart, she clung to the memory of her dearest friend, desperately yearning for the day they would be reunited. Little did she know, their separation would mark the beginning of a journey that would unveil her true purpose and unlock the extraordinary power that lay dormant within her.