‘To persuade a malevolent deity to save someone was no simple feat. Isis would undoubtedly have to pay a hefty price, perhaps even…’
Isis paused, momentarily stunned, as she realized she had long since lost everything.
Before the malevolent Beacai, all that remained of Isis was an unyielding stubbornness. Yet, Beacai cared little for such defiance; what she truly desired was Isis’s genuine maternal love.
Such a thing, however, could not be feigned.
After much contemplation, she eventually sighed softly. She decided to take things one step at a time, resigning herself to the fact that if Beacai refused to save the elf girl’s mother, she would have no choice but to give up.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death were the natural order for mortals; Isis should have grown accustomed to it. Still, she felt profound pity for the young girl, who would lose her mother at such a tender age.
“Sister, why do you want to see her?”
Upon hearing Isis’s desire to meet the young girl’s mother, the girl became noticeably more guarded than before, unwilling to disclose her address any further.
Seeing this, Isis gently stroked the girl’s long ear and said, “To save her, of course. I am an elf, just like you. Why would I deceive you?”
“Alright, alright then.”
Perhaps due to their shared race, the young girl gazed at Isis’s ears, hesitated for a long moment, and finally nodded, agreeing to lead her to her home.
Her home was located in the residential district of Prayley. The house was not large, and from its exterior, it appeared as though it hadn’t been cleaned in quite some time.
The clothesline outside, meant for drying laundry, hung empty, suggesting no one lived there.
As the sun set and the moon gradually ascended from the opposite side, the living room light in the house flickered on. The young girl approached the front door, intending to knock, but upon seeing it ajar, she simply pushed it open.
“Lily, you’re back?!”
Before they could even see anyone inside, a voice, a mixture of worry and delight, emanated from the entryway. Soon after, a gaunt woman, leaning on a walking stick, appeared in their sight.
The woman’s face was exceedingly pale, her eyes rimmed with dark circles, as if she hadn’t rested properly in ages.
Her breath was faint, and even her steps faltered precariously.
Upon seeing the young girl, her dim eyes finally brightened. She immediately set aside her walking stick, hurried to the girl’s side, and embraced her tightly.
“Mama…”
The young girl, Lily, sobbed softly in her embrace, causing the woman’s heart to ache. “Where did you go? I couldn’t find you, I was worried sick… But it’s alright now that you’re back, it’s alright.”
She patted Lily’s back. Once her worries subsided, she looked towards Isis and Beacai.
“And you two are…?”
“We are Lily’s friends,” Isis replied, “We’ve come specifically to visit you.”
“Lily’s friends?”
After murmuring the words softly, she looked down at Lily in her arms. The young girl, in turn, hummed in agreement, confirming Isis and Beacai’s identities.
“In that case, please come in.”
Leaning on her walking stick, the woman led them through the entryway and into the living room. During this time, they exchanged introductions, and Isis learned that the woman’s name was Philomena, Lily’s mother.
The house contained sparse furnishings. Aside from a few essential sofas and cabinets, only scattered small items remained. Philomena invited them to sit on the sofa, then addressed Lily:
“Lily, would you go to the storage room on the second floor and find the tea leaves I put away? I’ll brew some tea for our guests shortly.”
“Oh.”
Lily was obedient. Wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, she ascended the stairs outside the living room to the second floor. Philomena then turned to Isis, speaking with a tone full of apology:
“Lily must have caused you quite a bit of trouble, hasn’t she? The child worries about me too much, and she can sometimes do foolish things. I sincerely apologize for her actions…”
She knew that the presence of these two strangers could only mean Lily had caused them considerable inconvenience, and a proper apology was absolutely necessary.
Moreover, she also needed to thank them for bringing Lily back; otherwise, she wouldn’t have known where to search for her.
“It’s quite alright,” Isis interjected. “Let’s put Lily’s matter aside for a moment. I’d like to know, are you living well here?”
The moment Isis uttered these words, Beacai, who stood beside her, blinked. It was as if she had suddenly understood something profound, and her previous jealousy inexplicably vanished without a trace.
Philomena fell silent for a few seconds, carefully organizing her thoughts before speaking:
“It’s… alright. Compared to cities governed by other deities, we live quite comfortably here. They don’t even demand that we change our religion; they permit us to continue worshipping the Mother Goddess. In any other city, such a thing would be unthinkable.”
“However, if you don’t share the same faith, daily life can certainly be inconvenient. Everyone tends to look at you with strange eyes…”
Philomena didn’t understand why Isis was asking these questions, but she didn’t hide anything, openly expressing her feelings.
While not being forced to change one’s faith was a kindness, adhering to a different deity brought Philomena’s life many twists and difficulties.
Isis could discern that these difficulties were far from trivial.
“Then why not change your faith?” she inquired.
Philomena fell silent once more. Then, clutching the necklace adorned with a leaf emblem, she smiled. “How can faith be changed? I have always believed that the Mother Goddess will return, and the elves will once again reclaim their past…”
Her voice was soft, as if she were speaking of a minor matter, yet the unwavering faith it conveyed stirred a pang of guilt within Isis.
She felt she had failed these believers who still held faith in her. Whether the elves could truly reclaim their past was something even she, the Elf Mother Goddess, didn’t know.
To speak pessimistically, she considered this hope to be exceedingly slim.
Thus, she changed the subject.
“Your illness…”
“I’ve already found a foster mother for Lily,” Philomena replied. “She likes her very much, and under the Mother Goddess’s blessing, Lily will surely grow up strong and healthy.”
Isis had clearly inquired about Philomena’s illness, yet Philomena spoke of her daughter instead, even smiling as she did, her tone remarkably light.
She had known for a long time that her life was nearing its end, which was why she had found a foster mother for Lily ages ago. This way, she wouldn’t have to worry about Lily being left without care after her death.
With her greatest concern resolved, she was able to face death without fear.
Gradually, however, she lowered her gaze, her pale face etched with regret.
Lily was only five years old, just beginning to grasp the world around her, just learning to express her emotions.
Yet, Philomena was about to leave her side forever, depriving her of a mother’s love.
If only it were possible, she wished Lily were even younger, and the time she spent with her even shorter. That way, a Lily who was only two or three years old would grow up perhaps without remembering she ever had a deceased mother.
Then, perhaps, she could grow up happily?
Seeing her thrive without worries, Philomena, in heaven, would surely feel content.