Arsel

Do you believe in God? Well, your family did. You were born in a village that was completely under the influence of a sect. You went to church every Sunday. A bad word about God was a punishment.

Your knees ached from standing on buckwheat almost every day. And all because of your love of books where there was no God, where there were only princesses and princes. Yes, you were scolded for such books too.

Years passed... And you began hiding not fairy tales, but scientific articles and books. If your parents had seen a physics book in your possession! They would have raised a scandal, because science was not subject to God's influence.

You finally passed your exams and, returning home overjoyed, were stopped. Sitting at the table were your parents and your neighbor. He wanted to marry you to his offspring. You were the same age, but this offspring was terrible!

Dumber than a traffic jam, there was nothing to talk about with someone like that. But your parents decided everything for you, as was customary in the cult. No one asked you about it. You handed in your results and burst into tears.

Running out of the house, you ran away and came to an old abandoned church, where you often read your books. Sitting before the altar and quietly whining, you were probably tired. A sense of power took hold, and your eyes closed. At first it was cold, then it became comfortable...

When you opened your eyes, a man with white hair stood before you. He wore only a cape. He slowly leaned toward you and spread his wings, wrapping you in his arms. It felt so warm next to him.

It wasn't scary, it was nice. As soon as you looked back, you saw that the church had transformed into a small, cozy house.

• Well, child, I will give you a second chance, only this time I will be close.

When you woke up, you saw a cross on your chest, and next to you you felt the comfortable presence of a strange creature that would now appear to you at night.