For as long as I can remember Nathan had always told me that we live under a vengeful Goddess but I had never been able to take those words to heart until only recently. Ever since the day we arrived here on Mystic Island and he reentered my life my entire view on everything I had come to know and hold near and dear began to change…

But I'm getting ahead of myself, that isn't the place to start, no. I should start the day it all really began…

The day that I met him…

Let's see… it started like any other gloomy afternoon back at the church of the Goddess in the mainland's city. I was only ten years old and was seated up on the windowsill of one of the few non-stained glass windows of the building. It was a small window situated about halfway up the church's grand staircase in the foyer and overlooked the bustling street right out in the front. I've always been one to find the sound of rain tapping against the window soothing but that wasn't the only reason I'd like to sit beside it. I liked to sit pressed up against it because it allowed me to catch a glimpse of the lives some of the city's residents. Businessmen hurrying back to their jobs, mothers walking their children home from the school just down the road, the occasional stray cat slowly creeping to the next alley, I'd see it all, wishing I could join that sea of pedestrians in some way.

You see, I was only four years old when my parents were tragically killed in a terrible car accident and with no immediate family in the area it was decided that I would be sent to live at the city's church where I would be cared for by it's priest, Father Nathan. Staying at the church, I would be required to do some of the daily work required to keep the place up and running. It was a fair exchange for giving me a home but at times I had often let my mind wander and daydream about what it would've been like if my parents were still alive and I was able to live a more, err, normal life. I could've been able to go to a school and make friends with kids of my age group, not just the ones brought in for the church's daycare service. I could go to parks, see the city's sites, partake in all those exiting celebrations that went on over the year, and maybe even…

Well, love…

Or, at least be able to do so without the extreme sense of guilt that came with it when you're a nun...

Throughout my time at the church Nathan had periodically given me lessons and lectures on the Goddess who was said to watch over us and her work. It was in order to prepare me for a future life in the congregation as a nun, meaning I was devote my life and time to the Goddess and ensure her teachings were spread, the typical work description. Over the course of these sessions I had come to view Nathan as one who was always caring of others and respectful of their choices but recently I regret to say that that positive view I've held of him has begun to diminish.

But I'm getting ahead of myself again.

Anyway, while I was sitting on the windowsill that day I'll always remember the moment my eyes wandered down at the church's gates to spot Nathan returning from a call he had received from downtown earlier that day. At a glance it seemed like a scene I had seen many times before but it was only when he got closer I noticed that things were a much different. Alongside him underneath the black umbrella he held that matched his clerical clothing was a blond haired boy. Sensing that something was amiss I quickly hopped down from the spot and hurried down to the base of the stairs, reaching the final step just as Nathan and the boy entered.

"Good afternoon Father Nathan." I greeted as I slowly approached him and his companion, giving the pair a quick curtsy as I did so.

Nathan looked up at me as he shook out the umbrella to his side. "Oh, Alisa, good afternoon to you too."

Quickly, I focused my attention on the boy beside him. He appeared to be around my age if not a year older and had messy blonde hair that partially blocked my view of his unwelcoming green eyes. They conveyed a bleak sense of lifelessness as he stared off in the direction of the floor.

I began to open my mouth in order to ask about the boy but I could hardly start to pronounce Nathan's name before he placed his hand on the boy's back.

"Sorry Alisa." He began as he lightly pushed him forward in order to get him moving again. "I have a few things that need to be sorted out. I'll speak with you later."

I nodded my head in response and watched as Nathan took the boy down towards his office.

Nathan spent the rest of the afternoon in his office that day with that boy while I went about my usual chores, wondering what they could possibly be talking about. It was unusual for Nathan to spend so much time locked up in his private office with another person and for that other person to be a mysterious boy who had never stepped foot in this church before only caused my mind race even more. Eventually, night began to fall and I was busy in the kitchen finishing cleaning the dishes when Nathan finally returned to me.

"Alisa, may I speak with you?" He asked as he approached me.

I broke away from my task and walked up to him. "What is it Father Nathan?"

Once we stood about a foot apart he got down on one knee so we were on the same level, an indication that he had something important to tell me.

"I'm sure you noticed that boy I came in with earlier today, right?" He asked.

I nodded my head in response. "Mhmm, who is he?"

"His name is Mark." He answered before momentarily stopping to think. "He's… um, kind of like you."

"Kind of like me?" I questioned, unsure of what he meant exactly.

"Well… he's also… lost his parents…" He replied in an uneasy voice.

"O-oh…" I quietly said as my view slowly shifted down to the ground. Sure, I always liked to think about my parent's when I'd gaze out at the city but that moment was one of the few times were it really occured to me that they were gone and that I was truly alone. Even today I still can't say I'm, well, completely over it.

"Alisa?" Nathan finally spoke, bringing my view back to him.

"What is it Father?" I asked.

"Mark is going to be staying here with us." He told me.

I felt my eyes widen. "You mean there's going to be another kid here? With me?"

"Yes." He answered. "He'll be using the extra room right beside yours upstairs. He'll spend some of his free time doing work around here while I prepare him for a life of priesthood in the church, much like I have with you."

Though still confused I silently nodded my head, not knowing how else to respond.

"Do you understand, Alisa?" He asked, likely in order to get an actual response.

"Yes, Father." I answered plainly in turn.

He smiled as he stood back up. "Why don't you go upstairs and make him feel a little welcome. I'll finish up in here for you."

"Okay." I replied with another nod before leaving the room.

As I headed down the hall leading towards the stairs leading upstairs I couldn't have helped but let my mind wander, as if I was staring out the window again. From then on for a brief part of my life there would be another person living the same life as me at the church. At that point I was unsure if it would be something that would benefit me or whether it would be something that would hurt me. Eventually I learned that it would do both.

A/N: Please R&R, any feedback, barring spam, is greatly appreciated and valued.