Constable Daneb... There's a strange child wandering around outside of town.
One day...I, the Constable of Namura, arrested a young girl.
She hadn't done anything wrong. It's just that... our town doesn't get too many strangers.
Now that I think back, she did have an odd bearing to her.
She was carrying an enormous bag, something even an adult would have trouble with.
She remained silent amidst all our questions. She only repeated her name... Nelphie.
Her vagrant lifestyle must have left her quite guarded.
I wanted to do my best to help Nelphie out.
I tried to be her friend, get her to think of me as a brother... but she refused.
I think you'd be more like an uncle, yeah?
I had even shaved that day! Regardless, I tried not to pay her jab any mind.
I decided to protect the girl, and asked Eleanor to look into her identity.
Nice to meet you! I'm Nelphie.
The girl extended her hand with confidence. She was strange indeed.
Sometimes she would be dead silent, but other times she was remarkably brave.
A while after Nelphie came to town...
The lord's envoy, who usually stopped by every season, did not come. Everyone was anxious, unsure of what this meant.
A few days later, one of the envoy's escorts arrived, terribly wounded.
The Durcha Gang is coming.
A notorious gang in the area... They must have targeted our village since it's less guarded than the nearby town of Colhen.
A town assembly was called immediately to discuss the matter. As constable, it was up to me to come up with a plan.
That strange child is still staying here? How can you allow that?
Strange child? Do you mean Nelphie?
The townsfolk had been wary of Nelphie. They thought she might be a spy for the Durcha Gang.
Indeed. Why else would she be here?
She's only a child. Doesn't it fall to us to protect her, especially in times like this?
I persuaded the townsfolk as best I could. I saw it as my duty as an adult.
The discussion dragged on until no one was happy.
I nodded to Eleanor, my deputy. Eleanor left the square, taking Nelphie with her.
I don't think those men like me.
Not everyone in town is like him. You have Daneb and myself, don't you?
Two days later, in the dead of night, the Durcha Gang finally assaulted the town.
It was a brutal battle.
The militia, the townsfolk... we all fought for our lives. But in the end, we found ourselves overwhelmed.
Eleanor had taken an arrow through her thigh, and could no longer stand.
Let's surrender.
The suggestion left a heavy silence in the air. In that silence we agreed, and gave in to fear.
Even I, as the constable, had no choice but to agree with them.
No, wait!
A bright voice echoed in the dark.
Nelphie? Get out of here! Quick!
Nelphie walked out into the torchlight with her giant bag.
I told you to stay at the Constable's Office. It's dangerous here! Why are you...?
I'm sorry... I've been deceiving you.
At that moment, my heart sank.
My name isn't Nelphie. My real name is Belle.
Nelphie... No, Belle. She started rummaging through her bag.
You've fulfilled your duties as an adult, and it's my turn to do the same for you, Daneb.
A child... fulfilling the duties of an adult? The more she spoke, the less I understood.
At last, Belle pulled from her bag a truly gigantic axe.
Was it a toy? Surely anyone watching the child would have thought so.
It must have been quite a ridiculous sight for the Durcha Gang as well.
They pointed at Belle and started howling with laughter.
To use a child as a shield! What a joke, this town!
Belle swung the axe wide, as if testing it. As expected, she lost her balance and collapsed.
Just as the gang's laughter reached a fever pitch…Belle's eyes changed.
Before they could react, their lives ended.
Early the next morning, while the townsfolk were recovering, I saw Belle leaving.
I asked our savior to stay a bit longer, but she refused.
Think about how everyone will feel the next time they see me. They'll fear me even more than they did before!
In a way, she was right.
How did you get that kind of strength?
Well, I'm far older than you, Daneb.
What's that supposed to mean?
Belle explained her story quite matter-of-factly.
She spoke of chasing after elves she had heard of in the stories of her youth.
She spoke of getting lost in a forbidden forest.
And she spoke of meeting the Queen of the Elves.
From that day forward, Belle no longer aged. She is frozen in her young body, forever.
Because of that, she's always on the move, and always training with her trusty axe.
After hearing her story, I was honestly more bewildered than before.
How much of her fantastic tale could I believe?
While I turned over the questions in my mind, Belle bid me farewell.
Where will you go?
I'll head to Colhen. I've heard it's a good place for people like me.
Take care! And marry Eleanor!
Belle ran off, and disappeared down the road. That was the last I saw of her.
I hope to see her again some day, but… Who knows when that might be?
