Chapter 415: Friendly Ghosts-I

Elise didn't know how days could pass first. Unlike the first test where she had to study and peruse the books, now before the exam started, she couldn't have anything to study before the test started; studying now won't do her anything good as soon she would need to trust only her guts feeling of solving the case. 

"Very," answered Elise with a smile. Her bright red hair had been tied to a high ponytail, some of the side of her hair was tied to a braid, letting her faint forehead to be free from hair so it won't hinder her. Although she didn't wore pants like the time during the hunting game, Ian had made her dresses that would be easy for her to run with. Without forgetting her protection weapon, the pistol on her hips. 

"Do you know how to not be nervous?" questioned Elise to have Ian hummed without replying as fast as he often did.

"Unfortunately, my love I have always been that one person who have nothing to be nervous of since I was young. I don't think I would have method to help you calm... or maybe I do..." Ian said when something dawned in him.

Elise raised her eyebrows at his studying expression, "What is it?" Curiosity was always beside Elise and she didn't learn how sometimes it wasn't good to be curious.

"Come here," Ian reached out his hand toward her who sit beside him. Was it a magic with calming effect? wondered Elise and she reached out her hand to his palm only to have him pull her toward him and twist his waist when she had rode her legs in fear of falling. Elise was startled while chuckles filled the carriage room, "Hm, like this," his lips playfully turn to a smile, "Then you know what to do next. We have done it multiple times."

Elise looked at him with shock. "This wasn't what I meant!" rather than not making her nervous he wouldn't make her focus either. 

"Uhm...." another voice came in and they both turn their eyes from each other to look at the chick who had hid himself inside Elise's dress pocket. "I really really don't want to be the third wheel here. But do lend me an ear once. I don't want to be here during when you two... well..."

Elise heaved a deep breath, her hands went to fan her cheeks and softly she moved away to her seat and begin to smoothen her dress as if to calm herself. Ian, on the other hand, as one would expect gave the chick a pointed look and Hallow took it as a cue to once again sink inside the pocket.

"But the address they gave us, it doesn't seem like it's a the abandoned village in Runalia as Mr. Dalton had said," Elise said. Can it be that the man had gotten the wrong information?

"He is not wrong. We would be going to an abandoned village but due to how there had been massacres when hundreds or more people gather, the Church took a protective measure by sending the candidates themselves while not revealing the location," Ian pulled the small belt on his gloves, making it tighter by pulling the end.

"Was there another massacre?" asked Elise to see Ian nodding his head. 

"And I heard the test was changed. The content and method would be the same but the material for the test will be changed," Ian propped his chin on his arm that rested on the window to have a better look at his bride when his eyes caught on something and he reached out his hand to hold the necklace that dangled on her neck. "This is the same necklace that 

Lucifer stole from you."

Elise was glad that Ian knew it by a sight, "I took it as a protection."

"It does suit you. It's great that we had it back from the snake. I have been wondering why he took your necklace and there came the idea in me that maybe he took it for his fashion which clearly he have zero sense in it," joked Ian to have Elise to smile.

"You have seen him."

"I did and it wasn't a good event to remember. He appears like other humans and you have seen him too," and Elise nodded. "I don't know what he want with us but if he comes as an enemy we would need to fight him. Don't worry I will be there beside you."

"I have never worried with you beside me," Elise answered and she felt his fingertips lightly pinching her nose. 

"How flirtatious you've become," he hummed, and leaned forward to kiss her lips.

It didn't take a long time for the carriage to soon stop. The letter written in the envelope sent by the Church yesterday wrote the location to be next to the border of Runalia and Warine which make it closer for them to arrive by the carriage. 

The new coachman who took over Frank's position opened the door but before they went down, Ian took hold of her hands, his red eyes stared at her brightly, "If there is danger, don't forget to call my name. Don't hesitate to kill whoever is trying to harm you and don't spare any single pity to those who are your enemy; even if they begged for your forgiveness and promised not to kill you again, kill them. You can't never be too trustful to people who once hunt for your life. One last thing to remember in the test you should remember your life is the most important; nothing and no one else is important. What is my reply?"

"I promise I would fulfill all your warnings," Elise said dutifully, watching Ian twisting his lips into a smile. "My life is much more important than the test," she repeated as a promise. 

"Needless to say, your life is the most important. We can take the test another year in the future even if you were to fail though I have no single doubt that you will finish this test," Ian said with confident he has in her.

When Elise was ready to step down the carriage, she heard him say again, "One more thing we forgot. I have a protective magic I need to cast for you."

Elise knew how there are a lot of threats surrounding her in this moment and understood the protections Ian showed her. She sat on the chair again, waiting for the magic to be cast but instead had her waist pulled by his arm and another hand of his brought her head to lower over his lips. His tongue entered her mouth, causing heat from the bottom of her stomach to raise. Unlike the peck he gave earlier this time, his kiss was deep to the point tears welled on her eyes and her breaths hitched.

"Good luck, my love," whispered Ian in a velvety voice when they pulled away.

"I told you not to kiss me now," Elise said, letting her cheeks caressed by his hands, "I won't be able to focus."

"But I'm afraid you will forget me in the short amount of time," Ian pulled a sad expression, "I am very sad I will have to part with you. Come back fast. I might be immortal but I will still die inside without my heart."

Elise watched him with a smile, and she leaned forward to kiss him again briefly, "Wait for me." and she left the carriage, watching him leave as no one should wait on the candidates. 

When the shadow of Ian's carriage slowly fade away, her sharp demonic senses, helped her to feel the gaze the men in the field threw over to her. Whispers filled the place but not only whispers, Elise could hear the subjective words the men said that wasn't in whisper as if they want her to know how she isn't accepted in the place.

Elise brushed away the conservative and illiberal words the men threw on her and walked toward the Church member who was the test taker to tell her name and and gave the letter the Church gave previously to be allowed to take the test. 

While she find a place to sit on, a familiar words were thrown brazenly by men who stood next to her, "Oh a beauty is amongst us. I knew why most people is against women being a Church member. That body of hers certainly will make it hard for me to concentrate."