Chapter 2 - Exception
Luke
Zane and I had finished our work and were walking. As usual, he was talking about something. I was half-listening to him, while absentmindedly staring at the hilt of the soaked dagger in my hand. Roughly carved roses and poisonous ivy patterns covered the thick, dark brown leather. I put the dagger back into its sheath and attached it to my belt.
I cleared my throat and turned to Zane:17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIi3mjKl43
"You go. I'm going to walk around the forest a bit."
He looked slightly offended, as if this was the first time this had happened, and sighed:17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsMpiaHW0O
"Come on, Luke, again? And in this weather?"
"No need to exaggerate, Zane. I’ll just take a short walk and come back. You go home."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbMzZoALoe
After saying that, I adjusted my mask and turned left, starting to walk away.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZpl79y3dZ
Zane’s “Be careful” got lost in the sound of rain and rustling bushes.
I was aware I had been ditching him a lot lately. So I felt a little guilty. He was my childhood friend — in fact, my only friend. I promised myself I’d spend time with him again as soon as possible.
As I kept walking — still distracted — I stepped wrong and twisted my ankle.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSynhpgJbw
Just before hitting the ground, I reflexively grabbed onto a tree branch, narrowly avoiding splashing into the mud. But that didn’t mean I didn’t feel the pain in my ankle.
For Creator’s sake, how do I even manage to twist my ankle just by walking straight?!17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQfq4SJGvK
Still, I continued on, limping. The pain seemed to increase with every step, but I didn’t care. I’d been through worse.
After walking for about half an hour, I finally arrived…17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R8tdrsmNy
As I moved through the bushes, my heart started pounding faster, and then I saw her:
Navia.
She was organizing items on the old table in front of her cabin. Not even the rain could ruin her silky light blonde hair, always tied into twin buns.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfuZnO3DO8
The melody she sang in her soft voice filled me with peace despite the noise of the rain.
Oh Creator… I could listen to this forever.
I took a few more steps. She heard the sound and turned toward me. Her soft pink eyes softened as soon as she recognized me.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdizxdBtfmd
"Oh, it’s you, Luke? How many times must I tell you not to approach so quietly?"
I rubbed the back of my neck and chuckled softly:17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvguS2bbFs
"What can I say? It’s in my nature."
She laughed lightly too, but her expression changed when she noticed my limp. When she frowned, she’d lift her tail slightly.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsI9tCPv2c
Yes, Navia was a demon — the kind with white limbs.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cMXzgxTf6
And yes... I absolutely hated demons.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCQ1i079qx
But she was an exception.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ6hq3ECAy
The kindest soul I had ever known…
Her soft voice interrupted my thoughts:17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoPuN1aWxj
"What did you do to your foot? Have you been walking on it like this since morning? I’ve told you how wrong that is! Get inside right now, let me take a look."
She opened the cabin door and motioned for me to enter.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkI5qOKEJi
Creator… she was so worried.
"It’s just a slight sprain, Navia. Nothing serious, happened on the way here. I’m fine."
Navia paused, crossing her arms.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UNc6ZNoq1
"Then why did you come? You should’ve gone home to rest."
"Without seeing you? I can handle a little pain, Navia."
She sighed deeply and rubbed her forehead. Then, as always, she slipped into big-sister mode:17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbfQswFTlv
"It’s probably started swelling already..."
Another sigh...17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKf0OugUaa
"Alright then, I’ll give you some ointment for the swelling and pain, but you will go home and rest afterward."
I didn’t want to leave right away, I had just arrived. I wanted to spend more time with her. But I didn’t want to upset her either. Reluctantly, I nodded. She quickly went into the cabin and came back with a small jar. It was half full of a dark green mixture.
When she came up to me and handed me the jar, her soft skin lightly touched my gloved hand.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vkO6GQixE
I don’t know what I would’ve done if I wasn’t wearing my mask…17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yofoMjy8X
She smiled gently. I realized I had been holding my breath when I saw her.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuyOglNkvz
I tried to breathe in and out silently.
She took a few steps back and waved. I lifted my arm slightly to return the gesture.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmUsb4YxdW
I watched her until she entered the cabin.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWmfdBArHh
Then I turned and started walking.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmZrGGY1jV
I had forgotten the pain in my foot.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnw4l0qKpf
Creator… it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life.
I reached home, trying not to limp. I paused for a moment at the door.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQhNkoXyWM
Then I opened it and stepped inside. I hung up my cloak, took off my boots, and placed them neatly.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYpeib2P1D
I tucked the jar of ointment into my cloak pocket.
Just then, I heard footsteps.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiWzYxezUq
It was Zane.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPRsww5WO8
On reflex, I hid the jar inside my cloak.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBVo595zxA
Zane was standing in front of me. From his facial expression and posture, it was obvious something was wrong.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNMjqB30hq
A few steps behind him stood Jayden.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yCKPNskM2
Normally, his face was expressionless, but this time I could sense something in his brown eyes — tension, maybe even stress.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVj8hXdSdU
That piqued my curiosity.
Zane spoke anxiously:17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWoCKp2r2s
"Luke, what happened?"
"Forget it. It’s nothing. I tripped while walking, nothing serious."
"But you’re limping really bad—"
"I said forget it, Zane. It’s not important."
I wasn’t in the mood to deal with this.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbm2U2OuwyE
Even limping, I walked inside quickly... and saw it.
A small demon sitting on the couch—17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskhgWz9Vjg
Wait a second. I looked closely. No, it wasn’t a demon, it was a half-blood.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8sB74SYZX
Demons have slit pupils; his looked human.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6iPIEAqhE
A half-blood with black limbs.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaXn1nfXPY
I could see a bandage on his forehead between his white hair.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuABSomYGC
He was wearing a sweater that belonged to Jayden.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHrKdlHWOD
The kid was staring blankly.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELTomONrhu
It felt strange to me.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vnEC0ANOx
I looked back at Zane and Jayden behind me, then turned back to the boy:
"The half-blood is your responsibility. Don’t get me involved."
My answer was clear.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RwoWYA3xP
Before they could say anything, I headed to my room.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdp1A9PJSze
Right now, I didn’t care about that half-blood’s story.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudwmSKL6nm
