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:45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu87VAggaLa
"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:45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtt2c8JTTTy
"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."45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVYMsuNM81
After saying that, I adjusted my mask and turned left, starting to walk away.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtDahVdlMe
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.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8oCmy7Ufp
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?!45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKWwmTgGQe
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…45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqAwth9OQW
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.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeuoaHV2Go
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.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeD4DNk7gE
"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:45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoURvgNaD6b
"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.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvInXH0frlm
Yes, Navia was a demon — the kind with white limbs.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wKjbkIZzh
And yes... I absolutely hated demons.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z6H2KHPSx
But she was an exception.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqz49NMlzEw
The kindest soul I had ever known…
Her soft voice interrupted my thoughts:45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1GofPFyl8
"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.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa1xJcJEOO
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.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN1Lgj0wPE
"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:45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO05tC9B8R
"It’s probably started swelling already..."
Another sigh...45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iwG9TMlhs
"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.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0ZbsZ5PD4
I don’t know what I would’ve done if I wasn’t wearing my mask…45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnLaM29Rp6
She smiled gently. I realized I had been holding my breath when I saw her.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ582UfW44
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.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahowWIe9nf
I watched her until she entered the cabin.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCgaImKeqv
Then I turned and started walking.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0Qhy8pEt9
I had forgotten the pain in my foot.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiyCDDXfM6
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.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0sqa2t0TN
Then I opened it and stepped inside. I hung up my cloak, took off my boots, and placed them neatly.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWkHA4drXD
I tucked the jar of ointment into my cloak pocket.
Just then, I heard footsteps.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhrCyrgras
It was Zane.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiSwqMkl0L
On reflex, I hid the jar inside my cloak.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7X4927EXW
Zane was standing in front of me. From his facial expression and posture, it was obvious something was wrong.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66xBEjMTZT
A few steps behind him stood Jayden.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPR0hUEJpSd
Normally, his face was expressionless, but this time I could sense something in his brown eyes — tension, maybe even stress.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrbpJF2IL8
That piqued my curiosity.
Zane spoke anxiously:45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrly4tmbc3R
"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.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HvXv56hWb
Even limping, I walked inside quickly... and saw it.
A small demon sitting on the couch—45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Az0AvJCGd
Wait a second. I looked closely. No, it wasn’t a demon, it was a half-blood.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FUSJUl331
Demons have slit pupils; his looked human.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTZMFpFXXJ
A half-blood with black limbs.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSpGoW4bhB
I could see a bandage on his forehead between his white hair.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai31TUNNey
He was wearing a sweater that belonged to Jayden.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsuROYTww4
The kid was staring blankly.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfGugLV9xa
It felt strange to me.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0O9CKMdgDY
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.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH3S8F44gA
Before they could say anything, I headed to my room.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UioiGdhJY
Right now, I didn’t care about that half-blood’s story.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehDHgvFBJE
