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:42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebMMe9t7Fz
"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:42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUyx8vdK4v
"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."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1IJZldwyK
After saying that, I adjusted my mask and turned left, starting to walk away.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvYWnLMJG8
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPixVxmFGh
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?!42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ukVrR9Ohu
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…42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUQMn5crET
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanL1S9Ao5w
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2CHFfVELO
"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:42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzShlOu6Ua
"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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2auojMs7bi
Yes, Navia was a demon — the kind with white limbs.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDsYmnsrKV
And yes... I absolutely hated demons.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0fHl0JlzO
But she was an exception.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7fRbaqx5Y
The kindest soul I had ever known…
Her soft voice interrupted my thoughts:42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqn1Bbbnjb
"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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1RLdGZvs5
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8v4Ch3zvw
"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:42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B6rQX5xiG
"It’s probably started swelling already..."
Another sigh...42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBlbllUlyH
"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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sOOF6LCxg
I don’t know what I would’ve done if I wasn’t wearing my mask…42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8G7Yq83WE
She smiled gently. I realized I had been holding my breath when I saw her.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2V6Dr5c0Yw
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzugmr1wcQ5
I watched her until she entered the cabin.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7KbBQOzqo
Then I turned and started walking.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEqvWkqzSZ
I had forgotten the pain in my foot.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe4UNA00jW
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO38RHGZQh
Then I opened it and stepped inside. I hung up my cloak, took off my boots, and placed them neatly.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUcuzfSVYS
I tucked the jar of ointment into my cloak pocket.
Just then, I heard footsteps.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLL2W1gYSH
It was Zane.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgJfaa2Xir
On reflex, I hid the jar inside my cloak.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3DEBxO2k8
Zane was standing in front of me. From his facial expression and posture, it was obvious something was wrong.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0G57Fd9Y3O
A few steps behind him stood Jayden.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUQba1GbwP
Normally, his face was expressionless, but this time I could sense something in his brown eyes — tension, maybe even stress.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK7ugNDSa2
That piqued my curiosity.
Zane spoke anxiously:42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y9Ljll6eS
"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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl5vaeGDHd
Even limping, I walked inside quickly... and saw it.
A small demon sitting on the couch—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0fzgq2WV7
Wait a second. I looked closely. No, it wasn’t a demon, it was a half-blood.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqATlc6LFjn
Demons have slit pupils; his looked human.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88umK3suRt
A half-blood with black limbs.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpacQ7LMhzX
I could see a bandage on his forehead between his white hair.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj10yxCZXZ
He was wearing a sweater that belonged to Jayden.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeD86YzkCMO
The kid was staring blankly.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oQSVzjGes
It felt strange to me.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qOkbcSpTS
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWB6MhZhUN
Before they could say anything, I headed to my room.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO5cmz1gBe
Right now, I didn’t care about that half-blood’s story.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTovhmTB0tj
