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:47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXyBXB3uu5
"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:47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPuUxghXVz
"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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FK832waP1
After saying that, I adjusted my mask and turned left, starting to walk away.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9mcI3TmjV
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpzbWUXMAH
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?!47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwICxgfqgfv
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…47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMYQm2MqXm
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKk89RGfYE
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxJz5sAG1G
"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:47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0NlpV1dPE
"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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBjd8aqWVF
Yes, Navia was a demon — the kind with white limbs.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehWHgOBmOk
And yes... I absolutely hated demons.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYzFBGUhJE
But she was an exception.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdurmFPn93I
The kindest soul I had ever known…
Her soft voice interrupted my thoughts:47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKExuu1Os5
"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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgU8FmNcrC
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsbAV3WrBg
"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:47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡek2anzEq6b
"It’s probably started swelling already..."
Another sigh...47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZi4oxx4rW
"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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPln1CNbOSz
I don’t know what I would’ve done if I wasn’t wearing my mask…47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKAe7obNI7
She smiled gently. I realized I had been holding my breath when I saw her.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58yrksDvsH
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9r0oPEORL
I watched her until she entered the cabin.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzhe1cubed
Then I turned and started walking.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzazo4iZOj
I had forgotten the pain in my foot.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaKqz22Ojv
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXyKqQQ41Q
Then I opened it and stepped inside. I hung up my cloak, took off my boots, and placed them neatly.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIhH9s7yku
I tucked the jar of ointment into my cloak pocket.
Just then, I heard footsteps.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmHGD9vDvu
It was Zane.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡho38pkGcXz
On reflex, I hid the jar inside my cloak.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3r7uMJlFo
Zane was standing in front of me. From his facial expression and posture, it was obvious something was wrong.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUUjfiLlNe
A few steps behind him stood Jayden.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92OTa1nVJI
Normally, his face was expressionless, but this time I could sense something in his brown eyes — tension, maybe even stress.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSxYHIwZdb
That piqued my curiosity.
Zane spoke anxiously:47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsucHaUxEvU
"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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73eGBKv9le
Even limping, I walked inside quickly... and saw it.
A small demon sitting on the couch—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpTTbNtPna
Wait a second. I looked closely. No, it wasn’t a demon, it was a half-blood.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG5ryBWnFI
Demons have slit pupils; his looked human.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXBGgolmGV
A half-blood with black limbs.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNaAj0MS0q
I could see a bandage on his forehead between his white hair.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlXUK5164f
He was wearing a sweater that belonged to Jayden.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5ogIcFfro
The kid was staring blankly.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnr1yhTwU0
It felt strange to me.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JpKj9le6I
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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zkwDxF1VW
Before they could say anything, I headed to my room.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor4I36bL60
Right now, I didn’t care about that half-blood’s story.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQlTJ6esat
