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:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkyO9CM6ln
"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:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE586saAc3
"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."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfdJ3GSx9i
After saying that, I adjusted my mask and turned left, starting to walk away.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqL2jrUQMtY
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU25wIgHJrN
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?!12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXg91GjE6x
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…12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXGgdlZ5te
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSneLELzeK
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBR3edyzNQ
"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:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt5XW4DWGI
"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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu6QbA6FHk
Yes, Navia was a demon — the kind with white limbs.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj9Sd35u8n
And yes... I absolutely hated demons.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TxLUcGM0h
But she was an exception.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2Ik5ZJqpc
The kindest soul I had ever known…
Her soft voice interrupted my thoughts:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRUBxWcQ9f
"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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltTZT2vcSc
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR9vURhzm7
"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:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6bnhoY31x
"It’s probably started swelling already..."
Another sigh...12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU1Fbyx9G5
"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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpssRZlUop
I don’t know what I would’ve done if I wasn’t wearing my mask…12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUHZgoQMDS
She smiled gently. I realized I had been holding my breath when I saw her.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5BGmTfsvy
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHU9105GkC
I watched her until she entered the cabin.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQEGgZki8q
Then I turned and started walking.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZfesF4oN5
I had forgotten the pain in my foot.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqHzfbSTXJ
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45PTUbrs2Z
Then I opened it and stepped inside. I hung up my cloak, took off my boots, and placed them neatly.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HhxnQiR3K
I tucked the jar of ointment into my cloak pocket.
Just then, I heard footsteps.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYWOY40uQo
It was Zane.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOj5Ti2HCI
On reflex, I hid the jar inside my cloak.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWtouAFRa6
Zane was standing in front of me. From his facial expression and posture, it was obvious something was wrong.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qTyLXbij3
A few steps behind him stood Jayden.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTPI64YWVu
Normally, his face was expressionless, but this time I could sense something in his brown eyes — tension, maybe even stress.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC40gHnb060
That piqued my curiosity.
Zane spoke anxiously:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVlmdCv0Nv
"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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcm5CUOtsW
Even limping, I walked inside quickly... and saw it.
A small demon sitting on the couch—12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRw5FqgH8i
Wait a second. I looked closely. No, it wasn’t a demon, it was a half-blood.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCDLu7R3XL
Demons have slit pupils; his looked human.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8oQKFiZSi
A half-blood with black limbs.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAzoPgLygA
I could see a bandage on his forehead between his white hair.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5aS0nzhOu
He was wearing a sweater that belonged to Jayden.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ385qbyPYUl
The kid was staring blankly.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzZUoNlqKD
It felt strange to me.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRfBHe6NLz
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu8kUWVuyx
Before they could say anything, I headed to my room.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55tr2XX6G3
Right now, I didn’t care about that half-blood’s story.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SmKjGC5ea
and then Add to home screen.