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:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsRGL568md
"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:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB8KKcw8cU
"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."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSxEWH5hjG
After saying that, I adjusted my mask and turned left, starting to walk away.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBDSQswaIm
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiqiXYonak
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?!9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM3sw6xwLB
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…9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpgMgRPlbp
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm1gRPLsx6
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3TqUZ76mb
"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:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRlyuq33ea
"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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYvt2d7a1h
Yes, Navia was a demon — the kind with white limbs.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKajIoTFGW
And yes... I absolutely hated demons.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdJdCLztED
But she was an exception.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXjWCssFRt
The kindest soul I had ever known…
Her soft voice interrupted my thoughts:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4C5iVrYEO
"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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92B0uKSCKe
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgndKRvu5rB
"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:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gowVFde7Z
"It’s probably started swelling already..."
Another sigh...9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWsMY3RSGS
"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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9hNmkISsJ
I don’t know what I would’ve done if I wasn’t wearing my mask…9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM46pVC31xa
She smiled gently. I realized I had been holding my breath when I saw her.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7apuER4uD
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY23hy5xlQ
I watched her until she entered the cabin.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxULiCf8bv
Then I turned and started walking.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAka3AkL9N
I had forgotten the pain in my foot.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5Ymx9sRlV
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm7BrK3Djy
Then I opened it and stepped inside. I hung up my cloak, took off my boots, and placed them neatly.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnrlGGuOqq
I tucked the jar of ointment into my cloak pocket.
Just then, I heard footsteps.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2E35m8EC7
It was Zane.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3nXXUuNSy
On reflex, I hid the jar inside my cloak.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppWLF1Z1mW
Zane was standing in front of me. From his facial expression and posture, it was obvious something was wrong.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6Fn4zllS7
A few steps behind him stood Jayden.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4t4EBQ3rF
Normally, his face was expressionless, but this time I could sense something in his brown eyes — tension, maybe even stress.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbZyVFI9z0
That piqued my curiosity.
Zane spoke anxiously:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveM8zmqFvD
"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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AWARKdpob
Even limping, I walked inside quickly... and saw it.
A small demon sitting on the couch—9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNnZlBMXfx
Wait a second. I looked closely. No, it wasn’t a demon, it was a half-blood.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM3RwDzJpu
Demons have slit pupils; his looked human.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR3QiCAWdb
A half-blood with black limbs.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuZTG0XpOw
I could see a bandage on his forehead between his white hair.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c2WIFuPL0
He was wearing a sweater that belonged to Jayden.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmw48yMy2bO
The kid was staring blankly.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLtqMyxs9u
It felt strange to me.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYgkFRnuIy
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrgkl1lnBQ
Before they could say anything, I headed to my room.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBlhQqphcw
Right now, I didn’t care about that half-blood’s story.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxjMyGcZJ2
and then Add to home screen.