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:11Please respect copyright.PENANAf0chRwtmg1
"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:11Please respect copyright.PENANAj0FiBbYoOB
"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."11Please respect copyright.PENANAyNnDpTXEyW
After saying that, I adjusted my mask and turned left, starting to walk away.11Please respect copyright.PENANAu1Iqxsn3qC
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.11Please respect copyright.PENANAau944v3QbI
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?!11Please respect copyright.PENANAZOj2qrnS9Y
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…11Please respect copyright.PENANABmtsa9kYPH
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.11Please respect copyright.PENANA6RX5u55Hup
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.11Please respect copyright.PENANA7AOJXKmJ24
"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:11Please respect copyright.PENANAMMXTtd3sEA
"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.11Please respect copyright.PENANACRNHBRfXGI
Yes, Navia was a demon — the kind with white limbs.11Please respect copyright.PENANAy2tuD59CvD
And yes... I absolutely hated demons.11Please respect copyright.PENANABjoZvWYA2g
But she was an exception.11Please respect copyright.PENANAeOLLWscZtp
The kindest soul I had ever known…
Her soft voice interrupted my thoughts:11Please respect copyright.PENANADg6TNgDBpS
"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.11Please respect copyright.PENANA4TG9ARiF7V
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.11Please respect copyright.PENANA2aU7l7MXB2
"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:11Please respect copyright.PENANAdzRr1z5UAv
"It’s probably started swelling already..."
Another sigh...11Please respect copyright.PENANADszcF77Pv9
"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.11Please respect copyright.PENANAVClNwPfDcU
I don’t know what I would’ve done if I wasn’t wearing my mask…11Please respect copyright.PENANAzKsjxu9G8k
She smiled gently. I realized I had been holding my breath when I saw her.11Please respect copyright.PENANAMj5rlZtTz2
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.11Please respect copyright.PENANAJjwGfVfgw7
I watched her until she entered the cabin.11Please respect copyright.PENANA5e0tQpzATy
Then I turned and started walking.11Please respect copyright.PENANAa0lFGppUkL
I had forgotten the pain in my foot.11Please respect copyright.PENANAgHq30VZnAE
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.11Please respect copyright.PENANAYeWucmt2Sk
Then I opened it and stepped inside. I hung up my cloak, took off my boots, and placed them neatly.11Please respect copyright.PENANAklpBWXWeUZ
I tucked the jar of ointment into my cloak pocket.
Just then, I heard footsteps.11Please respect copyright.PENANAVzjhmP2IYC
It was Zane.11Please respect copyright.PENANAqcAID4pa1U
On reflex, I hid the jar inside my cloak.11Please respect copyright.PENANAbgW5Um557c
Zane was standing in front of me. From his facial expression and posture, it was obvious something was wrong.11Please respect copyright.PENANAWD7Lt8YhrK
A few steps behind him stood Jayden.11Please respect copyright.PENANATAQ1mQftdN
Normally, his face was expressionless, but this time I could sense something in his brown eyes — tension, maybe even stress.11Please respect copyright.PENANAv87Nn7nNPh
That piqued my curiosity.
Zane spoke anxiously:11Please respect copyright.PENANAmF04Ed9Bcx
"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.11Please respect copyright.PENANAWKHQuy9dPZ
Even limping, I walked inside quickly... and saw it.
A small demon sitting on the couch—11Please respect copyright.PENANAu2VfV7uwp5
Wait a second. I looked closely. No, it wasn’t a demon, it was a half-blood.11Please respect copyright.PENANAqUqecHe9re
Demons have slit pupils; his looked human.11Please respect copyright.PENANA7XFYsEHqTD
A half-blood with black limbs.11Please respect copyright.PENANAR53TbA5rqU
I could see a bandage on his forehead between his white hair.11Please respect copyright.PENANAh7A0kOitaL
He was wearing a sweater that belonged to Jayden.11Please respect copyright.PENANAx2Qb75XGit
The kid was staring blankly.11Please respect copyright.PENANAzuNPCr6tq3
It felt strange to me.11Please respect copyright.PENANAm5WS0OCPZa
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.11Please respect copyright.PENANAojz50FrLFm
Before they could say anything, I headed to my room.11Please respect copyright.PENANAONXBaeRGky
Right now, I didn’t care about that half-blood’s story.11Please respect copyright.PENANANJnyghtoyc