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:70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXsSAlU6XW
"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:70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nMCz2jSFT
"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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmLWk590XK
After saying that, I adjusted my mask and turned left, starting to walk away.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEBDhTmsvq
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vg81M8yg0
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?!70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdWppED1TO
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…70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeoBKSbbN0
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4zqCfd6DR
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF2siyTV2r
"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:70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6Cv9rZHuT
"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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTsyv0kYTq
Yes, Navia was a demon — the kind with white limbs.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakDChpYYaw
And yes... I absolutely hated demons.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyyBs2MPEs
But she was an exception.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF20f5jtns1
The kindest soul I had ever known…
Her soft voice interrupted my thoughts:70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKHv3DrxTa
"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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzmLAEFeZv
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aOlpKJoGU
"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:70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kQKeMySei
"It’s probably started swelling already..."
Another sigh...70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Fe01Nk92g
"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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSrtb76ls6
I don’t know what I would’ve done if I wasn’t wearing my mask…70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ahzjEbuuZ
She smiled gently. I realized I had been holding my breath when I saw her.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8YsJEQL0g
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42yMmE9Bgi
I watched her until she entered the cabin.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkhvLzbivX
Then I turned and started walking.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gixpysPd6
I had forgotten the pain in my foot.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ5ssbPAQd
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiIycec3m4
Then I opened it and stepped inside. I hung up my cloak, took off my boots, and placed them neatly.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnNgjs1muH
I tucked the jar of ointment into my cloak pocket.
Just then, I heard footsteps.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5YL01mVzE
It was Zane.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRG2Iu6qr3
On reflex, I hid the jar inside my cloak.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgOx8OBzpg
Zane was standing in front of me. From his facial expression and posture, it was obvious something was wrong.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hGfg9kDvB
A few steps behind him stood Jayden.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1c6h2vp2N
Normally, his face was expressionless, but this time I could sense something in his brown eyes — tension, maybe even stress.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXshBvtOFmR
That piqued my curiosity.
Zane spoke anxiously:70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpbCZpFrmS
"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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXyJXanB7E
Even limping, I walked inside quickly... and saw it.
A small demon sitting on the couch—70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARpCxjajrd
Wait a second. I looked closely. No, it wasn’t a demon, it was a half-blood.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliKdSkwfSn
Demons have slit pupils; his looked human.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEXS2eekIZ
A half-blood with black limbs.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91cWEtFXdb
I could see a bandage on his forehead between his white hair.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlngzM0FhP8
He was wearing a sweater that belonged to Jayden.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jwQTAc64d
The kid was staring blankly.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw9CYa75m8
It felt strange to me.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBSWTjCQZ0
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEpX5z8Vuw
Before they could say anything, I headed to my room.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsssD5XMXq
Right now, I didn’t care about that half-blood’s story.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaxw5bXMRn
and then Add to home screen.