He kept crying for a few minutes before finally he could make himself calm.
Shanti let go her hands and walked near Yana.
"why...are you crying too? you should hate us, human..."
"it's not about hate, and it's not about which side they are.."
"between human and animal, you should know by now...the difference.... who could control their lust, and who could see other living thing as it should be.."
Yana untied Chanotte's blindfold, and waited for his reaction.
He saw their ears were down. Their tail also faced down. Sad and fear expression could be seen on their face. They genuinely felt what he was going through. He just didn't understand.
These Half-beast that he saw as an animal were more having a common sense than his comrade at the fort.
"how's it? can you see thing more clear now?"
"....I don't know. Do you want me to doubt human?"
"of course not. It's not about race Chanotte.. -sigh- what's the point to hold your pride as a human being? while you know some of them even worse than wild beast?"
"maybe you're right...at least, for those soldiers at the fort.."
Barry approached him and talked to him.
"man!....to think that you were forced to do all that horrible things...at least we're fight for our family and our tribe. But you? for your commander's order?"
"you don't need to remind me an.... Half-beast.. I'll get the truth from commander Libhane by myself" He stared at Barry
"bwahahaha, that's the spirit! we don't need to worry about you after all!"
One of the child brought a bowl with the warm soup with white smoke still coming from the bowl. He approached Chanotte and offered him the warm soup.
"here sir....you look sad and hungry. Don't be sad and eat this delicious soup!" She smiled
Chanotte couldn't understand this scenery in front of him. As a top class warrior, he could feel someone's intention and this child in front of him totally didn't give any hostility towards him. Why? forced or not, order or not, he tried to kill all of her people. Why they still care about him and his feeling? beside his family, he never met any human that would show this kind of affection to him.
"please, open his handcuffs. He can't eat in that condition" Yana talked to the Half-beast that had the key
They didn't hesitate anymore. They opened his handcuffs and left him.
He looked to the child and she still held that bowl with the warm soup in it. No one who still had feeling could say no to her offer.
He grabbed the bowl, and responded to her kindness.
"...thank you"
"you're welcome sir! ehehe" She smiled while wagging her tail
She came back to her mother and Chanotte started to eat his soup. A warm and light sensation could be feel from the broth of the soup. The meat that already minced was really soft and juicy. His body became warm and fresh. He never had a warm and delicious meal like that since he left his house in the capital.
"it's...good"
"bwahahaha, of course! our women here are really great when it come to create a great food!"
Chanotte finished his soup and stood from his chair. He looked at Yana.
"let's go tomorrow, we don't have much time left.."
Yana smiled and replied.
"sure. But for now... let's we enjoy this party"
"that's...not a bad idea.."
Everyone felt relieved and laughed. At the very least, they knew that this man was not a bad guy after all. Just like their savior said, all was caused by the condition. Foe or ally, there's no such a thing.
The night was still young and the party continued by the protection of beast god ROGNIR.
-----( Chapter 34 "Between human and animal" )-----