"Cecily!"
A rumble vibrated in Ryu's chest as the voice was unfamiliar to him. But apparently, Cecily jutted out from the confines of her arms, and color went back to her face somehow.
"Lucian?" Cecily murmured in disbelief.
Ryu shot to his feet when torches illuminated the cave and what came next were soldiers in Azure armors, led by a young man with orange hair and an overconfident stride.
Ryu was about to attack when Cecily flung into the man's arms.
"Lucian!"
"Cecily!" Lucian hugged Cecily in a tight embrace and brushed her long wavy hair. "I'm glad that you're safe."
"Lucian . . . Murok and Dozla . . . they . . ." Cecily didn't want to be weak, especially not in front of the soldiers and her childhood friend, but right now . . . she was too emotional.
"I'm sorry I came too late . . . ," Lucian whispered, "You're safe now. You have nothing to worry about."
Something ominous and dark was gripping Ryu from within, and if he didn't separate Cecily from Lucky or whatever his name was, his inner beast would rip him to shreds.
"Don't."
Before Ryu could tear Lucian away, a calm hand grabbed his, and like magic, the beast inside him went asleep.
"Ferris." Ryu was never this glad to finally met Ferris again that he scooped her up and rubbed his head against her burnt, stinking flat chest. "You're okay!"
Ferris wanted to roll her eyes but decided to pat Ryu's head instead. "Yeah. I'm glad you're okay too."
Ryu put Ferris down, and with eager gaze, he looked at the men inside the cave. His nostrils enlarge, finding Dorian's and Valij's scent. "How about Dorian . . . and the others?"
Ferris blinked. She was caught off guard at the sudden question. Since when did Ryu take a liking to them?
"They . . ." Ferris looked away, "didn't make it."
". . . What?"
Ferris was more shocked to find that Ryu was shocked. Did he really like that two-faced human?
Ryu didn't know what he was feeling right now. It felt like he was going to puke. His head was spinning, and his heart was constricting so bad.
"Dorian's. . . dead?"
What Dorian said kept replaying in Ryu's mind, and he felt a sudden hollow in his stomach.
Ferris caught the slight change in Ryu's expression. She didn't know if it was a good thing that he didn't realize Dorian's true nature or not. But for now . . . it was better to stay quiet about it.
"What about . . . Valij?" Ryu asked after some time when his emotion stabilized a little. "I saw you there . . . when we're falling in the cliff. Valij . . . was there too."
Ferris's heart thumped in her throat, but her inner demon was rampaging in curiosity as to why Ryu was concerned with Valij.
Ferris looked on the ground. "The monster's too strong . . . She didn't make it."
Ryu wouldn't understand if she told him that it was her inner demon. That she was having a hard time controlling it once she released its true form.
". . ." Ryu was sure that Ferris was lying to him. It was apparent from the way her fists were clenching and how her eyes wouldn't meet his.
"You could have . . . save her . . . You're strong." Ryu knew that much. But what he didn't realize was that his voice turned accusing.
"Why would I do that?" Ferris snapped.
Ryu bit his lip, and his chin crumpled. "Because . . . because it's the right thing. They were . . . Cecily's people."
". . ." Right thing? Ferris didn't know when did Ryu think that saving someone was the right thing. Did he associate too much with Dorian and the others?
No. something must have happened between him and Valij for him to be attached with her.
Ferris innards shook, and her dilated eyes captured Ryu's amber ones. "What happen between you two?"
Ryu was overcome with fear, but he shook his head and growled. "She saved me . . . I owe her."
Ferris calmed a bit, and her dilated eyes narrowed into a slit. "So what? I don't owe her anything."
Ferris folded her arms and looked to the other side.
Ryu frowned but didn't say anything more. He swallowed a snarl that came close to escaping his mouth and decided to ignore Ferris.
Eventually, everyone got out of the cave, and Lucian asked, "Are they your servants?"
Cecily shot Ryu and Ferris a tired look before she nodded. "Yes."
That was the most lethargic response Ferris ever saw on Cecily. But just now . . . there was something in her eyes when he gazed at Ryu. Something was missing . . . The hate . . . the anger . . . it wasn't there anymore. Was it brought about the death of Murok? Did her grief overcome her feelings of hate?
Ferris looked over at Ryu and found that his attention never left Cecily when they went out of the cave. His expression was soft, like it was about to melt.
Something . . . something changed . . . She could feel it.