'WHAT THE FUCK AM I DOING?!'
Luan was stumped. Horrified. Outraged. And utterly fucking confused.
Surely he, a fucking Demon Lord, a self-proclaimed god, didn't just pretend to be an illiterate child and cuddle up to some random stranger?!
It was such a heat of the moment situation, the words tumbled out of his mouth before he had any time to process them.
First, Luan had been so awe-struck by such a beautiful person that he forgot how to speak and gave into their kind words, seeking refuge in their arms and even let them heal him! Then, Luan had let this beautiful stranger give him a name! Then, he had blurted out the word 'pretty' while snuggling up to said beautiful stranger! Then he allowed himself to fall sleep so quickly and so peacefully in their arms! Then he was practically begging him not to leave. And now he's acting like a bratty child who can't speak properly, all because he's afraid he'll say something weird to this beautiful man he just met.
But to be fair, this man is incredibly beautiful. How could someone not be engulfed by his incredible looks? And his eyes … Such sparkling, green eyes framed by long, curved lashes … Such kind eyes, how could you not trust him?
And most importantly. Now. He is quite comfortably laying in this beautiful person's arms and quite happily falling asleep. The worst part is how well Luan had been sleeping whilst in this beauty's arms. And how badly he wanted to keep up this façade…
Was it a matter of witchcraft? Was he under a spell to make his defences weaken? Could this human see who he truely was and wanted to slice off his head while he slept? Or was something really wrong with him?
But never mind that. Luan was extremely tired and desperately needed a good sleep to help replenish his energy levels faster.
Luan had no energy left to ponder how on earth a mere human had healed him so quickly. How he had gotten this Demon Lord to trust him so easily. And how the human had gotten a hold of such a powerful weapon.
…
'OH SHIT, THE FIRE!'
Nai jolts upright, swearing silently as he knocks the child laying next to him, making him roll a few times. Nai leans over and scoops the child up into his arms and dashes through the forest, following the bright orange glow from ahead.
He cannot believe he had been so caught up with this child that he had forgotten all about the fire spreading through the village. If he had just left it completely and people knew had passed through, he would get an earful from the Crown Prince once he arrived at his destination.
He reaches the village in no time, coughing slightly from the thick haze of smoke. Nai places Noah gently on the ground, leaning him against a nearby tree and wrapped up in Nai's jacket. Somehow, despite all that jostling in Nai's arms and the yelling of villagers to get more water hasn't yet woken up this small child.
One of the houses has been rid of its flames, leaving a black charcoal burn on almost every surface. A woman weeps beside it, trembling violently as she clutches a small body in her arms. Upon closer inspection, this body seems to be the same charred color as the house. Nai can't even tell which gender it was, as its facial features are peeling or glued together.
Nai sighs and wanders over to a house still engulfed by flames. The traumatized, wounded, and dead will have to wait. Putting out these fires comes first.
A few dozen men run to and fro, carrying small buckets of water, which is then to be poured onto the roaring flames. No wonder it took them so long just to put out the one house. There are still three buildings engulfed by orange flames and the fire is still spreading. Soon, it will reach the tree line, then it would even be out of Nai's hands. That means he has to work fast.
Nai, dodging the water-carrying men, finds a place on the road where he can see all three burning houses at once. He raises his hands, stretching them towards the flames, and closes his eyes. A few villagers stop and point, confused looks plastered across their dirty faces. Then, they become even more dumbstruck as the flames start to move, wriggling towards this stranger, slide off houses, leaving a trail of charred grass in their wake, until they're licking at his fingertips. But the man never burns. Instead, he starts to softly glow as the flames disappear once they've touched his pale skin.
He's swallowing the flames with his hands.
One burly villager nudges a man next to him. "It's the fucking Blessing of the Sun."
"Blessing of the Sun? Here?! How fucking lucky are we?!"
"No way, the Blessing of the Sun is really here? Look at him go!"
Nai wants nothing more than to snap at the villagers to shut up. It is distracting to have someone talk about you whilst you are trying to save them. But in no time, all of the flames had been snatched from their houses and consumed by Nai. His skin has stopped glowing, but his golden hair is shining brightly, and his mood has drastically changed. Consuming the fire is like eating. It gives him a massive boost of energy that perks up his attitude, but to Nai's dismay.
He turns to the villagers with a big, real smile plastered across his face. The villagers cheer and whistle as they crowd around him, shouting praises and clapping his back. A few women even come up to him and bashfully express their gratitude by offering him gifts.
But then Nai's mood dips again as he spots the dozens of people cradling dead bodies or screaming at the charred houses whilst being held back by multiple people. It's evident that they want to run into the houses and gather their loved ones who couldn't escape the flames, but it was far too dangerous to let them enter.
Something heavy falls upon Nai's shoulders, enveloping him in warmth. A thick black jacket rests on his shoulders, but he instantly shakes it off and walks away with it in his arms. A few villagers are confused, but follow him like ducklings as he searches the village for someone. He spots the woman cradling her charred child, still rocking back and forth as she cries and screams for her baby.
Nai approaches her slowly, and gently places the jacket over her shoulders. The woman flinches and whips around, eyes wide in horror. But once her teary eyes meet Nai's soft ones, she bawls harder and lowers her head in thanks.
Nai doesn't like to admit it, but he's actually a very nice person. He has just been exploited and abused by one too many people. He really wishes he could bring himself to hate all humans and all Demons, but deep down he knows this is not the case.