This is bad, really bad.
My father and the townsmen are looking at Feuer. A demon with human blood, but for them, she's a demon nonetheless. This is not good, not good at all.
With her horn exposed out in the open, Feuer became increasingly restless, her eyes darting toward the people before us as she slowly hid behind me. At this moment, the suspense was as thick as the fur on an Armored Bear.
"Uh, hi, Dad," I stuttered, trying to act casual despite my anxiety. "Fancy meeting you here."
"Siegfried, step away from the demon," he demanded firmly, raising his sword with concern.
Seeing his reasonable reaction, I attempt to justify the situation. "Wait, Dad, it's not what you think. Feuer may look like a demon, but she's also part human like me."
Father lowered his sword upon listening to my reasoning. However, the townsmen gossiped among themselves, their expressions a mix of fear and anger.
But then, a burly man with a scar across his cheek stepped forward. "It does not matter! A demon is a demon! She should be dealt with before she brings destruction to our kingdom!"
"He's right!" another townsman joined in and voiced his opposition. "That demon is deceiving you, boy! And you are disappointing your father!"
I turned and saw my father's conflicted expression. He looked like he was hesitating whether to believe me or the townsmen. While this was happening, I suddenly felt Feuer grabbing my arm. I peeked at her and witnessed her body trembling and her face tensing up, making her fear of adults seem reasonable.
"Siegfried... I don't want to be here," she whispered, her voice noticeably shaking.
Understanding her request, I returned my attention to the crowd and pleaded, "Please, Dad, I beg you and those people to let my friend go. She doesn't want to hurt anyone, I swear."
Father, observing me and Feuer, seemed to understand my words and was about to respond but the burly man was not having it and brandished his pitchfork.
"Nonsense! Do you think your father would believe that?!" he exclaimed angrily before facing my father. "Sir Himmel, please save your son from that demon's deception."
"He's right, your son doesn't know what he's saying," the other townsman added, attempting to get his approval.
The other townspeople also voiced their reasons to surpass mine. This not only caused my father to grimace with hesitation but also intensified Feuer's fear. Witnessing this situation spiraling out of control, I couldn't help but do something to resolve it.
Pointing my magic staff in the air, I shouted, "Knallkörper!!"
A small spark was shot out, prompting my father and the townsmen to look at it. And then...
SHIIIIIINE!!
The spell burst into a huge blinding light, overwhelming everyone's vision except for Feuer and my father, who knew what to expect and lowered their heads to avoid getting blinded.
"Gaah! My eyes! I can't see!" all of the townsmen screamed synchronously.
This includes the burly man who's rubbing his eyes. "Dammit! Sir Himmel, where's your son and that demon?"
Hearing that, I looked at my father, his gaze meeting mine. Determinedly, I hold Feuer's hand, silently conveying to him that I wanted to help my friend escape. He understood my intention and took a deep breath before responding to the burly man.
"Oh no, I can't see as well! Damn you, son, I shall punish you later!" he shouted, pretending to be blind. At the same time, he stepped aside and gestured for us to leave.
Seizing this opportunity, I tugged Feuer along as we ran into the forest, leaving the confused and blinded townsmen behind. As we escaped, the echoes of their frustrated cries gradually faded into the distance.
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Once Feuer and I got far away enough, we both took a moment to catch our breaths. I could feel the adrenaline slowly dwindling, replaced by a mix of relief and worry.
"That was way too close," I panted, leaning against a tree. "Feuer, are you okay?"
Feuer nodded, her eyes still widening with residual fear. "I'm fine, it's just... I never thought it would come to this."
"Me neither," I admitted, looking around to make sure we were alone. "So, what now? Where do we go from here?"
We stood in silence for a moment, the sounds of the forest filling the tense air. The gravity of our situation weighed heavily on both of us.
"I will return to my home and pack my things," she replied solemnly. "This forest is no longer safe for me to stay since the adults are now aware of my presence."
"Wait, are you leaving?" I asked dejectedly.
Feuer nodded sincerely. "Yes, it's the only way to guarantee not only my safety but yours as well. I can't risk dwelling here any longer."
My heart sank at the thought of her leaving. Feuer had become my friend for only a day, and the thought of losing her now felt unbearable.
"Is there anything else I could do to avoid this?" I asked, hoping there was an alternative way to make this easier. "I'm not ready to let you go just yet."
She gave me a small, sad smile and touched my shoulder. "You have done so much already, Siegfried. But me staying here will only put you and your father in more danger."
"I don't care about the danger!" I insisted, my voice rising with desperation. "There has to be another way! Perhaps we could find a place where you can live peacefully, away from all this madness and prejudice!"
Feuer looked at me with a mixture of gratitude and sorrow. "I appreciate your kindness, truly. But right now, I need to go. Maybe one day, but not today, we can find that place together."
Our surroundings grew still as the weight of her words hung in the air. The forest, once filled with vibrant life, now seemed like a looming specter of pressure. I wanted to say something, to convince her to stay, but the rational part of me knew she was right.
"Where will you go?" I asked quietly, trying to keep my voice steady.
"I don't know, somewhere far from here, where no one knows my presence," Feuer answered, her tone resolute. "Perhaps a place where I can start over without fear of being hunted."
The thought of her wandering alone in a world that feared and misunderstood her made my heart ache. But I knew I couldn't be a selfish person. Her safety had to come first, even if it meant saying goodbye.
"Will we ever see each other again?" I asked, a lump forming in my throat.
Feuer looked down briefly before meeting my gaze with a mixture of trust and uncertainty. "I hope so. Only time will tell, and both of us have plenty of it."
Right, we're both essentially immortal beings, so we've got the time to wait for the world to change. I took a deep breath, trying to steel myself for the inevitable goodbye.
Rustle~
Suddenly, a rustling noise interrupted our conversation. Feuer and I immediately turned and raised our guard, only to see a small, scruffy creature darting into view. It was a fox, with a curious glint in its eye.
"Phew~ Looks like even the forest creatures are trying to distract us," I remarked with a faint smile, attempting to lighten the mood.
Feuer chuckled softly, her expression softening. "Maybe it's a sign. A reminder that even in tough times, there's still some beauty left in the world."
We shared a quiet, bittersweet moment as the fox scampered off into the underbrush. It was time to say our final goodbyes, and though it was hard, I knew it was the right thing to do.
"Take care of yourself, Feuer," I affirmed, my voice trembling. "Just promise you won't forget about me."
She nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. "Yeah, you too."
With one last lingering look, Feuer turned and began to walk away, her figure slowly fading into the dense forest. I watch her leave, feeling a profound sense of loss mixed with hope for the bright future. As her silhouette disappeared, I started walking in the opposite direction, heading back home.
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Upon reaching home, I saw my father standing at the entrance with a neutral expression and his arms crossed. The weight of the day's events felt heavy as I approached him.
"Hey, Dad," I called out, trying to sound casual despite the knot in my stomach. "I'm back."
He glanced at me, his gaze flickering with a mix of relief and concern. "So, what happened to your friend, Siegfried?"
Hearing that, the memory of Feuer's words echoed within my mind, each one a reminder of our difficult goodbye.
"Feuer left," I said, my voice tinged with regret. "She decided it was best to move on from the woods and find somewhere else to stay."
"I see..." Father replied, his tone somewhat thoughtful. "Coincidentally, I said the same thing to the townsmen so they wouldn't bother us anymore."
Confused, I looked at him. "What do you mean?"
Father sighed and gestured for me to follow him inside. I complied and we went to the dining room, so we could talk properly.
"You see, after that little light show you did, the townsmen were understandably upset," he explained. "I told them that your friend was no longer a threat and they left."
Feeling a sense of relief and confusion, I retorted, "You... you did?"
"Yes," Father nodded. "I figured it was the only way to keep the peace without drawing more attention to ourselves. So, I hope you understand."
Listening to his reasoning, I nodded silently. The tension in my chest relaxed a little, though the weight of the day's spontaneous events still lingered.
Later on, Father cooked up some soup for dinner. We ate together, and I narrated the events of the day. As I spoke, my father listened intently, slowly understanding just how much of a good person Feuer was.
"Wow, I didn't realize how much you two went through," Father remarked thoughtfully after I was done talking. "Sounds like she was indeed a remarkable person."
"She was," I agreed. "And she still is, even if she's out there on her own now."
Knock... knock...
Unexpectedly, we heard knocking on the door, breaking the peaceful atmosphere.
Father quickly rose from the dinner table and went to answer the door. It became eerily quiet for a moment before he finally spoke. "Um, Siegfried, can you come here, please?"
I rushed to see what he was talking about. When I arrived, my eyes widened as I saw Feuer standing before us, wearing a hooded poncho with bunny ears and a huge bag on her back.
"F-Feuer? What are you doing here?" I asked confusedly. "Don't tell me you're here to stay?"
In response, Feuer shook her head and said, "No, I was passing by, and I figured I should say goodbye to you one more time."
Her sudden words hit me like a wave of relief and sorrow combined. I would never expected she would go on her way just to bid farewell after we had done it a while ago.
"Are you sure that's all, young lady?" Father interjected. "I mean if you need a place to stay, you're welcome here with my son."
Feuer smiled softly, her eyes were filled with appreciation and sorrow as she shook her head once again. "I appreciate your gesture, Mister. But I need to keep moving now. Also, I wanted to say thank you."
"Hmm? Thank me for what?" Father asked, tilting his head in curiosity.
Suddenly, she glanced at me and replied, "For having a kind son."
Her words struck me deeply, and I felt tears welling up. I tried so hard to swallow the lump in my throat, but it was no use. The emotions had finally caught up with me. while crying, I felt Feuer touch my shoulder, so I looked up to meet her gaze.
"It's okay," she said tenderly. "We promised we wouldn't forget each other as long as we took care of ourselves."
Her reassurance was soothing, making her sound more like an angel than a demon. I nodded in response, tears still streaming in my eyes. Feuer's presence, even in this brief moment, had made everything feel a bit more bearable.
With that final, passionate glance, Feuer looked at my father and gave him a nod. He nodded back, acknowledging her presence. After all of that, she turned and began walking away, her figure slowly disappearing into the twilight.
Once she disappeared from view, Father motioned for me to come back inside. "Come now, let's finish our dinner before it gets cold."
I nodded, allowing myself to be guided back inside. We then continued eating and later that night, I settled into bed and thought about Feuer. Despite the uncertainty of the future, I held on to the hope that one day, our paths would cross again.