Jiang xi's pov-
It was just past midnight when my good for nothing friend showed up. I had scolded him earlier, told him to find the girl and let her know that I was alright if that was the reason she'd been wondering around for. He entered with a smug look on his face.
:"good news for you chief jiang, I met miss anya, and took her statement. Say are you proud of me now? "
:"you met her now? In the middle of the night? Are you crazy? "I snapped, now fully furious.
:" Well well who was the one who told me to only come after I find her and take her statement? And is it my fault that she was not home? I patiently waited for her too! "
:"she wasn't home? For this late? Did you asked where was she? "
:"calm down dear, you sound like a protective father. I asked her and she said she was out to buy something and lost track of time! "
:"and you believed her? "I asked.
:" Of course I did, she looked odd though, like she was tired. "
:"hah! You really believe she was just out shopping? you're more naive than I thought,officer! "I chuckled, he clearly didn't find it odd that a girl who didn't even looked like she belonged here was out so late...
:" How can you say that, I'm not naive okay, and I also helped you by telling her to expect your presence shortly! "
:"you did that? "He's useful sometimes I guess.
:" Of course I did so you can see her and ask her yourself if she was wandering around to see you. "
:"thanks I guess, I'll visit her tomorrow. "I said.
:" Wait you can't!, not right now !3 days at best, you have to rest 3 days before you're discharged, did you not hear what your doctor said? "
:"of course I heard him, don't worry I'm just gonna drop by her house, I'll come back shortly, won't be out for long, I swear! "
:"even if you say that we still have to inform the doctor, your wound is fatal, we don't know if it'll reopen by your moving! "He said sounding concerned.
:" Don't worry about me, now leave I want to rest" I said a lil annoyed.
:"I'll visit you tomorrow, you better not go anywhere without my permission you hear me? "
:"tsk.. Fine, fine I'll be here now will you lemme rest? "
:"okay, rest... I'll come tomorrow"
With that he left and I drifted into sleep with thinking about her. I can't shake off the look I saw on her face when I saw her this morning, I'm a bit relieved to know that she's fine. I'll be assure if I see her tomorrow, so I'll have to sneak out before officer catches me.
Next morning.
I woke up and changed into my usual attire, although it was a bit hard to change because of my injury I still managed it somehow. I sneaked out making sure nobody saw me and reached the said address. It's the same location I solved one of my cases, an abandoned city you could say. I knocked at the door, twice. Nothing, I knocked again.
This time she opened the door, looking almost messy but in a cute way, looks like she just woke up, she stared at me like she's watching a dream, her eyes glowing.
"I should've come later" I said to her, hearing this she came to life, slammed the door on my face and shouted that she needed five minutes. I told her I didn't really mind her appearance, but she won't listen to me. So I gladly waited.
She opened the door again and let me in, if she looked cute before, now she looked effortlessly beautiful. Her wrinkled clothes folded in such way that suits her, a messy bun, again cute. My eyes lingered on her face just enough to scan her. I took an old chair and sat down beside her.
I asked her about our first meeting and how she sensed my books, my guess was that she's a mage turns out my guess was right. She's indeed a mage from West, a runaway one. I felt kind of relieved with her answer. That she's indeed someone irrelevant to me. I'm glad I came here so soon, I wanted to come last night after hearing him describe her state but it would be inappropriate for me to visit a lady that late. So I waited till morning.
I asked her why she ran away from me, she said she was terrified. Well I could see that too that she was terrified of me, I scared her with my anger, I shouldn't have. I asked her about the place she's from but looks like she doesn't want to go back. Well I can always find out where she's from exactly no need to rush, I don't want her to be scared of me anymore, I know I should stay away from this girl, as people would target her if they knew I even talked to her
but what can I do?
I tried, but couldn't keep myself away.
Good thing I brought some steamed buns with me, she's become thinner than last time I saw her, skipping meals I guess. In that case I will have to moniter her from now on so she doesn't live like this, if she's a mage, even with her mana drained she could still be helpful to us and the empire but I think she wants to live a ordinary life so I won't push her for now.
She's amusing. Asking me if that's all I wanted to ask to her, makes me want to tease her more. I too want to stay a bit more but I know if my good for nothing officer friend doesn't find me in my bed, he'll come here straight.
So I had to leave.
Maybe it's because I'm injured but it feels like my brain got some injuries too for me to do things I normally wouldn't. Getting entangled with a strange woman like her? Not something I'd normally do!.
But right now I want to keep her safe. I can't erase her face from the night she came between me and adam. She was terrified but put up a brave front and charged. Like a lil rebel. I can't name the feeling yet but I know-
"This was supposed to be just a visit. So why does it feel like the beginning of something I can't walk away from?"