Erina shifted her weight and rested one hand on her hip, the other hanging loose at her side. A faint smile lingered at the corner of her mouth as her gaze followed him.
"So… you're leaving now, Mr. Darrion?"
The wind tugged at the hem of her sleeve as she drew a quiet breath, her eyes narrowing just a little.
"I think I'll miss having you around."
Her fingers pressed lightly into her hip before she relaxed her hand again.
"…Why not stay a little longer?"
Darrion stood straight, the fabric of his clothes shifting lightly as the breeze passed. His gaze stayed forward, steady.
"I have to report all intelligence I've gathered to the capital. So I won't be staying."
His jaw tightened once as his eyes moved briefly toward the path in the forest leading away from the village.
"That ogre we encountered… it spoke."
A short breath left him.
"I'm certain it mentioned a lord."
His hand settled at his side, fingers still.
"If we can determine where this lord is..."
"Ogre?"
Nora stepped in before he could finish, tilting her head a little as her ponytailed orange hair shifted against her shoulder. Her brows lifted, curiosity clear in her eyes.
"You mean that large fiend with the two horns and the giant axe?"
Her lips curved upward as she straightened, one hand lifting slightly as if replaying the moment.
"The one I defeated in a single strike?"
Darrion's brow twitched as he faced her, a brief tension pulling across his expression. His arms folded over his chest, leather creasing softly as his shoulders set. His jaw tightened before his lips parted, breath steady as the words left him.
"No… you didn't." His eyes held on hers without wavering. "It clearly retreated."
A short pause followed as his chin lifted slightly, posture rigid.
"'Ogre' isn't literal," he continued, voice controlled, measured. "It's a designation. A codename assigned by the capital to that fiend classification."
"Every fiend type that's discovered gets formally reported to the capital." His thumb pressed once against the inside of his forearm. "They're given a code name to streamline operations."
He drew in a breath through his nose, the air leaving slower than it entered. "It reduces confusion during missions. That's all..."
"Oh… I see." Erina's expression softened as understanding settled in. She tilted her head slightly, her posture relaxed, one hand resting at her hip as if grounding herself.
Darrion turned to Nora, his gaze fixed on her, a faint tension settling along his brow.
"By the way… witch. You're coming with me."
"Ehh—? But why?"
The sound burst out of Nora as her eyes widened, breath catching high in her chest. She shifted back a step on instinct, her boot scraping lightly against the ground. Heat crept up her cheeks, a faint blush spreading as her hands lifted halfway before hovering there, uncertain.
"What did I even do?"
"And… can you stop calling me a witch?"
Her voice dropped, the words coming out quieter than before. A small breath left her through her nose, irritation slipping through the restraint as her fingers curled lightly at her sides.
Darrion drew in a slow breath, his chest rising before he let it out. His eyes closed for a brief moment, lashes lowering as if to restrain what pressed behind them.
"It's not like I care about your feelings."
The words came out flat, controlled, his eyes opening again as his focus returned to her.
"I can't afford to look away from a continental-level threat like you."
A short pause followed, the air between them tightening.
"What happens if your fiendish nature awakens all at once?" His gaze stayed fixed, unblinking. "If you lose control… and cause mass destruction."
"No— that would never happen!"
The protest spilled out of Nora, her voice rising as her hands began to tremble, fingers curling and uncurling without control.
She shut her eyes and drew in a deep breath, her chest lifting as she held it for a moment before letting it go. A faint smile formed, unsteady but sincere, as she clasped her hands behind her back, her fingers fidgeting against one another.
"Don't worry." Her voice settled, quieter now. "I've trained hard enough not to lose to the dark side."
Another breath followed, steadier this time. "No matter what happens… I won't give in."
"I'm honestly not convinced." Darrion's voice cut in without hesitation, calm and unmoved, his attention never leaving her.
"Ehh—!" The sound slipped out of Nora as she stiffened, eyes widening as the words hit her.
Wait a minute… this might not be so bad.
The thought settled in as Nora's shoulders eased. Warm anticipation spread through her chest, and her lips parted slightly without her noticing.
If I travel with him… that means I can eat delicious food every day.
Moisture gathered at the corner of her mouth as her eyes brightened, a quiet sparkle lighting them up. She quickly lifted the back of her hand and wiped it away, cheeks warming as she straightened, trying to regain her composure.
"Okay… I guess... I'll travel with you."
Nora spoke after a brief pause, her voice quieter than before. She turned her face away, eyes lowering as she drew in a small breath.
She glanced back at him, lips pressing together as she tried to keep herself composed, the lingering pull of her cravings tightening briefly in her chest before she forced it down.
Strange… I expected more resistance.
The thought passed through Darrion as his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer. His fingers shifted, then settled at his hips, leather tightening softly under the movement.
Does she have ulterior motives?
His eyes closed as he drew in a measured breath, the air leaving him slowly.
No… she's too simple minded for that.
"You're not resisting?" Darrion regarded her in silence for a beat, his stance steady as his weight settled evenly through his legs. A quiet breath left him. "Good... looks like I won't have to knock you out… or drag you along with a rope."
"You never learn anything, huh?"
Anger pushed into Nora's voice, sharper than before as her breath hitched in her chest. She leaned forward slightly, feet bracing against the ground. "You wanna do try now?"
A smile spread across her lips, thin and deliberate, even as tension drew her brows closer together. Heat gathered in her palms as she lifted her hands.
Flames bloomed to life there, bright and unrestrained. The fire pulsed with each breath she took, crackling softly as sparks snapped and vanished into the air.
"Rhem!"
The sharp sound cut through the air as Erina cleared her throat. Her expression hardened, heat flashing through her eyes as one hand curled into a tight fist at her side, knuckles paling with the tension.
"But— he started it!" Nora protested.
Color rushed to her face, her mouth pulling into a small pout as she huffed out a quick breath.
"Darrion is unarmed, so you're in the wrong for falling for his taunts."
Erina's tone remained calm, a small, knowing smile resting on her lips as she looked toward Nora. She let the pause settle before continuing, her voice lowering just a little.
"And remember… not everyone knows you're a half-blood."
Her gaze stayed steady, gentle but firm. "They won't all be as welcoming as my brother and I. So be careful."
"Oh… you're right. I'm sorry."
Nora lifted a hand to the back of her neck, fingers rubbing lightly as a small, awkward chuckle slipped out of her. She shifted her attention back to Darrion, her posture straightening as her gaze settled on him.
"Okay. I'll go with you." A brief pause followed as she drew in a small breath. "But only if you can fulfill three conditions."
She lifted her hand and held up three fingers, her lips curving slightly as a look of quiet satisfaction settled on her face.
"I'll humor you." Darrion gave a slight tilt of his head as the words left him, a quiet breath passing through his nose. "Go ahead."
"One." She lifted a single finger, holding it firmly between them. "I want three meals a day… and you're the one cooking everything."
"Well… that's already my daily routine." Darrion answered simply, a quiet breath leaving him as his shoulders settled. "I'll just have to double the portions."
His gaze slid over her, measured and blunt.
"And judging by your abilities, at best you can only manage burnt leaves and half-charred meat in the wilderness. You don't even seem to understand the basics of cooking."
A faint scoff left him.
"I wouldn't wish your cooking on my worst enemy—let alone put it in my own mouth. So I have no problem agreeing to that condition."
He shifted his stance slightly. "Next."
He sees right through me, Nora thought. Her breath hitched.
Her eyes opened wider, pupils tightening as they locked onto him. Heat rushed to face, sharp and immediate, spreading across her cheeks. Her mouth parted, but nothing came out.
Erina let out a small chuckle, the sound soft and amused, as her fingers reached up to adjust the bandana tied around her hair. The fabric slid slightly beneath her touch as she tightened the knot.
Well, isn't someone talkative today, she thought, the corner of her lips lifting as her eyes flicked briefly toward Darrion.
"Condition number two!!"
She lifted two fingers, holding them up between them. A steady breath filled her chest as her posture straightened. The earlier fluster faded, replaced by something firmer. Her gaze stayed locked forward, clear and unshaking.
"I haven't told you this yet," she continued, her voice steady as it left her. "But right now, I'm on a journey to find my long-lost brother."
Her fingers remained raised as her jaw set. Resolve settled into her eyes, quiet but unmistakable.
Darrion's eyes widened slightly, then narrowed as his jaw tightened. A sharp breath left his nose, irritation flaring as his shoulders stiffened.
"Wait… a brother?" His gaze locked onto her, voice edged with anger. "A brother of a witch? Don't act stupid."
"A male half-blood would be dead within ten hours of birth. His blood rejects fiend essence—his body can't endure those powers."
His glare sharpened, unyielding. "If such a child existed, he'd already be dead."
"He's… a bit special. But it's true—he was born with a very weak body."
As the words left her mouth, her gaze lowered. One hand rose to her chest, fingers pressing lightly into the fabric as she drew a slow breath and steadied it.
Her eyes lifted again, more cautiously this time. A faint tension pulling at her brows, hesitation clear but unspoken. Her lips closed once she finished, her jaw settling as if she were considering whether she had revealed too much.
She stayed still after that, posture restrained, eyes fixed forward as she waited for his response.
Had?
That single word caught, sharp and immediate.
That can only mean he's no longer human.
If his sister has the power to repel a fiend of that level… then what did he become?
A slow breath settled through him as his gaze stayed forward, unmoving.
There's another problem.
Our researchers have never recorded a single confirmed sighting of a living male witch.
The thought tightened in his chest, heavy and unavoidable.
This needs to be reported as well.