"It's really you, Aura! Good. I was worried it might be someone else."
The human boy smiles, relieved yet shy. No magic, just a plain human. Except his gaze doesn't meet mine. He's facing me but can't see me. Because—
"So, Linie's been coming here."
"Yeah, about a week ago. She found my blindness interesting and kept me company."
The boy before me, Vir, is blind.
I'm talking face-to-face with him, prompted by Linie's confession last night. She's been visiting this place for a week, playing with Vir. "Playing" just means chatting, like I'm doing now. But it's a problem—demons risk exposure to humans. Even robed, as I am, Linie's behavior could raise suspicions. She's especially careless. Luckily, Vir's blindness seems to have kept our secret.
"But wasn't it tough? She's childish despite her looks. Didn't she say anything weird?"
I can't let my guard down. Who knows what she blabbed? I can't predict it. Worst case, I'd need submission magic to erase his memories. That's why I came here. I wanted to move a bit, but not like this. Linie's staying behind—bringing her would make things worse.
"Weird… well, she told me lots of fun stories. About her village, the capital, the Holy City. Mostly about you, though. She really loves you, Aura."
"Yeah, I hear that a lot. Anything else?"
"Hmm… oh, she made funny jokes. Said she's lived fifty years, older than me, so I should call her big sister. I was embarrassed, so I said friends instead, and she was thrilled. Nice kid."
"Yeah… always mimicking others."
No worst-case scenario, it seems. Vir had doubts but didn't suspect she's a demon. Makes sense—she's the least demonic demon. My order to keep her nature secret likely helped. And she played big sister again, since it didn't work on Stark or Lily. It failed here too, but—
Friends. That probably made her happier. She had friends in the village and Holy City, but they knew she was a demon. Being treated as a friend by a stranger might be a first for her.
"Is Aura… Linie's big sister?"
Vir's question catches me off guard. Lately, we're seen as sisters, not parent and child. Nothing odd about that. But Vir can't see my appearance, only hear my voice. Judging by that alone must be tough. Annoying.
"Yeah… something wrong with that?"
"Well, Linie said you're her master. I thought she was teasing, but it didn't feel like that."
"She says weird stuff. Don't take it seriously. She's a liar. It's like a game."
His reason makes me wince. Good thing he can't see. Linie's such a handful—makes me no better than Himmel. I call her a liar, though she isn't. It's a game, not entirely wrong. Outside the village or Holy City, this could be an issue. What now? For now—
"Call me just Aura. 'Miss' feels off."
"Huh? But dropping it feels… how about big sister?"
"Sure. That fits better."
I change how he addresses me. 'Miss' feels wrong, and 'Lady' would be odd here. I'd prefer just my name, but fine. I'm used to being called sister, though I'm not that young.
"? Something up?"
"Huh? Oh, just… you feel more like a mom than a big sister."
I'm stunned. I never expected that, especially from someone I just met. What about me screams mom? He's blind, yet— Like with 'friends,' his words shake me, even freed. Oddly, it's not unpleasant. Probably because he's not teasing like Himmel's crew.
"Yeah, I get that a lot. Wanna try calling me that? I don't mind."
"! S-Sorry, that was rude. Saying that to a woman…"
"Exactly. Be careful. Age is taboo for women. You might get screamed at for days."
"Do you do that too, big sister?"
"I'd just ignore you."
"That's tough too. I'll be careful."
I fire back. Human or demon, don't mention a woman's age. That elf apparently screams for days—Himmel was terrified, so it must be bad. I'm kinder by comparison. Maybe it's his youth or nature, but Vir accepts it earnestly. Unlike someone.
"But you're really blind. How'd you get here alone?"
"Yeah. My staff helps. I'm fine on familiar paths."
"Hmm…"
His staff leans against the rock. He uses it to navigate, unlike Himmel's third leg. Clever, though troublesome. Then—
"By the way, what do you do, big sister? I asked Linie, but it wasn't clear."
A belated, obvious question. Can't expect much from Linie.
"Adventurer. Half-traveler, but a mage too."
I lie smoothly, almost naturally. Nostalgic. Before submission, I posed as one to lower human guards. But—
"Adventurer! That's cool! It's my dream to be one."
It hits harder than expected. And brings intense déjà vu. But more than that—
Even blind?
I swallow the question. Obvious, yet pointless to point out. It'd offend him. No threat, but no need to upset him.
"…Why do boys always dream of being adventurers? A kid I know was the same."
I ask instead, recalling young Stark's similar reaction. Why do human boys love adventurers? A trait? Skirt-flipping must be their unique habit.
"Because it's cool! I admire Hero Himmel. My mom read me his tales as a kid. There's a statue of him in my village."
"Oh? Don't take it too seriously. Biographies are unreliable."
"Really? But they were thrilling. That kid probably feels the same. You could be friends."
"Yeah, I'll tell him if we meet."
Himmel's name pops up here, of all places. Even freed, it follows me. Forget statues—biographies too? Probably full of lies, a future embarrassment. Friends again, huh? Introducing Vir to Stark could be fun. Wonder how he'd react.
The conversation flows, or rather, I'm forced to listen. Vir loves birds. Once the topic shifts, his mature air vanishes, and he talks nonstop, like young Lily with flowers. Birds or blooms, they're kindred spirits. His knowledge is detailed—mimicking calls to lure prey, birds that mimic human speech. I never cared, but birds must have as many types as flowers. For a kid, he's learned. A scholar or researcher suits him better than adventurer, but no need to say it.
"Sorry, I talked too much."
"It's fine. I'm used to it. I know a girl who loves flowers. Shy, but talks like you about them."
"Really? Are you into flowers too, big sister?"
"Not like her, but I've been dragged into it enough."
"Can you tell me about them? I'm curious."
"Such an oddball. Fine…"
He's into flowers too? Definitely scholar material. No reason to refuse, so I share Lily's secondhand knowledge. His unseen eyes sparkle. Such a weirdo. I realize midway he can't see flowers, so it's pointless, but I keep going. He's especially keen on Blue Moonweed. Some birds are near extinction too, he says. Weak species get weeded out, I guess.
How long did we talk? He gradually shares his story. His parents were killed by demons. He lost his sight then. A common tale, nothing new. Why tell me? I didn't ask. Maybe he wanted me to hear. Like a confession.
"Why… did demons attack the village?"
Vir mutters, calm, lacking the anger, hatred, or sadness humans would show. No trace of those in his confession. Just exhaustion, staring somewhere unseen with eyes that see nothing. Wanting a reason. A child's question.
"No reason. They just felt like it."
I tell the truth, unvarnished. Even I, a demon, don't know why. There's no reason. Humans are likely the same—I've seen it enough in fifty years.
"…"
"What? Something wrong?"
"No, it's just… you talk like you're a demon."
"Yeah. No human knows demons better than me."
Not like—I am. Laughable. Pretending to be human while explaining demon motives. Vir doesn't suspect I'm a demon. He takes my words at face value, probably thinking an adventurer knows demons well. But—
"Do you think we can understand demons, big sister?"
His question—no, his foolish notion—leaves me speechless. I never imagined anyone but him would dream such a fairy tale.
"That's impossible. Your parents were killed by demons, and you lost your eyes. Why think that? Don't you hate them?"
I close my eyes, then answer. That's the truth. He said it was possible, but I couldn't see it. So it must not be true.
What's weirder is Vir. If his confession was true, demons took everything. Why entertain coexistence? Why not want revenge? No hatred? To my doubts—
"I… think I hate them. But I don't want to believe all demons are bad. Some must be good."
He answers, almost wishing it true. I realize he's wise but foolish. Blindness or nature? Either way, he won't live long like this.
"No such thing."
I state the fact, exasperated. Demons aren't good or bad. It's kill or be killed, deceive or be deceived. That's all. If wanting coexistence makes a demon "good," the Demon King, history's greatest human-killer, would qualify. Ironic. But—
"There must be. Haven't you heard of Aura the Scale?"
It boomerangs back to me in an unexpected way.
"…Never heard of her."
"They say a demon called the Scale lives in the Holy City with Monk Heiter. She saves people equally, like a goddess. I'd love to meet her, but it's hard being blind. Oh, same name as you! What a coincidence."
He talks eagerly, eyes shining like when he spoke of Himmel. I listen, detached. Why do humans love rumors? It's spread even here. Like those biographies—full of lies. No different from Himmel's antics.
"Those rumors are lies. If you meet a demon, run. Talking's pointless."
I warn him. It's a fabrication, likely started by Himmel and Heiter's prank, now its own myth. A false idol. Falling for it could get him killed. His parents died saving him—don't waste that.
Yet Vir, stunned, suddenly laughs, unable to hold it in. Did I say something funny? He's the one saying weird things.
"What's so funny?"
"No, just… if my mom were alive, she'd say the same."
"I'm not your mom."
"Sorry."
Another silly reason. Always about moms. Humans love that. Being cast as one is a nuisance. If Linie called me that, I'd shudder. A concept we can't grasp.
"Before I forget, here."
"What's this?"
"Ingredients for Linie. Take them."
Not to dodge, but he hands me a bag of ingredients. Right—Linie's secret. She's been getting food from him. So like her. Better than stealing from a village, I suppose.
"Fine. Here's something in return. Not equal, but…"
Taking it's easier than making him carry it back. I conjure a flower with magic. Barter works for demons too. No coins, so this'll do. He liked flowers and wanted to see magic. But—
"…? What's that?"
He freezes, unaware of the flower.
"Oh, right, you can't see. It's Blue Moonweed, made with magic. Pointless if you can't see."
I realize too late. Useless, maybe even cruel. I start to withdraw it, but—
"No, thank you. I'll treasure it."
He fumbles, grasping it with both hands. Meaningless to a blind boy, but if he says so, fine.
"…You don't get mad, do you? I must've said things to upset you."
That bothers me more. He never gets angry. He should act more like a kid. I know I said things to offend him. But he doesn't care. Village and Holy City folk know I'm a demon, so they get it. But he doesn't even suspect. Why?
"Yeah. But it didn't bother me. You and Linie… there's no malice."
"Malice… right. We're often told we lack it."
"You're funny. But that's why talking to you was fun."
"Good. It passed the time."
No malice—the demon essence, why we can't coexist with humans. Ironic it helps. Not fun, but a decent distraction.
A bell rings from afar.
"Shoot, I gotta go…"
Vir panics. Must be his village's bell, a signal—probably to return home. As I'm distracted—
A fierce, undeniable demonic urge surges within me.
I collapse, clutching my mouth, suppressing it. My breath turns ragged. My vision flashes red and white. I know what this is—I've suppressed it for a month. But it overflows. Of course. A human—food—is right here.
"Big sister…? You okay?"
The human—food—speaks. I can't hear. Doesn't matter. My hunger stirs. I salivate, throat rumbling. I bite into an apple from his ingredients. But it's not enough. Not what I want.
"I'm fine… I should go too."
My heart races. Dizzy, lightheaded.
I stand, turning away. I have to leave. Why? No need to hold back.
"Um… big sister?"
"What?"
He stops me. No need to respond. Yet I'm drawn in. I drop the half-eaten apple. It's fake. Not my favorite.
I remember. My true favorite is human—
"If it's okay, can we meet here tomorrow? No pressure, of course."
"…Aura, will you come back?"
"!?"
I snap back. Or lose myself. I'm calm enough to think. I'm clutching the freesia accessory—old habit. It saved me. Or interfered. I don't know. Emotions and urges clash. Cold sweat soaks me.
Vir's there. Lucky he can't see me. If he could, he'd worry and flee.
"…Fine. If I feel like it."
I leave with that, unsure what I'm doing or saying. But I promised. I have to keep it. I'm not him.
"Okay! I'll be waiting!"
His joyful voice echoes, overlapping with someone's from before. A promise to meet again. For what? Simple. Just passing time. Nothing more. To keep ■■ from escaping.
The sun sets, blending day and night. Like a boundary, painted blood-red—