(Finally asleep…)
I sigh in relief, watching Linie, exhausted, drift off. After Aura left, it was chaos. Linie tried chasing her—I barely stopped her. Then she tore through the house, undoing our cleanup. I knew kids were like this, but seeing it firsthand is shocking. Parents handle this daily? Incredible.
("Mother"… maybe I overdid it.)
Stroking Linie's head, I reflect. I've thrown "mother" at Aura too much, maybe excessively. I didn't want to miss this chance, driven by hope.
Demons use "mother" to beg for life—it's meaningless to them. I've known since that day. But Linie's different, saying it daily. Why? Instinct for safety? Submission to Aura? Only she knows. Still—
(If this makes Aura curious about "mother" or family… is that selfish?)
I hope she'll explore these concepts. The village chief taught me—she tried to understand "atonement." It changed her. Her concern for Eisen earlier—she didn't realize it was care, maybe demonic reasoning, but it was care. Heiter's influence helped, too. Since the capital, she's changed, stepping from villages to the world, like a child growing. She'd hate hearing that.
("Just say it"… who's the demon here?)
Aura's words sting—say things directly, not through gifts. A child's logic I should've taught her. Roles reversed. Her lack of malice makes it pierce deeper. Could I have reached her back then? Regret lingers.
(Not like me… it's only been two years. No rush. There's time.)
I push it down. She wouldn't have understood then. But now, by our promise, maybe she will.
I start cleaning. Eisen's gone—preparing for tomorrow. Clumsy guy. Is he with her now? I'd join, but it'd ruin it. Linie's here. I'll wait. Fifty years was nothing; this is fine. I trust them.
(What's this?)
A book lies on the floor—Aura's bag, opened by Linie. Eisen said to keep valuables away. Maybe it's not precious to her. I check it, and it's enough.
Heiter's meddling scheme and her struggles with it.
Who started it? I smile. My gift reached her. Good. Words and gifts both convey feelings—she'll get it that way.
I return the book and resume cleaning, as if nothing happened. That's the foolish, clumsy hero's way—
"…Took you long enough," I say, heartfelt. "I'm tired of waiting."
I waited forever. My fault—I didn't specify a spot. He's a warrior, not a mage; he can't sense mana. Reaching me's a feat.
"Deliberate, huh?" Eisen says.
"Yeah," I say. "With you staring, I noticed. Same reason as Heiter, right? I got tired of it and came alone."
No surprise from him—he knew. I did too. His constant observation was vigilance and a chance for this, like Heiter. I lured him out to end the annoyance.
"You spoke with Heiter alone too?" Eisen says.
"You didn't know?" I say. "Thought he sent a letter."
"No letter," he says. "This is my choice."
Unexpected. I thought Heiter would've. Forgotten or another reason? Doesn't matter now.
"Fine," I say. "Where's your famous axe? Or is bare hands enough to kill me?"
"What do you take me for?" he says. "I came to talk. I brought something else."
"What's that?" I say.
He says something disarming. I expected his axe, but he means talk. His party rarely lies—except Heiter. In his hand, no axe, but a familiar bottle.
"Nice," I say. "Won't Himmel get mad?"
"No worry," he says. "He listens to you. I followed your rules."
"You've got a good personality," I say. "Heiter's friend, alright."
Eisen offers wine, expressionless but smug. Like Heiter, he's one of them, mocking Himmel. As I said, our two-person drinking begins.
"What do you want to know?" I say. "I'll answer honestly, so hurry."
"Honestly?" he says. "Un-demon-like words."
"Maybe," I say. "Believe me or not, I don't care."
His point's fair, but this is my second time. Let's skip repeats—useless. Demons don't do honesty; I learned its value this year. I'll use it to survive.
"I'll answer first," I say. "I don't care about the humans I killed. I know that offends you. How's that?"
"So Heiter asked already," Eisen says.
I preempt his likely question, signaling no deception. He strokes his beard, satisfied. Safe for now. But—
"When I gave Linie clothes, you started to say something," he says. "What was it?"
I freeze, like before. Breaking my honesty promise already? I can't—not with Himmel, but Eisen's different. One wrong move, and I'm dead.
"…Can't answer?" he says. "No matter. Keep your promise, and I won't harm you."
"Fine," I say. "I didn't get why you care about a family that's gone. That's all."
His words break me, and I spill. Silence would've been worse.
"I see," he says. "Demons wouldn't understand. Not even family?"
"Sorry to disappoint," I say.
No hostility—he's calm. He means talk. But—
"Family's everything to us," he says. "Demons killed mine. The village's too."
The air shifts, his presence crushing, like an axe at my neck. One wrong word, and I'm done.
"So?" I say. "What do you want? An apology? No way. I didn't kill them. You're barking up the wrong tree."
No lies, just truth. I didn't do it. Why don't humans get we're separate? Heiter taught me this thinking makes them hate us. I show it—I'm different.
"You're right," he says. "You didn't. I don't hate you for it."
I'm stunned. A hero's party member accepting a demon? Unthinkable.
"…Unexpected," I say. "Thought you'd attack."
"What do you take me for?" he says. "My turn. Normally, demons beg—'sorry,' 'help.' You don't. Are you really honest?"
"Maybe I'm tricking you," I say.
"Even so, that's beyond demonic," he says.
"Maybe," I say.
Not begging worked. Heiter said the same—not begging saves me. Ironic for demons. Works on some, though.
"But that's my view," he says. "Most humans hate your kind. Frieren especially. Be careful."
"I know," I say. "I won't approach or talk to her. I don't want to die."
No need to say it. Heiter's tales confirm I'd die instantly. Talking's a demon's advantage—humans' mistake.
"I don't forgive you either," he says. "For the heroes' souls your magic toyed with."
"…Fine," I say. "I won't ask forgiveness, but I'll remember."
His pressure matches his words—keepsakes, like Himmel said. I feel nothing for those I killed or turned undead. To humans, my magic's an insult, like defiling magic to us. I'll remember that.
"Why do you love the dead so much?" I say. "They're gone. Just nothing."
I ask to shift gears. I'm tired of questions. I'm getting him—he won't attack if I'm honest. Less complex than Heiter, like Himmel. This approach works better.
"I used to think that," he says. "Now, it's different."
"Really?" I say. "What now?"
"They're living it up in heaven," he says.
"That goddess-praised place?" I say. "Heaven?"
"You know it?" he says.
"Your books mention it endlessly," I say. "Believing in an unseen goddess? Foolish. Just a human fairy tale."
I'm baffled. Why obsess over death? They could do more alive. Believe in heaven?
A faint chuckle. Eisen's eyes are closed. What?
"What's funny?" I say.
"Heiter said the same," he says.
"…Unbelievable," I say. "He's a priest. Can he say that?"
"Right?" he says. "That's why he's a rotten priest."
I'm stunned differently. Even I, not understanding faith, know Heiter's words are wild. Eisen's amused, unlike me. Incomprehensible.
"Enough," I say. "More Heiter talk?"
"Later, with him," he says. "What do you think of Himmel?"
"Himmel?" I say. "What should I say?"
"Anything," he says. "Speak your mind."
The sudden topic throws me. Why Himmel? Too vague. I'll humor him.
"He's a foolish do-gooder," I say. "Your party's all like that, but he's the worst. Why's he so wasteful? Must be bored."
"Bored?" he says. "Maybe. But it's a human strength."
"Strength?" I say.
I'm caught off guard. I complained, but how's that strength?
"Humans live shorter than us," he says. "No time to delay, unlike dwarves. They rush, yet spare time for others. Boredom lets them. A strength we lack."
"Busy but bored?" I say. "Makes no sense."
"You'll get it as a long-lived being," he says. "Maybe not as a demon."
He speaks to someone absent. Nonsense to me—demonic or not. But I feel I shouldn't forget it.
"That accessory," he says. "From Himmel?"
I tense. My mistake—wearing it. Should've removed it. Too late; Himmel would've teased me.
"Yeah," I say. "Good guess."
"It's Himmel's style," he says. "Know the flower?"
"…Freesia," I say. "You know that."
"I asked the name," he says. "Misunderstanding."
He's doing it on purpose, enjoying it despite his blank face. Like Heiter. Denying it's pointless—they're alike.
"So," I say, "your party memorizes flower meanings?"
"Except Frieren," he says.
"She uses flower fields in magic but doesn't know them?" I say.
"That's her," he says.
That elf's an outlier. Heiter joked about her coldness—maybe true.
"While we're at it," I say, "know where she is?"
"No," he says. "Heiter either. Why?"
"If Himmel drags me to her, I'm dead," I say. "Knowing helps me avoid her."
"I see," he says.
Expected—they don't know. No worry of meeting her soon. But the danger remains. Knowing her location would help. Besides—
"If I knew, I'd send Himmel first," I say. "He could explain me. Less hassle—we'd clash anyway."
If Himmel goes, I'd stay in a village, tweaking Azeliese. I'd avoid her, get deemed harmless, and gain an edge. It'd ease Himmel's pointless habits and my stress. Win-win-win.
"True," he says. "But Himmel wouldn't go. That's him."
"Probably," I say. "I'd drag him. You and Heiter help. His nonsense wastes centuries."
I propose force. He'd give in. If not, they could grab her. Three shields should suffice.
"Maybe," he says. "Fine. If I hear anything, I'll write you. I'll tell Heiter."
"Why me?" I say.
"Himmel might hide it," he says. "Better to you."
"Cooperative, huh?" I say. "What's your game?"
"My trust in you," he says. "Himmel trusts you, so I'll try. That's all."
Same as Heiter—human, incomprehensible trust.
"You lot say the same things," I say. "Hope that elf does too."
"Praying?" he says. "Least demonic word for you."
"Tell that to Heiter," I say.
I picture Heiter's laughing face. Eisen's likely too. We agree on that.
"I forgot to ask," I say. "Why's it always 'mother'? No meaning in 'father'?"
Walking back, I ask to shift gears. We discussed "mother" and family, but why "father"? Demons say "mother" to survive. What's "father" for?
"No," he says. "Roles differ. Mothers raise and protect; fathers protect them. Kids lean to mothers."
"So mothers rank higher?" I say.
"Not that simple," he says. "But sure."
He hesitates but agrees. Family has priorities, not mana or strength. I don't get it but should remember—could be useful.
"Welcome back," Himmel says. "Late. Linie's asleep."
He's awake. Should've slept—I didn't want to see him.
"Good," I say. "Thought you fled. But I can't escape you, so no worry."
"Did I do something, Eisen?" he says.
"Ask yourself," Eisen says.
"Why're you both cold?" he says.
Linie didn't escape him—though he chased her. Azeliese helped. Eisen piles on; he's sharp too. Should I mention the wine's gone?
"…Mother," Linie says.
"I'm not your mother," I say.
Woken by noise, she clings, half-asleep. I'm still not used to this. Will I ever be? No—impossible. Demons don't have that concept. Deception's our way. What's next for us? How should demons be?
"She's attached," Himmel says.
"You say that because she's not," I say. "Try being called 'father' all day."
"Father, huh?" he says. "Maybe."
My retort doesn't faze him. He thinks she's attached—it's fake. He's got no ground. He's pondering something. What?
"…Father," Linie says.
"Huh?" I say.
Her voice rings out, echoing my word—not mimicry. She moves from me to Himmel and Eisen. She's lived with humans, learned "father." Mimicry—her magic's influence.
"I see," Himmel says, flustered. "Can't tease you now…"
He's not just confused—happy? Scratching his head, creepy smile. He cares that much about "father"? About her not clinging? Still—
"Hm?" Eisen says.
"Father," Linie says.
She clings to Eisen, naturally. He lets her, watching to keep her safe. That's a father.
"…I get it, Eisen," I say.
Eisen says nothing, but I understand. Himmel's stunned too. Kids are cruel, Eisen said. The hierarchy's set.
As an aside, the next morning, Himmel stayed in bed, like he had a hangover—
---------------------------------
✨ Want early access to the latest chapters and exclusive content? Support me on Patreon and unlock special perks!
👉 [patreon.com/Greyhounds]