Scy's POV
Bringing her with me wasn't part of my plan.
But leaving her there… wasn't an option either.
As we walked through the busy streets of the city, I could feel the eyes of the people around us. Some were curious. Some were suspicious. And some… were simply judging.
"…They're staring," Natalia said softly.
"Ignore them," I replied.
She nodded, but I could tell she wasn't used to this. Her steps were slow, unsteady. Every movement felt forced, like her body was barely holding itself together.
"…You're injured," I said.
"It's nothing," she answered quickly. "I'm used to it."
I stopped walking.
She almost bumped into me.
"…You're used to it?" I repeated.
She avoided my gaze.
"…It's normal for people like me."
Something about the way she said that… didn't sit right with me.
"…That's not normal," I said calmly.
She didn't respond.
But her silence said everything.
I let out a quiet breath.
"…We're finding a place first."
It didn't take long to realize one thing.
The city was expensive.
Every place we checked was either too crowded, too dirty, or too costly. Even the smallest room required more money than I expected.
"…This is troublesome," I muttered.
Natalia looked at me.
"…I can stay outside," she said.
"No."
My answer came out faster than I expected.
She blinked.
"…But—"
"I said no," I repeated, more calmly this time.
She lowered her head.
"…Okay."
We continued walking.
Then—
"Looking for a place?"
A voice suddenly spoke from behind us.
I turned around.
A woman stood there, dressed neatly, with a calm but observant expression.
"…Yes," I answered.
She looked at both of us, her eyes lingering on Natalia for a moment.
"…I know somewhere cheap," she said. "Not the best, but clean. Safe enough."
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"…Why help us?"
She smiled faintly.
"…Let's just say I don't like what I saw earlier."
So she saw everything.
"…How much?" I asked.
"Twenty gold per month."
I paused.
That was… surprisingly cheap.
"…Show me."
The house was simple.
Not too big.
Not too small.
But clean.
That was enough.
"…We'll take it," I said.
The woman nodded.
"I'll inform the owner."
After she left, silence filled the room.
Natalia stood near the door, looking around carefully.
"…It's nice," she said softly.
"It's enough," I replied.
That night—
everything felt different.
The room was quiet. The air was calm. For the first time since coming to this world… I had a place to stay in the city.
But something else was on my mind.
Natalia.
She sat on the edge of the bed, holding her arms slightly, like she wasn't comfortable.
"…You can sleep there," I said.
She looked at me.
"…What about you?"
"I'll take the floor."
She shook her head.
"No… I can't let you do that."
"It doesn't matter," I replied. "I don't need much."
"…But—"
"Natalia."
She stopped.
"…Rest," I said.
After a moment, she slowly nodded.
"…Okay."
She lay down on the bed, but her body remained tense.
"…You're still awake," I said.
"…I can't sleep."
"Why?"
Silence.
Then—
"…I'm scared."
Her voice was quiet.
Fragile.
"…Of what?"
"…That this is just temporary," she said. "That tomorrow… everything will go back to how it was."
I stayed silent for a moment.
Then I spoke.
"…It won't."
She looked at me.
"…How can you be sure?"
I met her eyes.
"…Because I won't let it."
There was no hesitation in my voice.
No doubt.
Just certainty.
She stared at me for a few seconds… then slowly relaxed.
"…You're strange," she said.
"…I know."
For the first time—
she smiled.
"…Thank you, Scy."
I didn't respond.
But I didn't need to.
That night should have been peaceful.
But it wasn't.
Because outside—
something was already moving.
In a dark alley not far from our house, a group of men stood together.
"…So it's him?"
"Yes."
"The boy who interfered earlier."
"…He's not normal."
One of them smirked.
"…Then we kill him before he becomes a problem."
Their eyes turned cold.
"…Find him."
And inside the house—
I slowly opened my eyes.
"…I knew it."
A faint presence.
Watching.
Hunting.
I sat up quietly.
"…So it begins."