I don't know how long it's been since… The storm came… just a few months I suppose.
The outcome was that half of this village's crops got destroyed, a couple of houses were torn apart, and there were casualties… including a few small children. The villagers didn't know how this could happen as a storm like that never appeared before.
They couldn't have known, except for the Greyrats.
Roxy covered for me saying she was the cause of this… that's what Paul, Zenith, and Lilia believe.
But it was me.
Thinking they know the truth, it has been very tense in the Greyrat Household. Zenith hasn't really been lively a lot, thinking she knows the truth of those deaths but not saying anything due to owning someone could really mess with a person's mentality. Paul had been helping with the restoration of the village for a while, even people were looking up to him for leadership… Since the village chief was severely injured during the storm, he was unable to fulfill his duties. It didn't feel right for Paul as he felt he didn't deserve the attention. I see him practicing his swordsmanship, or trying to. He mostly seems unmotivated to swing his sword, mostly stares at it for a time.
With Lilia, she seems unchanged… expect she's more attached to me now. After recovering from my injury, she's been keeping an eye on me, like a hawk. That was mostly because Zenith said to stay close to me, but Lilia would have done it regardless. So wherever I go, Lilia is there. Most of the time, Lilia still has her duties as a maid. Like cleaning the house and such, but if I wanted to go outside, Lilia would follow me while Zenith took care of the house. Lilia says Zenith prefers the extra work to keep her mind off things, so it was okay to leave the house for a time.
I would find this sense of watching over me to be annoying but I couldn't really complain anymore. Honestly, I didn't feel like it was a bother. I was mostly just staring off into space anywhere. In the house, I didn't read anything, I mostly laid in bed, looking out of nowhere. Downstairs, I hardly talk with Lilia when it was just us, or when Zenith and Paul tried cheering me up and I would give them no response. Outside when Lilia followed me, we sat on the grass in silence. Lilia had tried striking up a conversation but I hardly gave a response so we went back to the silence.
With how quiet and unresponsive I've become, I didn't practice swordplay with Paul. He said if I don't have the drive to pick a sword and swing it, then what's the point. Even though he was just as unmotivated as I was. That was fine I suppose, I hardly got past Intermediate. I figured it was pointless trying. With Zenith, me being quiet wasn't new to her so she let me be sometimes.
I was left to my own devices really… except Lilia didn't.
Like I said, she's always there. Attending to my needs and such, never leaving my side. It felt as if she's never given up on me. It was a good feeling I admit, even though I wanted my space, but maybe deep down I didn't want that. Of course I'll never admit it.
But one time, I needed to be alone. Lilia had to do laundry, Zenith was gardening, and Paul was out helping the villagers. With Zenith more focused on her plants, it gave me a window of opportunity to sneak by her and leave the house for a bit.
The question is why did I decide to finally leave the confines of my house? Honestly, I just wanted to know how big the damage was, and I wanted to leave that house. I was finally losing my mind there.
Once I was out, I explored what was left of the village. It was pretty bad, it was probably worse when the storm first hit. But thanks to Paul and the villagers' efforts in restoring what was left, it was slightly better I would say. There weren't any people, well maybe a few crop hands every now and then but I remember my ride with Roxy, there were families that would gather around to have a small picnic when it was break time. But now, there was none of that. They all must be afraid that another storm might come to hit them unexpectedly, or must still be in mourning.
I honestly didn't know what to say to that.
I continued walking until I found myself on a road filled with trees along the path. Lot of the trees managed to suck the harsh winds, some looked better than others while most trees either lost some branches or were simply not there. I continued along the path before finding the exit of the road or opening it.
I could see vast green everywhere, and maybe a couple of houses in the distance. But that wasn't the only thing I could see.
"Leave, demon!"
"You probably caused that storm!"
"You're a curse! Get out of our village!"
I could see three boys throwing mud at another boy. They kept throwing mud until switching to rocks.
A good samaritan would stop this type of bullying. But I wasn't up for saving someone again. Besides, the last time I saved someone, I got killed. I wasn't looking forward to death anymore, at least for now.
So then they hit him with rocks, and they hit him hard.
The kid in question continues taking hits.
The kid should try and defend himself or something. Fight back at least.
But the kid kept taking them, hit after hit. Until finally, the bullies stopped their assault. "Never come here demon." Said a very chubby boy. Three of the bullies ran off, far enough where they could be hardly seen.
They left alone a now crying child, still hunching over like an injured puppy. A part of me wants me to just go back home, but the other part was curious as to why the bullies called this child a curse demon.
I slowly approached the crying child. He didn't notice when I did. I stopped when I got close enough, I wasn't gonna stall just by staring.
"Why did you let them hurt?"
The boy was startled then looked up towards me. I could see the fear in his eyes.
Ehhh, he has a very pretty face, almost girlish.
"Did you hear me? Why didn't you fight back?"
The pretty boy looked hesitant to respond before, somehow, finding courage to. "T-there's three of t-them…"
"Then you could've run away instead of getting hit."
"T-they caught me… I-I couldn't escape them…"
Couldn't outrun a fat kid and his short leg goonies?
"So a chubby fat looking kid and his lackeys managed to catch up to you? You look like you could've outrun them if you wanted to."
The boy didn't give a response, only looking more pathetic.
"Now you're covered in mud and bruises. Just… come here." I said as I reached out to him.
This startled him as he tried to run but I caught his hoodie before he could. I then use a water spell mixed with some fire to make it warm then pour it on his head. He was scared at first but then settled. Once I was done, all the mud had disappeared and what's left was a pointy eared pretty boy with green hair.
Green hair? Didn't Roxy mention that there was a scary powerful demon race with green hair and a red gem on their forehead? I can't name but… green is bad.
I checked if he had a gem. I brushed his hair, and noticed that he did not in fact have a gem on his forehead.
Maybe that's why those kids were picking on him.
"There, all cleaned up. Well, the head at least."
He stared at the ground, avoiding eye contact. "T-thank you."
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Sylph…" he said shyly.
"Nice name, I'm Rudeus." Slapping my hands together, "Alright, let's take you home."
Sylph was surprised when I said that, "y-you don't have to. I can home-
"And if you saw those boys again, what are you gonna do?"
He didn't respond.
"Look, I have nothing to do at the moment. I can at least escort you back home, and if those bullies show up, I'll take care of them."
I don't wanna go back home for now.
"So… where's your house?" I asked Sylph.
He didn't respond again but nodded his head and walked in a different direction.
I followed right after.
It was a pretty long and slow walk, it was also quiet too. Finally, I spoke up.
"So… are you an elf by chance? I noticed the pointy ears."
He nodded, "yes… my dad is a half elf and half human while my mom is human but has some beast blood in her."
So there are different races, that's pretty cool.
"So you're not a demon?"
He lowered his head, "no… that's what dad said. I'm not a demon but… my hair is green." He went silent.
Poor kid, talk about unlucky.
"If you're not a demon, maybe your mixed blood has something to do with your hair. Like a uh… mutation."
Sylph had a confused look, "a mu-what?"
"Consider it like a birthmark… a very big one."
Not a good explanation, but it's something.
"I-I see… I don't like it." He said sadly.
"Nothing you can do about it, you just have to get used to it."
It's harsh, but it's the truth.
We continued walking until we reached a lone house.
"Is this your house?" I said.
He nodded, "yes…"
"Your parents' home?"
He shook his head, "no… my dad is out by the watchtower."
"Your mom?"
He went silent for a few seconds before opening his mouth, "she… died in the storm."
Oh…
"I see… I'm sorry. It must've been really… hard."
The atmosphere had become very gloomy.
"T-the storm took her away… dad hasn't been the same much since." She continued.
Sigh… great…
"I'm sorry for mentioning where your mom is. I…I should get going." I turned away, then I proceeded to start walking.
"Wait!"
I stopped in my tracks, turned back around.
"C-can you teach me how to use magic?" Sylph said, shaking a bit.
I was confused.
What for?
"What makes you think I can do that?"
"Because… you did the warm water thing?"
"Who's to say I know any other? That could be the only thing I know."
He wasn't stopping, "dad said that if a person knows a convenient spell, they must know more convenient ones."
Just base off of that… really?
"What reason do you want to learn magic?"
He started fidgeting a bit before opening his mouth, "s-so I c-can protect my dad from t-the storm…"
Do you now?
"I guarantee you that the storm won't return."
"But what if it does?"
"It won't."
The atmosphere became more tense.
"I-I wanna either way… please… help me."
I had to think for a moment before agreeing to do this.
"Don't you think if I hang out with you, I'll be bullied as well. Did you think of that?" I asked.
His eyes widened, oh… well I um… you…um…"
Not very considerant.
"Sigh… fine."
Maybe teaching him would bring some peace to him.
He smiled warmly at me.
Would this bring me some peace?
Likely not.
I returned home late at night, not caring that I was out for too long. At the steps of my house was Paul sitting, arms crossed. He had a look of disapproval on his face.
He's blocking my way.
As I got closer, he noticed me and stood up.
"Where have you been?" He said.
Feels like deja vu.
"Out." I responded.
"Out where?"
"Outside? What? Did you expect I'll be heading into town somewhere? Oh wait, there are only torn up houses, dead crops, it doesn't exactly sound like those big towns you hear about."
Paul frowned, "watch your tone with me. Do you know how late it is?"
"Why do you care, you tend to leave me be."
"You left the house without saying anything. Both Zenith and Lilia were worried sick when they couldn't find you. They wanted to look for you but I was against it. I figured you would be back on your own." He looked at me with a stern look.
This is annoying.
"And now I'm back now, just let me go in."
But he didn't, he stood firmly in place, in front of the entrance.
"Not until you apologize to me first, then Lilia and Zenith."
Really?
"Since when did you care?"
Paul looked shocked, "excuse me?"
"When have you cared? Last time I checked, you seem ready to give up on training me in the sword. Even growing up, you never cared what I did or where I went. As long as I am strong and healthy, that is enough. You even let me be when I was in a quiet phase, not wondering why I was being this way. You just assume that it's what I normally do, what if it could've been something?"
Paul stood there speechless.
"You know, you are hardly a father. So much so that not once have I called you papa."
I didn't care about being nice anymore.
"Why should I bother apologizing to a stranger?"
"Rudy!"
SMACK
I fell to the floor, my face felt numb, along with this burning sensation.
"I guess you hit people when they are right."
I know I wasn't in right here, I just wanna spite him.
Paul stood there, looking at me and looking at the hand that slapped me.
"You always were weak to your emotions. How long will it be until you hit your loving wife?"
Then his hands form into a fist, "shut your mouth!" He swung at me.
I was ready for a fire spell to throw at him before hearing yelling from behind him.
"Paul! Stop!"
'Master Paul! Please stop!"
The two ladies inside came rushing in with Lilia holding me and Zenith grabbing Paul's arm.
"Please! Just calm down dear!" Zenith pleaded.
"My lord! Please don't hurt Rudeus, he's just a boy! Lilia hugged me tighter.
"Didn't you hear what he said? He's being very disrespectful! He needs to be punished!" Paul shouted.
Zenith still held on, "he's right! We let him be all this time and never truly wonder what was wrong with him! We never cared enough to ask what was wrong, only that we cared if he was healthy or not!" She teared up a bit, "we weren't proper parents."
That was actually my fault, I just wanted my space.
Paul slowly lowered his arm and stared at me.
"Lilia…take him back inside for bed… in his own room please." Zenith said, softly.
Lilia picked me up, "yes… my lady." She proceeded to walk inside with me.
Before we entered, I could hear Paul say something under his breath.
"It doesn't make it right."