by Honie Jar
It was not because they were Half-Lalafell but because they seemed to be ready to snap when there was a mistake made by a human.
“Well—” Genkei was about to answer but that would not be the case. Before he could even answer the leader cut him off. They didn’t want an answer. Not now right now or never, perhaps the prejudice they felt for humans was still strong and they were trying to cover it up with a polite attitude. The coldness that was felt was almost chilling that Genkei wanted to shiver briefly from the fact he has brushed aside like that.
“Look, you two get out of here. We’re not here to harm anyone.” One of them dismissed them with no malice intended. At the moment that sounded like the truth however, this couldn’t be said for all instances of blockage. Despite the polite request that was not enough to deter the two.
They stood firm as they tried to fire more questions to get the answer they needed.
“The monsters here have been acting odd, people need to come here to train.” Harumi finally asked had been burning in her mouth. She wanted to ask or else it would bother her if she hadn’t. She remembered each of
“Of course a human would say this.” One scoffed, a disgusted look given them and there was even a mumbled made that was for them to hear. Even if it was low. They were deliberately trying to strike a verbal attack against them. Perhaps it was a ploy by one as they began to demean the race that was before them. “What did we expect? A human is a human.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Genkei stood there with anger burning in his throat but that would soon simmer down to confusion as he watched each Half-Lalafell look at him with distaste. The closer he looked at them the more he noticed they were not in the best of conditions but they were doing okay though that was a loose term to use considering the fact there was bruised that were hidden if not more.
“They haven’t told you, the history of this land?” They asked them, a brow raised as some of them even went as far to touch their neck that had collars on them. A sign of slavery or obedience for lack of better words. Marks that could never leave them. However, the Half-Lalafelles were surprised because people didn’t know the depth of suffering that had happened.
Unknown to the two young adventurers was that they faced the legacy of the all race the other main races that had been here since the beginning: Humans, Elves and Dwarves persecuted that. They were hunted down because they had immense magic power but they were easy to kill off because of their low birth rate meaning that their population was on a decline as is. Although the Lalafell race is extinct due to the war that had to occur, they historically intermarried with humans because the last remaining Lalafelles were kept as slaves, and a Half-Lalafell child is sometimes born into a human family because of the emergence of recessive genes.
But neither Harumi or Genkei knew this, not a deep degree. Of the resentment and misgivings towards Lalafelles or Half-Lalafelles since they believed they were accepted to some degree. Only because Shichiro himself as a Lalafell. Thus they believe that it was okay, but that was not the case given the fact that there were people hiding away here with hostility for humans at an all-time high.
“The history doesn’t matter, we’ve come here to stop—” Genkei was quick to argue, his temperament was never like his sister. And with how Harumi was she wasn’t going to hold Genkei back, instead, allowing him to get angry in front of a zone filled with a majority of people that seemed ready to attack them both if asked. This was their first mistake and perhaps the first of many. As soon as his fiery temper was let loose did everything go wrong.
And that’s what happened.
“Show them a lesson.” One of the Lalafelles instructed their mage that was nearby. They looked at the children, they saw a flicker of remorse in the reflection of their gaze but it didn’t last long. For they cast such an immense fireball, although the spell itself must have been simple, the skill was amplified because their race had the magic power enough to even beat adventurers despite being a Lander.
The fireball, however, was coming faster with no change in direction, aiming for Genkei. He stood there frozen in fear for a brief moment. His body had seized up when it shouldn’t have and he knew that his teachers would scold him for the fear that had flowed into his body. And in the blink of an eye, there was a change, his body moved but not by his own will.
“Genkei, watch out!” The scream came from Harumi, his eyes drifted towards her and fixated on the fear that glimmered in her eyes. An arm was outstretched towards him as she pushed him aside. By doing this he was able to realize the extent of his mistake and a split second later he reached out to grab her hand. Fingers intertwined with her own as he pulled her towards him trying to close the distance between them. In doing this he held a hope that she wouldn’t be harmed by the fire but he was too late. “Ah!”
The scream she made was enough for his heart to sink down as he saw that her skin was charred by the fire briefly. The smell of the burn was the nauseating stench of burnt flesh and char, there was a churn in his stomach as he realized that she had collapsed onto him.
Thud.
She was barely breathing on him as her body shook, convulsing under the weight of the recent pain affecting her body. The sear on her flesh felt like a brand but she knew that wasn’t it. Either way, she gritted her teeth against one another in hopes that her pain would eventually fly away for the reassurance of Genkei. But that was not the case.
“Harumi!” The horror could be heard as he cried out her name, he scrambled by her side and he looked down at her form. There was nothing he could to help her, if he was a healer perhaps he might have but now he could watch as the burn effect ate at her health points. Slowly but surely.
This was his fault.
Chapter Four
The horror was felt at once before it doubled and then tripled. During this moment where he was unsure what happened did Genkei feel like he wanted to give up everything, his pride included. If that meant that he could save her then he would but he knew that wouldn’t be the case. Not with these Landers who made it obvious they had no intention of getting along.
“What have you done?” He choked out, the words sounded garbled and barely understandable. His throat drying out as his hand hesitantly hovered over the burned part but there was nothing he could do to ease the pain he knew that she must be feeling. Instead, he looked at them with heavy eyes, the anger was overriding his original personality as he wanted to avenge her for receiving an injury in his steed.
“We can’t, there’s too many of them.” Harumi was the one who pulled him back to reality. Her good hand reached out to tug at his shirt. An indication that they had to leave or else they would be harmed, for now, to keep themselves safe by listening to them. “We have to go back.”
For the first time, her request was logical and there wasn’t a show of confidence or arrogance around her. She knew that there was more to come. Their lives had to be treated importantly so that they were able to go give the details of what they found to Shichiro. That was her initial thought, for the first time she felt herself become useful. The chains that her father had chained her down in had become unlocked as she breathed raggedly, the pain slowly numbing away but that was more concerning if that was happening.
“Tsk.” His tongue clicked against the roof of his mouth as the Lalafelles surrounded the both of them. Panic was settling in and he extended his arms for his partner to get into. There was no time to waste, every second was precious and if they weren’t careful, they would die. “You’ll see! Come here, Harumi.”
He grabbed her, quickly shifting her onto his back and his free hand grabbed her harp with ease. They stared at them and waited as if they were playing a game. They waited a few seconds as if this was an act of kindness but if anything that alone made the situation worse. Tension and anxiety began to rise for Genkei while the Lalafelles watched with bitter amusement at how they were toying with the humans whom they projected their long-lasting hatred onto for.
&n
bsp; “Run, child.” The leader said in a monotone voice, eerily enough to make Genkei paused and his breathed hitched.
Taking the words to heart he ran through the forest, however, he heard the movement of feet behind him. As if he was being hunted down. With that in mind, he consistently ran without stopping for even a moment. He allowed his lungs to burn erratically until he no longer heard the footsteps or leaves crunching behind him. He was not sure how much time passed but the footsteps ceased and there was a small alcove within the forest. A perfect place to rest for a few minutes, he made his way to the location. Carefully placing Harumi onto the bed of leaves that were already there. A curse was said under her breath not that she would ever admit to that, her back faced Genkei as it left him unsure what to do or say.
Though this lasted for a few minutes until he finally caught his breath. Realizing what he could say to her that would have an impact on her to realize the consequences of her actions.
“You shouldn’t have blocked that attack for me.” His eyes now shined with tears, emotions were overwhelming him from the fact she had tanked the brunt of the damage. Despite being a samurai he was still a tank and was more than capable to absorb the brunt of the attack and he wondered if she forgot that or didn’t carry to any degree. “I’m supposed to protect you.”
Harumi knew she didn’t have to protect him but her body moved automatically. She knew if anyone looked closely that the twins were important to the clan. While she was just a mere member, they saw the twins as important members. They were trained under the careful tutelage of the senior members. She tried to smile, but she ended up wincing instead, the pain could not escape her as much as she tried. The burn bloomed like a flower on her shoulder.
“I wanted to.” Even when her smile was strained it only made Genkei feel tenser. But she reached out to pat him, a touch that continuously tried to offer reassurance. Her hands touched her harp, gently plucks given, but they sounded painful as she had to strain herself to work to heal herself. She barreled through the pain that echoed on her shoulder, the soon she healed herself the better it would be for them. Each string was plucked and resounded a painful twang but Genkei didn’t know any better. “I’ll be fine, I’m a bard and can heal myself.”
“I’ll watch over you.” A resolution in his tone as he remained seated by her, his hand slipped into hers that was free from playing the harp. They intertwined their fingers, and that alone helped both of them tremendously. The shared warmth between them could quell the tension.
However, this did not mean all was well. Harumi could see the guilt that was eating him up. Were her actions in using her body to protect him a mistake? Possibly. But she knew that she would do the same action over and over if given the choice. That was just how she quantified her feelings for people, by showing them with her impulsive actions. But she knew right now he didn’t need impulsive actions, Genkei needed someone to be there for him.
“Genkei, this isn’t your fault. You know that right?” She tried to convince him but the more she talked the harder it was. To hide her own pain, she gritted her teeth to grind them down, the pain didn’t subside but the action alone offered a brief distraction.
“I’m sorry—I just—” Genkei sputtered, and the tears dropped which only made him feel embarrassed for the actions he was showing. His hands reached up to cover his face as he felt the rush of emotions to remind him he was nothing more than a failure. The past he had tried to escape clung to him without remorse. If only he could move what where the point of him having legs if he couldn’t move. Instead, at that moment his body was frozen in fear and someone took the damage that there was meant to have.
“It’s not your fault.” She reassured him through each word sounded akin to a hiss at the end. As she tried to disguise her own pain by speaking through her teeth. Though if anything she sounded winded which was fine with her as long as she was able to get her feelings across to Genkei. “I took that step and if anything it is my fault.”
However, that could not sever the feelings that were brought on here. Genkei found himself responsible for everything as this was his first legitimate mission as the leader of an important part. Not only that, he knew as this had happened he couldn’t even feel proud to say that he liked her. The feelings of romance he had for her felt pitiful when he realized he could not protect the girl that he had feelings for her.
“That does little to make this situation better. If I was a better tank, then you wouldn’t have to thrust yourself towards danger for me.” He reminded her, his hands now went to clench into fists as they laid atop his tired thighs. He had knelt by her and looked down at the shameful legs that were nothing more than useless to a person like him that could not use them properly.
“That’s not what I meant.” There was a crack in her voice as she found herself at the brink of frustration on trying to explain herself. The pain on her shoulder stung as she had moved and she yelped in surprise. This caused Genkei to jump up and look flustered before she grinned again to show him that there was nothing to worry about.
Though her gaze was disoriented and hardly convincing.
“I know...” Genkei had no other choice but to agree. So he sat there, his fingers briefly touching the tips of hers that would twitch now and then. He had convinced himself that his actions were all justified, and he hoped that a majority of it was based on his guilt. “Just let me protect you from now on.”
She sighed a long and heavy one that lasted for almost a minute. There was no point in arguing with him anymore. Especially given the fact that her shoulder appeared to constantly hurt whenever she spoke. She rather gets this agreement over with so that Genkei could learn to forgive himself and she could find peace with her own injuries.
“Fine. Don’t break this promise with me then.”
They linked pinkies as if that would secure the promise they made with one another. Silence mixed in with their heartfelt silence. However, Harumi felt guilty because she assumed that he was only doing this out of the responsibility he had for her. She just wished he could forgive himself because these actions were done by her own accord.
With the promise made she had drifted off to sleep for a brief moment. The pain subsiding as she healed herself by resting. The advantages of being an adventurer were that she was able to regenerate her own health and mana as she rested. This went on for a few hours until she noticed one time when she had roused from her sleep that he was looking at her with a small smile. A rare sight that wasn’t seen since the incident. That immediately brought up her mood, and she mirrored his expression, there was peace found in knowing that he was happy around her.
Perhaps because of this sweet moment, Genkei found himself saying things he had intended to keep a secret.
“I like you.” The words were blurted out and both of them looked confused. Neither of them said anything for a few seconds however both of their cheeks burned a bright red. This was an unexpected turn of events for both of them.
That being said, Harumi felt she had to answer him. She neither wanted to reject him or answer him. She found their time together to be relieving despite everything that had occurred. She knew that their bond had strengthened whether he liked it or not. But to answer him now when she was under immense emotional and physical burdens were not the right time.
“I—” The answer was at the tip of her tongue, one she wasn’t sure anymore since she’ll go back and forth between answering him. But by the grace of the goddess of healing, they saved her.
“I’m not expecting an answer from you.” He quickly stopped her, no desire to hear her rejection right now given their circumstances nor did he want her to accept him out of pity. The corner of his lips curled upwards into that familiar smile similar to the sun because of the brightness one would see whenever that expression would appear. “I just wanted to tell you because I don’t think I’ll ever tell you again after this until I’m someone worthy enough to protect you.”
This was a hint he had e
very intention to confess to her again. When there wasn’t the circumstance that bound them together like this. He wanted to be someone who she could depend on. That much was clear, and she found that endearing. Her heart beat erratically as it was swayed by his words though she would never admit such a thing to anyone else.
“Thank you.” She gave a genuine appreciation to him and he accepted whatever she would offer him. Even if it was something as small as two words of gratitude. Harumi for the first time knew she had to value the feelings of those around her. Ever since the confession she had urged Midori to do, Harumi felt more aware of how she was treating others. With that in mind, she looked at him with an empathetic expression a rare sight to be seen as she adored teasing people. But on this case and time, she decided not right now. Especially with both of them tired from running away from being chased. “But this is a lot for me to take in.”
There was an agreement made between them, a nod as they both understood where the other person was coming from. Genkei had known the whole time not to expect anything. In doing so would lead to heartbreak but that didn’t mean he wasn’t serious about her.
“I know it is.” He replied sincerely not wanting to push her anymore into a corner than she already was in. They needed time, and he was willing to give her all of it if she asked.
“You can wait for me right, I just...” She knew that she was asking for a lot but she did so anyway. To make him wait was a cruel desire from her but she needed time to process the feelings she had for him without the mission hanging above them. By giving her time she could process the emotions that roared within her while also properly considering Genkei’s feelings without being inconsiderate.
This was the kindest thing she could do for now because she could feel herself drifting off.
“I’ll wait.” He reached out to grab her hand, drawing the hand up gently towards his lips. A single kiss pressed on her ring finger. That alone was enough to make her blush, and she knew that she was rendered flustered around him.
