[72.2] All Together, or Not at All!

Rose lurked around the corner, eyeing us suspiciously.

I noticed she wanted to say something so I smiled at her, "What's wrong, Rose? Do you have something to ask?"

"Um… You are all demons, right?"

Lene spoke up, "Mother is a fairy!"

I pursed my lips, "I'm a human-"

Rose shook her head, "I know about her, but I meant the rest. Are the rest of you demons?"

Atta and Asmonious nodded their heads.

Lovi took a sip of her tea as she attempted to cure her nausea, "...Half demon."

Lene, who was still sitting on my lap, looked in my direction, "Lene's a demon?"

I nodded, "That's right."

Rose bit her bottom lip, "So… It's okay if I take my demon form?"

I nodded, "You're free to take whatever form you want."

She stepped out of her hiding spot a bit more, "Even my snake form?"

Ugh… Snakes.

Even still, I nodded, "Of course."

Her eyes lit up, taking the form of slits. With a *poof* she transformed into a snake and slithered into the sunlight to sunbathe in content.

Lovi jilted forward, spitting out her tea, "HOW DID YOU DO THAT!?"

The snake made some hissing noises, but since she couldn't speak in that form, she took her demon form again.

"Demons can have three forms. Their animal form, a demon form, and a human form."

Lovi looked around in confusion, "But where do your clothes go?"

I paused, "That's actually… A really good question."

Rose looked at all of us in confusion and noticed only Asmonious and I didn't look surprised by this information.

She glanced around, "Did you not know this? It's in our nature. All demons have one."

Lene turned to me, "Mother! What is Lene??"

I rubbed her head, "A moonspider."

Lene looked at her hands, "Lene can make webs from her fingers because she's a spider?"

I let out a sigh of relief, "So that's where they come out from…"

She tilted her head curiously, "Where else would they come from?"

I averted my gaze, "...Nowhere."

Lovi thought back, "I think my mother was a blackbird… But I never saw her change to one."

Atta pointed to herself as if to ask what she was. Since I already knew, I answered, "You're a wolverine."

Atta was astonished by this and stared at her hands.

Rose furrowed her brow as if confused, "How did you all not know?"

That's right… How come they didn't know? 

Isn't it natural?

Asmonious answered, "The three of them wore holy magic collars from birth. It prevents the transformation and if you don't transform from birth, then it's natural you wouldn't know."

Rose asked, "And you?"

We all looked at Asmonious who averted his gaze, "I don't have one."

Rose looked a bit confused, "Don't all demons have one?"

He smiled at her with a smile not quite a smile, "Not me."

She gulped and looked at the ground, getting the hint to not ask anything else.

Lovi spoke up and changed the atmosphere, "How do we change into it?"

Rose thought about it, "Um… To me, it's like breathing. I don't even think about it so I don't know what to tell you…"

Lovi frowned, her face lowering with a somber expression, "I want to be a blackbird just like my mother…"

Asmonious offered, "They could go to the villagers down the hill. Some of the demons there were in collars too so they might know."

I recalled how they previously treated Asmonious and pursed my lips, "I don't know… They probably won't help."

"Can't we still try!?" Lovi grabbed onto me, "I want to learn! Please please please!"

Lene cheered, "Lene wants to also be a spider!!!"

Atta was also by my side nodding with her dazzling green eyes full of excitement.

Seeing the three of them with their pleading expressions, I was immediately defeated.

"Ugh… Okay."

The three cheered in success.

"However…" I raised my voice, looking at Lovi anxiously, "Can you even make that trip? You can barely walk to the courtyard without puking."

Lovi paused, realizing I was right. But she still tried to convince me, "I don't have to participate. I can just watch."

I shook my head, "The doctor told me not to let you move as much until you are without side effects. I'm sorry, Lovi, but you'll have to wait until you feel better."

She hung her head depressed, "Then… The rest of you can go… I can wait."

Lene grinned and innocently added, "Nope! All together or none at all!"

Atta nodded quickly in agreement.

Lovi looked up at them in surprise, her eye tearing up, "You-You would do that for me?"

The other two nodded without hesitation.

I laughed and pulled the three of them into a hug, "I have such kind children."

As I held them close, my stomach started churning with guilt.

Have I been denying them their demon heritage?

I thought aloud, "Maybe I should also see if they can give demon history lessons."

Lene's and Lovi's expressions fell at the same time. They shouted in unison, "Not more lessons!!!"