[81.1] Alora POV: Adopting a Strange Fox

[Author's note: This part of the chapter is from Alora's perspective.]

I stared at the bodies of the priest and priestess who had come into contact with the demon I was sent off to kill. Several were bleeding from their orifices and not moving at all. Only one was left alive, but she was going to die soon from clawing out her own eyes.

"It's… It's here… It will kill us…"

My eyes rose from their bodies and looked around the empty forest. Not a single bird chirped as the residual energy still lingered. I stepped through the illusion that had been created, completely protected from it.

My steps were neither hurried nor cautious as I followed the trail of blood. Eventually, it led to a dark and ominous cave. I stood for a bit at the entrance, listening to what was happening inside. I could the hear soft whimpers of the demon crying out in pain echoing off the walls. Cautiously, I produced a small dagger and stepped inside waiting for an ambush that never happened.

Rolled up into a ball, a boy was crying out while holding his head as if he were in agony. He had the body of a human, but his ears, horns, and tail showed what he was.

A fox demon.

I approached him with indifference and pulled back my hand which held a white blade.

This was mercy.

This was mercy.

This was mercy.

This was mercy.

This was mercy.

This was mercy.

I went to slash his throat to kill him quickly, but his hands suddenly grabbed mine. Just as an uncontrollable killing intent welled up inside of me, it was quickly replaced by a sudden warmth from his hand. 

I felt a strange pull to him that I couldn't explain. 

Why…

Why can't I stab him?

Why do I want to keep holding his hand?

I dropped the blade, feeling my murderous aura get overtaken by a strange sensation of desire.

Was this feeling…

A hallucination?

Is he manipulating my body right now?

He pulled me closer and in a soft whine said, "Help me…"

I stared at him silently as the warmth slowly crawled into my heart. Eventually, my mouth moved for me, "...Okay."

I stayed by his side and assessed his wounds.

They were all made by Holy weapons.

It would be dangerous if they were kept like this.

I pulled my hand out of his grip to which he whimpered and crawled closer to me to feel my warmth. I tilted my head in confusion as he wrapped his arms around me.

What is he doing?

I chose to ignore his movements and carefully looked at my palm which had scars in the shape of an X.

Without hesitation, I slashed my palm reopening the scars. I didn't even wince from the pain as I watched the blood drip out. I put my bleeding palm on his wound, but instead of watching it heal as it usually would, the fox burst out into screams of agony.

Surprised, I pulled back my hand. 

He was still unconscious, but he was holding his side where the wound lay while rolling around screaming.

I blinked in confusion, "Eh? My blood can't heal demons?"

What can I do then?

All I have is my blood.

I furrowed my brow, "Then how could I heal him… With medicinal herbs?"

I stood up and emotionlessly scoured the mountain until I found the correct herbs. I returned with it, turned it into a medicine, and then applied it. I pulled up my white robe and removed my inner layer of clothes to turn it into bandages. Once I fixed his wounds, I stared at him in indifference.

After he stopped thrashing around, he rolled back to me and started clinging to me. 

How odd…

If I try to push him away, he just keeps coming back.

I picked up his head and placed it on my lap since it appeared that was what he wanted. He wrapped his arms around my waist and snuggled in comfortably.

I sat in that position for hours, watching his sleeping expression in a daze.

It would be so easy for him to kill me in this position. My stomach could easily be shredded by his sharp claws.

Maybe the reason why he's drooling on me is because he is considering eating me.

Eventually, his eyes fluttered open.

My breath caught in my throat when I noticed the red shining jewels he had for eyes.

Beautiful…

He panicked upon seeing the girl he was clinging to. He jumped back, recoiling in fear, "G-Get away!"

I watched indifferently as blood pooled on his bandages, "Don't move. Your wounds will reopen."

"Huh?"

He looked down at his wounds, shocked to see they had been treated. His mouth hung open in disbelief, "You… Did this?"

"Who else?"

His expression of surprise turned to one of suspicion. He looked me up and down, unsure of whether to believe me or not.

I didn't mind being stared at in such a matter, after all…

I've killed a lot of his brethren.

"Wait… Why are you helping me?

I stared back at him emotionlessly, "Because you asked me to."

The expression on his face suggested he had no idea what I was talking about.

I stared at his changing expressions as something strange started welling up inside my chest. I pushed the feeling back down, "You've been sleeping for a while, I didn't think you would ever wake up."

His face suddenly turned red, "I-I usually sleep to heal…" 

Why is he blushing?

I hummed as I stared closer at his face, "I see."

He averted his eyes from my piercing gaze and checked his injuries, "But why aren't they healed yet? I usually can sleep them off within a day or two."

"You don't know? Demons can't heal wounds made from Holy Light weapons on their own."

He blinked, "Oh? Really? I didn't know."

I guess he really didn't know…

He must have lived a comfortable life until now.

"I tried to give you my blood, but it made things worse. I had no choice but to give you salve."

His expression tightened in disgust, "Blood!?"

I held up my palms that had large X's on them. There were new scars over the old ones. The white underneath the purple and red scars contrasted frighteningly.

I continued while staring at my palms, "They usually take my blood to make medicines and forge swords. It's usually very useful."

"-That's terrible!!!"

He was staring at my palms, wincing as if he himself was in pain.

How odd…

I shrugged, "Every Holy Priestess must go through it."

*Grumble*

He held his stomach, his cheeks turning pink, "I-I'm a bit hungry."

That makes sense.

I could only feed him broth and food I'd chewed myself.

I put the salve down and pulled out a handful of berries from my robe, "Have some."

He turned his nose away from it, "Foxes don't eat such things."

"...Really?"

I thought demons could eat everything a human could…

"Rabbit and chickens only!" He paused and added in a small voice, "-Cooked in oil."

I stared at him silently.

So… He's just spoiled?

I guess I will indulge him then.

I stood up, "Okay."

In the blink of an eye, I disappeared from the cave. I traveled to the forest quickly, my steps so silent that no animal could detect me. I saw a small rabbit hiding in the bush and pointed my finger at it. A small dagger in the shape of an arrow brushed past me, landing directly into the rabbit and killing it immediately.

I picked it up and returned to the cave.