A Tale Of Fruits

Fyn.

Fyn gazed into the demon's eyes while it held the sharp rock close to its throat.

He gritted his teeth and tightened his jaw and fist against the rough rock. This was an opportunity, wasn't it? Although Fyn rarely went hunting, he was still familiar with the activity. In the past, he used to hunt small animals such as rabbits, fawns, and occasionally boars.

Fyn knew that a slice to the jugular would mean immediate death.

If he seizes this opportunity, the village of Gashea can be spared from further misfortune caused by this malevolent demon.

As Fyn looked into the demon's eyes, a feeling of unease washed over him. A powerful demon such as the one in front of him surely wouldn't look like they were ready to embrace death. Surely, even demons could feel fear.

Fyn felt the demon's eyes inviting him to kill it.

As Fyn gazed into the demon's eyes, he began to feel like the monster was genuinely human. As seconds passed, this belief became even stronger.

The demon of Gashea looked oddly tired.

Fyn's senses became consumed with curiosity, driving a need to understand the reason behind it all.

And maybe that was the reason. A mere human's curiosity made Fyn annoyed by clicking his tongue and yanking his hand away from the demon's grasp. The reason why his hands fell limp to his side as the jagged rock slipped from his grasp and hit the ground with a dull thud.

Maybe it was a different factor altogether.

Fyn wondered if it was empathy. But that would have been ridiculous, wouldn't it? The demon had caused so much suffering to Gashea that Fyn understood why he shouldn't have sympathy for it.

As he stared into the demon's eyes, he saw a reflection of himself, triggering a memory that flooded his senses.

Fyn couldn't help but compare. The demon looked like he once did, especially when he was so fed up with loneliness back in his hut. The demon's eyes revealed a profound pain, the kind of agony that leaves lasting scars beyond one's imagination.

Fyn wanted to laugh, but he found no strength to do so. He always felt disconnected and uninterested with the people of Gashea. As he looked into the eyes of the demon, he couldn't help but feel a strange connection. Something about the demon's presence felt familiar like they shared some unspoken understanding.

He and the demon weren't so different at all.

Not even close. Not even a little bit. Not even at all.

The hand of the demon remained suspended in the air while it tilted its head in curiosity.

"Why did you not kill me?" It asked, "Are you not a murderer like me?"

Fyn tightened his jaw and looked away. He thought the demon would let it go, but he was mistaken. A cool, sharp nail lifted Fyn's chin, and their eyes locked in a brief pause. Fyn became tense as he maintained eye contact. The demon's eyes underwent a noticeable transformation, its pupils dilating as a shiver ran down Fyn's spine.

Fyn noticed a change but didn't understand it and honestly didn't feel like trying to figure it out.

It was as if Fyn could grasp the demon's emotions at that moment, it could potentially alter his entire life.

"An eye for an eye," Fyn's brows furrowed as their gaze fixed on the demon before them. "Would make the entire world blind."

As the demon's gaze softened, Fyn felt a stirring in his heart. The demon stepped back and gave him some space after releasing him. The demon's intense gaze lingered on him for a moment before it shifted its attention down to its own hand, which had been tightly gripping him just moments before. The creature glanced down at its hand, seemingly lost in thought and displaying a hint of disdain in its expression.

"Hn," The demon spoke in a sarcastic and mocking tone. "Mortals and their ridiculous beliefs."

Just like that, the demon vanished from Fyn's view in the blink of an eye, just as it had moments before. A faint smell of burning filled the air as Fyn looked before him. Only a dark trail of smoke remained where once there had been the demon. Fyn's body trembled as his knees gave way beneath him, causing him to collapse in a heap against the wall. His breathing was erratic and unsteady as he struggled to compose himself.

Fyn shuddered as his eyes landed on the spot where the demon had been.

On the ground, where the demon was previously standing, there lay a sizable leaf that had been transformed into a backpack.

Inside were different colored fruits.

"Huh?" Fyn muttered quietly to himself.

Fyn looked around to confirm that the demon had left the cave he was in. Ensuring he was alone, Fyn crawled towards the improvised bag and carefully opened it. The fruits tumbled out of the bag in a heap, their sweet scent wafting toward him. He blinked in confusion but quickly came to understand the situation.

Moments ago, when the demon teleported before him, he heard something fall to the ground.

Was this what he heard?

As the backpack was opened, a mix of sweet and tangy scents filled Fyn's nose. Among the familiar fruits were also some that he had never seen or tasted before. They looked exotic and delicious. The sweet aroma filled Fyn's nostrils as he greedily sniffed the air. His mouth started watering as soon as he saw the food, and his stomach growled loudly.

Fyn could feel the gnawing emptiness in his stomach, a constant reminder that he couldn't remember the last time he had a satisfying meal. All the chaos and distractions around him made it difficult to focus on his basic needs, and he couldn't shake the feeling of hunger.

Fyn acted instinctively without thinking, his hand moving on its own.

Fyn's mouth watered as he gazed at the luscious apple nestled inside the backpack. The vibrant hues of red and green seemed to taunt him, tempting him to take a bite. He could practically taste the crisp sweetness and feel the satisfying crunch between his teeth. The urge to indulge was overwhelming.

Just as he was about to bite, he suddenly stopped and remained motionless. The meal belonged to the demon. What would prevent the demon from retaliating and consuming him if he were to eat it? However, if the demon were to consume him, his body would not be found by the other villagers floating along the river.

That could be a viable option.

If the demon ate him, the others would think that the sacrifice this time had worked. They would stop throwing away innocent brides, and they would stop the sacrifices. The deaths would stop.

Fyn would make a difference.

Besides, he was really, really hungry.

The apple was raised to Fyn's face, his intelligence momentarily ignored as he focused on its scent and texture. A sense of satisfaction flooded his being as he took another deep breath. His mouth began to water uncontrollably.

There were no more trees that bore fruit outside the forest of Gashea. Some villagers in the town had grown apple trees but sold them for a high price. Fyn couldn't afford it, especially with the increased taxes and no good income source. He couldn't even trade them with the herbs he found near his hut.

"Screw it," Fyn quietly spoke under his breath. "It could eat me for all I care."

He wasted no time and eagerly bit into the apple, emitting a groan of pleasure as the sweet and juicy flavor exploded in his mouth. He felt the sweetness on his tongue like a layer of skin. The sound of crunching filled the room as he bit into the apple with a fierce hunger, savoring every juicy bite as if it were his last meal. Slobbering like a pig. He swallowed as if it had been his best meal in days.

Honestly, it was. The most delicious thing Fyn had ever eaten.

The crisp apple crunch as he took a bite was music to his ears. The sweet and tangy flavor of the fruit danced on his taste buds, and he couldn't help but savor every bite. This particular apple was definitely his favorite, and he relished the experience of enjoying it.

Fyn's eyes darted nervously towards the entrance, knowing the demon could arrive any moment. The core was all that Fyn kept, leaving the accompanying seeds behind.

As Fyn slipped the tiny, smooth seeds into his pants pockets, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. He could already imagine the lush green plants that would grow from them, stretching towards the sun and bearing colorful apples.

He could consider giving it to some villagers if he miraculously manages to escape the demon's clutches. He would advise them to plant it next to the river. In this way, the tree can always be hydrated and produce delicious fruits.

After eating all the apples, Fyn noticed other fruits in the rucksack. The sweet scent of ripe mangoes mingled with the delicate aroma of fresh strawberries. Their vibrant colors were a feast for his eyes as the juicy fruits beckoned to be tasted.

The other fruits he couldn't possibly name. Among the mangoes and strawberries were a giant green fruit with rough, bumpy skin that towered over Fyn's head, a vibrant magenta fruit with slender green peels, and a petite yellow melon with stark white stripes.

But the most exciting thing Fyn saw was a fruit that oddly looked like an orange. Yet he knew it was anything but. The smell was different, the texture was different. The fruit was orange and pear-shaped, with smooth skin. Fyn was taken aback as he bit into the fruit, and it broke apart, revealing two big brown seeds at its core.

"That's a loquat."

Fyn was startled and dropped the fruit, quickly crawling back to the wall he had been leaning against. He had not realized that the demon had returned. Fyn's eyes reluctantly strayed towards the rucksack. As he looked down at the almost empty rucksack in front of him, a sense of embarrassment washed over him. The tantalizing aromas and flavors that had previously filled the air were now replaced with a feeling of guilt. He couldn't believe he had almost finished all the food.

Although he should have been satiated, his stomach still craved more food. The loquat, or whatever the demon said, left him wanting more.

"Why did you stop?" The demon asked. The demon was posed with its arms folded across its chest and leaning against the wall. Its tail wagging non-stop. "Watching you eat so passionately has me feeling quite hungry myself. Don't let me stop you now."

Fyn lowered his head in a mix of embarrassment and guilt.

"I apologize."

The demon momentarily blinked. Once.

"What for?"

"It..." Fyn balled his hand into a tight fist, the tips of his nails digging painfully into his palm. "…wasn't mine."

"Hn," The demon glanced at the rucksack. Without realizing it, Fyn also followed suit. His eyes fell on the loquat. The flavor was a blend of peaches and apples. Fyn wanted more. As he thought about it, his mouth began to water. The fruit remained out of his reach, taunting him with its closeness. Fyn's gaze flickered to the demon, its eyes fixed upon him, daring him to make a move. A sharp gasp escaped Fyn's lips as the demon drew closer to the rucksack, sending shivers down their spine. "This fruit must be eaten as it is too good to be wasted. And it's not like humans ever cared about the consequences before selfishly taking what didn't belong to them in the first place."

Fyn was caught off guard as a sudden statement from the demon reached his ears, leaving him with no time to react or feel offended.

The demon picked up a loquat and threw it toward Fyn. He caught it awkwardly as it fell into his lap. He looked at the demon with a frown, his brows furrowed, and a question in his eyes.

"But," Fyn was startled and looked down at the fruit he was holding. "This is yours."

The demon's gaze remained fixed on the remaining fruits inside the makeshift rucksack. It carefully began to put the fruits that had fallen out of the backpack back inside. Fyn was confused when the demon performed the task with extreme care and precision. The demon's sharp nails delicately avoided harming the fruit's skin, and its eyes seemed intensely focused.

Feeling a little ridiculous with all his staring, Fyn let his eyes fall on the loquat on his hand again and sighed. Determined, he crawled towards the rucksack and collected the remaining fruits the demon had not returned to the rucksack yet. Quietly, he assisted the demon in putting the leftover uneaten fruits back into the backpack.

Fyn wouldn't be aware if the demon was surprised by his action.

From the corner of Fyn's eye, he observed the demon's reaction, even though it remained silent. The gaze it held on him made him feel like he was the imaginary one. Fyn cleared his throat as the blood rushed to his cheeks due to the sudden attention. The demon's tail cast a shadow that was constantly moving.

Fyn gently pushed one of the larger fruits toward the demon.

"Just like you said," Fyn spoke quietly, gently. "If left uneaten, good fruit would go to waste."

He could hear the demon shifting beside him.

Then, with a barely audible whisper, the demon replied.

"I do not eat fruits."