Guard that Hiding in the Shadow

I was a bit dumbfounded seeing a carriage in front of my eyes. Small carriage with small horse pulling it. No, no. It's just a normal horse. Well, after seeing a horse triple bigger, of course this horse would look small.

"Err... we ride this?"

C smiled brilliantly, "Of course! Don't worry, this is my personal carriage, so I guarantee it's comfortable. Oh, but I rent the horse from village chief." He said innocently.

"You need some fuel?" A asked while putting a wooden box under the long chair.

"Nah, no need, Master. Hers are more than enough. Miss... Mrs. Finnanna... you can sit beside me or sleep inside. I'll drive." (C)

I took my seat beside him.

"Then put on your safety rope, like this." (C)

I was fascinated by the so called safety rope. It's a seatbelt! Well, it's made of a long cloth, soft but a bit thick. But, this design was sure similar to a car safety belt.

"Whose design is this? Yours?"

C laughed, "Cool, right? Unfortunately no. It's been around for more than a hundred years ago. It had magic property for defense too, almost all human merchants using safety rope these days."

Human? Maybe there's someone like me out there... yes, of course there must be.

"Mommy, don't forget to bring back some sweets..." (Rooga)

"Mattress! And I need some new clothes!" Feena looked at me frustratingly.

"Give my greeting to princess bee." (Ar)

"And, Roona?" I turned my head to the girl standing on the back.

Roona startled, seemingly didn't think I remembering her too.

"My sword... need some maintenance," she came near and gave me her sword.

"Got it." I put it in my magic bag.

"Thank you," she still had her expressionless face, but I could see her ears going red.

It's the first time I saw a reaction... an emotion on her. Maybe this girl just a shy girl? How cute!

"You're welcome," I couldn't help patting her head.

"Me too!" Rooga shook his head, trying to get up the carriage front.

"Don't forget, study hard!" I pet him and whispering so only Rooga could hear, "I'll count on you to teach me again."

Yup, my 'son' was my teacher. What could I do? I was too ashamed asking other to teach me reading and writing.

"Okay! I'll also make sure big sis and second brother and third sis to finish their tasks." Rooga grinned happily.

C and I were going on the same route Ar and I took. It's a bit uncomfortable. I had used to run in highspeed that this normal speed felt toooo slow. Ugh, what should I do?

"I'm feeling less and less human," I mumbled to myself.

"What?" (C)

"Ehm! So... if you're a royal, why did you become Ibil's guard?" I closed the door behind us, making it a wall, then leaned on it.

"I'm half demon. I'm after my human mother, so I don't have demon body nor their extraordinary mana. Well, I'm above average, so I'm not quite human too."

"So?"

"So... fifth sister took me under her wings. She said, if I couldn't fight, at least I must hide. Who's better at hiding than shadow guards? Hehe," he chuckled in self mocking.

So he became A's student because he's weak? I didn't like how it's sounded. Was he blaming his human mother?

"Are you mocking yourself, or human blood in you?" I felt offense.

"Huh? Why'd you upset?" (C)

"Human maybe is the weakest, but the weaknesses make them wise. One greedy human is enough to destroy lands and making god curse non stop, you know? Don't underestimate human! Even demon lord was killed by human. You, a guard that just good hiding in the shadow, don't have a slightest right to complain about how weak human blood made you!" I was so upset that I didn't realize, I was bad mouthing human greed.

C was flabbergasted.

"What?"

C shook his head like a rattle. "No, no! You're misunderstanding! I loved my mom, and I'm proud of her."

"Really?" I side glanced, looking sincerity in his eyes.

"Of course! My mommy was a great charm master. If I hated her, why would I follow her footsteps?" C nodded furiously.

"Your mom...?"

"My mo..." C realized his words and blushing like monkey but. "Ehm! My mother's already gone years ago. But still... she was the most beautiful woman I've ever known."

"Sorry..."

"No, it's okay. I'm 200 years already. She's gone when I was 15. I wished she lived longer. I missed her from time to time, but I'm not sad anymore. I knew, she must been happier becoming beautiful memories than the painful ones. She will be my compass forever, be good influence for the rest of my life." (C)

"... ..." that was a painful arrow to my heart.

If Mom knew I hated my father because I couldn't let her go, she must be crying in the afterlife.