3rd person's POV
Yesterday night, Y/n had a good dream. Maybe 'good' was a massive understatement. It's beyond beautiful, lovely, or even ethereal. She got to eat a great feast for her dinner. Her parents and friends celebrated her birthday. Reminding her once again how precious her existence was to them. She could remember how wide her smile was until the end of the party. Sadly, it's just a broken dream.
She tightly hugged herself. Hoping that she could give a little warmth to her body which desperately needed it. She noticed how the cold air turned her breath into a small misty cloud. Y/n knew that walking aimlessly without any destination in this village would just disappoint her.
There's still hope
That's what she wanted to believe. Maybe not today, not there, but someday and somewhere, she would see the sign. She would have a different life. She would find a place where people accept her for what she is.
Those notions gave her the power and desire to keep walking. If this village couldn't give her what she needed, then there was no reason for her to stay. Sad for her to realize this just now, when she spent over 17 years of her life, wishing that she could contribute something.
Y/n almost couldn't sense it when a lump of snow landed on her head. She stopped her pace. She grabbed it and stared at it for a while. She didn't even have the power to tighten her fist. At least to show the perpetrator that she had enough of it. Y/n let the snow fell to the ground before looking at the juveniles.
"You shouldn't have shoved them off your head, so your demon horns wouldn't be noticeable," one of them said, then proceeded to throw another handful of snow. Although the others followed and had fun, Y/n just couldn't. Their stares scared her, they were even much colder than the air, and yet she could not blame them. She was the lowest kind of creature after all.
There's no rule stating that matter, but all creatures could surely see the line. The ranking. The hierarchy. Y/n just had to be a demon when things like angels, witches, beasts, and humans existed. Based on the invisible stratification, angels are the highest, followed by humans and witches. Imagine being born with a label and it was almost impossible to change your fate. Demons were believed as curses. Let a single demon live just would bring calamity to the world.
Her parents were both humans. Even so, it couldn't guarantee that their child would be a human as well. Witches could even give birth to a child with angel attributes.
They took care of Y/n, knowing that they were against the village. Things became hard for them since that moment. As a child, Y/n couldn't help but think of herself as a burden. At the age of fifteen, her reason to stay in that village was gone. It was her last time feeling loved by the world. She lost her parents, but she held tight to their last request.
Go to the forest. Find her
She's heard many touching stories about that girl from her parents, especially how she's more than willing to help them. If it's true, then maybe, Y/n would have something she wanted to reach.
"You're walking toward the main gate, do you want to escape?" a guy kicked Y/n in the gut. She didn't know whether she had to be thankful or not that the ground was covered by snow because she didn't have to bear additional pain. She only knew him out of four people. Somehow Gunwoo was always the first one to attack. "And what made you think that we would allow you to do so?". If Y/n hadn't prepared any amount of defense with her left forearm supported by the other hand, her head would have met the snowpack. It cost her so much pain in the attacked part though.
Definitely a human, to involve so many physical strikes. Y/n might stand a chance against him, but she wasn't sure about the other three.
Whatever. She huffed to herself. People said, to simply leaving everything to fate as if it was predestined is not realistic. That's why Y/n was not going to wait, she would try for it, work for it, and fight for it.
"Because it's my goddamn life, not yours" she glared at the nearest human. Gunwoo surely could see how her iris turned to silver. Not long after, he was thrown up violently in the air. The way he landed assured her that she had knocked him down. Then, she started her count, "One down"
Y/n was contemplating charging to the red beanie girl or the guy with a white shearling jacket when the one who wore a plaid blazer came rushing to her with a slat of wood. Once again she had to use her left forearm to cover her head. Not giving any time for the next move, she put her hand on his chest and sent him forth. The pain was getting unbearable, but she knew that she needed her right hand because that's where her power came from. Although her flames couldn't work properly in this environment, she could feel her hand emitting the energy as an alternative. If only she could turn it into the fire, her escape would be much easier.
A sudden impulse caused an automatic movement from her body, she slid to the left as fast as possible, yet it's too late. A beam of laser went through Y/n's right side of the abdomen. She was shocked as she could see her blood spurting out, easily smearing the white ground below her with red. She was quick to enfold her wound, but it was to no avail. She tried her best to keep standing, just for her to fall on one's knee right after. She could hear her ragged breathing, her view was getting blurry as well.
"N-No, not now..." she whispered.
The main gate wasn't far from there. Should she make a run for it? But her reflex couldn't match the laser beam's speed. Y/n took a glance at the red beanie girl, guessed that the idea of killing someone was still too much for her as she could see how the girl was aghast.
"Hey, Taejoon. I guess this is enough. We can stop now" the girl said. That girl was surely dangerous, but Y/n could put her aside now because seems like the unfamiliar girl wouldn't use her power again.
"What do you mean enough? I haven't had my turn"
Y/n slowly rose from the ground. One more, just one more, please...
"You're a tough one, aren't you?" Y/n didn't know about this Taejoon, but his confidence showed that he couldn't be a mere human.
"We don't even know each other. Let's not make this more difficult, will you?" Y/n glared at Taejoon with his shearling jacket. They both rushed to each other. He launched a punch aiming for the head, but Y/n was fast enough to duck and jabbed him in the gut. Y/n was really sure that she had released the energy, yet he didn't get blown off. She immediately took a step back and performed a snap kick. Sadly, he jumped off and turned 360 degrees in the air with his right foot aiming at Y/n's head. He didn't give any time for her to think. Hence, she could definitely hear a cracking sound when she used her left arm as a cover again. The impact got her thrown off a little bit far and laid face down. Her left forearm wasn't enough to protect her head this time.
'He's agile... Must be a beast...' Y/n thought as she could sense the boy was getting closer to her. However, she couldn't stand it anymore. Too painful. Too tired. Too hopeless.
The only view she could see right now was her left hand, how her fingers had turned red. She might be in the second stage of frostbite. He got Y/n too fast, he proved to her that his turn was deadly, that Y/n wouldn't stand a chance, and that she should have just stopped wishing for something unachievable.
'Unfair.
How unfair.
How can god give me this pain? How can the pain we get be different for each person? Is it because of me being a demon, that I badly want to inflict this pain to everyone? So they can feel and understand me... that I'm still a living being. I can feel the pain...'
'Ahh, forget it. I don't want my final words to be this dark' Y/n slowly closed her eyes and smiled. Maybe it was okay after all. She could stop her pain now. Even if she lived, it wouldn't ensure that her life would get better. She couldn't get the good days waiting for her, but she didn't have to feel the bad days either. It's all.... fine
"Hey, why aren't you moving?" Taejoon gave Y/n's head some nudges with his foot. However, there's no reaction. He noticed her blood gushing out from the early massive attack right at the abdomen. Like a beast who didn't have a feeling, he walked closer toward the wound. "You don't want to wake up?" he proceeded to step on the injury. Still, there's no movement, even the slightest wince. He clicked his tongue in disappointment, knowing his play time was over. "Such a waste of time" and just like that he picked up one of his comrades on the shoulder and left the scene, leaving Y/n alone in a quiet and lonesome area.
-
"Mom?" little Y/n took a peek at her mom's back through the kitchen door. She had dared herself to ask her mom a request. She could see her mom walking closer to her and squatting down to match her height. "Yes, Y/n?" it always amazed Y/n how her mother only showed her tenderness even when she's tired or afraid of many uncertain things as if she wanted Y/n not to know about it.
However, it's no secret that life had been hard for them. Y/n knew and this was the only thing she could offer. "C-can you somehow get rid of these?" she pointed out her horns. Y/n didn't miss the slight uneasiness on the adult's face. Maybe if she explained the reason, it would ease the latter's mind, but it worked conversely. It only puts more weight on the mother's mind about how a little child like Y/n had to think like this. "Y-you know, every time I go outside, my horns are the only thing that other people keep an eye on. No matter how many times I try to help them, to talk with them nicely, or to entertain them, I'm still the evil one..."
"No... That's not right" her mother clasped Y/n's hand while she let her right hand cupped her daughter's cheek. "Those horns don't determine your character. I'm sure one day, you will make everyone proud of you, and those horns... will be the proof"
Of course, that wasn't enough to convince Y/n, but she couldn't be more unhappy. She had to show that it's enough. She had to show that she's happy with the current condition. She was the reason after all, that everything became like this.
Just don't complain...
Y/n gave her best smile, nodded, and let out a hum of excitement. The problem seemed to be solved. Her mother continued her activity, preparing lunch for the family. While Y/n was reading her storybook, she could feel a hand holding her left shoulder. She tried to respond by looking at the figure's face, but everything became blurry. She couldn't recognize the face, even when she had squinted.
Fear wasn't one of the options, she knew that her mom was the only one in the house. This sudden blindness didn't scare her. So, Y/n slowly touched the hand, "Mom?"
-
"Wow, it has been a long time since I go outside the forest and the first thing I have to see is a corpse" a woman in a gothic dress huffed loudly so the guardian (companion actually) could see her annoyance.
"Well, I hear this village has a lot of goods to offer, but I don't expect this as well. Please don't think that I planned this, Lady Grace" the girl in the suit said while striking a thinking pose. Hyein just sneered at the statement. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me by that name, Hussey?"
"AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU WON'T CALL ME MINJI!" the girl just furiously held out her hands with open palms facing up, begging for her sanity. She herself couldn't believe how she could keep up with the noble lady for years.
Minji is facepalmed now. With a last sigh coming out, she walked casually to the 'corpse', while Hyein decided to stay away. "As a noble lady in training, you'll be the one doing this in the future though" Minji crouched down to get a clearer view. She just needed a few observations to conclude things. The blood was still fresh, found some footprints that might lead her far away from the motionless body.
"She's still alive apparently!" she had to talk louder cause Hyein wasn't that close. It left the noble girl thinking about what she should do next. Waiting for the reply, Minji put her attention back to the girl right in front of her.
'A demon... Well, what can be worse?' she thought as she noticed the horns. Minji extended her hand and put it on the girl's shoulder, just to see the girl use her left hand which was shivering a lot to touch it back weakly. It was really cold. Minji could even see the reddish fingers, which might be caused by the cold. However, she didn't pull her hand. She just let the girl held it, she would be relieved if it could give a little warmth.
"Mom?"
Minji clearly heard her low mumble. She was expecting for more, but it was all the girl had to say.
Feeling guilty out of a sudden, she gripped the little girl's hand. "Hey, Hyein. Should we bring her home?"
"What?! I prefer bringing things I buy over a corpse" Hyein protested.
"She's still alive... just unconscious. Moreover, you can bring home a friend for Haerin" Minji yielded an idea. She couldn't leave her behind. The girl was a demon after all, she had to be useful somehow. Or maybe her heart just couldn't let her be.
"Hmm.... A friend... for Haerin" the noble lady thought it deeply for a while. "Am I not enough for her?"
Haerin was Hyein's favorite person. She might spend all of her time for the younger girl, but there just wasn't much time to begin with. Reading, training, and socializing take her time. When she's doing all of that, Haerin might feel lonely.
"Right, that's a great idea. We can bring her home. She needs our help, let's go home now"
Minji smiled in victory. She didn't intentionally use Haerin as a reason, but it's the only way she knew to convince Hyein. The idea of buying things in that village became not possible as the injured girl needed help as fast as possible. They brought the unconscious girl back to their home... in the forest.