Tw:mentions of blood.
Y/n's POV
It was too quiet, or had it ended yet?
We arrived at a pond in the forest and Haerin kept covering her nose and mouth because she said that the blood scent was too strong. Now, Minji and I walked in front in case something happened.
Minji instructed me to stop, I looked at her and she pointed out something.
I followed her gaze and found a dead deer body lying on the ground. The hole on that body wasn't that big, so it should have taken hours for the deer to bleed out. Then, there's only one way.
"They must use magic on their arrow to enhance the power," Minji spoke her mind.
As we noticed a pool of blood, we immediately turned our heads toward Haerin, wanting to confirm if the blood was solely the deer's.
The moment Haerin shook her head, our hearts dropped. Because the moment we observed it again, the more things we got to realize. There are... fingers...
"Most of the blood comes from the deer, but the fingers are definitely not Dani unnie's."
Feeling like we wouldn't get any clues, Minji asked us to follow the blood trail.
It led us to an unwanted view. 2 people were lying on the ground unconscious. One of them even lost some of his fingers.
"When I was on my knees," Dani's voice startled us. We found her sitting and leaning on her back on a tree quite far from the unconscious people.
"They tried to take this halo from me, using their bare hands."
It reminded me of the scene where her halo was strong enough to cut my horn, let alone touching it with bare hands.
"Dani, is that you? Are you okay?" I wanted to confirm the truth because the person in front of us might be the real her. Or she might be the same person who cut my horn.
Not answering me, she kept talking alone, "She should never see this kind of world. That's why I'm here, to protect her."
"Dani, answer Y/n's question! Are you okay or not?" Minji yelled.
Even with Minji's order, she wouldn't tell us a thing, "I will be the one who sees this world, so she can see the world where only beautiful things exist. I will make it right before she wakes up."
Dani stood up, stumbled a bit along the process of doing so, but finally managed to stand firm. The moment Minji and Haerin saw the arrow which struck right below Dani's collarbone, they lost it.
"Dani unnie! Let's go home, okay? We have to treat your wound first." Haerin worriedly said and Minji walked toward Dani.
"Don't come close!" and that halted Minji's step. "And then what? People like them will keep searching for her and put her in constant danger" she referred to the 2 people, who I assumed were the cause of all of this.
"People from the black market will chase her, aiming for this holy relic." She pointed at her halo.
"Then I won't let them." It was undeniable that I was confused right now. I concluded there were 2 personalities that shared the same body. The fact that both feared people, I hated it.
"What can I expect from a person like you? I don't even know you."
"We can be friends."
"It's irrelevant."
"Then at least introduce ourselves."
"I don't want to."
If this personality had a body of herself, I would pick up a fight right here and now. She didn't know me, but she didn't want to know me as well. If Minji and Haerin asked her, she didn't want to follow them though she knew them. Just what did she want?
"Look, I know we are strangers to each other, and we won't be friends overnight, but Dani is clearly injured. If we don't treat it immediately, it will be dangerous for both of you. You might not know, but I care for Dani a lot, and I know you do as well. Please, I'm begging you." I bowed to her. I was desperate, Dani's voice was trembling all the time. She must be at her limit.
"Right, if you can't believe her, please trust us." This time Minji tried backing me up.
Before she could give any response, she passed out. Fortunately, Minji managed to grab her before she fell. "This is a serious wound... We have to hurry to get home." Minji instantly put Dani on her back, and we ran home.
-
"She's not having a fever" Hanni expressed her concern, "Her body is cold all the time. I don't know if her body is fighting off infections or not. I believe there must be internal bleeding caused by the penetrating trauma. That's why if she doesn't have a fever, I don't know if her body's warning system is working or not."
We gathered in Dani's room after Hanni had done treating Dani's wound. I saw the snapped arrow coated with blood and I could feel an unfamiliar emotion. Rage was too common, so it mustn't be it. Self-loathing? Because I let this kind of thing happen to her? Or maybe terror. Greater than fear, I didn't want to lose her.
"Then what should we do?" Haerin asked Hanni. Right, the most important thing to do.
Hanni took a moment to think before finally looking at Minji, "Can you do the same thing which you did to Y/n?"
The mention of my name made me stare at Minji as well.
"That... I can't do that to Dani. An angel can't give its life force to another angel." She glanced at me while saying it.
Oh, now I know. The day they brought me into this house, Minji did that to save me. Finally, I knew how Dani felt. I kept saying that I was okay, but she was not having it. I couldn't relieve the guilt she had inside her. The same goes for me, I feel like I'm not worthy of Minji's life force.
If Minji had asked me for my consent to receive her life force, then I would have been reluctant to receive it.
"Then, can you transfer mine to Dani as a medium?" I genuinely asked Minji.
Minji hesitantly nodded as an answer. Before anyone could say anything, I continued, "I know, all of you won't object to giving yours, but... Dani becomes like this because she feels bad for me. By giving mine, I want her to know that I'm truthfully okay. I don't hold any grudge toward her. I want to let her know that, so please... let me."
-
?'s POV
My eyes fluttered open. It felt like my body was hit by a big boulder. This was my first time feeling this kind of sensation. Like I wanted to cry the moment I opened my eyes. I didn't like this feeling.
I took a moment to relax and finally felt the warmth in my left hand. I decided to glance to see what caused it. Y/n was there, sleeping while sitting on the chair.
I grasped her hand tighter, "Y/n?"
Y/n slowly woke up. The moment reality hit her, she looked panicked for no reason, "Oh, Dani! Are you okay? How are you feeling? Any pain?"
"Hey, hey, slowly. I'm okay."
"I'm glad..." Y/n clasped my left hand and put it on her forehead, "I'm really glad" she repeated.
My heart fluttered a bit. I wanted to do something in return, but to no avail, my body couldn't move the way I wanted to.
"Y/n," I called her.
"Hmm?"
"I think it's time to sleep for a long time I guess." I blatantly said.
"What do you mean? Are y-"
"I'm not Dani. Don't worry, she's fine now. I just want to bid my goodbye." Somehow Y/n's face showed disappointment, and it made me want to stay for a while. However, that's not my purpose, "It's been years since I followed her life. I had been here because of the first time she met people who ran after her. However, since she met her friends, she's so happy that I don't have to appear. The day we met, my consciousness was supposed to disappear that day, but I chose to come out to show that she still needed me. I rejected the idea that this world is safe for her, but then I realized that she already has you guys. Although she's in danger, you will save her. Although she makes a mistake, you will embrace her and guide her once again to the right path. My existence is not needed anymore here." I smiled sadly. I was ready to accept my fate.
"You haven't told me your name."
My eyes widen, "Seriously, you still want to know about that?"
"Of course, you have taken care of Dani for years. She is kind and always there when I need her. She changed me for good. I have to thank the person who taught her to be that way. Besides... it will be lonely for you to be forgotten by everyone. Let me... keep your name in my mind. That way, I will always remember that I have someone to protect." She cupped my face. I couldn't believe what I heard just now. Even after all I did to her, she still was kind to me.
"And... it's not like I can do something to make you stay, right?"
Maybe in another universe, she could be my hero. She was too good to be true, but then if this were my body, then I would spend the rest of my life thinking if only we were meant to be.
I instructed her to come closer. I whispered to her my name as if not wanting anything in the room could hear my name. So, every time she thought of my name, it would feel so special.
"It's a beautiful name." She smiled so brightly.
Oh Dani, this was my first time seeing someone's smile as beautiful as yours. I could understand why my consciousness was getting pushed. Because Dani wanted to be aware as she spent her time with you, Y/n.
"Then... Until we meet again."