Y/n's POV
"Y/n!" Hyein's voice echoed through my mind. I quickly stopped my daydream and quickened my pace to follow her.
"Don't stray away. You will get lost." She continued. Right, I was in the middle of the town, following Minji and Hyein to work. This was my first experience being in a town and I didn't expect the difference between a town and a village to be like the sky and the earth.
I brushed off the dust off my suit to look professional, only for Minji to notice and snort with laughter.
'The heck?'
Now, she was the one who slowed down her pace to match my pace. "How is it? This is your first time going to a town, right?". She said it quietly, maintaining her composure in front of many people we passed by.
"Yeah, it's awesome! The ride with carriage was fun as well."
"Well, nice to hear that you're enjoying your time here." She gave me a wink before coming back to her position.
As we walked deeper to the core of the town, I noticed that the people here were preparing something. It seemed like an event was about to be held in no time. However, it felt like my presence sometimes disturb their concentration as they couldn't help but stare at my horn. I didn't wear a cloak anymore to hide my horn. I just let them be, looking asymmetrical as ever.
There are people whispering and every time I made eye contact with some of them, I just slightly nod, hoping they took it as a greeting.
It's a different feeling from back then. I didn't feel any fear at all. Since when I have been feeling this way? Maybe there's something changed after living with them, I guess.
"Lady Hyein!"
My focus shifted to the children who were giving a bouquet of flowers to Hyein now. She patted their heads one by one while receiving the flowers.
"Welcome to the town, Lady Hyein."
Now, the adults started welcoming her as well. 'She's popular...'
Some people came to Minji as well to give her something, probably their local wisdom things.
Seeing those scenarios, was it jealousy? It suddenly came, out of nowhere, wanting the feeling of being accepted.
More people started coming and soon it became crowded. Guessing that people really wanted to see them, I stepped back out of the crowd and waited for them.
There were understandably loud noises everywhere, but that's where I heard a faint, "help" not far from where I stood.
I looked around and just then a sudden gust of wind blew right beside me. I hadn't had time to check, a girl already grabbed my hand, "Please, help me."
I hated how her eyes only showed desperation at that time. Maybe her eyes were very clear because I could definitely see myself in those eyes. If somehow Minji and Hyein weren't so busy right now, would this girl still run to me asking for help?
"My chaneries he stole has something important to me, please!"
'Important?' she could probably see my eyes' color almost instantly changing to silver. That word triggered me, why do people keep taking what's not theirs? IF... I could become like those who came into my life and gave me hope, I would take the chance to do the same for other people.
For my presence to be appreciated.
For my voice to be heard.
For myself to be relied upon.
I wanted to become like them.
I quickly located the direction he was running in. Minji and Hyein might not notice this yet, so I started running toward him.
"Please, make a way!" I yelled as people kept hindering me from getting closer to the culprit. Comparing our speed now, it only made sense if he was a beast.
"He's fast"
I could run this fast at first, but I knew that I would run out of energy soon. I had to be smarter for this. For a moment, I remembered what Minji taught me. As long as I could direct my energy to the right place, they could enhance my physical capability. So, if I direct the energy into my legs, I should be able to run faster and longer.
The moment I saw a chance to run faster as there was no person in the middle of the road, I immediately launched myself forward. I didn't know what I was thinking at that time because the energy in my legs felt TOO MUCH. All of a sudden, all I saw was the culprit's back before I cannon into him, literally hard.
Both of us swooped down dramatically. I could hear gasps erupting from all the people nearby. Ignoring the ringing in my ears and pain in my nose and neck because I bumped into him, I noticed the chaneries that I had to take back from him.
I took it from him, "You should not take something importa-"
"AAARRRGGG-"
He suddenly yelled, almost like a roar to me because he was right in front of me. He managed to gather all of the people's attention.
"Help! She's going to kill me! This demon is going to hurt me!"
Somehow, their whispering got louder. It didn't help the fact that my ears were still ringing.
"No, that's not tru-"
Suddenly, I felt an excruciating pain in my left cheek. Not long after, I could feel liquid flowing.
A rock.
Someone threw a rock toward me.
I lower my head and am just able to mumble, "Why won't you believe me?"
"We believe you."
It was Hyein. She and Minji must hear the commotion and come over directly. Her tone was calm, but I knew there was anger involved.
She stood in front of me, "I thought you people value fairness. You want to be treated the same, but when you find someone below, you think it's right to treat them like this. This person here, is MY companion. Treat her like how you treat me."
After that, no one talked back. They either just kept whispering or left quietly. There I found the girl whose chaneries was in my hand.
Maybe she felt bad for me that she was about to clarify things in front of these people, but I shook my head, telling her not to do that.
I just sighed.