Kind soul

ㅤ Mao stood nearby, watching as Sigewinne tended to the trembling boy's knee. The sight of Half frightened him more than blood, yet he bravely tried not to run away. Full of positivity, Mao convinced him there was no need to fear Half, that the world had changed, and soon everyone would live in harmony. He desperately wanted to believe it… So he worked tirelessly, helping to make the world what it should be, bringing the truth to people: half-breeds are not monsters, they are just like Gajuma and Huma. "Someday they'll thank you sincerely," Mao said energetically, smiling as usual and extending his hand to his friend. "It's enough that they let me help," Sigewinne returned the smile, accepting the offer. "After all," he continued more quietly, almost to himself, "the line between races is arbitrary." "Huh?" Mao looked questioningly at Sigewinne. There was too much in her mysterious tone. Including her willingness to tell everything when they were alone. That night in the forest by the fire, warming herself on her lover's chest, Sigewinne began her story. "Actually…" Telling the truth turned out to be harder than she thought. Because Mao was more precious to her than anyone else. Unlike the others, she was afraid of losing him. If it had been anyone else, she would have easily told the tale of who she was. But… "…I'm not a Half." "Eh? But…" "I was born a purebred Gajuma. And one day I became friends with a human boy. Who, forgive me," she nuzzled Mao's chest, as if trying to hide from the awkwardness, "stole my first kiss." The girl blushed deeply, remembering and confessing. Mao listened with interest, soothingly stroking her long-eared head. "Even as children, we knew our love would end in tragedy: we'd seen Half abused so many times. We didn't want that for our children. So when I met a mysterious man in a cloak who offered to make me human, I accepted without a second thought. I wasn't at all put off by his sly, piercing gaze. Even more memorable was the light purple bangs that fell over one eye. Unfortunately, the potion didn't work completely, as you can see. That man was also very annoyed, said something about another plan, but never returned. And that boy couldn't communicate with me anymore due to his parents' strict prohibition. In the end, he quickly found another love…" Mao hugged Sigewinne tighter, burying his nose in her hair. His heart burned at the betrayal his beloved had suffered. "It's unfair," he said softly. "You deserve better." "And that's what I got," she giggled softly, casting aside the sadness of the past and embracing the joy of the present. "Because otherwise, if disaster hadn't happened, I wouldn't have met you. And if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be healing people now; it was with him, playing doctor, that I became interested in this profession. He was quite the tomboy, regularly getting bruises and scrapes. I treated his knees countless times." "That you've become a professional!" Mao chuckled lightly, remembering his freshly healed knee. Sigewinne truly had become the best healer, despite all the obstacles and hardships. She found her happiness in Mao. With someone who lived the life of an ordinary person, even though he wasn't. But did that matter to two extraordinary individuals brought together by fate itself? What mattered wasn't their background, but the two of them—two kind souls. ㅤ