[65.4] The Return Back... Home

Once I had left, I tried to create an ice chunk. However, just like before, there was smoke floating off of the surface.

I don't understand…

Why is it becoming harder to create ice?

Now whenever I make it, it looks like the ice is actually on fire!

I took a deep breath and attempted to create my ice chunk once more. I ignored my previous anger and frustrations, trying to focus on the image of ice. When I reopened one eye, I was relieved to see my ice chunk back to looking normal.

I climbed aboard and flew forward.

But where should I go?

I don't…

I don't have anywhere to go…

I flew all night and all day, eventually arriving at a new destination in the late hours of the night. I stared down past my ice chunk, watching the village in the Macrabe forest. Unseen by those below, I hovered closely to the straw shacks.

"G-Get off of me! I can go on my own!"

"Nooo! Honeyyy!"

I watched as my Chief Gonza stepped out of the shack, his arms trembling as he struggled to walk using wooden sticks held in his arms. He dragged his feet behind him as he used the sticks to walk forward.

Caldwell ran out from behind him wearing a pitiful expression, "I-I promise I will stop touching-"

"SHUDDUP!" Chief Gonza's face turned bright red, "Go back inside before I make you start sleeping on the floor!"

"BABBBYYY!"

Chief Gonza ignored his pitiful cries and pushed himself forward. He huffed from the effort as I followed him silently, completely unseen by everyone.

Ah…

It seems he's slowly getting better…

Even though it's not perfect, he can at least move on his own…

His footsteps suddenly halted without warning. In confusion, I looked past him and saw three demons, all of which were snickering at him. I could tell they were crow demons and they each seemed to have a vendetta against my Uncle.

One sneered, "Where's your boyfriend?"

Chief Gonza turned bright red, "H-He's not!"

Another jumped over at him, playfully swatting the sick, "Still playing with sticks?"

Chief Gonza trembled in fear as the other one put his arm around him, "You should ditch that owl and play with us instead~"

Hmmm?

I watched Gonza with interest.

Is he being bullied?

Is it because he's human?

Gonza stuttered, "D-Demon! G-Get your hands o-off!"

The three crows laughed at him, "Don't be such a baby!"

"Yeah! It's not like we will hurt you!"

"We just want to eat you!"

Chief Gonza turned white, "E-Eat?!"

The three crows all burst into laughter, holding their sides at his pale expression.

Aha. I see.

They are teasing him because he's still afraid of demons despite living in this village-

Chief Gonza suddenly shouted, "CALDWELL!"

A blinding white light suddenly passed by me, causing my hair to be blown by the force. Caldwell swooped in, pulling Gonza into his arms. He shouted at the three crow demons, "GET LOST! HE'S MINE!"

The crows all laughed and flew off, leaving the two behind.

Chief Gonza held onto Caldwell as he trembled with wide, frightened eyes, "I-I'm sorry for getting angry! P-Please don't let these demons eat me!"

"I won't let any demons eat you…" Caldwell smirked with a lustful gaze, "Except for me~"

"Y-You! How improper! C-Can't you see how scared I am right now?! My life was just threatened!"

Even though he said that, his trembling lessened and his white face turned pink. Caldwell laughed and turned around, bringing Chief Gonza back to the straw shack. I watched them enter and too afraid to see what happened next, I floated away and left them behind.

I let out a sigh, "Now where can I go… Anywhere I go, I will always be a danger to people… All I need is for one thing to remind me of the past and I will accidentally burn people alive… Is there any place-"

My eyes slowly landed on the snowy mountains in the distance.

The breath was held in my throat as the calm whispering of the wind seemingly called me there.

I didn't realize it, but my ice chunk was already floating there.

The closer I got, the colder it was.

But it didn't make me feel uncomfortable.

In fact, it felt like…

Home.