Going Back for Him (2)

She spent a lot of time, but finally made it back to the front of the palace.

Kestrel sat on the steps where she had rested last time, starting to nibble on the leftover food she had taken from Muros' bag.

It had probably been less than a day since she last sat here, but for some reason, Kestrel felt that she had grown stronger.

She had a will that insisted on going in - not to die here, not to turn into a monster, but to finish a task and to rescue that person.

Even the tendrils were rubbing themselves, cleaning their suction cups, and flexing their muscles. All of them looked enthusiastic, no longer complaining about being tired or hungry.

Just a short distance away, the palace doors were in a frenzy as an enormous boy, taller than the door itself, was carelessly charging in.