No One Will Harm You

His words made me swallow hard. I glanced around at the trees, noticing their withering state. The signs of decay were evident, even in the palace's harvests. It dawned on me that this was likely the cause of the shortages, the hunger among the people, and the growing chaos throughout the kingdom. I remained silent, contemplating the dire situation we were facing.

I pondered the potential consequences if they failed to defeat Amelia. What would happen to this world if the kingdoms fell? What about the people, especially the orphans like myself? And what about Hiyasmin? How would she escape, and who would come to her aid? These thoughts swirled in my mind, accompanied by concerns about Liam, Alexa, Ludwig, and everyone else.

Ludwig observed me with a hint of indifference. "Aren't you going to ask about Percival revealing your Halfling heritage?" he inquired.

I looked down, feeling a mix of emotions, and scratched my head. "I don't want to know," I replied firmly.

His laughter filled the air at my response. "You truly are different," he remarked thoughtfully. "Most people in your position would immediately ask about being a Halfling, but you didn't—not because you couldn't, but because you chose not to. Why is that, Louise?"

Avoiding direct eye contact, I spoke softly, my words carrying a weight of uncertainty. "I haven't fully accepted it yet," I admitted. "Even now, I prefer to think of myself as human. Ignorance about my Halfling heritage allows me to hold onto the belief that I'm just a normal human, not half, not one-fourth."

Ludwig nodded as if trying to comprehend my perspective.

Ludwig's curiosity seemed piqued as he continued to inquire, "Don't you remember anything, even something vague, like you've visited this world, Quailsham, before?"

I arched an eyebrow in response. "I've never left my world my entire life until now," I stated confidently, drawing from my memories. "Why do you ask?"

"Because you're a Halfling," Ludwig explained matter-of-factly. "Whether you acknowledge it or not, it implies that one of your parents lived here in Quailsham, or perhaps both, but as different beings. Who knows."

His words sent my mind reeling. "If it were true that I'd been here before, wouldn't I remember it? After all, your world is vastly different from ours, isn't it?"

Ludwig let out a sigh. "It's possible that your memories were magically erased, similar to how your true presence is presently concealed."

My emotions shifted quickly as I absorbed this new information. "So, you're saying that what Percival mentioned about me is actually true?" I questioned, feeling a surge of panic at the revelation. "Is it possible for the spell to be lifted so I can finally discover my true identity?"

Ludwig's nod was gentle. "Yes, it's possible, but we would need an experienced witch or a Chief Covenant, as the spell used on you seems to be quite complex."

"Why didn't you do it before then?" I asked Ludwig, my curiosity getting the better of me. "Wouldn't it be better to know now?"

Ludwig let out a half-hearted laugh, causing my breath to catch for a few fleeting seconds.

Ludwig's smile persisted despite his attempt to wipe it away with the back of his hand. "I thought you didn't want to know yet?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Well, yes, I didn't want to know before," I clarified, "before I was aware that I was under some magical spell. Do you understand my situation, Ludwig?" I asked earnestly, sensing his demeanor becoming serious as well. "If it's true that I was cursed or blessed, preventing others from identifying who I actually am, then there must be a reason why. I wonder why they would do that to me—someone who is just a half-human and half something else, or perhaps half of both something else. Maybe that 'something else' is dangerous. Maybe I'm meant to be something significant. Don't you think?"

My imagination running wild, I couldn't help but stand up. "Goodness, maybe I'm a Dreadspawn, hidden in the human world. Perhaps I'm a Wyvern or the daughter of a powerful witch, a Golden Lifeblood. Or maybe I'm a hidden Fae, an illegitimate daughter of a King. The possibilities are endless. I'm concealed for a reason. Is it to save me, or to save themselves? Who knows? What if... I'm meant to be destroyed, Ludwig?" 

"Hey," Ludwig called in a soft, reassuring voice. He immediately approached me, his steps deliberate yet gentle, and enveloped me in a comforting embrace against his broad chest. His warm hands wiped away the tears that had escaped down my cheeks, a gesture filled with both care and understanding, even for emotions I hadn't been fully aware of expressing. 

"You're not a Dreadspawn, okay?" he whispered, his voice carrying a soothing tone. "You're not a Vampire. No one will harm you. No one can."

"But how can you be so sure?" I asked back, my voice trembling with suppressed emotions. "As you said, you have no idea who I really am because of this cursed magic. What if I truly am a Dreadspawn? What other possibilities exist? An Elven? A Witch? Werebeast? Or perhaps one of the other minorities?" My eyes welled up with fresh tears, the uncertainty and fear palpable in my voice and expression.

I didn't want to be labeled as something sinister. I didn't want to embrace a nature that went against everything I believed in. Most of all, I didn't want to be consumed by darkness or be forced to partake in acts I found abhorrent, like drinking blood. 

"Listen to me, Louise," Ludwig assured me, his voice steady and calm. "I know that you are not a Dreadspawn because becoming one cannot be inherited like other traits. No creature is born as a Dreadspawn because it's not a natural state. It's a process of dark transformation."

"I don't understand," I said, my voice trembling as I tried to regain control of my emotions.

"To become a Dreadspawn," Ludwig patiently explained, "one has to willingly sell their own soul. It's a personal choice and not something that can be passed down or imposed on someone else. That's why no newborn can be a Dreadspawn—it's a decision that has to be made consciously."

"Then what about those bitten by Vampires?" I asked, looking up at Ludwig, his face close to mine. "Don't they turn into Vampires too?"

Ludwig immediately shook his head. "That's just a myth, a product of human imagination. The truth is, if you're bitten by a Dreadspawn, you either die from blood loss or succumb to poisoning unless you receive immediate aid."

I took a deep breath, relieved by Ludwig's explanation. At least I now knew that I wasn't destined to become a Dreadspawn unless I willingly made that choice, which I vowed never to do. "That's a relief," I said, feeling a weight lifted off my shoulders. "I don't know what I would do if I suddenly transformed into one. The thought alone is terrifying. I might hurt someone unintentionally."

The fear of harming others without control sent shivers down my spine. I was not skilled in combat beyond basic self-defense, and the idea of inflicting harm on another person was unsettling.

I was taken aback when Ludwig's embrace suddenly tightened, and I could feel the intense heat radiating from him, a sign of his anger. But why was he angry?

"No one will harm you," Ludwig stated firmly, his voice tinged with determination. "Not while I'm around. No one will lay a finger on you. I'll make sure of that." His words were filled with unwavering promises.

I couldn't help but smile at his reassurance, grateful for his protective nature.