The Author's POV

Step— Step—

Walking through the city of Issanor, silence enshrouded our group as no one spoke. A somber and tense atmosphere enveloped the area around us.

"Pftt…"

The silence did not last for long, however, as a small laugh soon escaped from my mouth.

The instant my laugh sounded, Waylan shot a glare in my direction.

"You done?"

"Y…yeah…"

But that didn't help me in any way as my lips trembled even more. A memory sudden flashed inside of my mind and it wasn't long before I was unable to contain my laughter anymore and I laughed out loud.

"Hahhahaha."

Holding onto my belly, I laughed as I had never before. Tears slowly started to gather by the side of my eyes, as I couldn't help but slap my thigh.

"I can't believe she called you a creep and looked at you that way…hahaha, I can't."

The more I laughed, the darker Waylan's face became.

I of course knew my limits. Just when Waylan's face was about to explode, I raised my hands in defeat.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop…pfttt."

Unfortunately, I was unable to keep my face straight. Before long, another laugh escaped from my mouth and Waylan's face became even darker.

What was supposed to be an emotional cliche moment where Waylan would stare at his daughter with longing eyes from the distance, expressing his sorrow about his inability of not being able to meet her, turned into a moment where he was scorned and called a creep by her.

Recalling that moment, another laugh escaped from my lips as pity flashed across my eyes.

Obviously, Waylan was not pleased by the laugh as he venomously stared at me.

"Another word and you're done."

His threats may have worked on someone else, but as someone who had been with him for over a year, such threats were no longer effective.

Walking up to him I patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry too much. You should be happy instead."

"Happy?" Waylan raised his brow and coldly looked at me. "Why should I be happy about the fact that my daughter treated me like some sort of creep?"

"Because it means that you've taught her well."

"What?"

Taking my hand off of his shoulder, I explained.

"Well think about it, why in the world would she recognize you when you're wearing a mask to hide your features. Had she looked back at you with the same eyes as yours I'd be worried."

My words seemed to have some sort of effect on Waylan as he calmed down and logically thoughts things through.

Then, his shoulders slumped down in defeat.

"You're right…"

"Of course I'm right."

If I were in the same situation as he and Nola reacted differently, I'd start to worry.

'Actually, what if I was in Waylan's spot and Nola reacted the same way?'

As my thoughts paused there, I instantly started to realize what kind of pain Waylan was going through, and the pity I previously had for him turned into sympathy.

"…Still hurts that I was called a creep."

Once again placing my hand on Waylan's shoulder, I apologized.

"I'm sorry for laughing at you before. Now that I've thought things carefully, I can understand your pain somewhat."

Lifting his head up, Waylan turned to face me and our eyes met.

"Thank you…"

"Pftt, never mind."

I took a look at his face and

just too

Smack—

Waylan distanced himself from

"Dont talk to me."

on, I was

apologize, but all my words went

'This is nice.'

I followed him from behind. This was the first time in a while that

casual jokes helped me alleviate some of

body, my mind was still broken.

possible, I wouldn't need to worry about the frequent nightmares and thoughts

where I could feel my mind slowly start to heal. Or at

I...was suffering.

"Huu..."

deeply, I tried to calm my mind down and thought back to the previous meeting. Trying to

that they're doing

a serene smile

to get a clear look at them, just the fact that they looked to be doing fine lifted something off of my

colder than before, with everything that happened with her

had only known them for a year, and we hadn't spent much time together, but that

be another extra that had died along with the many others that died during their life, but to me, they were the first friends I had

about me, I..I, .was really happy that they were

"Ugh."

eyes, I tried to think of

Kevin is? Since they were here, he must also be in

the humans would be coming in batches, therefore, I wasn't worried that he wasn't

'I'll see him soon.'

meet with Kevin and the others. I may have missed this one, but there would always be

"Hm?"

staring at the others that had walked quite a fair distance away

wait up. Don't leave me

my foot onto the ground, I followed them from

***

have finally

in front of a large white building were Kevin and Jin who had just come out

one of the pillars of the building, Emma closely scrutinized Kevin. She then turned

just

"You can tell?"

think? You're soaked

at his shirt which had a huge sweat mark, and scratched his

be a light spar, didn't know we would get

smell is

off her sunglasses and staring at Kevin and Jin with

words, stretching his white shirt, Jin

Kevin

going to say

head before she decided to head for

the next couple of days.

for anyone to say anything

Emma took the

happened

"Oh? What happened?"

intrigued look appeared on Kevin's

way here, we met another group of

"You met another group?"

her words. Nodding her head, Emma

how many there were, but hear this, once we were passing with their group,

body, Emma's

he looked at me sends shivers down

"Emma."

her story. Staring at Kevin's face which

"What's wrong?"

you just say that you

"Yes, I did."

her head

too, right? They were humans for

"They were."

Her delicate face was