Page 154

“Emerie?” he repeated, grabbing her thick braid to slip it through his palm.

“Hm?” she replied, lifting her freckled and scarred face to him. She gave him a smile, but he instantly knew it was fake. “Have fun with yourbrother?”

No. His conversations with Faunus were as confusing as they were enlightening.

But he did wonder why she’d used the word brother to reference the feline Mavka. She’d been saying it a lot, as if she wanted him to understand this bond deeper, when it only drew a blankness in his mind. That blankness was growing smaller the more he was around them, but it would take time for his mind to piece together something so obviously complex.

“You are very good with a wooden sword,” Ingram complimented, hoping to distract her – especially since she seemed to squirm every time he did.

He very much liked it when she did.

“Pfft.” Emerie rolled her eyes. “She kicked my arse every single time. I’m going to end up with so many bruises, and she’ll barely have one.”

“You got me really good on the arm though,” Mayumi mused. “You’re better than Reia, and that girl can give me a run for my money some days.” She tilted her head back to shine a grin at Emerie. “Difference is, she has absolutely no concept of fear. I could tell you were worried about hurting me the entire time. Reia would still size me up as a challenge and try to best me.”

“Which is why you aren’t allowed to train with her anymore until this one is out,” Faunus said with the lightest growl, palming her stomach.

Mayumi just rolled her brown eyes before giving Emerie a wink. Emerie smiled, until Mayumi lifted her head to face Faunus, then it instantly died. Her features turned dark, dreary.

Is something wrong with her?

She didn’t seem truly harmed, but it was like she was in... pain.

She even cringed when Mayumi lifted one of her younglings into the air with both hands while giggling. She then snuggled her nose against theirs, and their pliable claws bent backwards as they happily grabbed at her cheeks.

Since her face had gone pale, Ingram drew the glossy curve of his claw against Emerie’s cheek. “Is something wrong?”

“Huh?” she rasped, directing her face to his swiftly like he’d snapped her out of her thoughts. “Oh, nothing. I think I’m just hungry.” Then she gave a light laugh. “Training can do that to a person. I used to eat like a horse after training sessions at the guild.”

Why did he feel like that was a... lie? Or, at least, a half-truth.

Emerie was trying her absolute hardest to remain all smiles and light-hearted... she really was. Or, at least, tried to hide her internal struggles as best she could from everyone.

That seemed fucking impossible with the Duskwalker that rarely took his orbs off her. He was getting worse about it too, like he could tell something was off about her. She wondered how much longer she could brush him off without imploding.

With the way she was feeling, she knew she was a hair trigger away from exploding the next time he softly and quietly asked if she was okay.

I don’t want to tell him why I’m upset.It was no one’s fault but her own, even though it was the situation that was causing it.Gosh, I feel so damn petty.

And the longer she sat in the home of this charming little family, the more a hook sunk deeper and deeper into her chest. Would it rip her open, or wait to rise to the surface?

She felt like she and Ingram were imposing on Mayumi and Faunus in their home, but they had nowhere else to go other than the tent they’d been loaned. However, Mayumi was offering to cook Emerie dinner, and she hadn’t wanted to deny her hospitality and come across as rude.

Emerie had spent almost every moment with Mayumi today. Yes, part of it was to avoid Ingram, since he seemed content next to Faunus, following him around wherever he went because he wouldn’t come near Mayumi if he didn’t have to. Another was because the woman just seemed happy to have a fellow Demonslayer around.

They’d spoken about their different lives in their sectors, reminisced on stories that were similar. Mayumi had spoken of her father and how she’d joined the guild to follow in his footsteps.

Emerie had eventually found it hard to share after that.

They had walked down the same kind of path, but one fateful decision meant they were worlds apart. Would always be worlds apart. Emerie had somewhat regretted her choice for the longest time, but this was the first instance it threatened to suffocate her.

Even if they hadn’t spoken about it, Emerie was sure Mayumi was aware of it.

The woman seemed too calculating and had an awfully keen eye. There were times Mayumi’s features would tighten, and she’d go silent, or redirect the conversation or what was happening in an attempt to help.

It didn’t.

Not when Emerie gave her a reassuring and appreciative smile, thankful she wasn’t airing out the problem.