The woman fell into Slady's arms, who held her carefully.
His gaze lowered to her frightened face.
"What happened to you, woman?"
"I... I was lost... please..."
She did not finish the sentence, tears of pain sliding down. Trembling, she looked at Slady.
"Please, don't hurt me."
Unable to bear the pain, she fainted in his arms.
I cannot wake up Shaphira.
Slady thought.
He carried her gently and took her to a secondary room, simple and organized.
After placing her on the bed, he observed the injured body. He looked hesitant, but acted.
He carefully lifted part of the woman's clothes, since he needed to check the wounds accurately. He faced the partial nudity and injuries with neutrality.
"She got into some dangerous fight."
With a sigh, he took some cloths and a syringe with a colorless liquid.
"Another problem to deal with."
He murmured.
Hours later, he woke up in the chair. His gray eyes fell on the woman, who no longer showed visible injuries.
When he stood up, he felt a strange familiarity without knowing from where.
"Now that I think about it, where have I seen this woman before?"
***
Sleeping deeply, Rin Yuang drooled on her bed. The phone vibrated.
"Ahhh..."
She wiped the saliva from her lips and grabbed the phone looking annoyed.
"...What does this snack thief want now?"
She answered.
"Hi?"
Slady's voice came from the phone.
"I need your help."
***
Dressed and next to Slady, Rin looked tense. When she looked at the bed, she let out a muffled gasp.
"My God..."
"What?"
"This woman is Victoria Noughter!"
Confused by Rin's exaggerated shock, he asked:
"Who is she?"
"She is Victoria Noughter, a Hunter of Destruction."
She sat down beside her, almost like a fan meeting a celebrity.
"She is amazing and has a very strong husband."
"So young and already married."
Slady murmured tiredly.
"Wait... did you do something to her?"
Slady answered honestly.
"No, I only removed a little of her clothes and..."
"WHAT?!"
Rin grabbed Slady's shoulders.
"Did you hurt her?"
"No, I just treated her wounds."
Suspicious, she examined his face, took a deep breath. Nothing.
"Then..."
She sighed.
"Better let her wake up without pressure. Be someone who will not make Faller raise his hand to hit you."
"Who is Faller?"
"Her husband."
"Right..."
Rin adjusted her clothes and waved with a nervous smile.
"Good luck with her and with the husband."
She left quickly, tense as if she feared someone or something.
"Knowing Slady's secrets must be heavy."
"You seem to fear me, Rin Yuang. I will remove that weight." He thought.
***
A few minutes later, Victoria woke up. She looked at her partial nudity under the covers.
"What...?"
Her expression shifted from confused to intimidating.
"Explain yourself now."
Her hair floated, the moisture in the air forming sharp droplets pointed at Slady.
"I treated your injuries, I just forgot to fix your clothes."
Victoria looked at the blanket, nodded.
"I understand. Thank you. I am sorry."
She reached out her hand.
"Nice to meet you, Victoria Noughter. Could you give me some clothes?"
"Nice to meet you, call me Slady. I will get your clothes."
He handed her simple clothing. She felt the fabric between her fingers.
"Please, turn around."
Slady turned.
She put on the shirt and pants, slightly displeased, but grateful.
"Thank you, really."
"It was nothing, I just did the minimum."
They turned and silence settled between them, calm.
"I would like to tell my husband I am fine. He would worry if I did not return."
"I understand."
Slady gave her the phone and left to give privacy.
***
Slady watched Shaphira sleep when he heard knocks at the door.
When he opened it, his one eye widened.
The man was much larger than Slady, with defined muscles.
"Sorry to bother you this morning, knight, but my wife told me that a kind man took care of her while she was vulnerable. Would that be you?"
He offered his hand with a charming smile.
Slady swallowed.
"Yeah."
He greeted him.
***
Sitting on the couch, Slady heard footsteps.
Faller came down and knelt in front of him, holding his hands firmly without hurting him.
"Thank you."
Slady tilted his head, considering the possibility of dying there.
"You are welcome. What did your wife say?"
Faller became serious, sat beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She told me about the clothes. I really appreciate you taking care of her, but be careful with intimacy involving people who do not know you. They could take it the wrong way."
Slady took it in.
"Understood."
Faller smiled.
"My wife is tired, can we stay here for now?"
"Yes, just do not make a mess."
"We are good guests."
He hurried upstairs.
***
In Renkai Creature form, Shaphira walked in the hallway. Passing by the room, Faller saw her.
"A demon."
He instinctively drew his sword.
With smoke, Slady appeared and held the sword with his mechanical hand.
"I appreciate your intention to eliminate a demon, but not when it is my daughter."
"Daughter?!"
Faller and Victoria said together.
"But that is a demon."
"It does not matter."
He released the man and covered his mechanical eye.
"I forgive you for the mistake, but never think of attacking her again."
He withdrew.
The couple felt chills, understanding they should not repeat that mistake.
***
Trembling, Shaphira sought comfort in Slady's lap, who stroked her head.
"It is over. No one is going to hurt you. They are not bad."
***
Later, Slady found them sleeping in the room.
I will charge for this.
He thought.
He leaned against the wall, let his hair down and took a deep breath.
"What a stressful day. I will have to work twice as much."
In the workshop, he took some syringes and prepared them.
In each room, he applied the liquid. Shaphira fell asleep. Faller and Victoria barely noticed.
***
After handling requests and doing his night work, he returned to the library.
Entering, he was surprised. Faller and Victoria were awake, the woman cooking and the man cleaning.
"I guess I do not need to charge anything anymore."
They waved.
"Good night, Slady. We decided to do some things to apologize."
Victoria said.
"Yes, we were harsh with your girl. We want to make peace. We even fed her."
Slady looked at Shaphira, who ate a snack calmly.
"Thanks. I was harsh too, but I am glad you took care of her."
He went to Shaphira and knelt.
"Did they treat you well?"
"Yes, they were good. Humans are good."
"I hope they are."
He stroked her ears.
***
In the kitchen, the two spoke quietly.
"Faller, she seemed tense when she woke up, but not out of fear."
"You think she wanted to attack?"
"The instinct of a Renkai Creature is to attack humans. But Slady taught her well."
"Better treat her well so she trusts us and does not lose control."
"I definitely do not want problems with Slady if we hurt her."
***
After the farewell and late night, Slady was alone, troubled.
I will not sleep if I do not do this.
He thought.
***
In the Criminal Investigation Department of Libretãnhya, Rin Yuang slept when she felt weight on the bed and heard a whisper.
"You did not meet me in the best way, I am going to fix that."
A syringe touched her neck and a precise mark was left on her forehead.
In a dark room, biological samples belonging to Rin Yuang and Roger were stored in a container, preserved by Slady.
"Sometimes knowing too much is a disadvantage. You know things about me you should not."