“But you still want to, don’t you?”
Fuck. His eyes turned an even deeper blue and her gut tightened while her intestines felt as though they were tying into a bow.
“It’s not you, Orpheus.” She reached her hands up, and for the very first time, cupped the sides of his long jaw. “It’s just... I don’t know. It feels like I’m trapped here. I don’t feel free.”
“What can I do to not make you feel this way with me?”
With me... He was asking how to make Reia happy to stay by his side, and she didn’t know the answer to that.
“I’ve always wanted to travel.” She lowered her hands to place them in her lap so she could stare down at them. “I’ve been trapped in my whole life. I’d always hoped that one day I would be able to leave the village and see the world. I wanted to become a Demonslayer for that very reason.”
“Even if I could do that with you, it would be very dangerous. Here you are safe. Here you will not catch a disease or be hurt if you stay within the protections.”
“I know,” she answered with a small voice. She knew she probably wouldn’t have lived long as a Demonslayer,
foolishly trying to travel the dangerous world, but she thought she would have been satisfied just seeing a small part of it before she died. “Anyway, I don’t plan to run away again. So, if you could get me more food, it would make me happier. I miss meat. We had hunters that would hunt deer for us, and farmers who had animals.”
He lifted her head by placing two fingers under her chin so she would face him.
“If...” He hesitated, like he thought his words would be upsetting for her. She bit her lips together, knowing they would hold a heavy weight to them. “If you gave me your soul, Reia, I may be able to give you what you want.”
Her face paled while her eyes grew so wide she knew they were full and showing the whites of them completely. His hand flew away from her sharply, and he backed up to give her space.
She must have suddenly smelt of fear by how quickly and devastatingly it clutched at her stomach, like a horrible set of claws.
“I don’t know what will happen since it has never been done before, but I was told it would mean that you would always be safe... and with me.”
Her pulse quickened in her veins. Orpheus’ hand clenched into fists on his knee, and he turned his face away from her.
“I understand.” He stood to be above her. “I will not ask again.”
Then he held his hand out to her, bringing what was behind his back forward. It was the sword she’d used to fight the Demons.
“You said you wanted to be a Demonslayer, and I can see you are willing to fight. Would you like to train with a sword?”
All her apprehension and fear fled faster than it had entered her. She quickly got to her feet.
“What? Really?!”
“Knowing you would be able to protect yourself if I am unable to reach you would bring me comfort, as long as you do not use it to leave.”
“Yes!” she squealed, almost bouncing on her feet. The smile she gave was bright. “Yes, Orpheus, please. I would love to!”
His glowing orbs suddenly turned deep purple at her cheerful face. She flinched at how unexpected it was, her cheeks flushing with understanding.
He must have noticed, because his eyes turned into a reddish-pale pink, and he lifted his hand to cover one of them. Reia almost laughed when she realised that was his own way of blushing in embarrassment.
Pfft. Actually, she did laugh. That was so damn adorable.
Their earlier conversation was completely forgotten, and he led her out of the garden so they could have space to move. He gave her the sword, his eyes slow to change back to their normal blue.
“Okay. What do I do?” she asked when she held the leather winding grip with both hands, eyeing one of the sharp edges of the blade.
“I don’t know.”
“Pardon?” She twisted her head to the side to look at him with a confused expression.
“I have claws.” He gestured to them by flashing them in the dim sunlight. “I have never needed to wield a sword.”
“How am I supposed to learn, then?”
He gave a shrug of his shoulders. “I have been attacked many times by humans. Attack me until you understand how to wield it.”
“I could hurt you. Wouldn’t that make you angry?”
The last thing she needed was for him to go bat-shit crazy like he did when the Demonslayers hit him with an arrow.
A deep chuckle came from him as he folded his arms across his chest.
“You won’t be able to hurt me, my little human. You will not be quick enough, nor strong enough.” With his arms folded, he stepped in front of her so they were facing each other. “I will carve you a wooden sword if it looks as though you might, but until I do, you will train with this. I will make sure we are careful.”
“You’re awfully arrogant for someone who has never seen me fight.” She raised the pointed tip, making the silver metal glisten in the sun. “I was pretty effective at killing those Demons to protect your sorry butt while you were unconscious.”
“I’m sure you were, but let’s make you better.”
Having faith in him, Reia ran forward with all her might and cut downwards. He easily dodged it by stepping out of the way with his long stride, his arms remaining folded. She tried again, and he did the same thing. Reia slashed sideways and he merely stepped backwards at least a foot out of her range.
Eventually, they started moving in a circle with her chasing him while he easily stepped out of the way.
