Chapter 85 (1/2)

“Do you think I’m wrong?” Stella asked, tilting her head.

“No. I don’t think so,” Vur said. “Might makes right. I know Mom and Grimmy have slaughtered countless people out of anger, Dad too. It’s their fault for being too weak. Those people wouldn’t have died if they were stronger.”

Stella smiled. “I had a feeling you’d understand me,” she said.

“But,” Vur said and sipped his tea, “that doesn’t mean I don’t feel bad for the people you’ve killed.”

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Well aren’t you unexpectedly kind? I didn’t expect you to be so sympathetic to the plight of the humans.”

Vur shrugged. “They have families,” he said. “People care for them and feel sad when they lose them, just like you did when you lost your children. I realized it in the dream Lindyss placed me in for ten years, how much it hurts to lose people who are close to you. I must’ve watched Tafel, Mom, Aunty, Grimmy, Yella, and everyone else die hundreds of times because of me.” Vur sighed. “You’d think it would hurt less after the first few times, but it doesn’t. It hurts just as much, if not more.”

Stella frowned and looked down at the reformed teacup in her hand. Images of her fallen children replayed themselves in her head. A tear sprang in the corner of her eye that she quickly wiped away. She pouted and looked up at Vur. “Don’t act so moral and righteous now, you hypocrite” she said. “The food you eat has family too, you know? What about all the bear cubs that’ll never see their mother again because you got hungry?”

“That’s different,” Vur said. “Killing to eat is necessary for me to continue living to keep my family happy. Killing to make others sad is just not nice.”

“I’m not killing just to make others sad,” Stella said and crossed her arms, “although it is a nice bonus. I’m getting revenge for my children.”

“You’ve already avenged them,” Vur said. “I know you captured the demons’ royal family. The other humans did nothing wrong.”

Stella looked down. The two sat in silence as they drank their tea. A strong wave of magic brushed over them and sent chills down their arms.

“Hey,” Stella said, eyes still downcast. Vur looked up from his empty cup. “If I die, will you take care of my children?” she asked and raised her head. “They did nothing wrong.”

Vur nodded. “I will.”

Stella smiled and raised her hand. A white rose bloomed, its roots wrapping around her arm. “A reward,” she said and extended her palm towards him, “for accepting my task.”

“I don’t need a reward for helping a friend,” Vur said and shook his head.

“Then a favor,” Stella said and brought the flower closer to Vur. Vur extended his hand and the flower’s roots crawled onto his palm, wrapping themselves around his arm. It crawled along his body until the rose migrated over his heart. “Take care of me in my next life, okay?”