160 A Distant Memory (1/2)

”SOLEIL, I'm sorry but we can't let you teach the children of our village anymore.”

Soleil was disappointed to hear what Clarence– the head of Amos Village– said but she already expected that. When she arrived at the entrance of the village, she already noticed that the leaders were already waiting for her. And she knew why. ”I understand, Lord Clarence,” she said with a smile. ”I'd like to give my utmost gratitude for allowing me to share my knowledge with your people. It may have only been a while, but I won't forget the time that I spent with your village.” She bowed politely to them. ”Thank you. Please take care of the children. If you need my help, please don't hesitate to call me.”

When she was met with silence, she raised her head and smiled at the village people.

Behind the leaders, she could see the townspeople– especially the children that she used to teach. It saddened her to see the look of fear on their face. They used to look at her with admiration in their eyes, especially the kids.

Still, she understood where the fear was coming from so she didn't blame them.

Before leaving the village, she smiled and waved at the children. When the parents hid the kids behind them, she took it as a sign that it was time to walk away.

If she stayed longer, she was pretty sure the village people would start to act violently.

I lost my students again, Soleil told herself while walking away with a heavy heart. Why do humans hate us so much?

***

IT HAPPENED a few days ago.

Amos Village was attacked by Crades while Soleil was teaching the poor kids how to read and write. The Crades that attacked them during that time were pretty high-level monsters. To protect her students and the village people, she was forced to use her Mana.

The children definitely told their parents what they saw, and thus, the leaders forced her to leave their village.

She was still worried about them though. Amos Village was in the foot of a mountain and it was surrounded by thick forest where Crades usually dwell. Those flesh-eating monsters wouldn't pass up the chance to attack a village filled with humans.

I should clean out the Crades around the area to make sure that Crades won't attack them again.

”Soleil Rosenberg!”

She stopped walking when the ground started to shake hard. Thanks to her sharp eyesight, she could see Ainsworth running at full speed towards her. She was still a few meters away from the gate of their ”paradise” but the little tiger was already here to ruin her day even more.

”Let's fight again, Soleil Rosenberg!”

She let out a deep sigh…

… by that, she meant she literally breathed fire at Ainsworth who was about to punch her.

As soon as the little boy was engulfed with her red flame, he fell on the ground and screamed in agony.

”People call you tiger because you can manifest into one,” Soleil said while looking at Ainsworth rolling on the ground trying to extinguish her fire. Of course, that wouldn't work. ”I wonder what a roasted tiger tastes like.”

Ainsworth stopped rolling on the ground to look up at her with a horrified look on his face. Then, he cried aloud.

She stifled her laughter.

Ainsworth is already seventeen years old but he's still a crybaby.

”You shouldn't bully kids, Soleil.”

The gush of wind signaled the arrival of Elis. As soon as his feet touched the ground, the flame roasting Ainsworth was extinguished. Elis's command of the wind was that strong (and his blue robe looked as elegant as ever).

But for the record, I intentionally use weak flame to roast Ainsworth.

”I'm not a kid!�� Ainsworth, who now sat on the ground in a lotus position, growled. It was amazing how not even a strand of his hard was burnt. ”I'm old enough to have wives!”

She rolled her eyes at that. ””Wives?” You're lucky if you find one woman who'd be willing to marry you, kid.”

Ainsworth glared at her. ”You're just a year older than me, Soleil!”

She glared back at him.

The little tiger suddenly averted his gaze away from her. ”I mean, Big Sister Soleil,” he said in a soft voice.

She smiled in satisfaction.

”Soleil, why are you back this early?” Elis asked, his light gray eyes glowing menacingly. ”Did those foolish humans try to harm you?”

She bit her lower lip and shook her head.

”Those puny humans can't hurt Big Sister Soleil physically, Big Brother Elis,” Ainsworth said in a mocking tone while shaking his head at her. ”But I bet they said harsh words to make her go away.”

”They didn't say anything hurtful,” she said in a defensive tone. ”They just told me that they can't let me teach the kids anymore.”

”Tsk,” the little tiger said. ”That's the same thing, Soleil.”

She glared at him.

”Big Sister Soleil,” Ainsworth corrected himself in a tiny voice.

”Soleil, you should seriously stop helping those ungrateful humans,” Elis said in an irritated tone. ”You saved their pathetic lives but in return, they turned on you just because they found out that you're different from them. They don't deserve you.”

She understood where Elis was coming from.

This wasn't the first time that humans turned on her as soon as her powers were exposed. There was even a time where some people tried to hurt her for being a ”monster.” Still, she could see why they feared her.