34 Chapter 34: s Plan (2/2)
Elina blinked.
She said, ”You still haven't figured it out?”
”Figured what out?”
Her shoulders sank. She lay down on the furs. ”I guess your instincts are greater than your intelligence.”
”What do you mean?”
She pointed at me. ”Only human after all.”
I sat down next to her. Not point in giving into her provocations. Better use her good mood to find out something else.
I said, ”You were raised by your father, right?”
Elina froze. She looked at me.
”How do you know that?”
For the first time, she had a look of genuine surprise on her face. I said nothing for a moment. Because I had to relish her expression. I wonder if this is what she felt like all the time. Except now, of course.
”You said your father was against killing you. And your mother left you to die as an infant. Even if your magic is powerful, I doubt you can fight a bear at that age. An infant with magic is still an infant. So your father must have picked you up after your mother left you.”
Elina sat up. She looked impressed.
”Anyone could've picked me up. Anyone could've raised me.”
”I think your father raised you.”
”Why?”
”Because if I was a father, that's what I would do. I wouldn't abandon my child so easily.”
”You sound like you had a child before.”
”Not exactly. But I basically raised my sister. I imagine it's a similar feeling.” A pause. Then I said, ”It's impossible to let go. Your heart won't let you.”
Elina smiled. No smugness, no mockery. Just a sincere smile.
She rested a finger on my chest.
She said, ”Can you afford to have thoughts like this?”
”What do you mean?”
”Now you picture me as a poor little girl who was left to die by her own mother, abandoned by her own kind, and raised by only a father. Can you still deliver me to the Church of Deliverance without any lasting pangs of guilt?”
I said nothing. Because Elina's plan finally dawned on me.
Elina said, ”You look like you've realized something. But whatever it is, it's not the whole picture. Because you are still blinded by your instincts.”
I wanted to reply, but there was something in the air. I sniffed. It was a distinct smell.
Smoke.
It creeped through the wooden walls. Sweat dripped from my nose. I was so focused on Elina that I hadn't noticed how the temperature had slowly risen.
A part of the roof collapsed. A flaming heap of wood and rock landed on the furs. Right next to Elina. I grabbed her hand and pulled her away. Held her close.
The hut was on fire.