WTBFCY Chapter 34

Draping Noah's arm over her shoulder, Regina tried to move forward. His weight nearly choked off her breath. She gritted her teeth and forced her feet forward, one step at a time. Barely making progress.

Noah's legs dragged below the knees, scraping along the ground. Regina had no capacity to worry about that.

Looking back now, it had been foolish. She could have just reached the busy street and called for help instead of hauling Noah's dead weight all this way. But at the time, she couldn't think straight. By the time she finally dragged him to the inn they'd stayed at before, Regina was as exhausted as Noah—her face just as pale.

'They say when your head's no good, your body suffers.'

"Considering the amount of blood on his clothes, the wounds are shallow. This much? A day or two of rest and he'll be up."

Regina had been staring blankly when the doctor's words snapped her back. The innkeeper had summoned the doctor for extra coin. He'd been horrified at first by Noah's blood-soaked state, but after examining the wounds, relief crossed his face.

"What? Really? But he seemed so badly hurt..."

"Yes, all the wounds are from sharp objects, so I thought so at first too. But look—every puncture is shallow. The bleeding's already stopped."

The doctor lifted Noah's clothing. Regina looked down at his hands. The wounds had nearly healed. She blinked, unable to believe it despite seeing it. She remembered those sharp, awl-like shadows piercing straight through Noah's body.

"...It really is."

"We're lucky the wounds are only this bad. I've treated them all, so when the patient wakes, give him this medicine. And apply this ointment regularly—it's good for wounds."

"Yes. Thank you."

"I heard from the innkeeper that you were walking down Kapsen Street late last night when robbers attacked. Is that true?"

"Ah... yes, well."

The doctor handed her medicine and ointment. Regina mumbled an answer to his question. Not robbers exactly, but they had walked down Kapsen Street late at night—so it wasn't entirely a lie.

"This area used to have good security, but it's getting worse. For something like this to happen... If you need anything else, look for the green-roofed building on the street behind the inn. Or just tell the innkeeper."

"Yes, thank you."

"Well then."

He gathered his medical equipment into his bag, picked up his coat. Put on his hat with his free hand, nodded lightly to Regina, and left the room.

The innkeeper stood at the open door. He followed the doctor downstairs. Their voices drifted up as they descended the stairs—apparently they knew each other.

"Thanks for coming right away. The lights suddenly went out and all the devices stopped working. Couldn't contact the medical center, couldn't call anyone. I was in a bind."

"It's nothing—I'd just finished my rounds and was resting anyway. But why did the lights suddenly go out? I was reading a book when everything went dark. Nearly jumped out of my skin..."

"Still don't know the cause, but apparently all the black star fragments in the streetlamps across Kapsen Street disappeared. Some people think that's what caused it."

"What? All those fragments, completely gone? Ha. Unbelievable. Are robbers stealing even those things now?"

Click.

Regina listened to their fading voices, then quietly closed the door. She lifted her head toward the bed. Noah lay there, eyes closed, face pale. Regina approached the bed, set the medicine packet and ointment on the table. Looked down at him for a moment.

"......"

She reached into her skirt pocket. The cold pocket watch clinked against its chain. Clink. Noah's watch. She rolled it in her palm a few times, then seemed to decide something. Gripped it tight. Moved toward her coat and belongings draped over the table chair.

"...Goodbye."

She'd used several pieces of clothing to stanch Noah's wounds—her baggage was much lighter now. Regina felt strangely relieved, as if she'd shed some of her guilt. She gave Noah one last look, then left the room without hesitation.

Thud.

She descended the stairs. The innkeeper and doctor were still talking. Regina hurried past them before they could notice, exited the inn.

"First, I need to get to the train station."

Her next destination was Hoern territory, but if she went there now, Noah would catch her immediately. She needed to find Rose, who'd killed her. But first, she needed to move while avoiding Noah.

"...Noah said he's heading north, so I should avoid that direction and take the earliest train anywhere else."

Her steps quickened as she left the inn. The thought suddenly struck her—Noah might wake any moment and catch her by the scruff of her neck. The wounds were shallow, the doctor said. He'd regain consciousness soon, wouldn't he?

Her pace increased. Before she knew it, she was running with all her strength. The pocket watch in her pocket clinked and rattled as it bounced.

The train station was quieter than expected. Regina bought the earliest ticket, then sat in the waiting room. Fixed her gaze on the large clock in front of her. Twenty minutes until departure. She sat down, but anxiety made her hands shake.

Time crawled. Even the people passing by the waiting room seemed to move in slow motion.

Clink.

Regina couldn't stop her head from turning toward the station entrance. The movement made the pocket watch in her skirt pocket rattle. She startled at the sound, then pulled it out to look at it.

The gleaming silver watch looked clean as new, though Noah's blood had definitely stained it before.

"My blood did the same thing. Does this watch absorb blood?"

Slide.

It was pretty, certainly, but something about it felt unsettling. She frowned at the watch. Then a long golden thread slid smoothly across its surface.

"...?"

She followed the golden thread upward with her eyes. Met a gaze filled with deep green. Who is this person? Before the question could form, his appearance captured her completely. His surreal features, his towering height—Regina felt overwhelmed.

Ezra looked down at Regina, frozen in her chair. Smiled. His long golden hair swayed with the movement.

"Well now. I followed the watch's energy signature, but where's Noah? Why does a young lady have this?"

"Uh..."

His voice seemed to echo through transparent water. Regina opened her mouth to answer his question, then hesitated. She felt something invisible settling over her head. Instinctive rejection rose.

Ezra's expression turned puzzled briefly. He asked again.

"Where is Noah, and why do you have that watch?"

As he finished speaking, small lights appeared around him. Scattered outward in an instant. Whoosh. Regina's eyes widened. Her upper body jerked backward.

"Hmm?"

Ezra's expression changed at her reaction.

"You can see these lights? Are you not human?"

"N-no..."

Damn. She shouldn't have reacted to those lights unconsciously. She hadn't expected the man before her to be non-human. Regina's expression hardened. Ezra pulled glasses from his pocket, put them on. Reached out to examine her more closely.

"Definitely not a light faerie... Could you be a black faerie?"

Regina felt his transparent green eyes gleaming strangely. She wanted to run. But oddly, she couldn't speak, couldn't move. Like prey caught in a spider's web, she could only stare at the hand reaching toward her.

Smack!

Just before Ezra's long white fingers touched her shoulder, someone's hand shot out from behind Regina. Grabbed Ezra's arm.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"...?!"

Ezra frowned at having his arm seized. Looked at whoever stood behind Regina. Startled, Regina whipped her head around. Noah stood there, gripping Ezra's arm. His face pale and bloodless. Regina's eyes widened.

He wore his coat, but the reek of blood vibrated in the air. He stood at an angle, looking ready to collapse any moment. But his eyes burned as he glared at Ezra. He'd been standing behind her chair. Now he leaned forward lightly, putting distance between Regina and Ezra. Ezra had no choice but to step back.

"Weren't you looking for me? What wind blew you out of your research institute to crawl all the way here?"

"Crawl? What phrasing. First, let go of my arm, Noah. It's unpleasant."

Ezra narrowed his eyes at Noah's posture—as if shielding Regina behind him. He jerked his arm free. Pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the part Noah had touched.

"Noah..."

"Why did you suddenly come looking for me?"

Ezra grumbled about getting goosebumps while wiping his arm with the handkerchief, considering whether to throw it away or not. Regina called out to Noah in a small voice. Ezra's gaze returned to Regina. Noah cut her off with a hurried question.

"How impatient. Your blood reeks through the air—worth coming to see. Plus I sensed an upper-tier black faerie using power."

"Like a bloodhound. Did you come to check if I was dead or alive?"

Ezra looked between Noah's pale face, the bloodstains scattered across his clothes, and how he'd naturally positioned himself in front of Regina. Laughed as if amused. Regina wisely kept quiet, looking between them.

"That's right, Noah. I came to confirm whether you were dead. If you were, I'd need to recover the watch I gave you. But I've witnessed something fascinating. You, protecting a black faerie? Did the sun rise in the west today?"

"You've confirmed I'm not dead. Go look into that upper-tier black faerie."

But Ezra didn't answer. Just giggled, looking between Regina and Noah with an expression of keen interest. As if cutting off that interest, Noah tapped Regina's shoulder lightly. Made her stand up.

"Let's go. Get up quickly."

"Oh, ah... yes."

Ezra had been excited about new prey. Now he watched Noah shelter her like a mother bird. Licked his lips. He didn't know what wind had blown to make someone who hated black fairies act this way. Either way, capturing the young black faerie before him looked difficult now.

"Well then, if you're in the capital again, visit the research institute. You might hear some interesting news."

"...Right."

"Preferably bring your companion as well."

Though she'd likely end up taxidermied alive the moment she entered. Ezra smiled sweetly, omitting the rest. Regina nodded politely, not understanding. Ezra stood there as if seeing them off as they left the station. Once they were gone, he vanished instantly with his cluster of lights.

People passing through the station didn't react to the lights. Just hurried on their way, indifferent.