The walk from the Crystal Grotto back to the village felt different. The air was the sa, the trees were the sa, but the weight I carried was gone.
As we erged from the dense path, we saw two rabbits sitting by a tree’s bark, and I looked at them.
"What are you doing just sitting here?" I asked, and they sprang to their feet imdiately.
As soon as they saw us, their eyes widened and they imdiately ran off, without a word.
I tilted my head, wondering what that was about.
And then I frowned.
Did they really run away after looking at my face? I don’t want to think much of it but I feel pissed.
"Hmph, so people just can’t appreciate beauty even if it hits them in the face," I mumbled and kept walking.
As we got closer to the village, I noticed there were fences that I hadn’t seen before.
It looked like they were newly erected.
What motivated them to erect fences? So sort of surge of inspiration?
As we got closer, my steps slowed in exhaustion and I let out tired huffs. Then, I felt Fenric and Damar pull closer to .
Fenric’s hand stayed firmly on the small of my back, his thumb tracing small, possessive circles against my skin, while Damar kept his erald-eyed gaze sweeping the periter, his tail twitching with a protective rhythm.
"What is up with you two?" I asked but they didn’t answer, only giving assurance in their smile and nod.
They were being clingy, weren’t they?
I shook my head and gazed at the village.
It was bustling. The sound of stone being dragged and wood being notched filled the air.
’Are they working on other constructions?’ I wondered, aiming to peek at what they were doing because I knew my presence would interrupt them.
But I didn’t hide myself well enough to peep because everything halted as if soone had pressed pause on a remote.
The tribesn rabbits that were going about their daily lives, the workers dragging wood, and a rabbit hauling a basket of stones... everyone looked at us.
The rabbits hauling the basket of stones dropped it by mistake, the rocks clattering loudly against the dirt. The silence spread like a ripple in a pond.
’What the...? They look like they’ve seen a ghost.’
It was as if they were looking for the green-faced ’tiger demon’ they had been glad to have been rid of. But instead of a ’demon’, they were staring at a female with skin like cream and cheeks like crushed berries.
"Is... is that really you, Ms. Arinya?"
I turned my head to see Dani.
He stood by a pile of lumber, his little hands frozen on a piece of bark. He definitely looked like he was seeing a ghost.
I moved back, planting my feet firmly on the floor, and shifting my weight to one side. I didn’t hide like I intended to and peep.
Instead, I reached up and caught a lock of my hair, flipping it over my shoulder with a slow, deliberate flourish. The sunlight hit my face, highlighting the fact that not a single scar remained.
Radiant! Yes, that’s the word that fits perfectly.
"What? Why are you looking at like that?" Did you notice anything different?" I asked, my voice smooth and playful, winking as I hoped he’d catch the hint.
Dani’s mouth fell open. His nose twitched a hundred tis a second, and a flush so deep it turned his ears purple crept up his face.
"You’re... you’re so pretty, Ms. Arinya!" he blurted out, his voice cracking midway through.
I chuckled, the sound rich and genuine. I scanned the crowd and found her—the bitch, I an the female rabbit who had clung to Fenric’s chest just a week ago.
She was huddled behind a stack of crates, her eyes wide with shock. When she realized I was looking directly at her, she flinched, her face twisting into a mask of pure, gritted-teeth envy and fear. Even if she hated for what I did to her, she couldn’t do anything about it.
And even worse, she couldn’t even insult that I was ugly by calling a monster anymore. My skin was more flawless than hers would ever be, huhu.
Even if beauty isn’t the standard in this world, it’s still true that the beautiful are looked at differently than other females.
"Anyway, Dani, where’s your old man?" I called out, reveling in the way the crowd parted for us like the Red Sea.
In that mont, Gram erged like he had been summoned. In truth, the rabbits that ran away from us had gone to inform him of our leaving the cave, and that was why they were panting so heavily behind them.
Just look at them. They could’ve at least said hi before disappearing without a word. Tch.
Gram blinked, looked at my mates, then back at . A slow, knowing smile spread across his wrinkled face.
"The grotto was kind to you, Savior," he said, bowing low. "Though I suspect the herbs your mate used had more to do with this."
"The herbs did their job," I said, touching my flawless cheek. "And I think I’ve done mine."
"Indeed." He looked light-hearted.
The news of us coming out of the grotto was supposed to make him tense, but he was so at ease that it made wonder if he was planning sothing.
"Well, let’s leave it at that," I said. "I assu the house is ready by now, right? Hurry and show us what you’ve built."
"Of course." He said. "Right this way."
Gram led us to the center of the village. There, standing tall and sturdy, was the house.
On seeing it, I froze.
It was beautiful—listone walls at the base for strength, topped with dark, aromatic wood. The roof, though thatched, was done perfectly, and the doorway was wide enough for even Fenric and Damar to walk through without ducking their heads.
It reminded of the bear’s house back in the Stormhole tribe but this house looked way better than his, all thanks to the listone.
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