The boy trailed behind Fiona, wary but desperate enough to obey. His steps were hesitant, and his small frame was tense, as if expecting her to turn around and strike him at any moment.
Fiona sighed.
Was she really that scary?
When they reached the edge of the camp, the flames had been fully extinguished. Soldiers were still moving supplies, but Marianne stood near the ruined wagon, arms crossed, directing the final cleanup.
Her gaze flicked toward Fiona—then to the boy.
"…I expected a prisoner. Not a stray," she remarked.
Fiona shrugged. "Well, he's the one who burned this wagon. He's just hungry."
Marianne's brows raised slightly, but her lips quirked in amusement.
"How generous of you."
Fiona rolled her eyes.
"Don't start."
Marianne chuckled but nodded at the boy. "What's your name?"
The boy hesitated before mumbling, "…Ian, my name is ...Ian."
Marianne studied him, then let out a slow breath. "You're lucky. It was her who found you first. If it was me, i would not that kind, and if those knights cought you first, you could die,probably..."
Hearing this, Ian swallowed hard, and his legs trembled. His face really showed how scared he was right now.
Marianne turned to Fiona. "What are you going to do with him?"
Fiona glanced at the boy.
She wasn't sure too.
Logically, the best choice was to let him go after giving him food. He was just an innocent child who have lost everything. But something in her gut twisted at the thought of sending him off alone.
She knew what that loneliness felt like.
"…Let him stay. At least for now."
Ian's head snapped up, his eyes wide.
Marianne's brows lifted.
"Are you sure about this? If something happened, i could not side with you again like this."
Fiona nodded, not entirely sure why she was doing this, only that she had already made up her mind.
"…Alright," Marianne said, tilting her head. "But he'll need to work if he's staying. We don't need lazy people who can't even do anything."
Ian quickly nodded. "I-I can do stuff! Anything!"
Marianne hummed. "Then come with me. Let's get you something to eat first."
Ian hesitated, glancing at Fiona.
"…Go," she muttered.
His grip tightened at his sides—then he quickly followed Marianne toward the food tents.
Fiona watched them go, her expression unreadable.
For the first time in a long time…
She had made a decision that wasn't based on power or survival.
It was something different, that She in the past would never done.
----------------------------------
Along the road, Ian was really afraid to talked.
Seeing this, Marianne sighed a bit and tried to speak with him.
"You know," she said,
"when I was not much older than you, I nearly lost my arm stealing bread."
Ian flinched. "What happened?"
"They let me live." Her lips curved slightly. "But the lesson hurt more than any sword ever has."
He stayed silent, listening.
"I learned something important that day,"
she said.
"Not just that stealing is dangerous, but that hunger can teach you many things—what you're willing to do, and who you become afterward."
She picked up a stick and drew a simple diagram in the dirt: a triangle, divided by lines.
"This is how we plan our supplies. Foods,medicines,and weapons. Each part supports the others. Destroy one, and the whole triangle weakens. That's what you burned today, Boy."
Ian stared at the triangle.
"I didn't know," he muttered.
"You didn't ask. That's the first lesson. When you're desperate, you'll want to take—but you must learn to look, ask, and wait. Even a mistake made with empty hands can ruin hundreds of life here."
She paused, then gently tapped the side of his head.
"The second lesson: knowledge will keep you alive longer than fire. Especially in war."
"…So are you going to punish me, Miss?" he asked, voice small.
Marianne tilted her head. "You already have punishments. Did you not hear what The knight girl said to you earlier? You're going to stay and learn. But first, you have to eat."
"Learn what?"
"Everything," she said.
"How to read a map. How to care for horses. How to hold a sword, if you must. But more importantly—how to hold yourself, even when you're hungry and desperate. That's what makes us different than animals."
Ian looked at her, hesitant but… less afraid.
"…I don't have anyone else," he said.
"At least you have one now," Marianne answered.
After a while, they arrived at the tents. Ian started to apologize to every knights there, and then ate together with the knights.
------------------------------
Later that evening, Fiona sat by the river, watching the water ripple beneath the moonlight.
Soft footsteps approached from behind.
"…You've changed at all," Marianne murmured as she sat beside her.
Fiona didn't respond.
Marianne leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees.
"Not that it's a bad thing. I'm surprised you really help that kid. Helping the others was one of our duty too as a knight. You did the right thing."
Fiona exhaled, her gaze still on the water.
".....I confused right. Honesty, I don't even know what I'm doing,"
she admitted quietly.
Marianne blinked, slightly surprised.
Fiona rarely voiced uncertainties.
"I've spent so long being alone," Fiona continued, her voice softer than usual.
"It was easier that way."
Marianne remained silent, listening.
Fiona let out a small, dry chuckle. "But now… you,that little girl Lily, that brat i found this day… everything feels a bit...different..."
She clenched her fingers.
"I thought I didn't need anyone. But for this time… I'm not sure anymore."
Marianne smiled slightly. "That's not a bad thing, Jeannie."
Fiona sighed. "…Maybe."
Marianne nudged her shoulder playfully. "You're not alone anymore. Whether you like it or not. You just don't realized it earlier.
"
Fiona shot her a flat look.
"I didn't say I liked it."
Marianne smirked. "But you didn't say you hated it, either. Am i right?"
Fiona groaned, rubbing her face. "I regret telling you anything."
Marianne laughed.
Fiona felt something settle in her chest.
Something warm.
Something she had once thought was impossible for a demon like her to felt.
And despite herself felt confused,she didn't entirely hate it.