Chapter 47: Strange girl

"What’s wrong?!" Druid breathed out as they approached Star and the girl.

Star put on a genuine worried face.

"She was like this when I found her," he replied calmly. He had by now raised her and rested her back against a tree.

The girl moaned in pain, clutching her leg. A deep cut ran from her thigh towards her knee, but that wasn’t the only place bleeding. Before everyone arrived, the left side of her forehead had suddenly begun to bleed as well.

"She’s badly injured."

Little Jeremy gazed upon her with pity in his eyes. "Who could have done a thing like this?"

"This is the most dangerous border to come around, let alone travel through alone," Druid replied. He squinted as he studied the girl further.

"Who are you? And what did this to you?"

The girl’s head remained tiredly slumped downwards. "W-water," she cried, her voice barely a whisper. "Thirsty."

Star grimaced. "Yeah, I don’t think this is the time for these questions. We need to help her." He made to carry her, but—

"Whoa, Star, what are you doing?" Sarah chirped in quickly.

Jesper gave him a stern stare. "Yes, Star. What are you doing?"

Star snorted before standing back up. "You-you’re not really planning to leave her here, are you?"

"We never said we would leave her here, Star," Druid answered.

"Then help her!"

"We never said we’d do that either," Jesper added.

Star shook his head in disappointment. "What?"

Druid exhaled, closed his eyes for a while, then opened them. "Star, we have rules that we work under. One of them is that we can’t take someone in until we at least know who she is. Now, if she isn’t willing to tell us, then I have little choice."

"You can’t be serious." Star mumbled, his eyes travelling across all their faces which very much remained indifferent.

"You what? I don’t care. I’m helping her."

Sarah looked from him down to the girl. ’He maybe right. We really need to help her, at least before she loses too much blood. It’s just that...’

Sarah studied her further. Her short black hair lay almost too peacefully against her neck, while her brown medieval gown showed no sign of any struggles of someone trying to flee from an attack maybe. Even her expression of pain didn’t seem entirely genuine.

’Something about her isn’t adding up. Her thirst and weakness could suggest she’d pushed herself beyond her limits just to reach safety. But from what? Until she tells us who she is and what danger she came from, we won’t know whether she’s genuine or a threat.’

"Star stop, we don’t know her."

"Huh?" Star paused.

He straightened back then turned towards Sarah. He was about to reply, but the girl beat him to it.

"I’m..." She breathed weakly. "Yennefer. Yennefer Zenshi."

Star let out a strained chuckle. "You guys happy now?" He shook his head, then bent down yet again to carry her, but they all insisted he stop. Again.

"Star, I understand that you care. You should. In fact, it warms my heart. But we need more than a name," Jesper said ever so calmly.

Star stared at them with a deeply disappointed expression, as though he couldn’t believe they were being so cruel.

Sarah sighed. "We’re just being cautious."

"Cautious?" Star shook his head bitterly. "Yeah, because she’s dangerous."

Sarah’s heart plummeted.

Jeremy and Jesper exchanged baffled looks.

Even Druid was shocked by how abruptly Star had changed the tone of the conversation.

"No, Star, that’s not what I mea—"

"Except that is exactly what you mean," Star cut in carelessly. "You’re scared of her, scared she might be a demon, scared she might pounce on you at any time... You have no atom of trust towards her.... So what? She should be locked up first, right? At least until you know, he... She’s not a demon!"

"No..." The word barely escaped Sarah’s mouth. Tears were already rolling down her cheeks. She would be a fool if she still believed Star was talking about the girl. And maybe that was why it hurt so much.

"Okay, that’s it, Star!" Zuru snapped. He began walking towards them, placing himself between Sarah and Star.

"No, Zuru, it’s okay—"

"No, it’s not, Sarah," he retorted angrily as he stepped in front of Star.

There was no fun on his face, no joke, no amusement.

"You have no right to punish my sister or make her sulk up to you like some bitchy royal maid! She’s not the one who turned you into what you are! No one here is! So stop looking for someone to blame for your miserable life and carry your own responsibility, because the rest of us have ours to carry."

Star forced a crazed chuckle. "Wow! So what now? You’re gonna fight me?"

Zuru looked down at his tightened fists. He knew he was no match for him, but the last thing he would do was cower away. Instead, he stepped even closer, raised his head, and stared him dead in the eye.

"If necessary, I would. No one bullies my sister in front of me."

’Damn!’ Jeremy thought. ’He really is badass, and to think he’s just a Normal.’

Even Sarah remained staring at Zuru, completely speechless. Maybe she’d lived with his annoying ass for so long that she’d forgotten how deeply he cared. Standing up for her against Star, of all people, was crazy.

However, Star stared menacingly into his eyes, the want to rip off that tongue burning deep inside of him, but, he simply snickered. He relaxed his clenched fists before turning towards Druid.

Druid stared back at him.

"What? You’re not going to say anything?" Star asked, frustrated.

Druid released a deep breath. "I’m sorry, Star." He shook his head. "My decision is final. We’ll have to investigate her further before we make any more moves."

Star shook his head. His gaze travelling from one face to another.

"Fine. Do whatever you want." He shot Zuru one last, resentful glare before walking away in long, heavy strides.

Sarah sniffled. ’What’s gotten into him?’

...

Night descended over Diconoc, its last traces of twilight fading beyond the distant hills.

Star sat on a crimson bench he had fashioned entirely from his abilities. He had modelled it after a familiar seat he used to know, even recreating the royal crest of the Nethros Kingdom upon its backrest.

He had withdrawn to the farthest edge of the elevated grounds, where the land sloped downwards. He had been there ever since the earlier confrontation, watching birds flit across the treetops and gazing at the villages of the Diconoc Kingdom spread far below.

He hadn’t spoken to anyone, nor had he eaten anything. Hell, he hadn’t even moved.

Honestly, he barely paid attention to it all. Instead, he was lost in thought. Apparently, parts of his memory were missing, especially concerning the earlier events.

What exactly was the reason he’d wanted to help the girl so badly?

He didn’t even know her.

Yes, he remembered meeting her...

But that was it.

The next thing he knew, he wanted to help her. What had even ha

ppened to her?

And the harder he tried to remember, the further the memory seemed to drift away.

"I knew I might find you here."