animal ears

? It was the first time I saw Ley so angry.

No, it should be said that it was the first time I saw Ley showing such real emotions.

From childhood to adulthood, Ley always feels far away, always unpredictable, and whether intentional or not, Ley is always separated from others by a distance that is not far or close, as if separated by a layer of veil, let alone To say that he is indifferent to other people's affairs, even Norman's affairs, is mostly just laughed.

It was as if he could never get close, never be able to touch his heart.

However, today he was exposed to himself so suddenly, so real, so caught off guard, and so innocent.He was holding his hand tightly, even trembling, his scorching body temperature was too high to be ignored, and those golden pupils had completely lost their usual playful and cunning colors, and the hidden feelings inside were terrifyingly sincere.

Cole stared blankly at the person who was pulling his wrist, his throat seemed to be knotted, and he couldn't speak.

The atmosphere froze.

Realizing his gaffe, Ley quickly regained his composure, let go of Cole's hand, gritted his teeth and turned around alone. After a while, he said coldly: "Let's get started, it's late to go back later, Norman will come out Looking for you."

Return to the previous sense of distance.

As the cold evening wind blew, Ley's voice was tepid, sounding very indifferent.

"Well, I know." Cole also quickly recovered, looked at the small red fruit in his hand, and swallowed it.

Soon, the red fruit will work.

The tall back was almost twisted, and the bones of the knuckles trembled and tightened due to the effect of the red fruit. Finally, because of the unbearable pain, the whole body prostrated on the ground, and the face was pressed against the salty ground. The smell of blood, limbs flexed, ligaments seemed to be torn apart, the curled up body twitched violently from time to time, and the throat also let out a hoarse dry howl.

pain.

Unbearable, unimaginable pain.

This is the price.

For that last wish, the price he was willing to pay.

It is also the price that cannot be seen directly.

It's unbearable to watch, but... can't stop paying attention.

Ley, who heard everything, clenched his fists tightly. He never dared to face Cole in such pain, because he knew that once he turned around, the regret that had overflowed his chest would definitely swallow him up. What he did, even he himself didn't understand.

The night Cole begged himself for help, Ley wanted to refuse very much, because he knew that continuing to take red fruit would consume Cole's life at a faster rate.

However, what he saw that day was not the usual Cole, but a red-eyed orc drenched in blood.

A flustered and bewildered orc crying in front of him.

The smell of blood was all over his body, but none of it belonged to him, but the smell was so familiar.

Ley was completely stunned, unable to describe his mood at the time.

──Please.

Cole grabbed his hand in a panic, begging himself for help.

And I... only remained silent.

I learned later that Cole would lose his mind for a period of time every day. At that time, he would always avoid staying in the village and go to the woods, or slaughter, or kill, or do more cruel things, but he did not Memory, there is, only the satisfaction brought by instinct.

At that time, Cole couldn't control the animalized self, he couldn't restrain the beast blood, and he couldn't rely on his own will to degenerate into his original appearance.

He was afraid that he would not be able to turn back soon.

He is afraid of not having time.

He said through tears that Norman was looking for him and he wanted to go home.

Perhaps it was at that moment that he was moved, so he agreed to Cole's request to find red fruit for him, use medicine to expand the effect of red fruit, and, the most important reason, he wanted to improve his extremely weak body after going through this process.

However, all failed.

painful.

How could Ley not know how painful it was.

When he saw Cole by chance during the day, Ley never dared to go forward. He didn't want to face that fake healthy face. Uninterrupted.My own medicine can only relieve the pain a little bit.

Unable to face Cole.

But even so, he still pays close attention to it every day.

Watching all the time.

It was like going crazy, always surrounded by Cole, but afraid of being discovered by Norman, so he had to keep a long distance away.

Maybe, he is really crazy.

Only when he is crazy, will he continue to give Kele the fatal red fruit... But what reason does he have to refuse Kele's begging?What Cole begged for was just the last bit of happiness, happiness that had nothing to do with him, happiness that he couldn't give...

What reason is there to refuse?

Ley listened to the painful and restrained groans behind him, all he could do was to clenched his fist tightly, let the sharp nails pierce his palm, then closed his eyes, and accompanied him in the pain.

That's it.

I am an outsider after all.

It was another long wait. Gradually, under the action of the red fruit, the bones degenerated, and the jet-black hair gradually faded away. Only a little trace remained of the pair of red pupils, but generally speaking, after a night , the next day it will return to normal brown.

Cole knelt on the ground panting, Ley took the clothes carefully, put them on Cole, and said softly, "Be careful of catching a cold."

Then leave alone.

Cole looked at Ley who was standing a few steps in front of him, nodded and showed a weak smile: "Thank you."

Ley was silent.

After a short rest, Cole lowered his head and looked at the veins extending to his wrist.

Relying on Hongguo's power to recover made him even more trapped.

Maybe what Ley said is right, if he chooses not to go back, it may not be so painful.

But... Cole really couldn't bear it, there were still five days left, and what he begged for was only five short days.

Letting Norman have the last Fire Dance Festival is also his last wish.

Even if... the ending will be the same as his previous life, but for him, at least he once had happy memories.

He doesn't want to leave regrets.

Not at all.

Recalling that day, Ley asked himself why he became like this.

Lifting his head weakly, Cole showed him a faint smile, then closed his eyes, fell into memories, and whispered softly: "About three years ago, Norman was injured once. It was very serious, and I had to go find herbs to heal his wounds, but unexpectedly, on the way back, I was attacked by split-tooth spiders..." Then he opened his eyes and continued, "Unfortunately, I was caught by them. "

His tone was as calm as if he was talking about someone else's business.

"I don't want to die, and I don't want Norman to die, but I can't escape. At the last moment..." I looked down at my hand, "I chose to become a beast."

The ability of the beast ear clan is that they can choose their own gender when they are adults, whether they continue to become females, or powerful orcs, all in one thought.

Hearing this, Ley frowned unconsciously, but insisted on listening.

"That day, I defeated the Clefttooth Spider, and there wasn't much change when I returned from beast transformation, and Norman didn't notice it, so I didn't say anything." Lowering his eyelashes, Cole looked at his body and smiled wryly, " But the body is slowly changing."

Hair, eye color, and growing bones and bodies.

This is why Kirk is much taller than ordinary females. After he realized it, he could no longer control his body to change towards an orc.

At first, Cole wanted to tell Norman.

However, as soon as the words reached his throat, he couldn't speak.

──Monster.

I can't forget that cold voice, that disgusted look, and I will never forget it for the rest of my life.

Everyone has selfishness, and Cole is no exception. He doesn't want Norman, who depends on each other, to see himself as a monster. He doesn't want to be hurt again. own secret.

Time passed day by day, and by chance, Cole discovered that red fruit could delay his veterinary transformation, so he kept taking it.

Until... Norman wooed him.

That night, Cole fell into endless pain. He didn't know whether he should tell Norman the truth. Several times, the words were already on his lips, but he could see the excited look in Norman's eyes. After all, he still couldn't bear it. When he got down, he kept telling himself, just this time, but... more than once?

In the end, greed made the lie deeper and deeper, and I... had to face this terrible ending.

That's right, in fact, they are all cocooning themselves.

If he had told Norman earlier, perhaps Norman would have given up on himself. Although it would be sad, it would not be as painful as it is now.

However, there will be no such happiness.

If everything can be done all over again, how can I feel better about myself?

Cole couldn't guess, and he didn't want to.

Halfway, his foot tripped and Cole almost fell.

"Stupid, don't you look at the road when you walk?" Ley turned around and said something to Cole angrily because of worry.

"I'm sorry, I'm clumsy." I only laughed at myself, and my face was very pale.

Seeing this, Ley shook his head, paused for a while, and then suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Cole's arm, and carried him on his back.

"Ley?" Cole was shocked.

"Don't move." Ley's cold voice came, "You are walking too slowly, I don't want to waste time in the woods."

Even so, Ley's movements were gentle.

Touching this cold hand, his heart gradually began to ache.

After each degeneration, Cole's body has become weaker and weaker.

Since he really didn't have much strength and his body hurt, Cole didn't refuse, and gently put his hand on Ley's shoulder. Cole said gratefully, "Thank you, Ley."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not for you." Ley whispered, "I'm for Norman, I don't want him to turn around and see you like this, he will definitely die in a hurry, so you..." Turn your face, The voice slowed down, "If you are tired, you can lean against me and rest for a while."

"...Well." Cole replied, carefully snuggling up.

There was a faint medicinal smell on Ley's body.

Unexpected warmth.

Then, slowly close your eyes and take a short nap.

Sensing the steady breathing of the person behind him, Ley looked back a little, tightened his arms, and softened his gaze. Afraid of waking Cole up due to bumps, he quietly slowed down.

The rest of the way, he walked very smoothly.

Sending the weak Cole near his home, waking him up softly, looking back at the man who opened his sleepy eyes, Ley said lightly, "Here we are."

Rubbing his eyes, Cole looked at the familiar scenery around him, then looked at Ley, and asked, "Have I been asleep for a long time?"

"Not long." Ley whispered, and put Cole down gently.

The two didn't speak any more, just looked at each other, Cole turned around slowly, and after walking a few steps, Ley suddenly called him: "... Cole."

Turn around and look at Ley.

Their eyes met, but Ley shook his head, looked away, turned around, and said, "I mean... see you tomorrow night."

"Well, see you tomorrow night." She nodded and left.

Looking back at the figure who forcibly maintained a normal posture in his heart, there was a faint trace of strange emotion in his golden eyes.

This scene was caught by Heather who accidentally spotted the two of them.

In fact, when Ley came out of the woods with Cole on his back, he saw it.

At that moment, Heather was shocked, followed by indescribable anger.

It's so late, Cole and Ley are together in such an intimate manner, anyone would be wrong, let alone Heather?

Ley's ambiguous eyes aggravated his suspicion.

Following Cole all the way home, Heather secretly looked in under the window and saw the harmonious scene in the house, especially Norman's happy and intimate expression when he hugged Cole, which made Heather furious. Staring at Cole in the room, remembering how he was snuggled up behind Ley just now, he clenched his fists in contempt and resentment, then gritted his teeth, turned around and rushed towards Tyson's house.

"I'll do it." Cold, sweating Heather said to Tyson in the doorway.

"Why, are you interested in cooperating?" Tyson turned his head and raised his eyebrows.

"No, I don't want to cooperate with you." Heather shook her head and said firmly, "I want to win Norman by myself." Then she turned around, but didn't go out directly, but held the eaves of the door and turned her head He said coldly, "I came today just to tell you about this."

Dark feelings filled the whole heart, and the sea-blue eyes were as cold as ice. ?