The Little Companion Of The Beast

prolog

On a night when the stars shined like a twilight, after midnight, the stars that had been standing in the sky fell as meteors, as if to celebrate the children becoming adults.

Clash Staria will become an adult after tonight, which she had been waiting for so long. She thought she would be happy, but she was also sad. This ambivalent feeling is probably because the strong fence has disappeared and she has to stand alone.

It’s been eight years. The time since I ran away and came here to live.

Staria looked at ‘him’ who had long been her guardian.

“Can I do it?”

“If you don’t believe in yourself, you will fail.”

How can you be so consistent? Rather than feeling upset by his blunt speech, I smile because I am filled with the kindness and favors I have received.

A space that has become familiar to me comes into view. Memories of crying, laughing, being frustrated, and then getting back up again are all there.

‘I don’t want to leave… … .’

Honestly, I wanted to stay in the forest. I felt like the things I would face after leaving the safe haven were too much. I had worked hard for this day, but I had no confidence.

Perhaps noticing my weakly wavering heart, ‘he’ quickly approached me.

“hand.”

The moment Staria reached out as requested, the bracelet wrapped around her wrist broke.

“oh!”

Her stomach was peeled off, revealing her true self that had been hidden. She had been wearing it for nearly eight years, so her appearance must have changed. I wondered how she had changed. I wish I had a mirror… … . I hoped that she had not grown into an ugly woman, even if she was not a pretty princess. I did not want to disappoint ‘that person’ who had been her guardian.

Fortunately, it seemed like I could put my worries aside.

“You’ve grown up well.”

“How much… … ?”

“Enough to feel rewarded.”

At that moment, a gust of wind blew from somewhere and roughly swept over my body. My neat black hair fell down uncontrollably, covering my face.

Then, ‘he’ straightened my fluttering hair with his fingertips and started crying.

“You are fully prepared. I guarantee it on the strength of your position as ruler of the forest.”

“… … .”

As if he had never been discouraged, his courage surged up. He felt like he could do anything. Perhaps he showed his weakness because he wanted to act childish for the last time, which is a privilege of children.

Staria slowly took in the scenery that she would soon have to leave, as if engraving it in her eyes. It was the place that had embraced and raised her when she had lost everything and become an orphan, and it was like a home, so she wanted to return when everything was over. In order to do so, the owner of this place had to give permission.

“Can I come back again?”

“As much as you want.”

I hope you can come back safely.

I tried hard to swallow the words I couldn’t bring myself to say. I felt like something bad would happen if I said them out loud. Worries and anxiety were pooling in my mouth like saliva…

“Where you were born and raised, they used to give a worn-out token to someone who was leaving.”

It was at that moment that Staria nodded. Cool lips touched and lifted the back of her hand.

“This is a sign.”

A polite and reverent kiss, like the ritual a knight would perform for a noble lady.