^^A/N: Eve still eight years old looking very cute 😊

We've been riding for miles already. Luckily, Nyx knew generally where they took us, and I've studied enough maps during my boring lessons to know how to get back home.

Unfortunately, I don't know how much longer Nyx can go. He's slipping in and out of sleep at this point, and is shaking. However, whenever I ask if he's okay he mumbles that he's fine.

I don't know how I'll convince my family to let him in the Callisto castle, but I can't just abandon Nyx after he saved me.

His grip on me is getting weaker and weaker. I'm afraid if we keep going, he will fall off the horse.

There is a town about five miles away from here if I remember the map correctly. I make the horse, who I've now named Midnight because of her shiny black coat, go faster.

We finally arrive at a small town and go through the winding cobblestone streets. The town consists of a several run down buildings with stores on the first floor and housing on the second floor. Multiple beggars line the street and ask some of the people walking by for change, but most are shooed away.

Finally I see a sign that says inn on it. I ride the horse up to the inn and wake up Nyx. They have a small stable for horses, so I tie up Midnight in it and lock the stable door behind me. I don't think Nyx can walk in this state so I pick him up off the horse and carry him into the Inn.

The Inn is empty except for a woman behind a bar organizing bottles of alcohol behind her. The woman turns toward us and smiles. She has short dirty blonde hair and a stout build.

When she sees Nyx her smile drops, "Is he okay?!?!" she exclaims.

He definitely isn't.

"Is there a doctor in this town?" I ask.

"Not really. There is a local apothecary shop that sells herbs and some medicine, but nothing for major injuries," she replies.

Well that's better than I expected. Doctors are rare since they need healing magic or extensive education and wouldn't be in a small town like this. At least they have an apothecary shop which should have some medicine at least. However, with Nyx practically on death's door, I don't know how much it will help.

Why did he have to save me! I was willing to die and I might have gone back to my world anyway.

"Thank you for the information. We'll take a room for the night," I say.

"Alright. We have room three open. It costs two silver coins a night," she tells me. I hand her the money and take the room key. I go up the stairs which leads to a hallway with eight rooms on each side.

I walk to the door with a three carved into it. I reposition Nyx, so I can unlock the door. The door opens up to a small room with a window on the wall opposite to the door. To the right of the window is a bed. The rest of the room is empty except for a for a few cobwebs on the ceiling.

I place Nyx on the bed, and he wakes up again. I place my hand on his forehead, only to discover he's burning up. He's definitely running a high fever right now.

"Can I look at your wound?" I ask him.

"I'm fine," he replies, then starts hacking. He coughs up blood which leaves a red stain on the pillow.

Yeah, he's perfectly "fine" right now.

"I'm going to get medicine, and I need to see how bad the wounds are right now," I say. He nods, and I unbutton his shirt. I control my expression. I can't show him how concerned and scared I am seeing his injuries right now, but I'm pretty sure my face pales because he places his hand on mine.

The wound in his stomach is about three inches (7.6 cm) deep, although it's hard to tell given the large amount of dried blood around it, and the red lightning-like streaks have spread all the way to his collarbone. In fact, near the wound the red streaks have turned jet black, which I'm sure isn't a good sign. I take the rest of his shirt off and look at the wound on his back.

The knife wound on his back is a little better than the one on his stomach, but that really isn't saying much. The red streaks have spread about six inches (15.2 cm) around the wound.

"Not too bad," I lie unconvincingly. Honestly, I think this far beyond my pretty much nonexistent doctoring skills. The most I've learned is how to bandage up a wound during training but beyond that I have no idea what to do.

I continue, "I'm going to go to the apothecary now to buy you some medicine," I say giving him what I hope is a reassuring smile.

I turn to leave, but he catches my wrist, "Don't leave," he pleads.

"Don't worry, I will be back soon," I respond. He pauses, looking up at me with puppy dog eyes, then releases me.

I leave the room, and head down the stairs. The innkeeper is wiping down the bar with an old rag.

"Oh! By the way I got you some water and new clothes since you and your friend seem hurt," she says. I look down at my clothes and realize they are stained with blood and tattered so it makes sense she would think I'm injured.

"Thank you so much. If you could bring them to the room that would be great. I'm going to the apothecary shop right now. Could you give me some directions on how to get there?" I inquire.

"If you walk all the way down the street and turn left, it should be there," she responds.

"Thanks for the directions," I say, and leave the inn.

I walk down the street, and the few people that pass by me, quickly avoid me probably due to bloodstained clothes. As I weave through the bustling crowd, it reminds me of the when I had to steal because I was too young to get a job. I'd often walk through large crowds like this, my hands moving almost on their own, grabbing a watch, jewelry, a wallet.

I got so good at pickpocketing, I can't help but always notice things to steal even though I don't need to now. For instance, it would be so easy to quickly grab the man next to me's pocket-watch in front of me or something from the women in front of me's bag slung over her back.

I get to the end of the street and turn left. I walk down the street searching for the shop, but I'm stopped short by the feeling of a hand slipping into my pocket.

I grab their wrist, and turn to see who my amateur pickpocket is.

In front of me is a boy around my age with pink hair the color of cotton candy and blue eyes the color of a cloudless sky. Despite him being dressed in tattered rags, he still had an elegance to him, as though he were out of place being a thief.

^^ A/N: Looks like that but not wearing colorful clothes, and rags instead.

"... So cute," I say in a daze. Was this the power of a male lead? I'm sure this boy is Finn judging by his appearance.

Wait a minute! He just stole from me, and I need the money for Nyx's medicine!

I snap out of my daze and reach for the money he took for me.

I suddenly freeze in place unable to move a muscle as if my body has just stopped listening to me. I watch as he frees his wrist from my grasp and starts running away.

However, his powers must not be developed very well yet because within a few seconds I lurch forward, free from his control.

I can't let him get away! I really need that money to help Nyx.

I chase after Finn, who runs into the crowd. For a moment I think I've lost him, but then I catch a flash of pink hair exit the main street and go into an alley.

Luckily, I'm faster than him, and using my super speed, I catch up to him within seconds.

He sees me enter the alleyway and turns to run away, but I quickly tackle him before he get even a step away.

I feel a sharp pain on my side. That little b*tch just stabbed me!

"Ugh, can people stop doing this?" I mutter, and pull out the knife. It doesn't seem to be made out of silver so it heals immediately much to the horror of Finn who's pinned underneath me.

"Unfortunately, I really need that money," I say, and take coins out from his pocket.

I get up, releasing him. I'm about to turn away when I'm tackled from behind. My head hits the floor hard, and I feel blood dripping down from my forehead.

"I'm sorry, I really need the money too. My life depends on it," he says.

Okay, I'm done playing nice now.

I leap up off the ground and punch him in the face. However, it seems I didn't control my strength well and he's sent flying several feet in the air.

He doesn't seem to be getting up. F*ck, did I just murder one of the male leads?!?!

I check his pulse, and thank the gods (except Hal) that he still has one. I think I just knocked him unconscious.

What should I do now though? I can't just leave him here passed out in the street.

I mutter a string of curses under my breath and pace in the alley. What if he hates me now!?!? Is he going to kill me like he did to Eve in the otome game?

Thankfully he isn't strong enough to kill me now since he hasn't mastered mind control yet.

Then would it just be better to kill him now?

I look down at him, ready to stab him with the knife he stabbed me with.

But, no! I can't do it. He's too cute right now.

While knocked out he reminds me of a wounded sleeping kitten. I can't kill him now.

I groan, cute things are always my weakness.

Then I guess I have to take him with me. I can't just abandon him here to get kidnapped or something, even if it means I'm bringing a death flag upon myself.

I pick up Finn and sling him over my right shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

I then head off toward the apothecary shop, ignoring the strange looks I'm getting from people probably thinking I'm dragging around a homeless corpse.

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