Dark Fantasy Normalized

She had always been harsh and cold toward him.

Not once had she shown even a hint of affection.

That was fine.

She treated everyone the same way.

She kept her distance equally from all. But if anyone could claim to have gotten the closest to her, it would undoubtedly be him.

There are countless personalities and relationships in the world.

So, wouldn’t it make sense that the forms of affection would be just as diverse?

That’s what he believed.

He believed that he held the most important place in her heart.

He convinced himself that the cold and sharp attitude she showed him was her unique way of expressing affection.

He could still vividly remember the first moment she allowed him close.

It had been a day when her mood seemed unusually good.

The closer he tried to approach her, the more she would retreat. Yet, when he stayed still, he could remain by her side indefinitely.

Even when she turned away indifferently, her ears were clearly listening to him.

She might leave as if nothing had happened, but when he called her name, she would turn and look back.

That was undoubtedly the deepest connection they could share.

It was the closest distance she could allow anyone.

He had learned so much about her.

The things she hated.

The things she liked.

The things that suited her best.

Solitude and contemplation.

He admired her most when she was immersed in those two things.

He believed [N O V E L I G H T] that was her true self.

...He was sure of it.

“Ferin...”

It was an expression he had never seen before. One he never thought he’d see.

Ferin, the cold spirit who thrived in solitude and contemplation, was now allowing herself to be touched by a human without hesitation.

Not only that, but she had closed her eyes and was gently rubbing her face against his hand.

Even as a wolf, she had never acted more wolf-like than she did now.

“No...”

Lapita struggled to deny what she was seeing.

That clumsy spirit wasn’t the Ferin she knew.

Something had to be wrong.

There was no way that the spirit, Ferin, would favor a human over her.

“Get a hold of yourself, Ferin!”

Her voice was filled with desperation.

But it didn’t reach Ferin.

“Hmm...”

To a spirit like Ferin, Risir’s pure aura felt like warm sunlight.

Just touching it brought an intense sense of calm and happiness.

Ferin had always rejected such purity. Though her body longed for it, as plants crave sunlight, she forced herself to resist it, weighed down by her self-loathing and inferiority toward her kin.

As a result, Ferin, the spirit, had gradually withered and dried up.

And then, suddenly, she encountered Risir’s unique aura.

Even under normal circumstances, such an aura would bring immense happiness.

But in her deprived state, it overwhelmed her emotions and reason, shattering her mental defenses.

‘I... Why am I like this?’

Ferin tried to escape, to regain control of herself—

But her body, defying her will, softened and relaxed completely.

For the first time since her consciousness had formed, Ferin allowed herself to experience pure happiness.

Drunk on that happiness, she began to think thoughts she normally wouldn’t.

‘No... If I do this, he’ll hate me...’

These thoughts were born from the painful memories Ferin had buried deep within her mental walls.

As a child, Ferin had desperately sought the acceptance of her kin.

She tried tirelessly to be embraced by them.

But all she received in return was stronger rejection.

When she was finally too exhausted to try anymore, one realization remained in her heart like a scar.

The things I like don’t like me.

The closer I try to get, the further they run.

‘So... I need to pull away now.’

‘...But I don’t want to. This feels too good.’

‘...No, it’s disgusting. Because—’

‘Because...’

Her mind grew more and more chaotic.

Just as she was about to lose herself completely in her conflicting emotions—

“...!”

Ferin flinched.

Softly, Risir’s other hand stroked her head.

Her wolf-like behavior had prompted him to act without thinking.

“...?”

Ferin stopped thinking and focused entirely on his touch.

Soft, steady strokes.

It was as if his hand was sweeping away the cluttered thoughts in her mind.

Before long, her tangled mind was at peace.

Her self-hatred. Her resentment and inferiority toward her kin.

The elves who had made her this way.

None of it mattered anymore.

“Hmm...”

This was her first time feeling such happiness.

She wanted nothing more than to savor it.

Ferin nestled closer to Risir, squirming slightly to find the perfect position.

The blue-haired woman with wolf ears and a tail was completely vulnerable in his arms.

“...?”

Risir’s hand paused.

The weight, the sensation.

Through the contact, he finally recognized Ferin not as a wolf but as a woman.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Something firmly struck Risir’s body.

It was Ferin’s tail.

“Hmm... Keep doing that... It feels so nice...”

Ferin nuzzled her face against Risir’s chest, letting out a soft, pleased hum.

*Cough.*

Someone cleared their throat and turned away. Another blushed, stealing glances at the undeniably suggestive scene.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

But Risir’s attention was fixated on the tail repeatedly hitting him.

“...”

Wolf? Woman? Wolf? Woman?

Wolf.

Finally, Risir shrugged and resumed stroking Ferin’s head.

*Whoosh!* *Whoosh!* *Whoosh!*

Ferin’s tail wagged harder, almost wrapping around him.

“This feels good...”

The tongue that once spat sharp insults now uttered soft, clumsy words.

“Is that so? Glad to hear it.”

“Scratch my neck too...”

“Like this?”

“Hmm...”

*Whoosh!* *Whoosh!* *Whoosh!*

“Now... here...”

Ferin lifted her hips slightly.

“And that pat-pat you did earlier... do that again...”

“Uh... that might be a bit...”

“Stop it!”

Lapita finally shouted, unable to bear it any longer.

“You... What did you do to Ferin? How dare you turn our proud and noble Ferin into... into this pathetic girl fawning over a human!”

“I didn’t do anything...”

“Liar! Do you think I’ll believe that? Ferin would never prefer a human to me! She’d never like your filthy touch! Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable! To think you’d taint her with that vile aura of yours!”

Risir suddenly felt an itch in his mouth. He couldn’t just listen to this nonsense anymore.

It felt too unfair to stay quiet.

And in this utterly absurd situation, a perfect line popped into his head. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

If he didn’t say it now, he might never get another chance.

Risir made up his mind and stroked Ferin’s head even more firmly.

“Hmm...”

“You say that, but Ferin’s body is honest. Heh.”

“...!”

It was an abysmal performance, but the line carried an overwhelming, timeless impact.

“Ahhhhh! Gondola!”

Lapita screamed, calling out for her knight.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Remove that filthy human from Ferin immediately! Right now!”

“Understood. Human, release her at once.”

Risir raised his hands in surrender.

“Hmm... Hmm...”

It backfired.

Ferin let out a soft whine and wagged her tail even harder.

“No... No... I don’t want to leave yet...”

“You...! How dare you use your pathetic tricks to humiliate my spirit in front of me!”

“I’ve told you repeatedly. I didn’t do anything.”

“Silence!”

*Shing!*

Gondola’s sword left its sheath.

In response, Didoa and Drapon drew their weapons as well.

Lapita widened her eyes and glared at Drapon, certain that the human guildmaster, a man of authority, would side with her.

“Drapon, you saw what that man did to my spirit, didn’t you? And you’re still going to defend him?”

“Lady Roeyhe, if you cause a violent incident here in Bondales, it could escalate into a political issue. Especially since you entered the city without proper entry procedures, I’d advise extra caution.”

“Don’t you think I know that?! Use your eyes and look at what he’s doing to my spirit! Just look at it!”

“My lady.”

It was then that Gadena spoke up.

“Yes, Gadena! You’re here! These humans are impossible to reason with! Do something!”

“...”

With a conflicted expression, Gadena finally opened his mouth.

“My lady, he might be telling the truth.”

“What are you saying?”

“His mana... his aura possesses a unique quality. It has a purifying effect, capable of neutralizing negative forces.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I believe he hasn’t done anything to the spirit.”

“So, what you’re saying is... Ferin is acting like this because she *likes* him?”

“Moreover, he is vouched for by Master Meltas. Someone as foolish as to stir meaningless conflicts wouldn’t receive such an endorsement.”

“Who is this Master Meltas? Why should I care about some human?”

“He’s far more than ‘just a human.’ He is an individual of vast knowledge and understanding.”

“Ha! Hahaha!”

Lapita covered her face with her hands and burst into laughter.

“Unbelievable, Gadena. What happened to you? You were so much wiser back at the Green Tower! Has living among humans made you see them as equals?”

“...”

Gadena stared at Lapita with a complicated expression.

He couldn’t dismiss her as merely foolish.

As a descendant of the World Tree and a high elf, Lapita was destined to be adored by all spirits. Her pride was not baseless arrogance but a reflection of her birthright.

But this wasn’t the Great Forest. Outside its borders, encountering beings beyond the understanding of elven norms wasn’t strange.

Gadena deliberated.

How could he persuade this stubborn young lady, spoiled by her noble lineage?

No—how could he guide her?

The thought brought him a moment of disillusionment with his own people.

“This is the outside world, my lady. You must adopt a broader perspective and greater tolerance.”

“...”

Lapita stared at Gadena for a while before smiling enigmatically.

“Broaden my perspective? Very well.”

She then turned to Drapon.

“You mentioned earlier that if an elf attacks a human in Bondales, it could lead to political repercussions, correct?”

“...”

“Then surely, it’s fine if a spirit attacks another spirit?”

“What are you—”

Lapita retrieved a necklace from her robe. It was an emerald pendant radiating immense wind energy.

“Sylph.”

*Whoosh!*

At her whisper, compressed currents of wind swirled violently, filling the room. The emerald became the eye of the storm.

“My lady! Stop this!”

Gadena shouted, but it was too late.

Outside, an unnatural commotion began as clouds abruptly vanished, revealing an unnaturally clear sky.

The Great Wind Spirit had descended at the call of the high elf.

“Lapita. What do you ask of me?”

“Take the wolf spirit away from that human.”

Lapita fixed her sharp gaze on Risir.

The emerald’s glowing eyes mirrored her glare.

The response came immediately.

“I refuse.”

“Wh—What?!”

The venom on Lapita’s face faltered, replaced by confusion. She stared at the pendant in disbelief.

“What did you just say?”

“That young spirit stays with the human by her own will. I will not interfere. And more importantly—”

The emerald’s gaze shifted to Risir.

“I do not wish to act in a way that would earn his disapproval.”

“What are you saying—”

The Great Wind Spirit, refusing her request out of concern for a human’s opinion? Did this mean it preferred that human over her?

“Sylph!”

“Is he your enemy?”

“Yes! He’s my enemy!”

“Then perhaps I misjudged you.”

“What?”

The emerald dimmed.

The storm filling the room dissipated.

“...”

An oppressive silence filled the chamber.

Lapita replayed the spirit’s words in her mind, over and over.

Her face burned red.

“...Ah...”

Finally, she collapsed, unable to process what had just happened.

It was the moment when the supreme pride of a young high elf was utterly crushed.

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▷ Destiny 91: Doom Wolf - Deactivated.

The corresponding reward has been granted.

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▷ Destiny 65: Blind Maelstrom - Deactivated.

The corresponding reward has been granted.

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