The Infinite Night

Chapter 1: Part 2

Tassa held Nia'le's arm and began healing his wounds with a healing spell.

Nia'le watched silently as a soft light flowed from her hands. Strange feelings stirred inside him as he stared at the magic. One by one, his wounds disappeared. The torn flesh repaired itself, and even the blood he had lost seemed to return.

He couldn't hide how impressed he was.

The magic reminded him of his parents. Both his father and mother had abilities like this.

After a moment, he finally asked,

"How can you use magic?"

Tassa froze.

Shock flashed across her face.

Humans weren't supposed to see her magic. Yet Nia'le had watched the entire thing happen.

Instead of answering, she folded her arms.

"You said you couldn't feel the magic around this place," she said. "But you saw my healing spell. Normal humans can't see it. So how can you? What exactly are you?"

Nia'le looked down at his healed arm.

"I asked one question, and you answered with two."

"Someone taught me magic. Now answer mine. How can you see it?"

Nia'le crossed his legs.

"You probably won't believe me, but my parents could do things like this too. They had powers. They even had a friend with the same abilities."

Tassa tilted her head.

"So they're wizards."

"Demons," Nia'le corrected immediately. "Like I said before, there are no wizards in this world. Only demons."

Tassa didn't argue.

If that's what he wanted to believe, then she would let him.

Nia'le leaned back against the couch.

"So, who taught you magic?"

Tassa became quiet.

The sadness in her expression was impossible to miss.

After several seconds, she lowered her head.

"Someone taught me everything I know."

Nia'le noticed how heavy her voice sounded.

"He was the first person I ever loved," she continued softly. "And also the first person who hurt me."

She was about to continue when Nia'le suddenly raised a finger and placed it against her lips.

"Shhh."

Tassa blinked.

"I only asked who taught you," Nia'le said. "You don't need to tell me your entire life story from the day you were born."

Tassa immediately removed his finger.

"Then don't ask questions if you don't want answers."

Nia'le shrugged.

"You see, there are four maxims of communication."

Tassa groaned.

"Oh no."

"The first is the Maxim of Manner. Be clear."

He raised a finger.

"The second is the Maxim of Quality."

Another finger.

"The third is the Maxim of Quantity."

A third finger.

"And the last is the Maxim of Relation. Be relevant to the conversation."

Tassa stared at him.

Then she gave him a fake smile.

"I'm sorry, Mister Oral Communication, Sir."

She sat down beside him.

Nia'le immediately shifted farther away.

Tassa smiled sweetly.

"So, where did you get all those wounds?"

Nia'le thought for a moment.

"The cops suddenly saw me and—"

Before he could continue, Tassa put a finger on his lips.

"Shhh."

Nia'le froze.

"I asked where, not how."

A smug smile appeared on her face.

"You don't need to tell me your entire life story from the day you were born."

Nia'le slowly removed her finger.

His eye twitched.

He stood up and headed toward the stairs.

"Wait," Tassa called out. "You're not leaving me here alone, are you?"

Nia'le stopped.

"Well, you're not planning to stay here forever, are you? You insignificant girl."

Tassa immediately stood up.

"Insignificant?!"

She pointed angrily in the wrong direction.

"After I healed you, you call me insignificant?! You're the trivial one! You can't even take care of your own wounds, you frivolous i***t!"

Nia'le rolled his eyes.

"Now you're acting like a real bitch."

"Really?" Tassa shot back.

"Yeah, but not in a hot way."

"Well, you're acting like a dumbass."

Nia'le smirked.

"Anyway, you can leave now."

"Leave and go where?"

"Back to whatever rock you crawled out of."

Tassa frowned.

"I'm blind. It's already seven in the evening. How am I supposed to get through a forest alone?"

Nia'le laughed.

"Does it matter if it's day or night? You can't see either way."

Tassa's jaw dropped.

"Okay, now you're definitely acting like a dumbass."

Nia'le's patience finally snapped.

He marched down the stairs and stopped right in front of her.

"There's only one thing that annoys me more than anything," he growled. "And that's your entire existence."

Tassa crossed her arms.

"Good for you."

"I'm serious. Leave, or I'll kill you."

Tassa didn't move.

She wasn't afraid.

Death had never scared her.

If anything, she sometimes welcomed it.

Her voice remained calm.

"Try me."

Nia'le smirked.

He pulled out his gun.

The metallic click echoed through the mansion.

Slowly, he aimed it at her head.

"Want to change your mind?"

Instead of backing away, Tassa stepped closer.

"It won't work."

"You want to bet on that?"

"Yes."

Nia'le laughed.

Then he pulled the trigger.

BANG!

The shot echoed throughout the mansion.

A vase beside Tassa exploded into pieces.

Shards scattered across the floor.

Tassa stood completely still.

Her eyes widened.

Ayamani hadn't done anything.

Which meant Nia'le never intended to shoot her.

"Why?" she asked.

Nia'le turned away.

"You had the chance. Why didn't you kill me?"

He continued walking toward the stairs.

Tassa followed his footsteps with her head.

"Why?"

Still no answer.

"Why?"

Annoyed, she cast a spell that froze him in place.

Nia'le sighed and looked over his shoulder.

"I know there's something standing beside you."

He glanced toward Ayamani.

"And I know it's protecting you."

He paused.

"But that's not why I didn't shoot."

For a moment, old memories flashed through his mind.

Blood.

Screams.

A girl he had desperately tried to protect.

A girl he eventually lost.

Nia'le closed his eyes.

"I'm not a murderer."

His voice was quieter now.

"I can't kill innocent people. Not even a suicidal one."

Tassa fell silent.

She could hear the truth in his voice.

Slowly, she released the spell.

Without another word, she walked toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Nia'le asked.

"Away."

Nia'le sighed.

"Forget that. Go make dinner."

Tassa blinked.

"What?"

"There should be food in the fridge."

"You want me to cook?"

"Yes."

Then he pointed toward Ayamani.

"And he'll help."

Ayamani looked offended.

"Excuse me"

Nia'le started climbing the stairs.

"The food is still edible. It's preserved with magic."

"Wait!" Tassa called. "Aren't you helping us?"

Nia'le pretended not to hear her and disappeared upstairs.

Silence filled the room.

Tassa turned toward Ayamani.

"How can he see you?"

Ayamani crossed his arms.

"I don't care why he can see me."

He pointed upstairs.

"I care more about how that guy just ordered a Grim Reaper to help cook dinner."

Tassa burst into laughter.

And for the first time that day, Ayamani looked genuinely annoyed.