“.. I just want to go home.”

Your words made Malleus pause. Think for a moment.

Your words, your tearful expression, the wavering of your voice—the blade was plunged deep into his chest and ripped out. For a moment, all he could manage was staring at you, his brows knitted softly as you both hid from the rain under the veranda outside of the school’s courtyard.

You poor human. His poor human.

Malleus was conflicted; he knew you needed to leave eventually. Go home to your family and never return. But.. leaving him meant leaving this life you’ve began here behind. That thought rooted in his mind and made the reality much more ephemeral.

For a moment, he wanted to beg you to stay at his side, but he refused that thought the second it entered his brain.

How could he ever deliberately break your trust? He crouched down before you, lowering himself to your state, the way Lilia would when he was younger, and took off his blazer, draping it over your shivering body.

“I will do all I can to help you return to your home world,” he said, gently tugging the collar of his blazer shut over you. He carefully helped you stand, and with some magic, an umbrella materialized, “Allow me the honor of walking you back to your dorm, child of man. Do not worry tonight. I’d be more than willing to accompany you.”

He was such a fool. He grew attached to you, and the idea of letting you go was like ripping his heart out from beneath his ribcage, freeing a bird with broken wings knowing it cannot fly.

“Are you cold?” Malleus murmurs softly. “Do not worry. Allow my warmth to be your sanctuary, yes?”