Chapter 5

"Let me get this straight. You’re saying this girl… is that mantis you’ve been keeping?"

Azar’s brows furrowed, trying to make sense of the strange revelation suddenly thrown at him.

"Yes, Azar. Once again, that' s the truth."

Noah answered, clearly frustrated. It wasn’t the first time he had to repeat the same thing, and likely wouldn’t be the last, for the swordman had asked numerous times

"I don’t know how, but...she can turn into a human."

The mage pointed toward the girl, wrapped in his deep-sea blue cloak and clinging tightly to the hem of his tunic from behind.

Azar gave a slight nod, though his expression showed no real sign of acceptance.

Without another word, he calmly returned to the task he’d been doing before Noah and the girl barged in: counting a series of neatly stacked coins arranged by type and value on the table.

"My advice? Return her to where she came from, before you bring disaster upon yourself."

The spiky blond-haired man began transferring the coin stacks into a small pouch, one by one. The clinking of metal against fabric and the soft collisions of tiny coins were the only sounds in the room.

Noah stared at him, confusion plain on his face, but said nothing—waiting in silence until Azar finished, stood, and headed for the door.

"Wait, Azar. What are we supposed to do with Greenie? We can’t just let her stay like this."

The mage froze him before he could pull open the door for slight.

"We? Since when it's we matters?" Azar said, without looking back. His tone was sharp, cutting. It struck Noah deeply.

Noah clenched his jaw, guilt stabbing at him, realizing how much he had hurt his foster brother.

"You kept something from me. Something that could turn into a serious problem. You kept it all to yourself. So isn’t it only fair that you bear the consequences alone?"

Azar’s words dripped with sarcasm, each syllable pushing Noah’s guilt even deeper.

'Great. Now he’s sulking...'

Noah grumbled inwardly, though he knew the truth: his own actions had been selfish.

"...I’m sorry."

He lowered his head, eyes flicking briefly to Azar’s back before quickly dropping again when the swordsman shot him a sidelong glance.

The apology was half-hearted at first—more out of obligation than genuine remorse—but in that fleeting moment of near eye contact, a wave of shame gripped him, rooting him in place.

He hadn’t realized how powerful that feeling was, how much it affected him deep inside.

"I-I’m sorry, brother. Please, forgive me!"

The regret and embarrassment swelled. This time, his plea was sincere.

"Look me in the eye if you want to say that."

Azar’s words made Noah uneasy, but he mustered the courage to meet his gaze.

Azar eyes were sharp at first, but softened when they locked with Noah’s. The younger man’s lips trembled, his throat didn't stop swallowing, and his eyes flickered away, unable to hold the gaze.

It was the same look Azar remembered from long ago—when they still lived under the same roof.

"I’m sorry, brother! Please forgive me! It was all my fault!"

Noah, ten years younger, had cried and shouted through the gloom of night.

His face was a mess. Short, tangled hair. No glasses. Tear-streaked, swollen red eyes, and a runny nose that flared with each breath.

"It’s okay. Didn’t I already say it wasn’t your fault? You just haven’t learned how to control your magic yet— I bet everyone goes through that. So, for the last time...enough. It wasn’t your fault."

Azar gently consoled the young mage, his left hand on the boy’s shoulder while his right rested in a wooden pail of warm water.

When he lifted his hand out, it revealed a large, fresh burn that stretched from the back of his hand halfway up his forearm.

The skin was blistered and peeling, looking like shredded cloth. A light tug could have pulled it off completely. Blood seeped from raw, charred flesh, turning the water in the bucket a murky red.

Even under the soft glow of a single candle, it was all too clear.

"B-but I hurt you...I didn’t mean to—I’m sorry."

Noah’s voice trembled, his eyes already dried out after crying from noon to night, barely able to produce more tears.

"I told you, it’s not your fault. And besides, this doesn’t even hurt that much! Just a scratch..."

Azar forced a grin but then crooked from pain as he dipped his burned hand back into the water. A quiet growl escaped him as he bit down the sting.

Earlier that day, Azar had found Noah alone in a room, experimenting with fire magic.

As the saying goes, play with fire, and you get burned.

And Noah nearly did— literally. The fireball in his palm had grown large and unstable, glowing with a menacing orange sigil beneath it.

Azar had stormed in just in time, slapped Noah’s hand shut— the standard method for canceling a spell mid-cast.

But the fireball exploded mid-interruption, the shock causing Noah to lose control completely. The flames surged—almost striking him—but Azar shoved the boy away, taking the full burn himself.

Noah’s lips quivered. His eyes strained, snot threatening to drip but getting sucked back up just in time.

Azar sighed deeply.

"Hey..."

He called gently.

"Look me in the eye if you want to say that, truly."

Azar’s gaze was firm, but his intention kind.

Young Noah hesitated, then wiped his nose and eyes with his sleeve, nodding.

"Please forgive me. I was wrong to do something in secret."

He bowed low, that small body trembling with sincerity.

"That’s more like it. Now you’re talking like a man!"

Azar beamed proudly, ruffling the boy’s hair.

Noah smiled too, wide and relieved, as if a heavy burden had finally lifted.

They both laughed softly...until Noah sneezed—hard. Too much crying had irritated his nose, and a clear spray shot directly at Azar’s face.

“OY, NOAH! COVER YOUR MOUTH! THAT’S DISGUSTING!”

Noah just laughed innocently, wiping his nose with his index finger.

Azar nearly chuckled aloud at the memory. A dull ache stirred from the old burn scar, but he kept his emotions in check, not wanting to ruin the present moment.

Noah, still bowing, closed his eyes for a moment, then lifted them with renewed resolve.

"Please forgive me. I was wrong to do something in secret."

Azar remained silent, lost in thought, hiding the small smile creeping on his lips.

With a heavy sigh, he turned to face the mage.

"Fine. But promise me this is the last time you’ll lie to me. Got it? Do it again, and I’ll plant your head in the ground."

"I swear. And... thank you for giving me a second chance, brother."

Despite the threat, Noah could feel no malice behind the words. It was simply how Azar talked.

Noah straightened up, a bright smile spreading across his face. Azar only snorted—but smiled too.

It was a beautiful moment.

But it didn’t last.

The cloaked girl suddenly collapsed onto the floor.

"Greenie!"

Her cloak still draped over her body, but her legs were exposed. Slowly—and rather disturbingly—her pale, slender legs began to shift. Skin tore, though no blood spilled. Plates of shell-like chitin emerged underneath. Bit by bit, the human façade peeled away, revealing two massive insect legs—thick as two children’s limbs bound together.

Noah and Azar stood speechless, blinking repeatedly at the scene unfolding before them.

Azar instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword, Tizona.

The cloak over the girl’s body stirred. Two antennae poked out from under the hood—then compound eyes that scanned the room before landing squarely on Azar.

First, the head emerged, then the full body.

A giant mantis, the size of a full-grown wolf, now stood still before them.

"Greenie!"

"Noah, wait!"

Azar tried to grab him, but his hand missed the back of Noah' s collar.

Noah stood right in front of the mantis. The distance between them made Azar’s chest tighten. If it attacked, the sorcerer wouldn’t be able to dodge in time.

But the fear proved unnecessary.

The mantis extended a tarsus toward him, offering.

Noah smiled and, without hesitation, reached out with his left index finger to meet the insect’s finger.

The mantis gently played with his finger, its antennae swaying low and slow.

...****************...

The cries of stall vendors echoed from every direction, luring customers with tempting prices and names that tickled the ears. Townsfolk and fellow adventurers bustled to and fro, brushing past on either side of them. The mouth-watering aroma of food drifted in the air, carried by the breeze from nearby shops and stalls.

Noah basked in the lively atmosphere with joy—his brother had finally accepted the existence of his beloved mantis.

But Azar felt differently. He had only acknowledged the creature to spare his brother's feelings. A lingering sense of distrust and unease gnawed at him.

A giant mantis that could transform into a human was not something one saw every day. Such a thing was extremely rare. He had heard that a handful of monsters could shapeshift—either Sacred Beasts or...

'Demons?'

His expression darkened at his own conclusion. He glanced at Noah walking beside him on the left.

The young mage was grinning wide, eyes darting around in curiosity, his gait light and carefree—clearly satisfied.

'Maybe not. If that insect was a demon... surely Noah would know.'

He believed that confidently. It made sense—sorcerers could sense things beyond the perception of normal humans. Intentions, hidden auras… especially those of demons.

Their steps finally came to a halt at a four-way intersection. To the left led to the town gates, past a few blocks of buildings. Straight ahead and to the right were more parts of the town. Behind them—way to their inn.

"Hey, Azar. Do you think Greenie will be alright alone in the room?"

Noah finally voiced the worry he’d been holding back behind that cheerful smile.

Azar, who had been distracted, fiddling with the coins in his pouch, paused to answer.

"Yes, probably better if she stays in. This town’s full of adventurers, and I doubt any of them would be as kind to her as we are. Especially when she can' t control her shape-shifting."

A shiver ran through him as he recalled what had happened in their room earlier.

Even though the mantis had reverted to her original form, she still struggled to maintain it.

After revealing her true nature to Azar, the creature had suddenly lowered her body, trembling all over, a harsh hissing sound escaping her.

"What’s wrong?!"

Noah had panicked and rushed to her, while Azar stood back, simply observing.

Her front raptorial legs stretched almost straight, shaking violently. One by one, the plates of her exoskeleton fell away. Each leg sprouted four long digits, forming slim, human-like fingers.

The sharp claws slowly shrank, retracting into what was now turning into flesh. A clear fluid coated the forming skin, which turned soft and pale. Green blood spattered across the floor as she let out cries of pain.

Noah was gripped by worry, unsure of what to do.

Her entire body began to shift—hard chitin giving way to tender flesh. Her head and compound eyes split open, bit by bit, until a human face emerged—an ethereal maiden’s. Her antennae broke off, falling to the floor, and from the base of her head, countless strands of soft, pale green hair flowed down, framing her face.

Her hind legs fused into two human ones, while her thorax and abdomen morphed into a human torso and hips.

At last, the transformation was complete—she lay there, once more a girl, coated in green blood. The process of changing from her true form to a human had clearly been agonizing.

Noah had watched it all, jaw slack, eyes wide with awe.

Azar...was not so charmed. His face twisted in disgust, disturbed by the scene.

But they both came to their senses eventually. Noah quickly grabbed his cloak from the floor and wrapped it around the girl, shooting Azar a fierce, protective glare.

Azar got the message, quickly averting his eyes in shame.

The swordman shook his head, trying to banish the memory from his mind and back to the present time in the street.

"Well, anyway now, we’re here to shop."

He pulled ten coins from his pouch and handed them to Noah.

"Remember, just get the essentials. Somehow we’re low on money, so only house supplies, alright?"

Noah counted the coins in his palm for a moment, then blinked in confusion.

"Low on money? But didn’t you spend the leftovers drinking at the tavern?"

Azar flinched, realizing he’d been caught. A classic case of not practicing what he preached—they were now equally guilty.

"Yes, yes, that was my fault. I’m sorry. I just needed to unwind..."

He cleared his throat and quickly steered Noah forward, eager to change the subject.

"Even so, please don’t buy anything expensive. We’ve got a long journey ahead, and it’s going to cost us."

"I don’t really need much...just one thing."

Noah held up a single finger, emphasizing his one request.

Azar crossed his arms, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. Noah never usually refused to buy things for himself. His favorite essentials were books and magical gemstones for his sorcery.

And sorcery...was a realm only magic practitioners understood.

"What is it, then?"

"Can I buy some clothes for Greenie?"

Noah clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture.

A faint crease formed on Azar’s brow, just beneath his red bandana.

"Please~?"

Noah leaned in, bowing slightly with a hopeful grin.

"Haa...fine. Just get something cheap, nothing fancy."

"Yay! Thanks, Azar!"

Beaming with joy, Noah dashed toward the right path, waving before turning to face forward.

Azar couldn’t help but smile back faintly, infected by the boy’s happiness.

"Lucky brat..."