"Leci, I didn't expect this."
Right after the school bell rang, Taryn came to Leci's classroom to ask for an explanation about what she had seen earlier in the infirmary. Leci had planned to deny everything because she honestly had no idea how to explain it to Taryn.
Even though Taryn already knew that Leci was an Exorcist, it was simply impossible to tell her best friend that their Biology teacher wasn't human. How could Leci possibly say,
"Taryn, it turns out that Mr. Kieron isn't human. He's actually a demon in disguise."
Who would believe that?
Especially since Taryn had caught Leci hugging Kieron. Anyone would misunderstand that situation. "Taryn, I—"
"It's okay, Leci," Taryn cut her off, shaking her head. "If you like him, I'll support you."
"I just didn't expect you to like Mr. Kieron that much… enough to bring Amanda down like that. Have you turned into a crazy girl after falling in love?"
Leci's heart ached at Taryn's words. Was she really that cruel? "You've got it all wrong!" Leci protested with desperate emphasis. She had to fix this misunderstanding no matter what.
"You don't have to be embarrassed, Leci. No matter how bad your flaws are, I'll still be your friend," Taryn said sincerely. "You should've just told me if you liked Mr. Kieron. That way, I wouldn't have bothered showing my support for Amanda."
"You must've been really upset in the cafeteria, right? Everyone at school—even your best friend—was cheering for someone else."
Taryn grabbed Leci's right hand and squeezed it, guilt written across her face. "I'm sorry! From now on, I'll be your number one supporter!"
'Wounded but bloodless'—that was the perfect way to describe what Leci felt right now.
Taryn's misunderstanding had gone too far to fix. Besides, Leci still hadn't found a good enough reason to explain herself. "Taryn, actually—"
"Babe, were you waiting for me?"
The irritating voice that came from behind cut through Leci's attempt to defend herself. Before she could react, a strong arm wrapped around her shoulders in a far too familiar way. She didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
Of course he'd show up now—when the school's completely empty, she thought bitterly.
Taryn's already wide eyes grew even wider at the sight before her. She covered her mouth in disbelief. "Oh… I guess I'm interrupting your time together," she said politely, lowering her gaze. "I'll excuse myself, then."
"I'll text you later, okay? Bye, Leci! Have fun on your date!" Taryn waved cheerfully before disappearing down the hall.
Leci could only stand frozen, too late to explain. I haven't even said a word yet…
Leci still couldn't understand why Taryn had chosen that exact moment to appear in the infirmary earlier. Her timing couldn't have been worse.
Now how was Leci supposed to clear up that misunderstanding?
A sudden flick landed on her forehead. She winced and glared up. "I've been standing here for a while," Kieron said, raising a brow, "and your mind keeps wandering off, huh?"
Leci rubbed her forehead, fuming. "That's none of your business, Sir."
All of this was his fault anyway! If this man hadn't been toying with her, Taryn wouldn't have misunderstood everything in the first place.
"Of course it's my business," Kieron replied coolly. "Don't forget our agreement." His tone was low, almost warning.
One day, I swear I'll seal him away, Leci grumbled inwardly.
Too tired to argue anymore, she sighed. After all, she was the one who had agreed to this deal—there was no backing out now.
"Are you coming with me or not?" she asked. "I can just bring it to you later if you'd rather wait."
Kieron shook his head. "No. I told you—I'm interested in seeing how you exorcise a Lost Spirit."
He smirked faintly. "Or are you planning to run away?"
"If you'll let me," Leci said flatly. Her shoulders sagged in defeat as she trudged down the corridor.
Kieron watched her go, his gaze lingering. That was when he noticed her hair — two small buns tied on either side of her head, with the rest gathered into a loose twist held by a silver hairpin shaped like a tree branch. A tiny silver cat charm dangled from it, glinting faintly under the light.
It looked like something from an old Chinese painting.
"Why are you just standing there?" Leci snapped, glancing back from the top of the stairs. "Are you coming or not?"
Kieron's obsidian pupils narrowed, startled. He didn't know why, but every time Leci glared at him like that—so full of irritation, as if he were some evil spirit that needed to be exorcised—he felt a strange rush of ecstasy.
No other woman had ever looked at him like that before.
Without realizing it, Kieron smiled. This human… she's kind of adorable, he thought, before following after Leci, who had already walked ahead.
✤ ✣ ✤
A light drizzle began to fall as they made their way toward the haunted place. Leci lifted her eyes to the dark sky but didn't slow down. She walked steadily, unafraid of the rain soaking her clothes. The narrow path between apartment buildings was dim and silent, echoing only with the sound of her footsteps.
"That ghost always shows up near my little sister," someone had said earlier.
"She's been sick for a week because it won't stop bothering her."
Those words lingered in Leci's mind. Even though the person hadn't asked her to do anything, as an Exorcist, she still felt responsible. It was her duty to purge Lost spirits. Reward or not, Leci always fulfilled her task.
She thought of it as a form of loyalty — protecting the public from unseen horrors. After all, her family received generous compensation from the government for maintaining peace between the mortal world and the supernatural.
As they walked, a group of high school boys from another school passed by in the opposite direction. It was then that Leci realized—she was walking side by side with Kieron. Reflexively, she glanced back… but he was nowhere to be seen.
Huh? Where did he go? Leci blinked, scanning her surroundings. She turned left and right, searching for the tall, athletic man she knew—but there was no sign of him anywhere.
A few of the boys whistled as they passed her, clearly amused by the sight of a girl walking alone. But the moment Leci met their eyes—her cold, sharp gaze cutting through the drizzle—they fell silent. The group quickly walked away, avoiding her completely.
"Huft…" Leci let out a weary sigh. The day wasn't even over yet, but she already felt exhausted.
"I'm curious…"
The sudden voice made her flinch. Kieron's voice—so close it brushed against her ear.
In the blink of an eye, the handsome man appeared right in front of her, pushing her shoulder gently against the apartment wall beside them. He bent down slightly so their eyes were level, his breath mingling with hers in the chill air.
He studied her face closely.
"What exactly did you put on your body? Is it some kind of protection spell?"
It was the second time Kieron had asked that question. The first was back in the infirmary, and now he was asking again. What's so interesting about it? Leci wondered inwardly.
"Yes, it's a protection spell," Leci answered, sounding slightly tired. She brushed off Kieron's arm that had been resting on her shoulder.
"Where did you go just now? How can you be here again so quickly?"
Kieron grinned widely, clearly pleased that Leci was finally showing some curiosity toward him. With playful boldness, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders as if they were close.
"Do you really want to know?" he teased, his voice low and smooth. "I'll tell you—if you give me a kiss."
Leci's reflex was sharp and cold. She shot Kieron a look of pure disgust, brushing his hand off her shoulder as if his touch burned. "If that's the case, just keep it to yourself," she said flatly, her tone void of emotion, before walking away.
That single glance, however, sent an inexplicable thrill through Kieron. There was something almost ecstatic about the way she looked at him—like venom sweet enough to crave. His thoughts spiraled. If gentle gestures couldn't reach her, then… should he be rough instead?
But no—he quickly dismissed the idea. Violence would only drive her away, make her afraid. Still, something about her unsettled him. The way those boys had stared at her earlier—terrified—when they'd only meant to tease her.
"Hey," Kieron called after her. "I'm still curious. What did you do to those boys?"
Leci only glanced at him from the corner of her eye, shrugging indifferently. "Nothing."
"Don't lie," Kieron insisted, his voice low but persistent. "I know you did something."
Leci exhaled sharply, as if tired of explaining. "That's just one of the effects of a protection spell I use," she said coolly. "It erases other people's attraction toward me. That way, no one will suspect that I'm an Exorcist."
Kieron blinked in mild surprise, not expecting such an answer. "I thought they were afraid of your power," he murmured.
Leci chuckled darkly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She stood still for a moment, her eyes fixed on an old, worn-out doll lying abandoned among the trash.
"To everyone else," she said quietly, "I'm just an NPC—completely uninteresting."