A New Friend

2 years have passed since learning about the Ulars and our past. Since then, I've gotten a clear look at my own face, and lo and behold, I have the Ular eye on my left side. The pupil has a golden amber hue to it, which contrasts with the color of the black pupil in my right eye. Recently, I have been venturing out more and more, and being so far from the city center, there aren't many people at all. I still make an effort to avoid others, but maybe that's just out of habit. I've been practicing my magic as well, but I am at a roadblock. I have learned everything from the book on magic that Vash brought back. Also, the book itself was quite basic in that it didn't go into more advanced magic and just focused on beginner stuff.
I'm so damn bored.

My only reprieve from my boredom is that there is a larger manor somewhat close by to where I live. At the manor, there is a garden full of these exotic plants and fruits I've never seen before. When I first passed by it a few weeks ago, I saw that it looked kind of empty, not seeing a single person. I continued to pass by the manor until one day I decided to go in and look around. I avoided going to the actual home but explored the garden.
Woah, these plants look kinda overgrown, but someone is obviously taking care of things.

Looking up, I saw a bright red, pear-shaped fruit with darker streaks running down the length of the fruit. My mouth immediately began to water.
I haven't had a sweet fruit like an apple or a strawberry since I came here.

Instinctively, I reached up and plucked it off the branch. I then plopped down onto the grass and looked at it for a moment.
This thing could be poisonous.

"Hhmm,"
It smells so sweet.

I sank my teeth into the fruit, and it was with an intense sweetness.

"So good!" I exclaimed, with a mouth full of fruit.

As I went in for another bite, I heard a voice from behind me.

"Um, hi there," the boy said, looking at me with his head slightly tilted and a curious look in his eyes.

"Woah, um ... uh, this isn't wha—" He cut me off.

"It's fine; I don't really care."

An awkward silence filled the air as he smiled at me, and I stared at him.
What should I say? This is the first person I've talked to who isn't my parent. Should I just get up and leave? But I still haven't made any friends, and I'll be so bored after this.

A million things were going through my head, trying to think of something to say.

"Um, what's your name?"
What kind of question is that? I'm trespassing on his home and eating his food.

I cringed at myself.

"Ahahahaha!" He burst into laughter, then wiped his eyes.

"My name is Kuno; what's your name?" He reached his hand out and offered it to me.

"I'm Sern..." I replied as I was pulled up to my feet.

"You're a demon, right?" He said, looking directly at my eye. I was taken aback. I started to shuffle back to where I entered from.

"Don't worry, I'm also a demon," trying to reassure me. "I am part of the Carrion race of demons; I know I don't look it, but it's true."

I looked him up and down, but to me, he looked just like a regular boy. He had straight, short black hair, similar to mine, and black eyes. He was a few inches taller than me, but everything else seemed completely human.
Carrions ... I don't think I've heard anything about them.

I started to loosen up and calm down; it didn't seem like he was angry or anything.

"So ... it's ok that I'm here?" I said sheepishly.

"Yes! Absolutely!" His eyes lit up. "It gets lonely way out here. I don't have anyone to play with."

"You don't have any siblings?"

"Nope," he said. "And when I try to make friends, they avoid me. They know that I'm a demon."

Hell, at least he's trying. Thinking about it, I haven't even tried to make friends with anyone. Even with this person, I tried to back out and leave as soon as I could.
Sigh, I'm still acting like I used to in my previous life. Avoiding everything and everyone. What's wrong with me?

"W-well ..." I stammered. "We could be friends ... if you want."

"Yes! Let's become friends!"

I was startled, but he was so excited that I couldn't help but smile too. Really, I was happy as well. I didn't just back away and leave because I was anxious, or nervous, or had some other excuse.

"So you knew I was a demon because—" He cut me off. "Your eye. Yep! The Ulars are pretty famous!"

"Well, I also have seen you walking around this area a few times before."
That's embarrassing, but I guess that's how he knew what I am and where I was.

"Um, how are you living in a place like this?" It's crazy to me that a demon can live in a place like this. The way I saw it was that everyone around here hated demons. Like everyone.

"My family are minor nobles. I am part of the House Sappan. So I am Kuno Sappan." He stated proudly. "Right..."

"My family settled here over 1000 years ago. But, because we are demons, we stay away from the city center to avoid too much attention."
That makes sense to me, I guess.

We continued to talk about things like our families and everyday lives. It seems like he knew not to talk about the past history of Ulars, which made things a lot more comfortable. As it got later in the day, I decided to head back to my home, but not before he gave me a bunch of fruits to bring back.

"Come back soon!" He waved with a smile on his face. "I will!"

When I walked through the door of my home, I was greeted by my father and mother.

"It's almost dinner time. Where have you been? And where did you get those?" Vash said while turning to look at me.

"I made a friend; he lives at that huge place further in the woods."

"Really? Well, you were respectful, right?"

I thought back to how I met him.
Hmm

"I think I was; look at all the fruit he gave me."
They don't need to know how I met him.

As I walked over to sit in my chair for dinner, I asked my father a question.

"Kuno said he was a Carrion. Do you know what they are?"
I didn't know if it was rude or not to ask Kuno what Carrions are and what they do.

"Yes, well, Carrions are a demon race that comes from the Eastern Continent, just like the Ulars," he explained. "They have the same features and characteristics as humans do. However, the things that make them demons are their familiars."
Familiars? Like the pets you bond with in video games?

"Carrions are demons who are beloved by the familiars, and so are able to make contracts with familiars. These contracts allow for the familiar to inhabit a certain body part, becoming it. In exchange, the familiars are able to experience life through the Carrion, and, in turn, the Carrion benefits from their powers."
Oh, that's not at all what I thought they were. Like, does it hurt? How many can you have? Do those parts still get hurt? I have so many questions now.

Vash could see the confused look on my face. "If you have more questions, I would ask him. I don't really know anything more about Carrions."

"Alright, let's eat," Mira called out.

I guess I will have to ask him more about it.