Chapter 3:

Chapter 3

Iris: Res Natura

I walked through the pristine white corridors while scrolling through the map.

"I hope no one appears out of nowhere," I whispered.

"Don't worry," Fairy chirped. "At this hour, the residential wing is deserted. The combatants aren't usually here right now."

"Why?"

"Some are training, others are out on missions."

"I want to see them!"

"Then an adventure it is! To the elevator!"

I ran to the elevator and descended to the lower floor as Fairy guided me.

"The right side is the Academy, and the left side houses the training halls and equipment for the soldiers."

"Is there a difference?"

"Of course! The Academy trains those who haven't become combatants yet. The soldiers don't need the Academy; they’ve already graduated."

"I wonder how they fight monsters..."

"They are incredibly strong, and that strength comes from their mastery over their powers."

Just then, a female soldier appeared in the corridor. The moment she caught sight of me, her eyes widened in shock.

"Why is this thing here?" She took a threatening step forward.

My heart began to race. What should I do?Before I could even process the situation, my feet moved on their own, sprinting back toward the elevator. I didn't even look at which button I pressed; I just wanted to escape that place.

"Where am I now...?"

"Iris!"

"Fairy...?"

"Why weren't you listening to me?! I was calling you the whole time, but you didn't answer!"

Why didn't I hear Fairy? Was his voice too low?

"You’re probably wondering where you are. You’re on the Commander’s floor."

"The Commander? Darian?"

"Yes."

"What a coincidence to see you here, Iris." I heard his warm voice behind me.

"...Darian?" I turned around to see that same familiar smile. So, Darian doesn't hate me.

"Why did you come here? Did you want to see me?"

"I don't know..."

"How is that possible?" Darian laughed softly.

I looked at his laughing face. Why is he so different from the others?

"Why are you so kind to me?"

"What's wrong, Iris? Are you okay? Of course I’ll be kind to you."

"But... you’re the only one who treats me this way. No one else here is nice to me."

"Iris... I’m sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" I looked at Darian, and for the first time, his smile vanished.

"I bragged about saving you, yet I couldn't even provide a good environment for you. I’ve failed you." He wrapped his arms around me. I could feel the radiant warmth of his body enveloping mine.

"What are you doing?"

"Shhh. This is called a hug. It's when we hold each other close."

"Why?"

"So we can feel one another's presence. I want you to feel that I’m here, Iris."

I extended my arms and wrapped them around Darian’s back.

"Like this?"

"Yes, like that."

We stayed like that for a few moments before Darian pulled back.

"The truth is, because of my selfishness, I turned you human without considering their feelings or even calming their suspicions toward you. I thought they would understand in time."

"Why? What’s wrong with them?"

"You know... monsters have killed many of our comrades. The people here have lost loved ones, friends, and family. Don't blame them. I know they’re mean to you, and I know that when they look at you, they don't see 'you'—they see the monsters that threaten us every day."

"I understand..."
"It might be hard on you—actually, it definitely is—but instead of mourning something you can't control, try to prove to them that you aren't like those monsters." He placed his palm gently on my head.

"How?"

"It’s not a hard question to answer. Iris is already a cute girl."

Darian thinks I'm cute? My finger brushed a lock of my hair.

"Don't worry, I’ll try to talk to them. Once they’re convinced that you might not be like those monsters, 'attacking' them with Iris’s cuteness might actually work."

"Attack them? Am I not supposed to prove the opposite?"

Darian laughed.

"No, well... don't worry about what I just said." Darian looked into my eyes. "Do you understand, Iris? They aren't like this because they hate 'you,' but because they’ve been raised on one fact: 'Monsters are dangerous.' I want to show them the opposite; that’s why I turned you human. I hope you can bear my selfish decisions."

"It's okay. I understand you."

"I've been trying to stay quiet for a while now, but stop flirting in front of me!" Fairy suddenly screamed.

"Flirting?"
"How rude, Fairy. We aren't flirting," Darian said. "Did Nayla give him to you?"

"Yes."

"Good, because he’ll be useful for you."

"Both of you stop ignoring me! The disrespect!" Fairy’s voice got even louder.

"How do I make him be quiet?"

"Press the button on top."

I did as Darian said, and Fairy finally went silent.

"You can press it again to turn him back on," he added.

I pressed it again.

"How dare you—"

I turned him off again.

"Shall we go now?"

"Yes."

Darian escorted me back to my room, his steps wide and steady. Just following him seemed to lift a weight off my heart.

"Well, see you later, Iris. I’ll come visit you soon."

"Goodbye." I didn't know why, but my chest tightened as he said farewell.

I turned Fairy back on.

"Iris is mean..."

I smiled. "You deserved it."

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. I pressed the open button, and a girl I had never seen before stood there with narrowed eyes. She wore the same uniform, but there was no pin on her chest. Why did she come to see me?

"So, you’re the monster the Commander is wasting his precious time on."

She sees me like the others…

She took two steps forward, her eyes locked onto me.

"I don't understand why the Commander thinks monsters like you can ever become like us."

It’s okay. I have to stop my hands from shaking... like Darian said, they hate the monsters, not me. The monsters, not me.

I had to show her that I was different.

'Iris is a cute girl.' That’s what Darian said.

I have to show her my cuteness.

My cuteness? My cuteness... Come to think of it, what Darian said yesterday…

I grabbed the edge of my pink skirt with my hand and held it up slightly.

"Look. It's my skirt."

"What?"