The Cursed Elf (2)
The original story's second heroine, Melina Herdinand. She was the princess of the elves' kingdom, Wigdrith Kingdom, doomed from birth by the Demon King's curse to live a life on borrowed time.
The curse's details: At birth, she would harbor an evil god within her body. On her 20th birthday, that evil god would emerge, descend into her form, and kill Melina.
Twenty years. Even from a human perspective, it was an incredibly short life. But for elves? Their expected lifespan was around a thousand years, so those two decades were heartbreakingly brief.
That said, it wasn't entirely hopeless. The royal family of the elf kingdom had struggled to obtain a prophecy through an oracle. It foretold that in the year her 20th birthday approached, if she enrolled in the academy, she might encounter her "fated savior" who could break the curse.
And naturally, that fated savior was Varis. As the man who would later become the Hero, he possessed the potential to exorcise the evil god.
"Rathus!"
For reference, Rathus was the white cat that always stayed by her side. True to the elves' affinity with nature, they could easily tame animals, and Rathus was the cat she'd tamed upon entering the academy.
"You can't cling like that...! He's uncomfortable, isn't he?"
Its traits? It didn't fear humans much and had exceptionally sharp animal instincts.
"Meow~ Meow~!"
So why was a cat like that glued to me, refusing to let go? I'd only just met it... Beyond not fearing people, it almost seemed to have taken a liking to me.
"Seriously, get off!"
Melina grabbed Rathus and pulled. The cat clung to my ankle with its paws, refusing to release.
"Meow~!"
Even on the verge of being pried loose, it held on fiercely, as if rejecting any separation from me.
"Phew, finally got it off."
After much tugging, Melina scooped up the white cat in one arm and rubbed her forehead with the other.
"Sorry about that...! Rathus is a cat I know well, but he's not usually like this. Wonder what's up with him today..."
She apologized to me. Her radiant golden hair swayed gently in the breeze, framing sapphire-blue eyes filled with genuine remorse.
"Nah, it's fine. No real bother. Don't sweat it."
To be honest, saying I felt no annoyance at all would be a lie. Rathus had dug in its claws, leaving my ankle stinging a bit.
"Really? You're so kind. I'm Melina Herdinand. Call me Melina."
She placed a hand lightly on her chest as she introduced herself.
"Arnold Stenman. Arnold's good."
We exchanged names. The white cat in her arms still pawed at the air, clearly eager to reach me.
"Arnold, huh? Nice to meet you. If we run into each other again, let's act like old pals, okay~?"
She flashed a bright smile. True to the setting where all elves were stunningly handsome or beautiful, her features were sculpted perfection.
"Sure, if that's cool with you."
I rubbed my neck and replied. Satisfied, she let out a soft chuckle, revealing a hint of teeth.
"Great~ If it's fate, we'll meet again!"
She hugged her tamed cat tight and dashed off elsewhere. Coming from the elf lands, she apparently held no prejudices against the Stenman family. Most people twisted their faces like they'd tasted a bug just hearing the name.
"Lucky... I wanted to pet that cat too..."
Melina's figure receded into the distance until it vanished entirely. And so ended my first encounter with the second heroine.
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"Meow~!"
After parting from Arnold and running off somewhere, Melina kept her friend Rathus firmly in her arms.
"Meow!"
But the white cat, still fixated on Arnold, refused to look away from the direction he'd gone.
"Why are you meowing so much? Did you like that guy that much~?"
Melina stroked its head curiously, almost slyly.
"Mew..."
Yet the cat seemed unable to let go of its lingering attachment.
"I wonder if I'll find my fated savior... Starting to worry a little now..."
"Meow......"
As she longed for her unknown savior, Rathus kept staring intently at the spot where they'd parted from Arnold.
"Hmm."
In truth, Melina's events didn't offer much for me to meddle in. The climactic exorcism of the evil god could only be done by Varis alone. It built through minor side events, gradually raising affinity until Varis banished the evil god. Then Melina realizes he's her fated savior and falls for him. Naturally, the curse lifts with the evil god's defeat.
So no need to interfere this time. Best to step back and wish them well...
"Master? What are you thinking about so deeply?"
I was lost in thought when Eily suddenly spoke up. Had I zoned out too hard?
"You've had your fork still since earlier... Thought you might be unwell."
Worry clouded her eyes. To ease it, I twirled some spaghetti and shoveled it in.
"I'm good. Just had something on my mind."
It was lunchtime now. Me, Eily, Varis, and Elisha—four of us dining together.
"Man, academy food's always so damn good!"
Varis devoured his portion like a vacuum cleaner, inhaling it bite after massive bite. It wasn't that extreme, but yeah, the academy cafeteria was undeniably top-tier. With commoners to nobles all attending, the menu catered to every palate.
"Mm..."
Meanwhile, Elisha calmly sliced her Salisbury steak, savoring small pieces unlike Varis's frenzy. For the record, we all had different dishes: spaghetti for me, veggie soup for Eily, ham set for Varis, and Salisbury steak for Elisha.
"Arnold."
Elisha called my name. I turned, wondering what was up, and found a perfectly cooked patty slathered in sweet-savory sauce right in my face.
"Ahh~♡"
She smiled with a sultry edge, offering to feed me. What the—?
"...?"
I froze in confusion. First time a girl's done this... and more than that, I couldn't stop eyeing the fork she'd used.
"It's fine between future spouses, right~?"
She gazed at my gaping shock, lips curling mischievously.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Eily glared daggers at her. As if saying such embarrassing stuff in public was a no-go...
"I won't lose! Master...! Try my soup too!"
Or not. Fueled by indignation, she mimicked Elisha's stunt.
"What?!"
"You started it!"
The two locked eyes in a fierce stare-down. The casual lunch turned tense.
"Here, eat!"
"Try mine!"
Both shoved food at me. How was I supposed to—
"Hey? Isn't that Arnold?"
A new voice cut in. Long golden hair, pretty elven beauty.
"Melina?"
Her name slipped out naturally.
Melina beamed like a flower in bloom, tray of food in hand.
"Knew it was you! We meet again sooner than expected~? Eating lunch with friends?"
She slid into a seat effortlessly. Freshly served, steam rose gently from her soup.
"Mind if I join? Always better with company than alone."
She took a sip, caressing her cheek with her free hand. "Mmm~ So warm!" Blissful smile—she loved it.
"Master?"
"Arnold?"
A chilling killing intent prickled the air. Snapping to, I saw Elisha and Eily staring blankly at me.
"Who's this?! Making friends with yet another girl?!"
"Yeah! When, where, how?!"
They grilled me like they wanted to devour Melina. We'd only exchanged greetings today... Melina's friendly nature aside, their overreactions left me speechless.
"Meow~"
Amid it, a cat's cry and a small weight settled on my thigh.
"Rathus?"
Suddenly, the white cat perched on my lap. Melina's pet.
"Huh? I told you to wait outside...! No following me indoors."
Her happy munching paused; she panicked at Rathus's surprise entrance.
"Meow~"
But Rathus ignored her, rubbing against me shamelessly. No clue what it saw in me, but it was persistent.
"Oh? I love cats—lemme pet it!"
Varis, eyeing Rathus, reached out.
"Hiss—!"
But it snarled viciously at him, tail bristling.
"Ow? Doesn't like me...? It lets Arnold right up close, though. Discrimination much."
Anyway, why was this cat I'd just met today so into me?
"Meow~"
As Rathus resumed nuzzling once Varis backed off, I pondered the mystery.