Laura eventually found a park bench to sit on so she could relax and calm down. Her breathing became more regular and she began to calm down.
"Whenever I'm put in a situation like that where I have to fight, I just lose it."
Laura with her hands still shaking looked up at the sky and heaved a long sigh.
"The urge to completely destroy any adversary overwhelms me and I end up losing myself in the moment. But why?"
Laura continued to question it but she already knew the answer. It was her demon half. Demon's are ruthless creatures that show absolutely no mercy to anyone. They decimate whatever they want without leaving anyone they see alive. A demon would use anything and everything to kill and maim whoever stands in their way.
If Laura were to lose control what would happen? That thought etched itself into her mind. She didn't want to become the demon her village told her she was. She wanted to be a person her mother would be proud of.
"That's right, I'm gonna be someone my mother can be proud of."
Laura renewed her determination for now. A few minutes later, Laura's shaking hands finally calmed down. Her head was clear and her heart was calm again.
"There's no need to pity or feel sorry for people who were trying to kidnap me. Anyone else would have done the same if they were in my position. It just so happens that they chose me to target. Yeah that's right anyone would have fought back and done anything to escape."
Laura then stood up from her seat and walked off. As she left the park she saw a group of children playing happily together.
"All those kids are having such a great time. Reminds me of my friends."
Laura smiled at them and walked past them.
"Yeah they're all happy and carefree. They don't have a care in the world. Just like how I once was. I wonder how everyone back at the village is doing. Hopefully they're doing good."
Laura walked off back toward the colosseum. As she was walking back a man suddenly burst out of the crowd of festival goers and ran towards Laura.
"MOVE!" The man shouted at Laura.
The man was carrying a girl who looked to be around 8 or 9 years old in his arms and the girl was desperately struggling. The man held his knife out in front of him threateningly.
"Help!" The girl cried out hysterically.
What's up with all the kidnapping today? Laura thought.
Laura stood in the man's way and stared him down. The man, brandishing his knife attempted to strike Laura with it but it shattered on contact with Laura's claws. In the same breathe Laura kicked her foot into the man's knee, causing it to bend in the opposite direction. Laura then spun around, grabbed the man by the throat and slammed him to the ground.
"I've had my fill of kidnappers today. Now let her go and I'll let you live."
Of course, Laura was bluffing. She did not want to kill this man especially in broad daylight with so many witnesses. Plus the girl who was the victim of a kidnapping would certainly be traumatized by seeing a murder.
The man releases the girl so Laura quickly knocks the man out.
Laura turned to the girl and offered her a hand. "Are you ok?"
"Yes...thank you."
"You should be more careful though. Kidnappers are running rampant today apparently. You never know when one will come after you."
The girl nodded in agreement.
"Hm?"
For some reason the girl has been staring at her intently.
"What's wrong?"
The girl looks away. "Th...those horns on your head, are you a demon?"
Laura realizes her hood came off and isn't covering her head anymore. She immediately put the hood back on.
"Uhh yeah, I am. So what?"
The girl gulps and then opens her mouth. "I-If you really are a demon...can I touch them? Can I touch the horns on your head?"
"Huh?!" Laura exclaims in surprise causing the girl to shrink back.
"Can I not?"
"N-No! It's just...I'd rather you not ask."
"O-oh I'm sorry." The girl hurriedly apologizes.
"Anyway back on topic, where are your parents?"
The girl stares at her feet. "They're...not here."
"Did you come to the festival without any supervision? That's not a good habit to have. (Not that I'm one to talk.)"
"It's fine. I have my entourage with me."
"Entourage?"
Just then six women hurriedly rush out from the crowd of festival goers and rush toward the two of them. Laura reflexively stands between the women and the girl preparing for a fight.
"Hold it right there!" One of the women yells at Laura while brandishing a sword.
Three of the five surround Laura and the girl while the other two surround the unconscious kidnapper.
"Release her immediately!"
"This child is under our protection!"
"We will not allow you to harm her!"
Laura gives a sidelong glance to the little girl and whispers to her. "Are these women your guardians?" The girl nods.
"Hold on let me explain. That guy over there came running at me so I knocked him out. I'm just a bystander in all of this. Just take back this girl and keep a closer eye on her this time."
The women look at each other for a moment before reluctantly nodding.
"Understood. We apologize for having jumped to conclusions."
"Don't worry about it." Laura begins to walk away but she feels someone grab her sleeve. It's the girl.
"Excuse me but can you tell me your name?"
"Sorry but my guardian told me not to draw any attention to myself so I really need to leave."
"Oh...okay. But I'd like to repay you for what you did." The girl says.
"Well if you want to repay me then please don't tell anyone about me being a demon."
"Oh okay I won't"
Laura then jogs off.
"Oh crap I'm gonna be late for the matches." Laura then dashes at a faster pace back toward the colosseum.
Laura eventually found a park bench to sit on so she could relax and calm down. Her breathing became more regular and she began to calm down.
"Whenever I'm put in a situation like that where I have to fight, I just lose it."
Laura with her hands still shaking looked up at the sky and heaved a long sigh.
"The urge to completely destroy any adversary overwhelms me and I end up losing myself in the moment. But why?"
Laura continued to question it but she already knew the answer. It was her demon half. Demon's are ruthless creatures that show absolutely no mercy to anyone. They decimate whatever they want without leaving anyone they see alive. A demon would use anything and everything to kill and maim whoever stands in their way.
If Laura were to lose control what would happen? That thought etched itself into her mind. She didn't want to become the demon her village told her she was. She wanted to be a person her mother would be proud of.
"That's right, I'm gonna be someone my mother can be proud of."
Laura renewed her determination for now. A few minutes later, Laura's shaking hands finally calmed down. Her head was clear and her heart was calm again.
"There's no need to pity or feel sorry for people who were trying to kidnap me. Anyone else would have done the same if they were in my position. It just so happens that they chose me to target. Yeah that's right anyone would have fought back and done anything to escape."
Laura then stood up from her seat and walked off. As she left the park she saw a group of children playing happily together.
"All those kids are having such a great time. Reminds me of my friends."
Laura smiled at them and walked past them.
"Yeah they're all happy and carefree. They don't have a care in the world. Just like how I once was. I wonder how everyone back at the village is doing. Hopefully they're doing good."
Laura walked off back toward the colosseum. As she was walking back a man suddenly burst out of the crowd of festival goers and ran towards Laura.
"MOVE!" The man shouted at Laura.
The man was carrying a girl who looked to be around 8 or 9 years old in his arms and the girl was desperately struggling. The man held his knife out in front of him threateningly.
"Help!" The girl cried out hysterically.
What's up with all the kidnapping today? Laura thought.
Laura stood in the man's way and stared him down. The man, brandishing his knife attempted to strike Laura with it but it shattered on contact with Laura's claws. In the same breathe Laura kicked her foot into the man's knee, causing it to bend in the opposite direction. Laura then spun around, grabbed the man by the throat and slammed him to the ground.
"I've had my fill of kidnappers today. Now let her go and I'll let you live."
Of course, Laura was bluffing. She did not want to kill this man especially in broad daylight with so many witnesses. Plus the girl who was the victim of a kidnapping would certainly be traumatized by seeing a murder.
The man releases the girl so Laura quickly knocks the man out.
Laura turned to the girl and offered her a hand. "Are you ok?"
"Yes...thank you."
"You should be more careful though. Kidnappers are running rampant today apparently. You never know when one will come after you."
The girl nodded in agreement.
"Hm?"
For some reason the girl has been staring at her intently.
"What's wrong?"
The girl looks away. "Th...those horns on your head, are you a demon?"
Laura realizes her hood came off and isn't covering her head anymore. She immediately put the hood back on.
"Uhh yeah, I am. So what?"
The girl gulps and then opens her mouth. "I-If you really are a demon...can I touch them? Can I touch the horns on your head?"
"Huh?!" Laura exclaims in surprise causing the girl to shrink back.
"Can I not?"
"N-No! It's just...I'd rather you not ask."
"O-oh I'm sorry." The girl hurriedly apologizes.
"Anyway back on topic, where are your parents?"
The girl stares at her feet. "They're...not here."
"Did you come to the festival without any supervision? That's not a good habit to have. (Not that I'm one to talk.)"
"It's fine. I have my entourage with me."
"Entourage?"
Just then six women hurriedly rush out from the crowd of festival goers and rush toward the two of them. Laura reflexively stands between the women and the girl preparing for a fight.
"Hold it right there!" One of the women yells at Laura while brandishing a sword.
Three of the five surround Laura and the girl while the other two surround the unconscious kidnapper.
"Release her immediately!"
"This child is under our protection!"
"We will not allow you to harm her!"
Laura gives a sidelong glance to the little girl and whispers to her. "Are these women your guardians?" The girl nods.
"Hold on let me explain. That guy over there came running at me so I knocked him out. I'm just a bystander in all of this. Just take back this girl and keep a closer eye on her this time."
The women look at each other for a moment before reluctantly nodding.
"Understood. We apologize for having jumped to conclusions."
"Don't worry about it." Laura begins to walk away but she feels someone grab her sleeve. It's the girl.
"Excuse me but can you tell me your name?"
"Sorry but my guardian told me not to draw any attention to myself so I really need to leave."
"Oh...okay. But I'd like to repay you for what you did." The girl says.
"Well if you want to repay me then please don't tell anyone about me being a demon."
"Oh okay I won't"
Laura then jogs off.
"Oh crap I'm gonna be late for the matches." Laura then dashes at a faster pace back toward the colosseum.
