At night, Lily is already at her hotel room, sleeping peacefully. On the other hand, the demon she found is having difficulty to sleep.
He rolls one side to the other in his bed, but something is preventing him from falling asleep, the possibility of Lily's words being real. "You should stop hiding.", "The townsfolk would be happy to accept you between them."
He gets up and take a second to think. He stretches and smiles.
He takes a black cloak, some wood planks and tools, and a bag of potions, before leaving the library, moving in the direction of the town.
[THE NEXT DAY]
Lily stirs awake with the golden sun rays invading her hotel room. She gets up and walks to her wardrobe, dressing casually. When dressed, she goes to a café to have breakfast in peace.
As she walks down the streets, she notices a small crowd surrounding something and talking between themselves.
"Are those real potions?"
"Is that witchcraft?"
"I want to try them."
She approaches and sees a short, cloaked person behind a handmade stand. Over the counter, there are several flasks filled with different glowing liquids, and labeled with papers.
Lily's curiosity piqued, she weaved her way through the crowd, her eyes narrowing as she tried to make out the figure behind the stand. The crowd murmured with excitement, some pointing and whispering about the stranger's mysterious wares. The figure was small, barely half Lily's size, and the cloak concealed most of their features.
As Lily drew closer, she caught a glimpse of the creature's face, a familiar pair of glowing eyes peeked out from under the hood.
"Leonard?" Lily said, her voice both surprised and amused.
The cloaked figure flinched slightly at the sound of her voice, and then the hooded head snapped toward her. Leonard's cheeks flushed beneath the hood, though his glowing eyes remained bright with excitement. He straightened up, trying to look as confident as possible, despite the awkwardness of his makeshift disguise.
"Signorina Lily! You… you found me!" Leonard stammered, his tail twitching nervously beneath the cloak.
Lily raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she examined him. "I thought you were trying to 'stop hiding', and now you're out here selling potions in disguise?"
Leonard straightened up and cleared his throat, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "Ah, sì! I thought I would… test the waters, so to speak! I mean, the townsfolk are all so curious about alchemy, and I have these wonderful potions, and… well, I thought maybe if I wore this, no one would be too scared, you know?"
Lily chuckled, shaking her head. "So, your idea of not hiding is… hiding just slightly less? Leonard, you're wearing a cloak big enough to camp under."
Leonard's ears twitched under the hood, and he gave an awkward laugh. "Baby steps, Signorina. Besides, the cloak adds mystery! Everyone like a little mystery, no?" He gestured to the crowd gathering around his stand as evidence.
Lily's expression softened as she glanced at the curious townsfolk inspecting Leonard's wares. Some were timid, but others were genuinely intrigued, asking questions and debating whether to purchase.
"Alright." Lily admitted, "you've got a point. But you still have some work to do. What are these potions, anyway?"
Leonard perked up, eager to explain. "Ah, I have something for everyone! Fast growth potions for plants, freezing potions if someone need ice, fire potions for fireplaces and bonfires, etc…"
Lily examined the potions, impressed by his craftsmanship. "They look incredible. Did you make all of these last night?"
"Of course!" Leonard puffed up his chest proudly. "I wanted everything to be perfect for my first day as seller!"
Just then, an elderly man from the crowd approached the stand cautiously. "Excuse me, uh, sir, do you have anything for aching joints? My back's been acting up something fierce."
Leonard's glowing eyes brightened. "Ah, sì, I do! One moment!" He rummaged through his potions, pulling out a small vial of red liquid. "This should ease your pain and loosen stiff muscles. Just a few drops in your tea, and you'll feel like new!"
The man hesitated for a moment, but eventually handed Leonard a few coins in exchange for the potion. He offered a polite nod before shuffling away, and the crowd began murmuring even louder.
Leonard looks at Lily proudly. Lily chuckles. "Alright, I think you're going to do a good job." She gives some headpats on him. "I'm going back to the café, I didn't have breakfast yet."
As Lily walked away from Leonard's potion stand, she could hear the lively buzz of the crowd behind her. The small, cloaked figure was already gaining more attention with his potion sales, his nervousness seeming to fade as the townsfolk grew more comfortable with his presence. She smiled to herself, impressed by his progress, before turning her focus to her much-needed breakfast.
She arrived at the café, a cozy little place tucked between two towering buildings. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and the soft hum of quiet conversations created a peaceful atmosphere. Lily found a corner table by the window and ordered a simple breakfast: a warm croissant, some fresh fruit, and a steaming cup of coffee.
When she's alone, she pulls her Den Den Mushi and makes a call.
"Marine HQ line, how can we help?"
"This is Vice-Admiral Lily. I'm calling to make the report of the day about the demon."
The marine officer on the other end of the line straightened at the sound of her rank. "Understood, Vice-Admiral Lily. Please proceed."
Lily glanced out the window, watching the townsfolk milling about in the sunlight.
"The situation with the demon appears to be stable for now," she began, choosing her words carefully. "He's integrated himself into the town under a disguise. Currently, he's engaging with the locals by selling potions, harmless ones, as far as I can tell."
The officer's voice crackled back, skeptical. "Vice-Admiral, is it wise to leave a known demon unchecked? Even if he's pretending to be peaceful, we cannot trust—"
"I'm aware of the risks." Lily interrupted, her tone sharp enough to cut through the static. "But Leonard, yes, that's his name, isn't your typical case. I've been observing him closely. His behavior doesn't align with any malevolent intent. If anything, he's trying to coexist with the townsfolk on their terms."
The officer hesitated. "Do you believe he poses no threat, ma'am?"
Lily paused, her fingers lightly tapping the side of her cup as she considered her response. "At this moment, no, I don't believe he poses a threat. Leonard's actions, while unconventional, indicate a desire to bridge the gap between himself and the humans here. He's taking steps, however small, to integrate peacefully. That said, I'm not letting my guard down. I'll continue to monitor the situation closely."
There was a long silence on the other end before the officer responded. "Understood, Vice-Admiral. We'll note your report. However, HQ may want to reassess if there's any sign of… danger."
"I'll be the first to act if there is." Lily assured, her tone firm. "But remember, not every demon fits the mold of a threat. Sometimes, understanding and guidance can achieve more than hostility ever will."
The officer murmured an acknowledgment before ending the call. Lily set down the Den Den Mushi and leaned back in her chair, letting out a soft sigh. She wasn't naïve, her actions could draw scrutiny, perhaps even reprimands from higher-ups. But she trusted her instincts. Leonard's earnestness wasn't something that could be faked.
As she sipped her coffee, a sudden commotion outside caught her attention. She looked up to see a small group of children clustered around Leonard's stand, their faces lit with wonder as he demonstrated a harmless glowing potion that fizzled and sparked like fireworks.
One child, a little girl with braids, clapped her hands in delight. "Mister Cloak, you're like a wizard! Can I have that one?"
Leonard laughed, his glowing eyes crinkling with joy. "Ah, piccola stella, this one is just for show, but I have something special for you, look here!" He pulled out a small bottle of blue liquid that glittered like stardust. "This is a nightlight potion. It will glow softly to keep bad dreams away."
The girl's eyes widened, and she eagerly traded a coin for the potion. Her mother, standing nearby, gave Leonard a cautious but polite smile, her wariness tempered by the creature's kindness.
Lily couldn't help but smile at herself. Leonard might still be hiding under that oversized cloak, but he was winning hearts one potion at a time.
The day passed, and by evening, the crowd around Leonard's stand had thinned. He carefully packed away his remaining potions, his movements tired but content. As he turned to leave, Lily approached him.
"You did good today," she said with a small smile.
Leonard's tail swayed under his cloak. "Grazie, Signorina Lily. It was… exhilarating. I was nervous, but the people were curious, not afraid."
"That's because you showed them you're more than what they expected," she said. "And you didn't set anything on fire, so I'd call that a win."
Leonard chuckled, his glowing eyes softening. "Your faith in me… it means a lot. I would not have tried this without your words."
Lily nodded. "Keep at it. You're on the right path. Just remember, no shortcuts. Trust takes time."
As they parted ways, Leonard felt a sense of hope he hadn't experienced in years. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a place for him in this world after all. And for the first time in a long while, the night felt less lonely.
[TO BE CONTINUED]