Yuzuki carefully lifted her gaze, her black raven like eyes look at the man Infront of her.
breath catching as she studied the figure standing in front of her.
The man towered over her frail frame. His body was slender but unnervingly tall, and his presence seemed to dominate the narrow street. A white mask covering his low face while his hood concealed hair, leaving nothing exposed to on who the man looked, the hem of the garment brushing just above his knees. The fabric was thick, likely crafted from the leather of some rare beast strong enough to ward off the biting cold of the northern continent, and perhaps even to resist the slash of a blade.
White stitching ran cleanly along the coat's edges, neat and deliberate, giving an unsettling elegance to his appearance. His hands, concealed beneath fitted black gloves, rested motionless at his sides. And on his feet boots, the same pitch black as the rest of him, with so little dirt on them they might as well have been brand new.
Who was he?
Yuzuki's throat went dry. Something about him felt… wrong. Not like a passerby she might have bumped into by chance, but a figure who shouldn't be here, As if his mere presents was a contradiction but he did exist and he stood Infront of her in path at this precise at this moment.
Unease clawed into her skin, coiling in her stomach as her fists clenched tight at her sides.
She hadn't wanted trouble with anyone that was why she had left home so early, why she had tried to stay invisible. And yet here she was, colliding headfirst with someone who radiated nothing but danger.
her fists clenched tightly at her sides, nails digging into her palms, as if trying to anchor herself against the sudden spike of panic
Instinctively, she took a small step back, putting distance between herself and the man.
Her fingers twitched at her sides, her heart thumping unevenly in her chest.
"I… I'm sorry," Yuzuki stammered, her lips trembling as her whole body shook. "I didn't mean to bump into you." She bowed quickly, keeping her gaze low, afraid of what might happen if she looked directly at him.
"Ha… don't worry, child," the man said. His voice was unexpectedly gentle, almost warm but the sound did nothing to calm Yuzuki. Her entire body remained tense, wary of him, her instincts screaming caution.
The man's presence felt… off. The coat, the gloves, even the boots all of it looked far too refined, too carefully maintained for a mere traveller.
He could be a noble… or someone of similar standing. Someone who could destroy her with a single thought if he wished.
Yuzuki's stomach twisted with unease. Whatever he was, she had no room for mistakes here. One wrong move, one careless word, and her fragile life could ended right here.
So she stayed still, careful not to speak or move bowing her head low, as insignificant as possible, waiting for the man to act or speak.
Slowly, he reached out, placing his hand gently on Yuzuki's head. His fingers brushed softly through her hair.
Yuzuki tensed at first, unsure of what to do.
But she didn't pull away.
She wasn't certain of his status, and in this world, status could dictate everything.
"Ha… I already told you, don't worry," he said with a light chuckle. "You can raise your head. I'm not a noble, nor anyone of similar standing." the way the men talk was so carefree like there was no menace and anger in his heart.
which made Yuzuki felt a sudden release.
The tight knot of fear and anxiety in her chest began to ease. Slowly, her trembling subsided, and for the first time since the collision, she lifted her gaze to meet his.
Her eyes met nothing but a mask that hid his entire face. Yuzuki felt a flicker of unease not seeing his expression left her unsettled but there was little she could do but remain still.
"But," the man continued, his tone calm and steady, "I am just a simple doctor one who seeks to cure this unperfect world. You don't need to bow to me. We stand on equal ground."
Yuzuki blinked up at him, uncertain how to respond. A doctor?
Her lips parted, and the words slipped out before she could stop them. "A doctor… huh?"
The man chuckled softly, a low sound that carried no mocker only an easy warmth that seemed oddly at odds with his concealed face.
"Yes. A doctor. Nothing more, nothing less," he replied. "just a plain simple doc"
He withdrew his hand from her head, letting it fall casually back to his side. His hidden gaze shifted, sharp despite the visor covering his eyes.
"And you, child…" His tone softened, though it carried a note of seriousness. "Just from looking at your hands, I can see your bandages were not done properly. Left as they are, they'll only cause you more problems."
Yuzuki froze, her eyes darting to her own hands the man was right as the bandages arounder her hands were not rightly done her cheeks flash red from the embarrassment, and she quickly tried to hide them behind her dress sleeves.
"I… I did them myself," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's… not that bad."
The man tilted his head slightly looking at her before crouching down meet her eye level
"Show me."
This time, his voice carried a weight it hadn't before calm, but firm, with a commanding edge that brooked no refusal.
"I'll decide whether they're done well or not," he added, the words leaving no room for argument.
Yuzuki froze, her hands twitching nervously. She wanted to refuse, to insist she could manage on her own. But the weight behind his words left no room for backing down.
Still, she tried. She didn't want to waste time fixing her bandages.
"I… I can manage," she said quickly, her voice wavering. "Really, it's fine."
The man's gaze, hidden beneath the visor, did not waver. He crouched slightly, closing some of the distance between them, his presence calm and patient.
"Child," he said softly, "refusing care now will only make things worse later. I am not asking — I am offering. Let me help."
"…Okay," she whispered, barely audible. "Just… just this once."
The man nodded slightly, a faint acknowledgment of her consent. He moved closer, careful and deliberate, crouching in front of her. His hands, steady and confident, reached toward her bandaged wrists.
Yuzuki flinched as he touched her, but he was gentle, adjusting the wrappings with meticulous care. The sting of old cuts made her wince, yet with each layer of sloppy bandage replaced by firm, precise wraps, a strange relief settled over her.
"This is how you bandage your wounds. Got it?" he asked quietly, his voice soft, yet still carrying the calm authority that had left her no room to refuse.
"Y-Yes… got it," she replied, her voice trembling.
"Better," he said, a faint note of satisfaction in his tone. "The way you had bandaged your wounds before… it wounded my heart."
Yuzuki looked down, her hands now properly wrapped. The tightness was firm but not uncomfortable, and her chest felt inexplicably lighter, as if the simple act of being cared for had lifted some invisible weight.
"Now… my heart can rest easy," he added quietly.
"Y-Yes…" she murmured, flexing her fingers carefully. "Thank you."
"There's no need to thank me," he said, brushing dust off his hands. "I was doing this for selfish reasons."
"Huh… selfish reasons?" Yuzuki tilted her head in confusion, her brows knitting together.
"Yes, selfish reasons indeed," he replied calmly.
"May I… ask what your selfish reason is?" Yuzuki couldn't help but be curious how could helping her possibly be selfish?
He gave a faint, tilt of his head, Yuzuki felt like he was smiling behind his mask. "Well, if you really want to know… helping someone brings me happiness."
"As the saying goes," he added lightly, "one should always be there to help those in need, right?"
Yuzuki blinked, a small, uncertain smile tugging at her lips. Despite his mysterious appearance and calm demeanor, there was a sincerity in his words she couldn't ignore.
He straightened, stepping aside. "Now, you can continue on your way. I hope I didn't take up too much of your time."
"Thank you… again," Yuzuki replied softly, her voice carrying genuine gratitude. "And you didn't take that much time from me."
Without another word, she turned and ran, her steps quick but light, still feeling a faint unease from the man.
The feeling lingered, subtle and inexplicable, but it had eased enough for her to refocus. The academy was still ahead, and nothing not even this strange encounter would stop her now.
From behind, the slender man watched the girl run off. He stood still as a sudden gust of wind tossed his hood, briefly revealing golden hair. It didn't matter to him. With a quick motion of his hands, he pulled the hood back into place and turned, heading in the direction he had come.
"interesting," he muttered, his voice low, almost unreadable.
"Very… interesting indeed," he added under his breath, a faint trace of amusement hidden in the tone.
"To think… I've found something," the mysterious man murmured to no one but himself, voice barely audible. " Even a injure bird could still fly if treated properly…" his voice dropping low like ice.
Then, as quietly as a shadow, he disappeared into the alley, not a single footprint marked the ground where he had stood as if he had never even existed.