In an Instant

6: Of when childhood trauma includes: torture, abuse, neglect, etc. (17-20)

GUESS WHAT!!!! IT'S NOT A MONTH AHAHAHAHAHAHA

Almost forgot to post on Wattpad lol

Edit: I beta-ed myself lmao

Like, that scene where Mila* thinks about protective dragons? I literally spent hours trying to think of a word that describe "fighting back". I was like: backfire? backlash? back something??!??? -etc. And then I'm like: oh wait there's a "counter attack" right? but "attack" is already used???

And then I gave up and typed in "counter."

It was so awkward.

And then I cringed back so hard and just used the generic "Response".

AND NOW, FIVE FUCKING DAYS LATER, on my walk, I suddenly realized:

It's called "Retaliation," you dumb motherfucker.

And me, being my perfectionist self, decided to just go over the entire chapter and fix all the parts I noted as wonky grammar. Because why not.

And yes, Bud*'s "Scheme-y" was me running out of words.

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08/17/22: Revised. Details at the end.

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"Young master, this is the best room we have."

"Seems acceptable."

The old man led Cale's group to his inn. The exterior of the inn looked as rustic as the village, but it had everything you would need, probably because the merchants visiting the Henituse territory stayed at this inn on their travels.

"This is the first time we have had a noble staying with us. Please look favorably upon us, even if it is lacking quite a bit, and just consider it as a place where lesser beings live."

Cale stared at the old man. He seemed more comfortable than when talking to Venion Stan, but he still seemed scared at the fact that a noble would be staying at his inn.

It was fine for him to have a little bit of anxiety, but too much was uncomfortable for Cale as well.

'It's no good like this.'

Cale patted the old man's shoulder and tried to calm him down.

"Old man. Relax. I don't like people who put themselves down like that. This is the place that people who come and go from our territory stay to rest. There is no way such a place will be lacking."

-

'He really does seem like a good person,' Litana* can't help but think.

Or at least, at this moment, he's a good person.

-

The old man's pupils started to shake. He wet his upper lip with his tongue, before finally starting to speak after a bit of hesitation.

"Young master, are there a lot of good people like you in the Henituse territory?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Excuse me?"

"I am the biggest trash in our territory. Almost anybody you find will have a better personality than me."

"Ah."

The old man let out a gasp. Ohn and Hong, who had taken control of the couch in the room, were meowing and shaking their heads, but nobody seemed to notice.