The forbidden love of a heliotrope

Chapter 4: The Road Ahead

The dusty road stretched before them, winding through rolling hills and fields of wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the landscape as the day slowly gave way to dusk. Oscar and Móyù walked side by side, their footsteps in sync with the rhythm of the earth beneath them.

For hours, they had traveled in relative silence, the weight of their thoughts occupying the space between them. Móyù's wings were gone, her demonic features hidden behind the guise of a human woman. Her long, silky black hair cascaded down her back, and the mole on her left cheek added a delicate touch to her otherwise sharp beauty. Her violet eyes still held an otherworldly gleam, though now they appeared more like the eyes of a mysterious stranger rather than a creature of darkness.

Oscar glanced at her as they walked, still adjusting to the sight of her in this new form. She looked almost ordinary-just another traveler on the road. But he knew better. Beneath the surface, she was anything but ordinary.

Earlier that morning, before setting off on the journey, they had spent time preparing their supplies in the quiet of Oscar's modest room. It had been a strange moment-an odd mixture of anticipation and mundanity.

"Do we have enough water?" Móyù had asked as she eyed the contents of Oscar's old travel pack, now filled with basic provisions.

Oscar nodded, passing her a flask. "We should. I filled these at the well. And I've packed some dried meat and bread-enough to last us a few days."

Móyù had tilted her head, her sharp gaze inspecting the small collection of rations. "It's a start," she murmured, "but we'll need to be smart about where we stop along the way. No sense in running out of food in the middle of nowhere."

She had then produced a small pouch from her own belongings, opening it to reveal an assortment of herbs and dried fruits. "These will help keep our strength up," she had explained, carefully tucking the pouch into the pack.

It had been a simple act-preparing rations, gathering supplies-but in that moment, Oscar had felt the weight of their journey ahead. This wasn't just an ordinary trip to the next town; it was the beginning of something far greater, something unknown.

They had exchanged a glance, both aware of the significance of the moment. And then, without further words, they had hoisted their packs and stepped out into the world, leaving the familiar behind.

Now, as they walked the long road, Oscar thought back to that quiet morning, to the calm before the storm of uncertainty that lay ahead.

"How do you do it?" he asked suddenly, breaking the quiet that had settled between them.

Móyù turned her head, her gaze meeting his. "Do what?"

"Hide your true form like that. It's... impressive," he admitted, his tone laced with curiosity. He still wasn't used to the idea of walking alongside a demon, even one as complex as Móyù.

A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "It's second nature for me," she said, her voice light. "I've had a lot of practice. Blending in, hiding who I really am-it's something demons learn to do early on. For survival, mostly."

Oscar nodded, understanding the need for disguise. He had spent much of his life hiding as well-though his hiding had been more emotional than physical. He had hidden his doubts, his fears, even his loneliness behind the facade of a devout priest. Now, he was walking a path that forced him to confront everything he had buried for so long.