16 Rabbit

Shae gasped at the sight of the two figures, forming her hands into a heart sign as she attempted to look through the hole for a clearer view.

"You're here!" Shae exclaimed in excitement as she saw Yue, only to mutter, "But... Who are you?" a second later as she noticed the other figure standing next to her.

Though, her expression quickly lit up again as she added, "Eh, who cares, she's here!" before leaping towards the two figures, yelling, "I've been waiting such a long time! And here you are!" while laughing hysterically.

"Oh. I had almost forgotten about her," Lucian muttered, his gaze turning to face the approaching bunny girl.

"Do you know who that is, Lucian?" Yue questioned, her gaze also now turned in the direction of Shae.

Lucian shrugged, "Yeah. She's no one important," he commented, tapping into his newfound powers. The air around him seemed to shimmer and ripple with a faint, otherworldly energy. A subtle distortion beneath his feet took place, and his body slowly lifted off the ground.

"Let's get out of here; we have a few stops to make," Lucian said, extending one of his hands toward Yue.

"Hm," Yue hummed in acknowledgment, extending her hand to his, her delicate fingers interlocking with Lucian's as she took his hand.

"Wait!" Shae called out, "Don't go! I need your help!" She exclaimed, her body flopping onto the ground before Yue's feet.

"Why would we help a worthless rabbit?" Yue questioned, her gaze disinterested as she walked closer to Lucian. Using her power of wind magic, she floated up into the embrace of his chest, Lucian's hands wrapping tightly around her.

'Wait, a worthless rabbit?' Lucian thought, a small smirk forming on his face. It was almost like someone had just thrown a bunch of lab rats... or rabbits, to him.

"I'm begg—" Shae began, only to be cut off by Lucian.

"You want us to save your family, right?" Lucian questioned, his piercing red eyes looking down at her kneeling form.

"Ah, how—" Shae began once more, only to be cut off again.

"Sure, I will do it," Lucian said, a smile adorning his features, though it held an undertone that looked anything but kind.

Yue seemed surprised by Lucian's sudden words but did not speak out about them.

"Re-Really!? Thank you!" Shae exclaimed in joy, jumping up from her kneeling position and attempting to hug the hovering figures of the two, only to stop halfway as she was blocked by an invisible wall.

"Ow!" Shae let out in pain as she fell back to her butt, only to shout again as she suddenly started to float off the ground a second later.

"She is noisy," Yue commented while looking at Shae, who sat in the air not far from her and Lucian as they began to float higher.

"How are you doing this!?" Shae exclaimed in both fear and excitement, her hands seemingly touching an invisible bubble around her as she looked down at the Rocky Mountains below.

"Magic," Lucian replied simply, not turning to face her. He wore an amused smile as he glanced down at Yue in his embrace, her gaze fixed on Shae with an expression that wasn't pleasant.

"Don't worry, she is just a pet," Lucian whispered, amused. He observed Yue turning her gaze back to him, her expression quickly returning to its neutral state as she acknowledged him with a hum.

Not satisfied, Shae questioned again, "And how did you know about my family?" She seemed to calm down slightly as she leaned her back against the invisible bubble.

"Magic as well," Lucian replied, lying easily. 

Shae scrunched her brows at his words, seemingly considering them, but ultimately choosing not to argue their validity.

"Okay. But who are you then? You weren't in my vision," she questioned once more, her expression one of childlike curiosity.

Lucian chuckled at her words, unsurprised. 

"I'm Lucian," he replied simply, still not bothering to face Shae.

Continuing, he added, "And I'm sure you know my Yue already, right?" Yue gave a mocking wave from over Lucian's shoulder.

Shae furrowed her brows at his words, "That's not—" She began, only to be interrupted.

"So where is this family of yours, little rabbit?" Lucian questioned, turning back to look at Shae for the first time since they began flying.

Shae gulped as Lucian's crimson orbs met hers, struggling to pull herself from their depths for a moment before she stammered, "T-That way," pointing in a random direction in the rocky plain.

"Well, if you say so," Lucian said, shrugging.

...

The distant sound of monsters roaring echoed amidst a lush green forest bordering a rocky desert.

Within this vibrant landscape, a sizable group of people with rabbit-like characteristics gathered.

"Look! Look! I found some fruit!" A high-pitched, feminine voice exclaimed, followed by a small child with green hair and bunny ears emerging from the bushes, carrying something resembling a cabbage.

"Doesn't it look yummy!?" The child continued, a large smile brightening her features.

A woman with similar rabbit-like features leaped out of the bushes, exclaiming, "Wait! Get back here!" Her hand outstretched.

However, her words and actions seemed to be too late, as the roaring from above grew louder. One of the older rabbitmen shouted, "No!" upon noticing a large black-winged monster sweeping down towards the child.

"Ahhh!" The little girl let out a frightful scream.

However, almost as if a higher power were watching over the child, right as the monster's maw opened, its large, sharp teeth exposed and about to swallow the child whole, it exploded.

No sound, no fancy magic or show—just pure blood and guts spewing in all directions.

"Hmm, was it too much?" Lucian questioned as he looked down at the little rabbit girl, now painted yellow with blood.

'I could have prevented her from being covered in blood,' Lucian thought, wondering why he did not do so.

Although, his doubts were quickly swept away by Yue in his embrace as she gave him a slight smile with a shake of her head.

"Father! I'm home! I'm back, and I brought help with me!" Shae called out as she looked down to her family below from her floating bubble.

Her exclamations seemed to draw the attention of all the rabbit people as they looked up toward the direction of the trio.

The main target of her call, a middle-aged rabbit man with tan skin, squinted eyes, and short-cut dark blue hair with a beard, replied, "Shae!" His face displaying his surprise.

Beginning to descend from the sky, not a monster in the area dared to get near, seeming wary of Lucian's presence alone.

"Everybody! We're saved!" Shae continued to call out from her bubble, her hands firmly pressed against the invisible wall.

"Annoying rabbit," Yue complained as she glared at the busty blue-haired girl floating behind them.

Lucian chuckled at Yue's words as they began to land upon the ground. Lucian landed gently upon the green soil, while Shae's invisible bubble seemed to be popped a few inches above the ground, causing her to trip and fall.

"Ow!" Shae called out in pain, her face firmly planted into the ground.

"Happy?" Lucian asked as he looked down at Yue in his embrace, ignoring the stares of the other rabbit people around them.

"Hmm," Yue hummed in agreement as she nodded.

"Shae! Are you alright!?" Cam, the middle-aged, tan rabbit man, called out as he ran toward his daughter, ready to help her back up.

"Yeah, I'm okay, Father," Shae replied, accepting her father's help as she stood up, brushing herself off.

Cam nodded, his expression relieved as he spoke, "Good," before turning his attention toward the other rabbit people, or more precisely, the two people the group had their attention on: Lucian and Yue.

Holding up a hand to try to quiet his people's silent whispers, Cam asked. "May I ask our savior's names?" As he began walking toward Lucian, who had just sat Yue down by his side.

Lucian gave a kind smile as he replied, "You may call me Lucian." He extended one of his hands toward Yue as he continued, "And this lovely woman is Yue, my lover." Yue gave a curt nod to the group at his introduction.

"It is nice to meet you, Lucian and Yue," Cam said, a kind smile adorning his features.

Although his expression seemed to become slightly strained as he forced out the question, "I have to ask, what race are you, Sir Lucian? I have never seen someone with your characteristics before," he inquired, the reason why obvious.

Magical markings like the ones on Lucian are not common, not to mention his glowing red eyes and void black hair, as well as the dark aura he throws off. Having one or two of those things maybe, but all of them. It is only natural that beings would not accept him as natural.

Maintaining the kind smile on his face, Lucian replied, "I'm a demon," as he watched the group of rabbits instantly pale in horror.