Hunter sat in his room, looking out the window as his elbow rested on the windowsill, sitting in complete and utter silence. It had been several weeks since Eda took Hunter in, and everyone was still adjusting to it. It wasn't a bad thing for Hunter, however, a change of pace was a well-needed development for the young half-ling witch. Yet, it was a struggle to get him out of the mindset that he'd been in for 14 years prior when he was still living with Belos. Memories of the past few months filled his head.

So, you return with nothing. Is this the thanks I get for taking you in?

Belos' words filled his head, along with his own.

We have a lot in common, Blight. We're both trying to show what we can bring to the table. And we can't fail, 'cause there's nothing worse than disappointing someone who thinks you're special.

He remembered what he'd stated in months prior.

"Stop."

Since I failed my last mission I thought: "Hey, a chance to make up for it!" But I can't go back empty-handed! Not again.

"Stop-"

Everyone has a use, and if you don't, pfft, bye-bye!!!

"Stop!"

Everyone has a use, Hunter. Kikimora has her intricate little plans, the scouts carry out orders, and you... well, the Titan has big plans for you, and it would be such a hassle to find a replacement.

"I'M NOT USELESS!" he screamed, punching the walls as hard as he could, and as a result, hearing Hooty outside screech, "OW! CAREFUL! HOOT!" Startled, Lil’ Rascal looked over at him, chirping frantically as he ruffled his feathers.

Hunter didn't pay attention to the blood that ran down his arms from the scuffs on his knuckles. He sat on his bed, staring at the ground as drops of blood fell to the ground.

Footsteps could be heard heading upstairs as a soft, yet worried voice called out, “Hunter…? Are you okay…?”

“Oh no…” Hunter mumbled to himself, quiet enough so nobody else could hear.

That voice was the voice of his adopted human sister, Luz Noceda. She’d always been a kind and caring individual, even if she did have a habit of rushing into things without thinking. They’d first met on a bounty trip, a trip he remembered all too well and he despised it, especially now that he’d grown rather fond of the human.

The second encounter allowed for their bond to grow, as she’d shown him kindness time and time again even if he felt as though it wasn’t deserved. And now they were siblings, and even with the occasional scuffle and argument, they’d gotten along well in the past few weeks.

“Hunter?” the voice called out again as it sounded closer this time.

Hunter didn’t answer, nor look in the door’s direction, but he could see Luz standing at the doorway through his peripheral vision, and could feel her eyes burning into the back of his neck.

“Can you please just… go…?” Hunter asked moodily, still avoiding her gaze. Luz looked at him, frowning before she spotted the blood running down his arms and then some cuts on his arm that weren’t bleeding, but still looked rather recent as the skin around them were slightly red and hadn’t formed their scabs yet. Lil’ Rascal looked over at Luz then looked at his master’s arms before motioning to one of the blades Hunter owned.

“Okay, that’s it-” Luz walked downstairs, a few minutes later, heavy, fast footsteps could be heard coming back up, as she stormed into the room, the first aid kit in her hands to Hunter’s surprise.

“What did we tell you about cutting and scratching your wrists?!” she chirped, exasperated.

Hunter remained speechless, still staring at the ground. Luz sat on the ground in front of him as she’d started to clean up the blood and would wrap his knuckles in gauze and bandage his cuts. Hunter couldn’t stand when she did that but knew she meant well.

“You could’ve knocked, you know I need my privacy, Eda even has a rule about it…” he grumbled, to which Luz replied, “I get that you need your alone time to just be alone with your thoughts, HOWEVER, that rule is nonexistent if you’re in here cutting yourself!”

“I’m fine!” Hunter spat, rolling his eyes as he looked down at his little sister, who looked up at him with a concerned look. Luz then stood up, sitting down on his bed right beside him immediately after.

“Hunter, please. I want to help you, I care about you so, so much. But I can’t help if I don’t know what’s wrong,” she uttered sadly, looking at him with empathetic eyes.

Hunter stared at her, frowning, before averting his gaze down towards the floor.

Luz placed a hand on his shoulder as she then mumbled, “...Is it about Belos..?”

He sighed, nodding subtly. At this point, there’d been so many times where he’d had a panic attack or a mental breakdown due to his traumatic past in the Emperor’s Coven working for his uncle, Emperor Belos himself, who’d inflicted most of his emotional, mental, and physical wounds, not counting the cuts Hunter inflicted on himself. It was like second nature for Luz to guess that it was about his past but never made it her job to assume it’s always that and let him tell her if she was correct.

She continued. “...Is it about your self-worth?”

He nodded again, to Luz’s disappointment, but not towards her brother, but towards Belos. It was a shame he’d put him through so much, all of that talk about ‘having a use’ just made Hunter’s self-loathing way worse.

“I thought so…” she sighed, slowly shaking her head. Hunter didn’t look up at her, just stared at the ground. Lil’ Rascal hopped into his line of vision, chirping a few times as the tiny red cardinal palisman flew up to his knee, rubbing up against him comfortingly.

“Hunter… You do know that you’re safe, right? You’re not with Belos anymore, he can’t hurt you anymore,” Luz questioned.

Hunter frowned as he looked at her, his eyes clouded with trauma and grief and fear that his past would come back to, not haunt, but hurt him.

“I… I don’t want to be replaced. I want to be able to help in any way I can… You guys are so nice to me, but I just… I don’t think I deserve it, you helped me when I needed it the most and all I did was trick and deceive. I want to be someone worthy of the kindness you showed me…” he admitted depressingly.

Luz waited a moment, processing everything before she pulled him into a tight and sudden hug, slightly startling her brother, though he didn’t physically respond to it.

“You,” she began, “are absolutely worthy of being shown kindness, no matter what you did in your past. We’ve all forgiven you, Hunter. And we won’t replace you, I couldn’t even think of doing such a thing.”

Hunter waited a moment before tears started rolling down his face as he finally returned the hug, sobbing into her shoulder. Lil’ Rascal made a few chirruping noises as he flew onto Hunter’s head, landing gently as he rested there, chirping and petting his head with his wing.

“I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry…” he cried as Luz would rub his back gently. “What for? There’s nothing to apologize for, Hunter.”

At this point, he’d already apologized millions of times before to the family. At this point, what was he apologizing for? Existing? Nope, at least, that’s what the others kept telling him.

He didn’t have to justify living, apologizing for being made. He wasn’t with Belos anymore. He was cared for. He was forgiven. He was loved, and his new family made sure he knew that.

“Thank you, Luz… for everything,” he sniffled, still hugging his sister close, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Luz smiled warmly. “My pleasure.”

He looked at her as he dried his face, and Luz ruffled his hair with her signature goofy grin. Hunter stuck out his tongue and hissed slightly. “You’re messing up my hair!” he squeaked in agitation, yet there was obvious amusement in his voice as his smile grew wide.

“You know you love my sibling antics,” she giggled. “And besides, I wanted to get you to smile more,” she continued. Hunter rolled his eyes and snickered. “I do,” he admitted. “And I suppose they worked this time.”

Luz smiled before she stood up, grinning slyly as she tapped his shoulder before running out the door, calling out, “TAG, YOU’RE IT!” behind her as she darted down the stairs, and Hunter grinned smugly as he chased after her. “NO FAIR, YOU GOT A HEAD START!” and ran out to chase her, Lil’ Rascal flying ahead, chirping with satisfaction.

Hunter knew he didn’t have to justify living. He wasn’t useless. He wouldn’t be replaced. He was safe now, and it would remain that way from now on.