With swift movements, the amused orc got the girl on her feet.
"What is it that you are feeling, little one?"
"I am."
With a big exhale, she looked into his eyes and smiled, a smile so genuine that if she saw it herself she wouldn't believe, it carried all the years' worth of expectations that she would one day be free and live the way she wanted.
"I think I'm happy."
Feng Huang softly chuckled as he unconsciously reached for her head, messing her hair.
"I expected your tears, not a happy smile."
"Oh," she looked away, embarrassed. "I don't wish to be away from my friends, but..."
No words came, even though she focused on the matter, nothing came, like a bucket of ice water she was painfully aware of now.
'I'm free from her.'
This was her world now; she exists now in a world where her mother is nowhere to be found, and oh god, how exciting that was.
"But what?"
The man smiled, watching her expressions change like the tide. He expected the female to be a fine breed because of the ruckus she caused in the city, either way, he had seen countless beauties before, so her physical appearance wasn't much for him to pay attention to, even more so after seeing her resemblance to a foe from the past, but her ways made him stop and watch.
To him, who was already centuries old, the female was like a sight for sore eyes. he observed her in their two encounters: the way she spoke in a calm, collected tone, how easy it was to have a conversation, and the overall politeness she had.
Obviously, all those traits were to be used against her during the time they would spend together. Never in his years had Feng Huang taken initiative to care for a female. The initial plan was to "rescue" her and take her to the palace, but the truth was that he was bored and the trio's insubordination irked him enough to be petty and take away their female to teach them a lesson.
Once inside the rustic house, Liss saw the state of it.
"You don't live here, right?"
The tone was somewhat playful as she walked around inspecting the state of it.
"I do not."
He answered while opening the windows, made of wood as well.
"I don't even know if we should stay here when it is in this precarious state."
The alien was already ready to clean, the house in question was totally different from the trio's. But it was strangely similar to an Earth cabin, except for glass windows that were made of wood, making the house completely dark when closed.
"If you show me where the tools to clean are, I will take care of it."
At the trio's house, they had a straw broom, so she expected to find one in this house too, but found none.
"You know how to?"
"Of course, I used to take care of my own house."
She proudly said while searching for something to clean, without a single word. Feng Huang spread his wings and, with great strength, flapped them, making a strong wind blow the dust around violently and Liss tumble down.
"Hahahaha, you're so weak."
Feng Huang mocked the alien on the ground, coughing and rubbing her eyes. Feng Huang was used to his words aggravating people, and was expecting her to snap at him. The laughter that echoed instead surprised him.
"Hahahaha, a warning, please."
Shaking her head, she got up from the floor with a smile and puffy eyes as a result of all the dust flying.
"Now it's harder to clean. I thought all males knew how to clean."
Feng Huang was truly shocked. Up to that point, all she did was act the exact opposite of what he expected, and as a result, he got mad at her nonchalance.
"Why are you laughing?"
He spoke with an annoyed tone, towering over her.
"I made you fall and look ugly with those puffy eyes and a runny nose."
Liss looked up, confused and holding back a sneeze.
"Huh?"
Was all she could say before being snatched up by her armpits again and, in a flash, out of the house.
As soon as they were outside, he let her go without any care, making her fall abruptly in the grass.
"Are you wrong in the head? Do you have no pride?"
It was the first time since she came to this world that someone had treated her so badly. The memory of Feng Huang beating Ishid half dead flashed in front of her eyes, making the situation all the more frightening.
'I can't die now.'
"Have I done something to upset you, Feng Huang?"
"That's why they all take advantage of you! Are you just going to smile and let people do whatever with you?"
Feng Huang had in mind the trio and the ferals that had kidnapped her, but for Liss, that stung deep. She indeed lived all her life overlooking the mistreatment from her mother, ignoring her father leaving, dismissing all the mean words at school.
"It's easy to say when you're a flying snob, huh"
She mumbled to herself, shifting her position to a comfortable sitting one, cleaning her hands on her skirt.
"What did you say?"
"I said that you are biased and unfriendly."
She snapped at him with a wronged expression.
"Who would mistake kindness and goodwill as weakness and stupidity?"
"Watch your words, pebble. I have lived much longer than you and know better."
"So should I walk around spitting venom and ordering others like you?"
Feng Huang got what he was mad about. She was standing up for herself and wasn't trying to amend the situation, but it only enraged him more.
"You know well what I meant, little one. You will be swallowed by the will of others if you continue like this."
Liss hastily got up and kicked Feng Huang shin.
"I HAVE TO SURVIVE!"
Her voice cracked as she yelled, frustrated, with her eyes welling up.
"I am weak, I know nothing of this world and am all alone. What do you expect me to do?!"
She kicked the orc again, who was standing with crossed arms as if she had never even kicked him before. Feng Huang felt no pain from her attack, but her words shut him up.
"And more! What's wrong with wanting to avoid conflict? Can't I enjoy the situation? Do you expect me to be cranky and moody like you?"
Liss didn't actually think of him as moody, but anything goes when there's a point to prove, and now that she wasn't so emotional, she saw no gain in being honest. In all honesty, the girl was just enjoying the situation, in a magical world with handsome men. Maybe she was still in denial, with some hope of returning to her world.
"If who I am displeases you, you can just take me back."
"I understand."
He said dryly before spreading his wings and flying away, leaving her alone.