33 Light and shadow

As soon as Mark climbed out from under the rubble, all those who were diligently helping just a second ago froze right there. Some even started to back up, realizing who they were saving. However, this was not so surprising.

What really got Mark startled a bit was...

"Mark! Darling! What a nightmare!" - the duchess's spirited voice literally drilled into Mark's ears, making him flinch. The next second, a woman attacked him like a hungry predator, patting and examining him from head to toe.

"Are you okay? You're not injured anywhere? Where does it hurt?!" - She demanded, almost tearing a shirt on him. Now it was Mark's turn to step back from that frightening lady. Are all women a bit off today? Was it a moon eclipse or what?

His gaze immediately found a girl standing nearby, and her eyes were somehow very strange too.

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Mark felt his face begin to burn. With one hand he tried to defend himself from the fired-up duchess, and with the other, orc somehow covered himself with those scraps of clothing that barely hung on him.

"Madame! I beg you ... I'm fine." - he whispered sternly and turned, stepping back. He tried not to look towards the girl he saved, even though it was as if his whole body felt her gaze.

But it seems like duchess interpreted his strange behavior the wrong way, assuming that he pulled away because he was actually hurt. This little woman immediately straightened and was about to launch a new attack. Luckily, at that moment, Neils jumped from behind right in-between them.

"Don't worry, madam. It's not the first time that something smashes on him. I bet this punny house wasn't even all that heavy for this behemoth." - The guy said with a smile, winking at a friend. - "Actually you were so slow in getting out, I already thought you fell asleep there."

"You little stinker! Did you do that?" - Seeing this shinning face immediately made Mark flip over. The orc roared, grabbing the teenager by the shirt and lifting him above the ground.

The men around instantly became serious, but they did not even have time to open their mouths as the boy deftly twisted out of the grab and kicked the big guy in the chest. Fliped over his head, Neils skilfully landed on the ground, without even breaking a sweat.

"Why are you blaming me? This house was holding on snots!" - Neils yelled, not paying attention to the agitated situation around them. Those two clearly didn't feel that the people around them were not perceiving their interaction as friendly banter.

"What if the children were hurt? What if I didn't have time to run up to this woman?" - Mark continued to growl, completely not listening to the teenager. Now that he was out of peril, Mark's emotions also started to take over. Just thinking of the possibility of what could have happened to her if he was just a bit late...

"It wasn't me! I was on the roof when this barn began to crumble in!" - Neils barked back, also not ready to give up. The boy started to boil anew, somehow warding a feel of shame with anger. He really didn't do anything to cause this destruction after they parted. But there was still something gnawing at him from the inside.

They stared at each other so intensely that it felt like sparkes will burst around any moment.

Mark was always calm and collected one. Even before he became a Stone beast. Maybe because he always was aware of this monster living inside him. It was one of the reasons why he chooses this unfeeling existence back them. Because he lost control, and because he was about to succumb to his wild nature. The thought that it is happening again to him clearly was somewhere at the back of his mind right now. But at this moment he really wanted to crack this boy's neck so much that his palms were itching.

Mark had already opened his mouth to fire back something, as Lady Davenport squeezed between them very effectively, forcing them apart by her voluminous dress.

"Boys! Now, stop quarreling. You can't solve anything by swearing!" She clapped her hands, breaking the tension between them. It was kind of funny how this small and petite woman could stare down two trained warriors, one of which was actually two times bigger than her.

"I'm sorry, sir Mark." - Lady Philemon said, coming closer to the orc. Without stopping she took a colossal hand of this big guy in hers and looked directly in his eyes.

"The real fault lies with me." - She added smiling softly. - "I really did not expect the building to be in such poor condition. You were right."

Her stern face clearly showed regret and embarrassment, but it was difficult to hide sparks of curiosity igniting her eyes. The old woman fumbled a bit in her pocket and took out an elegant lace handkerchief. Even though Lady Philimone was a head taller then duchess she still was forced to stand on the tiptoes to reached out and began to wipe the dirt from Mark's face.

Mark frowned and barely restrained himself so as not to move away. It immediately became clear to him that this was not just a good deed. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed how the faces of people standing nearby from the guarded ones began to slowly change to confusion and surprise. The mistress of this orphanage was clearly trying to show everyone here that she is not only unafraid of this orc but also treats him as an equal.

"Ms. Philimone, I don't think that your handkerchief can be of any help in this disaster." - Mark said quietly succumbing to this charade. He again hunched over, going back to his usual self. Lady Philimone frowned seeing as everything, his expression, and stature gradually changed making him appear as a normal not so smart wild orc.

She looked very puzzled for a second, then sighed as if coming to a term with something and nodded her head.

This woman had a wast experience with all kinds of kids not for nothing. She immediately understood that Mark's words also had a second meaning to it and no matter how much she wanted to make it clear to those around her that her guests are not to be afraid of, one small piece of cloth won't be able to do the trick, when the man himself was not ready for it.

"You are right, Mark. Come on, I will show you where you can put yourself in order and change in some fresh clothes." - She said, turning around and stumbling upon Agatha's eyes, which all this time were glued to the orc as if spellbound. Philimone stopped, noticing this, and for a moment her face became a bit brighter. The corners of her mouth, which was always turned downward, crept a bit up in a foxy smirk.

"Darling, let's go, we should also check you for any injuries and tidy up a bit," - Lady of the orphanage drawled in a sweet voice, which made the girl startled. The old woman proceeded to grab Agatha by the elbow, not leaving her any means to retreat and marched forward, exchanging conspiratory glances with the duchess on the way.

Agatha was so shocked by everything going around her that she only came to herself when there were already by the entrance of the main building. It was not the first time in her life that she felt like a rag being swept away by the wind back and force. This time though this feeling was actually not that bad. Why was it?

Agatha suddenly felt goosebumps as she noticed how HIS huge shadow fell all over her feet on the ground, merging with hers. She sucked in a breath but kept the pace. Somehow this image before her eyes made her feel secure and warm. Why was she so strange?

Mark, on the other hand, watched the girl in front, and with each step, his gaze grew darker. For some reason now it seemed so clear to him that he would never be able to be as close to her as under the rubble. He deserves only this much, sneakily glance at her back and pray so as not to lose sight of her lightening up his world.