Arriving at the armory, I was taken aback by an unexpected sight. The once unremarkable iron door had transformed, replaced by a sleek, sliding steel entrance fitted with a state-of-the-art face recognition camera. As I approached, the door seemed to respond to my presence, smoothly sliding open with a faint hum.
Leaning casually against the door was Sam, the young individual I had taken under my wing. Her brown eyes met mine, and she flashed a friendly grin as she went about removing her equipment. Sporting red shorts and a white t-shirt, her shirt proudly displayed the words "One Man Army" in a military-style font, reminiscent of the iconic Uncle Sam recruitment posters from the United States.
Turning her attention towards me, Sam's playful voice broke the silence, "Hey there, big brother. "Is Venidith okay?"
I nodded and gave her a reassuring smile, "Yes, Venidith's in good condition now." With a purposeful step, I entered the armory, my eyes scanning the array of equipment. "You executed the mission brilliantly, by the way."
I loosened the straps of my vest, allowing it to slide off, revealing the true extent of the damage inflicted by the imposter demon. My hoodie had been reduced to tatters, and my lower abdomen bore the scars that traversed from my thighs down to my right chest.
"It's worse than I anticipated," I commented, releasing the vest to the ground.
Curiosity gnawed at me as I considered this strange occurrence. How had my vest managed to endure while my hoodie had been utterly ravaged? My gaze shifted to my own body, and a realization struck me – Juliette's healing had prevented me from teetering on the edge of death.
"That's weird, big brother," Sam observed, her eyes narrowing as she examined my vest closely. "Why do those closed eyelids appear on your vest?"
My eyebrows furrowed as I focused on the enigmatic vest. As I scrutinized it, the dominating black hue drew my attention. While it appeared to be an ordinary vest at first glance, closer inspection unveiled something out of the ordinary. In the center of the vest, meticulously embroidered, were a pair of closed eyelids. Could this be a consequence of Juliette's blessing?
To my astonishment, the eyelids on the vest began to twitch and shift. "Who has disturbed my slumber?" a voice reverberated from within the fabric.
"What on earth!" I exclaimed, thoroughly taken aback. "Who are you?"
The eyelids snapped open abruptly, revealing a pair of eyes unlike any I had seen before. The sclera was an immaculate white, while the iris was an intense black, completely devoid of pupils. Intricately woven Japanese Kanji adorned the eyes, creating an aura of mystique. They scanned the surroundings, as if in search of someone. Then, their gaze locked onto me, penetrating into the depths of my soul.
"So, you are the one who has awakened me," it stated in a calm and composed tone. Suddenly, a transformation overcame the creature, causing it to liquify and reshape itself into a humanoid figure. It commenced from the feet, gradually morphing through the legs, abdomen, chest, shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Sam intently jotting down notes in her notebook. Redirecting my attention to the creature...
Now upright on two legs, it had fully metamorphosed into a human form. Its height matched that of Sam, yet its physique was distinctly more robust, exuding an air of physical perfection.
"I have assumed the suitable form of a human," it clarified. "I shall be your protector, for I am a part of you."
"What?" I muttered, grappling to grasp the situation. "So, you're saying you were originally my vest?"
It nodded, confirming my query. "Indeed... that was my form."
"Where did you come from?" I inquired, encircling the humanoid as it mimicked my movements, always maintaining its focus on me. It stumbled slightly on its feet.
"Careful there," Sam interjected, reaching out to steady the humanoid before it could lose its balance.
"Thank you," it acknowledged, still keeping its gaze trained on me.
"Let's head out," I suggested, clasping the humanoid's hands. They felt surprisingly human, yet carried a texture akin to fine steel wool.
"I believe we should join the others," I added, glancing towards the humanoid. Its distinctive Kanji-embellished eyes continued to hold my fascination. Despite its unconventional appearance, with its raven-black hair possessing an enigmatic allure, it bore a resemblance to an ordinary child.
"Sure thing, big bro. Lead the way," Sam chimed in, confidently holding the humanoid's hands.
Sam's embracing nature, unfazed by the fact that the humanoid's hands had once been part of a vest, offered a heartwarming contrast to the often harsh realities of this world. Together, we proceeded down the corridor toward the control room, its appearance more orderly now, a testament to the dedicated maintenance efforts. As we rounded a corner, I couldn't help but notice the fortified door of the control room, now a robust sliding barrier.
"They've really upped the security," I remarked, my gaze fixed on the door ahead.
With a nearly silent hiss, the steel door glided open smoothly, revealing a surprised Gustav, a visibly startled Juliette, and Venidith, who seemed to be savoring a popsicle while lounging in a chair.
"Well, this is... unexpected," Juliette stammered, her voice tinged with apprehension as she cast a wary glance at the humanoid.
"What's with the sudden influx of company?" Gustav grumbled, his yawn signaling a trace of irritation towards the situation.
I looked at the bewildered faces of Gustav and Juliette, realizing that I had introduced yet another unexpected character into our already eventful journey.