(THIS CHAPTER IS A REWRITE)
The silent room was brought to life with clicks of tongues and rustles of clothing. Pressed against the door was a tan-skinned, blood red-haired girl whose eyes were shut and mouth merged with Sévir's, her cheeks were just as red.
Alas, he pulled away gasping for air. He turned to the right from the creak of the entrance door. "I'm home!" said a young girl's voice.
"..I think this is enough." said the red-haired. She pulled the door open and peeked her head out, her gaze meeting the silver-haired girl.
"Welcome back, Zephyr." Sévir appeared from behind, Zephyr raised a brow, both curious and knowing of what just happened.
"You guys were.. Kissing?" curiosity loomed within her voice.
Sévir nodded, his composure still intact. "We still have some things to do tomorrow, so I replenished her mana the fastest way we know of."
The red-haired turned to him, pouting. "Excuses, you just did that because you finally saw my charm, right?" her tone was filled with cockiness.
Sévir rolled his eyes. "Keep dreaming, Sanguinex." he walked over to Zephyr, frowning as he stopped right in front of her. "You.. You reek of the south, you roamed around the Southern Districts, didn't you?"
Zephyr turned wide-eyed, freezing in the spot as if she committed a sin. "W-What? How did you figure it out?" her curiosity got the best of her attempt to deny.
"You don't need to know. Sanguine, can you confirm?"
Sanguinex walked closer, sniffing Zephyr from all sides like a dog, nodding after. "Yup, she reeks of the south."
Zephyr sat down, a sigh escaping from her mouth. "How do you guys know..? It's not like they have one smell, right?
Sévir folded his arms, his gaze piercing. "Never mind that, didn't I tell you not to go to any other districts? South ones to be exact.
She shrieked and recoiled back, his gaze catching her off-guard.
"Listen, they're too dangerous to explore, especially for someone like you," he rubbed his bridge, "we're only living here because this is all we can afford."
Zephyr looked down in disappointment whereas he walked to the door. "Zephyr, do you have an appetite?"
She nodded, only for Sanguinex to pout. "Heyy, am I not here?? You're so heartless!"
Sévir knitted his brows. "It's pointless getting food for someone who barely gets hungry."
"Barely–B A R E L Y, it means I still get hungry!" she puffed and turned away. Much to her surprise however, Sévir left without a single word. "Urgh.. That asshole." she commented with contempt.
A sigh escaped Zephyr's mouth. "Why must you two keep me from roaming the Southern Districts?"
Although caught off-guard by the sudden switch of topics, Sanguinex held Zephyr by the shoulder, a sigh escaping her mouth. "The neighborhoods in these districts have the highest crime rates in the city, Sévir spent a lot of time finding this inn specifically to stay away from criminal activity."
Her gaze shifted to the window. "But it's not like I'm walking around without a single thought, I know I have to avoid something when I have to."
"That's not the point Zeph, even if you avoid those spots there will be more you will cross that seem unassuming and don't trigger your senses." she let go and folded her arms. "Speaking of which, what has Ma'am Demitrius been teaching you?"
Zephyr tapped her chin as she recalled. "Some spells and their formulas, I suppose."
"Until she teaches you how to properly fight, we won't be letting you venture deep in the Southern Districts alone." Sanguinex laid down, staring up at the ceiling. "I say this as your.. Sometimes guard and usually best friend." she chuckled.
The former rolled her eyes and laid down beside her.
A comfortable silence ensued until Zephyr turned to Sanguinex. "Hey Nex."
"What?"
"Tell me how you were created."
The blunt question forced a cough out of Sanguinex as she sat up, her brows knitted. "W-What the hell!? Zeph, ask that to anybody that aren't polymorphs, they'll get weirded out!" she exclaimed.
Zephyr rolled her eyes. "So, will you tell me?"
Sanguinex turned away in thought. "Mm.. I guess I can." she laid back down.
"Hm, how do I start?" she tapped her chin. "Well, I was made by your father through Life Magic, you know well that he's unrivaled in Miscellaneous Magic. It's obvious I'm no normal human," she rested her left hand on her chest, "I'm a human polymorph; my heart is made of stone, it doesn't beat, nor does it emit–it's still and serves only as a reservoir."
"That's–"
"But even so," she balled her fist, "I'm no different from ordinary humans; I breathe, sleep, eat–I just have exceptions." she turned to Zephyr. "Do you understand?"
Zephyr nodded. "Then.. Is what you feel for me, for Brother, real?"
Sanguinex nodded. "Though I never asked for the feelings I have today, it's as if I was hardwired by Sir Zigo."
"Then, if you weren't hardwired.."
Sanguinex stood up from the bed, arching forward. "That's the end of storytime! Sévir might come back any minute now.."
They both turned to the door as it creaked open–Sévir had returned with two bags. "Here you go." he tossed the bag on his right to Zephyr, then the other to the table.
The latter opened the bag, revealing two loaves of bread. Bread again.. Well, I love bread anyways. she gleefully grabbed one and chewed it to her heart's content.
Sévir sat by the table, Sanguinex followed and sat atop, kicking her legs up as she gazed at Sévir.
He pulled out a loaf and gazed her back, a brow raised. "What?"
She frowned. "You really aren't going to feed me, or at least offer some?" he could hear the edge in her voice.
"You aren't hungry, right? You only start getting hungry once a month."
"Still.." she looked down, her lips curving down as well.
A sigh of resignation escaped Sévir's mouth. "Fine." she turned up to him, her mouth slightly opening in surprise until he shoved the bread in her mouth. "Eat."
Although it was a little forced, it left a smile on her face–she too ate with glee.
His gaze landed on the two with intent, then the entire room. I could call this our ordinary life, but I'm not satisfied with it. he tapped Sanguinex on the shoulder, catching her attention. "We have a job tomorrow, so sleep early today."
She nodded. "What kind of job?"
He glanced at Zephyr, who was absorbed in her own world with her bread and book, then back at Sanguinex. "Extermination."
The latter smiled from ear to ear upon hearing that one word. "Ooh, how fun..~" her voice revealed a devious side within.. Whatever "extermination" meant.
"Though, I doubt it will give us enough for the tuition." he slouched back, his voice hinting at hopelessness. He stared down with busy thoughts.
Sanguinex poked his cheek with the bread, catching his attention. "Hey, don't be so down, we're getting close to the needed amount. Plus," she bit off a piece, "I've heard that there's a new S-Difficulty target, Sir Demeter and Ma'am Demitrius might assign us to it."
He looked up, his brows raised. "S-Difficulty..? That's new."
"Exactly. Whoever kills the target will definitely receive a huge amount." she bit off another piece. "So don't lose your wits, Sévir, that's not how I know you."
An S-Difficulty.. I'll have to talk to the old man about it. he stood up and walked to the changing room. "Sanguine, have the bread to yourself–I'm off to the base."