After that, El turned to look at Seitenshi who was standing still, now looking more relaxed although still looking awkward.
Silence filled the room again, only the sound of the gentle breeze from outside indicating that the night was getting late.
Seitenshi watched curiously as El opened the window, letting in the night breeze, but he chose not to ask. There was something in El's demeanor that made her feel reluctant to intrude.
With mixed feelings, Seitenshi made his way to the bed, now without the sheets that El had previously cleaned.
Her steps were light, but there was still a hint of awkwardness between them. Seitenshi sat down on the bed, feeling the cold, empty surface without the sheets that usually provided comfort.
Seitenshi stared blankly ahead, her eyes focused on the open window, feeling something nagging at the back of his mind, but still not knowing how to ask about it.
While El stood by the window, with a gaze that seemed to go far beyond the room, the atmosphere in the room became quiet.
The silence, though not entirely comfortable, allowed the two to contemplate in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Then, Seitenshi looked back at El, hesitating slightly, before finally speaking again. "Next time, don't be too rough, like in the video recording," she said, voice still shy. "Although I enjoyed it, please be more gentle."
El looked at Seitenshi with a gentle gaze, but behind her eyes were mixed feelings that were hard to hide.
After thinking for a moment, El opened her mouth, his voice calm yet thoughtful. "You're a complicated woman, huh? You hated me before, but now you're inviting me?"
"But, sorry," he said softly, "we won't do that now, tonight. I have to work on something important."
After a moment of silence, El continued in a more serious tone, though there was a hint of warmth in her voice. "We'll do that some other time."
Seitenshi could only listen silently to El's explanation. There was a sense of relief flowing through him, but also a hint of disappointment that he couldn't admit to.
Even so, Seitenshi felt appreciated by the way El spoke and treated him. No words, just a small nod as a sign that he understood.
El stepped slowly towards the bedside table, taking out a syringe filled with a dark red liquid, exuding a mysterious aura.
Without turning around, El placed the injection on the table carefully, then said in a low voice, "I'll leave this here. Later, you'll know what it's for."
After that, he turned around, walking towards the slightly open window. His black trench coat fluttered lightly in the night breeze, giving off a graceful yet intimidating impression.
From where she sat, Seitenshi watched the man with curiosity mixed with confusion.
Curiosity was getting the better of her, especially about who the man really was and the woman with heterochromic irises that accompanied him.
Hesitantly, but bravely, Seitenshi finally asked, "Who exactly are you... and what is your purpose? Do you want to blackmail me with that unseen video?"
El stopped his steps, smiling slightly, as he lifted Yuri onto his shoulders like he was carrying a sack.
Yuri grunted in annoyance at being treated this way, but chose to remain silent, giving space to their conversation.
El turned his head once more towards Seitenshi. Her deep, secretive gaze made Seitenshi's heart beat erratically.
In a calm yet meaningful voice, he replied, "You'll know the answer... after that wakes up."
Without warning, El jumped out of the window, taking Yuri with him. The night wind picked up as their bodies disappeared into the darkness.
Surprised, Seitenshi immediately got up from his seat and ran to the window. He looked down, his eyes searching for El and Yuri. However, they had vanished as if swallowed by the shadows of the night.
There was a strange feeling that came over him, a mixture of relief, curiosity, and a bit of loss. Seitenshi let out a long sigh, trying to calm herself down, then unconsciously, her gaze fell on the ring on the ring finger of her right hand.
Gently, Seitenshi kissed the ring, as if acknowledging the presence of the mysterious man who had just left her.
Realizing her actions, her face turned red. Feelings of annoyance and happiness mixed together, creating a turmoil in her heart that she could hardly comprehend.
Seitenshi bit his lower lip in a small motion, a look of annoyance etched on his face. However, behind it, a faint smile was etched without her realizing it.
"You wicked bastard..." he muttered softly, as if speaking to the night breeze blowing through the window.
Suddenly, Seitenshi's head lowered. As soon as she raised it again, the aura emanating from him changed completely. Her blue eyes, which were usually bright, now looked dull, fading like sparkle-less crystal.
Seitenshi's gentle, yet somewhat serious face turned cold and unreadable, as if the soul that filled her body no longer belonged to the same girl.
With slow but sure steps, she walked towards the table where the injection lay. Along the way, a faint smile graced her face, but it was not a smile of happiness. It was a smile full of sinister silence.
"Marrying yourself, huh?" she muttered in a tone that almost seemed like a mockery of herself.
She let out a long breath before continuing, "Besides, this is all because of Yuri. It wasn't supposed to be like this." Her tone of voice turned annoyed, but remained even, without excessive emotion.
Upon reaching the table, Seitenshi reached for the injection. Her eyes stared at the dark red liquid inside the small tube, as if trying to understand what would happen next.
However, without any hesitation, Seitenshi stuck the syringe into his neck and pressed the plunger until the liquid had fully entered his body. Then threw the syringe on the cupboard.
Only a few seconds passed before excruciating pain engulfed her. Veins began to spring up beneath her skin, creeping up like smoldering tree branches.
Her body trembled violently, and Seitenshi fell to the cold floor. Curled up, she clutched her body, wincing at the pain that seemed to tear every fiber of muscles and bones.
The red liquid spread rapidly, invading every part of his body, rearranging his cell structure and genetics. Her heart beat loudly, like a relentless war drum. It felt like her body was being destroyed from within, only to be rebuilt stronger.
After a moment that felt like an eternity, the pain subsided. The veins that had been protruding under her skin slowly disappeared, vanishing as if they had never existed.
Her body felt different, strong, light, and full of energy that was previously foreign. Breathing heavily, Seitenshi slowly got up from the floor. The body, though drenched in cold sweat, stood up slowly and slightly staggered.
Seitenshi stood hunched over, her loose hair partially covering her face, hiding the change that had just occurred. Slowly, she raised her head and tucked her bangs to the side.
When her eyes finally came into view, the change was evident as her blue irises that had been pale were now drastically altered.
Her pupils sharpened, forming patterns resembling sharp stars. The irises, now a fiery plum red, emitted a cat-eye-like sparkle, as if glowing in the darkness.
However, there was something more than just sparkle: those eyes carried a predatory aura that neither the Cursed Children nor Gastrea possessed, but something more menacing.
A harbinger of a new power, a destiny that would bring destruction or peace or perhaps, a curse on her kin, as it had for the Ubuyashiki family.