"Ahh..." Ren breathes deeply, rubbing his eyes. "It's really tolling to practice control rather than just using it." The weight of precise manipulation is far more exhausting than he anticipated.
But today, his focus isn't on control—it's on healing.
He leans forward on his bed, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze settling on his hands.
I've already tried healing small wounds, fixing cuts and bruises. That was easy. Then I moved on to more severe injuries... He runs a finger over his wrist absentmindedly, remembering the thugs whose bones he cracked and healed with ease. I can even heal broken bones.
But now...
Ren tilts his head, his eyes narrowing as a thought creeps into his mind. "What leaves now is to find out whether I can regrow full limbs or parts." The words come out slowly, like an idea he's savoring for the first time. A small, wicked grin tugs at his lips.
He raises his hand, inspecting his fingers as if considering something daring. But his eyes flicker with uncertainty.
"No, that's a bad idea," he mutters. "Trying it on myself... that's just... painful." His hand drops back to his lap as he leans back, exhaling.
"I should find someone who is disabled and try on them. Yeah... that's a better idea."
Ren stands up from the bed, pacing the room, deep in thought.
"But where would I find someone willing like that?" He rubs his chin. "It's not like I can just step outside and see a disabled guy sitting around." The thought of approaching someone on the street makes him laugh under his breath.
He sits back down, bouncing his leg in a restless rhythm. "Hospitals? No, too risky. They have too many eyes watching. I can't afford to get caught there." His voice is barely audible now, as if he's speaking more to himself than anything else.
"Rehabilitation centers... shelters?" He pauses, tapping his fingers. A memory strikes him like a flash of lightning.
"Oh! I know! That disabled guy who sells them on New Street." He snaps his fingers, grinning. "Yeah, that's the right guy. He's poor, nobody really knows him, and even if he regrows his legs, no one will even notice."
The plan slowly starts falling into place in his mind, each piece sliding in with a satisfying click. Ren's excitement grows. "Okay, now that the target is decided..." he muses,
"... the next thing is to convince him to let me heal him. That's the tricky part."
"It's not like he's just gonna let some random guy experiment on him."
His fingers drum, faster this time, impatient. But then the solution comes to him.
"Well... I can offer him money. Yeah. Money solves everything. If I give him enough, he'll have no reason to say no."
Ren nods, pleased with the idea. "Money is the best when it comes to convincing people." But there's still one more problem to address: how to do it without being seen or recognized.
He stands up again, pacing once more. "I could just wear a mask," he says, thinking aloud. But the thought doesn't sit well with him. "No... it's too obvious. And if anyone saw me, it could raise questions."
His hand rises to his chin as he scratches at the stubble forming there. Then, a different solution dawns on him. A sly grin spreads across his face.
"Or... I could go as Incubi." The thought sends a thrill of excitement through him. If I use my Incubi form, no one would recognize me. Plus, there's a certain... power in that form. It might even help with other fun, if I find one .
He clenches his fists, the anticipation building within him. "Yeah, that works best. I can't risk being exposed," he says, more certain now.
The plan feels solid—almost foolproof.
With his decision made, Ren suddenly stands up, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Tonight might be another breakthrough in my power," he murmurs to himself. His pulse quickens.
"Hoh... can't wait for tonight." The thrill of anticipation surges through his veins, and he feels genuinely exhilarated.
Ren stands, excitement thrumming through his veins as the plan solidifies in his mind. "Now... I just have to wait for nightfall, and then I can go try it." He smiles to himself, already imagining the possibilities. The idea of mastering another layer of his abilities makes the anticipation almost unbearable.
A few moments pass as he paces, and suddenly, another thought crosses his mind. He snaps his fingers, remembering. "Oh, I almost forgot. I bought some good quality material for remaking the outfit for the Incubi." His grin widens. "Let's work on that while I wait."
He walks over to the drawer, the familiar creak of its door sounding as he opens it. From a corner, he pulls out a bundle of fabric he purchased a few days ago.
Dark, thick, and high-quality—the material looks perfect for what he has in mind. "This will do," he mutters, laying it out on his bed.
Sitting down with the fabric spread out before him, he gets to work. His hands move with a mixture of precision and impatience, cutting and stitching the cloth to create the base of his coat.
Time starts slipping by, unnoticed, as he loses himself in the task. The sound of scissors cutting through the fabric and the quiet rustling of the cloth fill the room.
Hours later, as the evening sun begins to dip lower in the sky, Ren sits back and stretches his stiff limbs. The coat is almost finished, its shape now taking form. But he feels the strain of sitting all day creeping into his muscles. He sighs, dropping his hands in his lap. "I'll finish it soon," he mutters to himself, a little tired now.
Leaving the coat on bed, he stands up and exits his room. The quiet of the apartment greets him, along with the faint sound of the TV. Lina is sitting on the sofa, her legs tucked beneath her, watching something on the screen. She glances up as Ren walks by.
"Ren," she says, her voice curious, "what were you doing all day in your room?"
Ren looks at her, his expression casual. "Stuff," he replies, offering nothing more.
Lina stares at him for a moment, clearly expecting more of an explanation, but when she gets none, she shrugs. "Okay," she says, turning her attention back to the TV.
Ren walks into the kitchen and grabs something light to eat. He eats quickly, his mind on his project. The coat.
Once he's finished eating, he returns to his room, closing the door behind him.
Sitting back down at his bed again, he picks up where he left off, the coat now nearly complete. His hands move quickly, fixing the final details, adjusting the collar, ensuring the stitches are tight.
After about an hour of focused work, it's finally done.
Ren stands up, holding the coat in his hands, admiring it. The fabric is dark and sleek, fitting the image of his Incubi form perfectly. He slips it on, feeling the material settle over his shoulders, far more comfortable than his old one.
There's no scratchiness, no irritation—just smooth, high-quality cloth that feels like an extension of him.
He steps in front of the mirror, a smug grin crossing his face as he takes in his reflection. "Huh..." He tilts his head, his gaze running up and down the sleek lines of the new outfit.
"I look cool," he mutters, barely able to hide the satisfaction in his voice. The coat hugs his frame perfectly, giving him an air of power and authority. The dark fabric seems to absorb the light, creating an almost otherworldly aura around him.
The itchiness of the old outfit is gone, and the new one feels like a second skin, flexible and durable. He spins once in front of the mirror, testing how it feels when he moves, and finds it perfect—light enough for agility, but strong enough to give him the presence he desires.
Ren turns away from the mirror and moves to the window, peering outside. The sky is now a deep shade of blue, the first hints of night creeping in. His fingers twitch with anticipation as he pulls the collar of his coat up slightly, feeling the comforting pressure against his neck.
He stands there, in front of the window, fully dressed in his new Incubi outfit, ready for the night.
His dark coat, with its clean lines and sleek texture, looks almost the same as his previous one but with a better finish. No more discomfort, no more scratchy feeling—just smooth, soft material that clings to him with a perfect fit.
He feels more confident, more powerful in it.
Ren takes a deep breath, the weight of the night ahead settling over him.
This is it, he thinks. Tonight will be another breakthrough. His eyes gleam with anticipation, and his reflection in the window stares back at him, a dark figure poised for what's to come.