6-Ingrained Turmoil

  -Interim, 6/a- Starts Early Morning next day.

  I laid on the couch, hesitant to disrupt the newfound tranquility. My mind, unburdened for the first time in ages, found solace in the warmth enveloping me. There was no urge to move, no worries to trouble my thoughts. The comforting embrace surpassed the coziness of my normal slumber. Though the armrest caused a slight discomfort, it was bearable with the aid of a small pillow. A strange fabric covered my face, its pleasant scent foreign to my usual sleeping environment. Could this be a dream? Doubts lingered, but I chose to embrace the serenity, pulling the warmth closer. My right hand explored the soft, well-cared-for surface, its comforting warmth seeping into my senses. It felt almost human, like a plush toy wrapped in fur. The mysteries of the mind never ceased to amaze; this must surely be her doing, a peculiar form of respite from yesterday. I awaited her inevitable trick to dispel this illusion and jolt me back to the harshness of the waking world... Meanwhile, my left hand found itself nestled between the cushions of the couch, encountering a handful of fluff or perhaps strands of hair. Though it possessed a substantial core, the sensation of running my fingers across it was undeniably pleasurable.

  The entire mass shifted, and I felt a few sharp objects gracefully trace a scar on my back, while another was precariously close, tucked inside my pants line and twitching. Sensation spread around one of my legs, like a slow vice-grip tightening. I blinked open my eyes, assessing the situation. A deep, mesmerizing blue eye met mine wearily. It was Valia... Her head rested just below mine, nestled between my shoulder and raised head.

  “mmmm… five more minutes…” she whimpered, drawing me closer and closing her eyes. Maybe this was actually a nightmare... No, the memories of last night came flooding back. The thermal blanket enveloped us entirely from head to toe, but there was something else partially covering my face. Carefully, I moved my hand from her back and removed the fabric from my face. I usually wore shorts to regulate my body temperature at night, but I couldn't recall taking my shirt off. “Hey… Slide down a bit more…”

  Unsure how to respond, I complied, and she did the same. She ended up shifting me onto my back and was now fully lying on top of me, her arms wrapped around my chest and her hands resting on my shoulders to keep warm. She wasn't as heavy as Zylas, but definitely denser than the average person. A low rumble of contentment escaped her, and I blinked in disbelief. This was not a situation I ever imagined being in, and I couldn't think of a way to escape. I think she noticed my unease, as she opened her eyes ever so slightly.

  “Mmm… Hearts going faster… I guess I can wake up…” she grumbled, tensing up and stretching. It finally clicked for me—that was her shirt.

  "W-Why the hell are you…" I stammered, feeling flustered and unable to tear my dancing gaze away from her. She let out a rather large yawn as she fully sat up, stretching and leaving nothing to the imagination as the thermal blanket was pushed aside. The morning light streamed through the windows, reluctantly illuminating the scene before me. Every fiber of my being screamed this was a hard pass… Or at least, that's what I wanted to think.

  “I was really hoping we could continue where we left off last night… But you’re way too comfortable.” She spoke, leaning back over to me and placing her head onto my chest, tail sticking in the air. It wasn’t until then I noticed my shirt was pushed almost all the way up, as she brushed against it. I quickly scooted back and sat up and looked her over; she was completely naked. It was hard to distinguish fur from clothing in my mind, but the pants on the floor next to us guaranteed my thought. “Mmm… No fun… I just got comfy is all, and you’re such a good warm body… No wonder Zylas was out for so long. I could sleep with you every night.”

  “Why- I... Just… Get dressed.” I stammered, my brain a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts as Valia sat up, smirking next to me. She definitely wanted to get closer, but it felt like she had pushed enough boundaries for now.

  “Oh I will, it’s way too cold in here. Just look—” Valia said playfully, but I quickly turned away.

  “Nope, no thanks I’m good I’m going to uh, shower.” I said hastily, standing up and heading directly to the bathroom. I could hear her laughter as a small thump came from the other room. Realizing I had showered last night, I elected to just clean up the bathroom until her rustling was done.

  “Alright Daegon, you’re safe I swear.” Valia's reassuring words echoed through the household. Carefully, I emerged, bracing for the worst. To my relief, she was fully clothed, wearing a baggy hoodie. “You have anything planned today?”

  My stomach growled, there was definitely one thing on my mind. “Food, then I’m free for the day.”

  “Oh? Food? I know a little spot we could sneak into.” Valia suggested, her eyes fixed on mine, searching for any sign of agreement. I didn’t know of any place that served… Wait.

  “Can you… Transform…?” I asked pondering. From the first time I saw her, and every time since, she always looked the same.

  “I can transform into your-… Aah, no. I can’t. Special gift from my father.” Valia began, a bit suggestively, before switching to a more light-hearted tone. “But I do know of a place we both can go, I swear!”

  -Chapter start: August 4th, 6:30am

  Navigating through twists and turns, down many alleys and back-roads, we found ourselves walking in the daylight, passing others who were simply enjoying their time. The route we took was peculiar and didn't attract much attention, despite delving deeper into the bastion. Even more surprising was the lack of interest from those who did notice us. While most glanced over, they didn't seem to care.

  “See? Nobody minds at all, so long as I’m with you.” Valia said, hugging my arm closely and humming softly. She was much too close, but after last night, it felt a bit beyond me to wave her off. If you had told me a month ago that I’d be walking with a questionable, overly friendly supernatural being wrapped around my arm, I’d have assumed you were on drugs and walked away. Valia squeezed my arm tighter than I liked, causing me to flinch. She quickly let go, noticing my discomfort. “Oh sorry! Sorry… Why are you so bruised up by the way...? Even your body has some wicked scars.”

  I hesitated, glancing at the group of people on the other side of the street who seemed to be staring a bit but otherwise didn’t mind our presence. Eventually, I decided to share, taking off my jacket and lifting up my shirt to reveal the specific marks. "That one was from a window; I broke a bone here. Falling from that window caused these marks, this was Zylas, this entire side was also Zylas, and that was from a wendigo. I can’t believe I got away from it…"

  “Wait wait wait, Zylas did that?” Valia exclaimed, carefully touching the massive bruised area covering my left side. The worst of it was fading, but the discoloration lingered. She turned me slightly, her hand now covering the continued bruise on my back.

  “Oh, yeah. First interaction with her. Anyways from there, I think I still got some claw marks above it from the wendigo. And a lot of others I’ve honestly forgotten about, harder to keep track of the ones on my back...” I explained, feeling her hand tracing various little marks before she quickly pulled my shirt back down as I turned back around.

  “You’re a mess…” Valia said quietly, her tone almost bashful.

  “It’s not a big deal, just comes with the job… Well, my old one.” I replied, slipping my jacket back on. She seemed momentarily stunned, examining it before quickly lifting my shirt again, as if to confirm something.

  “This jacket looks like it’s barely holding together… This is your travel one?” Valia asked, her tone ‘matter-of-fact’ rather than questioning.

  “Yeah, I patch it up every now and then. It’s cheaper than buying a new one.” I explained as I resumed walking. It was true; this once nice leather jacket had been with me for years. Without it, who knows how many pieces of glass or other sharp objects would have found their way across my skin, not to mention the cold or windy days outside. The thing was definitely tattered, but through some minor leatherwork and patching, the inside was completely solid and ready for winter. There was probably enough material for two jackets, but the extra weight never bothered me.

  We walked for another ten or so minutes, engaging in some small talk. Valia explained that her parents were indeed a human and a werewolf. It's quite remarkable, I thought, the level of confidence and determination it must have taken for a man to win over a werewolf. She mentioned that her mother was almost always in her full form, slightly larger than Zylas, while her father, a man from outside the walls, tended to keep to himself and didn't speak much. Although he used to live within the walls, he eventually chose to embrace the harsh landscape outside. Despite her mostly solitary early life, Valia seemed to have formed numerous connections with various beings and humans alike.

  “That’s why I moved in under Zylas, it feels a lot more at home out there… Oh, hey, we’re here.” Valia ended, pointing towards a rather large, seemingly devoid brick building. It was a bit odd, as there were quite a few places around it that were active, but it seemed to be unrenovated and boarded up. She pulled me to the back of it where you could walk down to a basement-level entrance. A few knocks, and the door quietly opened.

  “Should I uh... Prepare myself for anything?” I asked a bit nervously. Valia paused for a moment before giving a smirk.

  “You survived Zylas and a Wendigo, and slept with a naked werewolf… I think you’ll be fine in a Haven.” Valia stated as her voice trailed off into the building.

  ”Wqs! X pljkcwd z mqhgjnql zczxm, dwxy jmq xy nxmq dwjkcw yj mj vkmms pkyxmqyy!”

  The inside resembled one of those old club rooms, with a massive open area for people to mingle and numerous small rooms surrounding it, each with small tables for sitting or eating…

  “And what’s your name darling.” A sultry voice caught me off guard, emanating from my left. Before me stood a figure with a distinctly male upper body, leading into a massive snake tail. Glancing back up, I noticed their hair was tied back in a ponytail, and a mask covered their eyes. “Oh come closer let me get a good look at you. You’re a friend of Valia’s I won’t bite too hard.”

  “Daegon, and… Yeah, sure…” I replied, feeling quite thrown off by the encounter. This was... a Gorgon? I had been introduced to a couple of them a few days after the Zylas incident, when I finally regained consciousness. That's when I got a crash course in the supernatural thanks to Lord. It turned out that many of them had a knack for medicine and healing, and their gaze had numerous medical benefits when applied carefully. I wasn’t so surprised by the being before me, which I think made its intrigue grow even more. Since Gorgons limited their eyesight, their other senses were heightened, making them particularly perceptive. Plus, they could apparently detect heat sources even with their eyes closed. I approached and held out my hand, palm side up.

  “Ooh, you are such a gentleman. It’s rare for one such as you to meet a gorgon before. You can call me Ronnie, that’s what the lot have named me.” Ronnie spoke warmly as he clasped his hands around mine, pausing for a moment to feel my pulse. “Come now, you’re good with me but we got to get you introduced to the others.”

  He led me across the floor to a table where two other individuals were seated. Surprisingly, they looked human. One was a younger male, probably in his twenties, and the other was a rather shy girl roughly the same age. We went around to a few others as Ronnie introduced me to them, though most after the first two were obviously supernatural. I felt my social battery draining after the third group introduction before Valia stopped by.

  “Oh look at you, getting warm with Ronnie. Here I thought you’d be petrified with fear!” Valia quipped with a playful grin and laugh. Ronnie joined in with a light-hearted chuckle as he slithered next to her.

  “You’ve always had a bite to you. Had a howling good time with the others as always? Oh, I should go check on our other guests. I’ll leave you and the new chew toy alone.” Ronnie spoke teasingly before quickly making his exit. Valia chuckled and avoided looking directly at me until he was out of earshot.

  “Hey Daegon, come on back for a minute. I got someone who wants to meet you.” Valia said, gesturing toward a room to the right. My stomach rumbled, but I decided to go along with it. As we passed by a bar, she reached over and grabbed two glass bottles of a blue liquid. I hadn't noticed before, but she was now dressed in much more comfortable attire. I felt a bit embarrassed for paying such close attention, as her clothes slightly revealed her stomach.…

  “This should hold you over, we’ll eat after I introduce ya.” she assured me, handing me one of the bottles.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Who wants to talk with me?” I asked, popping the cap off the bottle and taking a sip. It didn't have much of a smell, but it tasted like grapes. There was a moment of silence as we walked toward a back room with a slightly larger-than-normal door. Valia paused in front of the door, seeming a bit on edge, but I couldn't tell why.

  “Do you think you could… Maybe act like… N-nevermind it wouldn’t be believable… Just be honest with him.” Valia said regaining her composure, running a hand over her face pushing her hair back. She gave me a rather confident smile, before wrapping an arm around me and opening the door. She was normally hands on, but this was definitely forced. “Hey there Dio, I brought the newbie!”

  “So you did.” A rather stern voice boomed from the room. It was a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of the party we had just left, almost resembling an executive office. A tall man sat behind a formidable desk, engrossed in reading several documents. Despite my efforts, I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze fully. Being in his presence felt like stepping into the heart of a lion’s den, and it was clear that this was his domain.

  “Tell me Daegon, what gives you meaning?”

  He straightened a stack of documents before laying them down on his desk, and as the door slowly closed behind us, Valia and I took seats next to each other. She edged her chair closer, but I found it difficult to look directly at him, as if his presence commanded reverence. Glancing at Valia, I noticed she didn't seem to share my struggle, although she appeared somewhat nervous. Steeling myself, I forced my full attention forward.

  “Holy shit.” were about the only words I could muster as I took in the imposing figure before me. Disregarding the nearly foot of height difference between us in his favor, there was an undeniable air of authority about him that demanded respect. He appeared to be in his early sixties, yet there was a vitality to him that defied his age; one would swear he wasn't a day over forty. His long hair and beard blazed a deep red, contrasting sharply with his well-fitted deep blue suit, which hugged his muscular frame. Adorned with bronze and gold rings, each inscribed with foreign words, he exuded an aura of power. His gray eyes bore into mine with a powerful intensity, as if locking onto its prey.

  “Well, definitely not the worst response I’ve ever received.” he remarked with a slight huff before returning his attention to the documents before him. “You have a spine, and you’re not willing to back down so easily. Your external demeanor hides your internal resolve rather well.”

  “I’ve had some experiences…” I replied nervously, feeling my leg tremble slightly. A reassuring touch from Valia, her hand resting briefly on my leg as she leaned forward, helped steady my nerves. With a hidden smile, she began to toy with the Newton’s Cradle on his desk.

  “Indeed, you have. Tell me Daegon, what are your intentions with young Valia here?” He inquired, shifting his gaze to another document. I faltered, unsure of how to interpret the question. Valia leaned back with a nervous laugh of her own, withdrawing her hand from my leg.

  “Oh, Daegon doesn’t have any intentions. He’s li—” She was interrupted by Dio straightening his papers once again and placing them down, his gaze fixed on her before turning to me.

  “Everyone has intentions. If not for Valia, then maybe with those here? Are you after someone in particular? Perhaps the establishment as a whole?” Dio asserted with a commanding tone. There was no humor in his voice, and I sensed that this wouldn't end well if I didn't have a valid response.

  “I, uh… Tagged along for some food…” I stated awkwardly, glancing away and back as my stomach rumbled. He seemed taken aback by such an unexpected answer. “V-Valia and I are friends, and she sort of ate a lot of my food last night. So, she said she’d treat me to breakfast…”

  “Daegon you little-!” Valia said in a flustered tone before a deep-hearted laugh ruptured forth from Dio.

  “Another soul who’s a bit too honest for this world, like you Valia… Go then, you’re welcome any time Daegon. But I will be watching you.” Dio declared, regaining his composure and serious tone. He extended his hand for a handshake, his hand dwarfing mine. As I shook his hand, I couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't as human as he appeared.

  We returned to the club’s floor and Ronnie kindly placed an order for us as we settled away from the main thoroughfare. The background music was soft and soothing, almost entrancing. Apparently, this establishment was called "Dionysus' Haven," one of the first places in Eerie's Respite where both supernatural beings and humans could mingle freely. It was a hotspot for young folks from both worlds, often invited by word of mouth. While open to everyone, it seemed that older individuals harbored grudges or approached the space with more contractual arrangements in mind. That said: Ronnie, Dio, and a few others took it upon themselves to handle any troublemakers, maintaining the venue as a safer spot compared to others. It also served as a hub for various transactions. Nevertheless, at its core, it remained a nightclub, providing entertainment and socializing opportunities. Valia mentioned that she had lived here as a resident for quite some time after leaving her home. She had encountered Dio under mysterious circumstances, and they had offered her a job and a place to stay. The increased activity compared to her earlier memories didn't necessarily bother her; if anything, it added more vibrancy to the place.

  “I wonder if Jaskrim would like this place…” I mused quietly, spearing my fork into the runny eggs, their golden yolks oozing out slowly. Valia perked up at my words, busy with her own generous portion of food.

  “A friend of yours?” she inquired, her gaze shifting over to me with interest. I realized I hadn't shared much about my life with her, or anyone for that matter besides Luna… But then again, there wasn't much to tell.

  “Yeah, a co-worker for the delivery service. He’s a really friendly… Armored… Bear…?” I hesitated, trying to find the right words to describe him. “He's about twice my size and quite intimidating, but he's saved my life on the job more than once. Plus, he's a huge foodie. Thankfully, he doesn't mind that I'm human, which has made this whole... transition... learning experience a lot easier. I think he mentioned having a family, but it was just in passing, so I'm not entirely sure...” I explained, juggling my descriptions while keeping up with my meal. The toast offered a satisfying crunch to my hastily made sandwich of runny eggs and ham.

  “Mmm… He probably couldn’t just walk up to this place without drawing too much attention... I could probably work something out if I meet him before-hand though… Since this entire place works on trustworthy referrals.” Valia remarked, her words flowing between quick mouthfuls of food at an impressive pace. It made sense, considering the delicate balance of humans and other beings that frequented this place.

  “Glad to know you trust me…” I murmured aloud, my voice trailing off as I took bites of my meal. Valia paused abruptly, fixing me with a sharp glare that caught me off guard. “I mean, uh, of course you would I just uh… Not that I’ve earned it, I just…”

  “Yeah yeah I get it… I’m not exactly the shining appearance of quality myself.” Valia spoke with a hint of resentment. Memories of my encounters with Zylas flashed across my mind, and I instinctively recoiled inwardly. Letting out a low sigh, I glanced around to ensure we were alone.

  “I… I’m going to be honest with you...” I began, the weight of my emotions making it difficult to articulate my thoughts. Valia turned her full attention towards me, her gaze holding more significance than my words warranted. “For most of my life, until a little over a month ago… I’ve almost exclusively had life or death situations with your-… No, with the supernatural... I-..”

  “I know, Luna told me a bit…” Valia interjected softly, setting her fork down and wearing a somber expression. “She told me a little bit about what happened between you and Zylas, and that talk you two had. She’s a very emotionally driven being, and has a knack for... I don’t know how to explain it, but she senses things a lot differently about others. Even when I’m kind of a bitch, she’d still make sure I was alright. Fucker hit me with a cast-iron donkey, then came apologizing with gifts to make sure I was alright. So how she talked about you… Well, I felt I’d try to be a little helpful.”

  It was a lot to process, Valia's gentle acknowledgment reaching deeper than I had intended. I glanced at my hand again, finding no contract. There hadn't been one for days. While I didn't know the details of Valia's contract, if she meant harm, she had plenty of opportunities to act on it by now. Valia seemed to want to say more, but was at a loss for words and returned to eating slowly. Her intentions were genuine, yet something within me resisted fully accepting them. They weren't sugar-coated words; they were simply sincere. It felt like I was grappling with my own instincts, much like in my conversations with Zylas or even L… or even…

  “Thanks, Valia… You are helping.” I murmured softly, offering a slight smile. Valia's eyes lit up, and she returned the smile, though she didn't say anything, choosing instead to focus on finishing her meal with gusto. I couldn't ignore my survival instincts, but I also couldn't let them stifle my ability to grow. Pausing, I reflected on all my interactions with Valia.

  “I, think I actually owe ya one.” I admitted, contemplating the depth of her support.

  “Oh? Well, why not let me crash whenever then?” Valia said, in a scarily quick response.

  “I-uh…” I faltered, unsure how to respond to her sudden proposition, feeling a surge of unease mingling with my thoughts. Now, alongside the turmoil within me, red flags began to wave, signaling caution in my mind.

  Valia's earnest attempt to negotiate a fair exchange caught me off guard. She presented her case with sincerity, listing the benefits she believed she could offer in exchange for a place to stay. Despite my initial inclination to refuse, a part of me wavered, unsure of the reason behind my sudden acquiescence.

  “Look at it this way. You’re warm, I’m soft, cute, and cuddly. You make good food, I’ll provide you with as much information as you need, or find it out for you. Your house is reasonably close to a lot of places I used to frequent… And… I’ll bring you food to cook...? I’ll, uh, help liven up the place too.” Valia proposed, her enthusiasm waning as she sensed my hesitation. She genuinely seemed to be putting effort into making this arrangement seem appealing.

  I rubbed my temples, grappling with conflicting thoughts. Eventually, against my better judgment, I found myself agreeing, albeit with conditions.

  “I’ll agree… But I hold the right to call it off if it’s too much. You, this, I- I shouldn’t be agreeing to this. Every part of me says no, but I’ll give it a chance. Just, give me space when I need it alright?” I conceded, my hand covering half my face as I looked at Valia. Her expression shifted from anticipation to utter bewilderment, clearly not expecting my astonishing amenability. If I weren’t so perplexed by my own words, I might have found her reaction amusing.

  “I guess, we should… Get a Contract in order?” Valia suggested tentatively, delicately broaching the subject. “Small, small Contract. Not Infernal. So, you’re aware if I want to intend to break it or end it at any time. No life-staking stuff. It’s called a Shrieker, or a Shrieking Contract. It’ll inform you at any time I intend to break it.”

  Valia and I returned to Dio's office to formalize the agreement we had reached. Dio proposed a more balanced contract that would benefit both of us, although he admitted it didn't have a specific name. The contract manifested as an intricate and beautiful pink tree tattooed on my forearm, while Valia received a similar pattern on her fur in the corresponding location. Unlike the Shrieker, this contract allowed us to designate specific locations and would notify us if either of us breached those boundaries. Additionally, it enabled us to send warm sensations to each other as a form of long-distance communication. If either of us violated the terms, the leaves of the tree would begin to fall and wither. Despite the complexity of the contract, Dio assured us it was a common practice and proceeded to enact it, a process that took nearly half an hour.

  “It’s quite beautiful though.” I remarked as I admired the intricate design on my forearm. Valia examined her contract, placing a hand on it, causing a soft, warm glow to emanate from mine. Reciprocating the gesture, I observed the same warm glow radiating from her.

  With a smile, I slid my sleeve back down, feeling a sense of connection and assurance. Valia then placed her hand on the doorway leading out of Dio's office, and for a brief moment, it seemed to shudder. She closed her eyes, focusing intently.

  “What are you doing?” I inquired, intrigued by Valia's actions, which reminded me how Jaskrim and I use the Traveler's runes.

  “Well, this door is a gateway, and it can link to others. If Zylas and Ainai set things up properly, we’ll be able to walk through to The Den… You have to clearly picture the other gateway, and it generally takes an answer from the other side. So, in stressful situations your thoughts could open a door elsewhere, and it could get pretty ugly if you cross into somethings domain that way.” Valia explained, her eyes remaining closed. The shuttering of the gateway ceased, and the door slowly opened. A cold chill ran down my spine, reminding me of yesterday's mishap. Was that what happened? A second wave of anxiety washed over me as I realized where Valia was heading. Plus, another being similar to Zylas helped build such a thing?

  “Oh, hey Val-… Daegon…” A very familiar voice interrupted, emanating from a rather large werewolf-like individual. My heart rate skyrocketed; the werewolf looked uncannily similar to Zylas, albeit smaller. Her fur pattern was a dark bronze, unlike Zylas' reddish hue, but the resemblance was striking. Just as dread threatened to consume me, a warm, calming sensation emanated from my arm, grounding me in the present. Valia didn't look my way but subtly crossed her arms before addressing the werewolf.

  “Oh, Carna. Yeah it’s just us. Got that mail delivery Zylas needed. Funny enough, Daegon was the one who was the delivery guy. He’s with me anyways so it should be fine if he visits.” Valia said casually, producing the blue envelope and waving it gently. Carna sighed lightly and stepped aside to allow Valia to enter. I hesitated, conflicted. I no longer had the contract with Zylas, so would-

  "C'mon, Daegon, you're basically one of us at this point. If Ainai and Zylas vouch for you, nobody would dare make a move, even if you're human.” Carna said nodding for me to get in, slowly shrinking in size. I honestly expected her to chime in, but nothing… As I crossed the threshold, it felt as though Carna took a deep breath, closing the door behind me. Who was this Ainai, and why were they vouching for me? Slowly, Carna shifted back to her human form, her tattered clothes hanging off her body. The look she shot Valia was a mix of agitation and confusion. Carna growled at Valia in a peculiar manner.

  “Sjkl ynqrr xy zrr jfql wxn, txt sjk dhj yrqqb djcqdwql zrlqzts? X zn njlq gklxjky zy dj dwq WJH dwzm dwq hws, wjmqydrs. Hq zlq blzgdxgzrrs wxy bwjpxz zd dwxy bjxmd.”

  Valia let out a rather nervous laugh and turned to face us, as I looked back between her and Carna. I couldn’t make out a word, or have virtually any -focus- I felt my entire body recenter its gravity as my eyes shifted.

  Carna’s aura emanated a refreshing light red, strong and commanding. Valia's aura, in contrast, was a calm and quiet blue, nearly equal in size to Carna’s red. Valia was about to speak, but her words caught in her throat as she noticed my eyes switching. I turned my gaze back to Carna, who took a step back, clearly analyzing the situation.

  “SO WAIT, he’s not human?” Carna exclaimed loudly… In, her native tongue… Did I just lip-read a language I don’t normally understand?

  “Yeah, I wanted to ask him myself but it hasn’t felt like the right time.” Valia responded in the same language, her tone thoughtful. “I’m not sure he has full control over whatever that is yet, but at least it looks hot.”

  “Valia I don’t think-… Ugh, you’re both more of a headache than I need right now. I’ll go inform everyone that Daegon’s around again. Zylas will want to see you, Valia.” Carna said, rubbing her head before turning to leave. She glanced back at me, a small smile playing at her lips. “Glad you’re giving us a second chance, Daegon.”