Denu and Belly arrived at the courtyard of Light's Mansion, both carrying emotions they couldn't name, or perhaps didn't want to.
Maids moved tables from the mansion into the reuse room, focused on their tasks. None of them looked at the pair.
Except one.
"Congratulations, Belly." Edi lowered her head, then lifted it, her hands resting on her lap.
"I did it correctly," Belly said, still holding Denu's hand.
He turned toward her, clearly confused. "Could I know… the topic?"
"It's not your business. Go inside. Move." Belly released his hand, her voice nonchalant and stubborn.
"Fine. Keep your secrets." Denu walked into the mansion, obviously displeased with her behavior.
As soon as he left, Belly interlocked her fingers with Edi's.
"It was… kind of…" Belly pretended to think for a moment. "Satisfying."
"Though I don't remember the taste, it felt different from yours."
"Taste? You're eager about that." Edi chuckled.
"Second time too, then." She grinned.
"Bet I will!" Belly shouted, only to realize she had drawn the attention of the other maids.
"Let's go inside. Mio would be sleeping. When she wakes up, she'll ask too many questions." Belly released Edi's hand and pulled her along.
Edi gave her a puzzled look but didn't ask.
The sun rose, casting its glow over the uncertain the acedamy.
Children's laughter filled the atrium. Some were excited for new experiences, others still sleepy as they came from their rooms. All of them were Darkens.
They headed to the second floor, climbing the stairs.
And there she was. Yushi.
"What are these dumb kids?" she muttered in disgust as they rushed toward their training room.
Yushi pushed open the pink door and entered. She went straight to the window. A few Darkens were already there, quietly staring outside in childish curiosity.
"Those are all Lights," Yushi murmured as she watched the Lights' children enter through the academy gates.
Their faces faltered when they heard someone enter.
Kashime's mother.
"Get to work, kiddos." She stood at the center of the room. Golden leaf earrings swayed against her ears. A red scarf wrapped around her neck, hiding her bruises.
"But the Lights haven't even arrived yet," the green-haired boy protested.
"They did. You were looking outside, weren't you?" she replied calmly.
"They'll still take time," the girl beside him added.
"Please, let us look outside for a while please."
The strict atmosphere nearly cracked under their pleading voices.
Then two children entered, both bearing Divine Scars on their chins outlined in pink.
"Mrs Kiyo is strict," a girl with yellow pupils whispered to Yushi.
"Concentration." Kiyo clapped her hands sharply.
The children sat in the corners of the room. Even as they obeyed, their thoughts resisted.
They closed their eyes.
"Try sensing something inside you that doesn't belong to you," Kiyo instructed, her footsteps echoing around them.
How would I sense something that isn't inside me?
The green-haired boy's focus wavered.
"Virion, you're moving too much," Kiyo said without looking.
"Sorry. I just got lost in thought," Virion replied, eyes still shut.
"You will remain on the second floor until you can sense the energy within you," Kiyo said, more to herself than to them.
It's too easy.
Yushi smirked inwardly.
I can already sense something unusual. It feels disgusting and cloudy… yet relaxing and unsettling at the same time.
The children continued concentrating, eager to discover the unknown. Kiyo circled the room, observing carefully to ensure no one broke their focus.
At the Darkens' fort, Liyoku walked calmly through the garden while Akutomi followed. The green grass was vivid, flowers arranged with deliberate care.
"I have a question, my lord," Akutomi said.
Liyoku did not respond immediately. He sat on a bench.
"What is it?"
Akutomi sat beside him.
"Why did you ask Unknown to protect that area, even though he's just a child? And the whole Secondary Heaven is already under our control."
"I saved you and your sister, didn't I?" Liyoku's voice carried quiet authority. It wasn't loud, yet it weighed heavily. "You don't need to doubt me for saving another child."
"As you wish." Akutomi looked ahead.
"Some things aren't meant to be told," Liyoku muttered.
"I know."
I will pay Sinu back.
A memory pulled him in.
A young Sinu stood before Liyoku, who wore torn brown clothes and held a piece of bread.
"Mother, look. He's my friend. He says he doesn't have parents, but you're his mother too. Right?" Sinu tugged eagerly at her hand.
She hesitated, reconsidering his words.Then she gave in.
"Yes." She gently patted Liyoku's head.
Liyoku didn't protest. He didn't react. He was trying to understand what he felt. Surprise? Joy?
"You do make strange friends, Sinu." Her grip tightened slightly.
"But isn't everyone equal? So I can make anyone my friend, right?" Sinu asked, confused.
"You are too innocent," she said, taking Liyoku's hand as well.
In the present, Liyoku lowered his gaze to the greenery.
I didn't know what I was feeling. Sinu was truly naive. The good kind.
I will save as many children as I can. I will repay Sinu. He died because of my failure. I couldn't control every Darken.
Why couldn't I?
Liyoku exhaled sharply.
"Everything's fine,"he murmured, patting his chest, trying to calm the child still living inside.