Echoes of Hollow

"My eyes...? Hmm, I imagine it wasn't you who came up with that question, but rather that little bird on your shoulder, right?"

Smiling, Alyia looked at Hye. However, he somehow sensed—perhaps due to his level evolution and the sharpening of his senses—that she wasn't truly aiming her gaze at him but rather something beyond.

'Little bird...? Ha! Yes, as expected, just as arrogant as your predecessor.'

"Yes, yes, you're not the first to say that, and you certainly won't be the last."

Feeling his heartbeat pulse and his eyebrows involuntarily twitch, Hye quickly realized the absence of fear, happiness, or any other emotion he had experienced before. In the end, he concluded that the mixture of such accidental reactions could only be one thing: surprise, considering his current situation.

"...You're able to see him?"

"Yes, but don't worry, not now. At this moment, I can only hear him... unless, of course, you allow me to do so."

'Permission... that doesn't sound like something Adam would ask for.'

"I have the same eyes, not the same morals. Don't speak as if we were the same beings."

'Of course, after all, they looked good together, indeed. But that mix could never truly live united. They couldn't bear it; it would cause doubt and discord.'

"Mix, huh..." Clicking her tongue, Alyia crossed her legs, allowing a small chuckle to escape. "So you can also see, can't you? Were you all born like that, or did it come with age? Manners weren’t that golden boy’s strength either."

'Golden boy...?'

"I don’t have much time, so yes, he also has the eyes. But don’t worry, I got permission for him to keep them. And besides... he can't use them anyway."

'Not capable… But you are attempting to change that, and if I am able to see it, they all can as well… I do not know why he is acting in such a manner, however, let me warn you; be cautious, for some reason, your race appears to have a growing sense of self-importance, placing themselves above their own values, thinking they are unique beings of unparalleled worth. Ha! Fools… If you are not swift, you will not be able to witness the pinnacle of your potential greatest creation.'

As her smile faded, another click echoed—this time heavy and cold. It didn’t just change the atmosphere inside the car but also around it, making everyone nearby feel a growing apprehension in their chests.

"Miss, we’ve arrived," said the driver.

Sighing, Alyia stretched her arm over Hye without looking directly into his eyes, reaching to open the door.

"I was planning on giving you a goodbye kiss, but perhaps it’s better not..."

"What...?"

"Oh, and that chatterbox has probably told you something similar already, but tell the werewolves that if they really can transform, the sensation of using mana will be similar to what they feel during the transformation process or even while it’s active. Tell them to seek that feeling, and when they find it, that will be the moment they can harness it."

With the door open beside him and the seatbelt already unfastened, Hye barely noticed that he was even standing outside the car. He wasn’t able to say anything as Alyia drove off.

"And say hi to Hilary for me... we’ll meet again another time."

Standing on the sidewalk, Hye silently watched the car drive away, instinctively raising his arms to catch Hilary as she jumped toward him.

"Huh? Wasn’t that Alyia’s car? Why did she leave?"

"It’s... complicated."

Narrowing her eyes and puffing out her cheeks, Hilary stared at Hye fiercely. "What did you do, Hye?"

After a brief sigh, Hye shook his head and replied, "...It’s complicated."

"Hmph! I told you, didn’t I? Those 'bichtis' would cause problems. You should’ve listened to me!"

"She’s busy, that’s all... Nothing happened."

"Hmm..." Scanning his face suspiciously, the child questioned, "And you offered to help, right?"

"No... I didn’t even get the chance."

"I knew it! Hye, the vultures! The vultures! If you don’t help, others will step in to offer their help."

"...One week—no, two."

"What...?"

"Starting today, you’re losing internet access for the next two weeks."

"What!? No, why!?"

"Three."

"No..."

"A month."

"Okay, fine, stop! I get it, I’ll stop." Crossing her arms, Hilary turned her face away, puffing out her cheeks and whispering, "And all this just because I was trying to help... Hmph, don’t blame me later when a vulture steals her away from you..."

"A month and a half."

"Hey! I already stopped!"

Smiling, Hye looked around, completely ignoring the curious glances sent his way, while searching for the pink "S" above the shops.

"Did you eat before leaving school?"

With her arms crossed, Hilary responded with the best answer of all—silence.

"So I guess you also don’t want to eat something different before heading home, right?"

"Strawberry," she responded without hesitation.

"Of course, I figured..."

[Alert!]

[The egg of the Void Servant in the Void Realm is about to hatch.]