The silence wasn't suffocating.
The blonde girl didn't mind it.
Because in that space where only herself and that mysterious girl existed, it felt like she was stuck in eternity.
The mysterious girl's eyes were something she had never seen. They were amber, yes, but they reminded her of molten gold, dotted with almost imperceptible embers.
They were the most enchanting eyes she had ever seen.
In them, she saw the eternity the romantics usually talked about. She saw the depth, the regality of a superior being.
It was weird, almost creepy, but she wanted to get lost in them.
She had never felt that way, so why now?
The person standing beside her wasn't just any person.
She was a literal goddess.
She felt downright illegal.
Unapologetically, she just couldn't stop her eyes from peeking, from scanning every inch of the beautiful girl.
What she hadn't anticipated was the girl looking her way as she was trying to be sneaky.
Her mesmerizing eyes locked her in place; her brows arched in amusement.
She had been caught red-handed. And she couldn't look away.
A pink blush flushed her cheeks. Her heart pounded furiously against her chest.
She opened her mouth hesitantly. Closed it again.
What was she supposed to say when she had been rendered mute by the magnificence standing next to her?
'Say something, you stupid girl. You're going to make it more awkward.' She mentally reprimanded herself.
"Um," she opened her mouth, her voice slightly cracking due to the nerves.
"Um, hi."
"I'm sorry for staring. That was rude of me," she managed after gaining a bit of her usual confidence. She subtly tilted her head down in meekness before meeting the mysterious girl's gaze.
"I…I couldn't help myself. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," she murmured nervously, the intensity of her blush increasing.
"And…sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Gwen. Gwen Stacy."
Silence. Except for the mechanical hum of the descending elevator.
'Why isn't she saying anything?'
'Did I say something wrong?'
'Is she displeased by me?'
'What if she thinks I'm some weird pervert?'
The lack of response didn't do her good. She inevitably began overthinking, anxiety eating at her mind and heart.
She tightened the hold on her backpack, her knuckles whitening.
Seol Hwa wordlessly observed the blonde girl. It was intentionally on her part.
She was curious about her actions and words.
She was already used to the stares from her former life. Awe was just one of them.
She could hear her messy heartbeats and elevated blood flow. Her breathing was shallow.
To Seol Hwa, she was mortal, so mundane yet interesting.
However, she was the second mortal she was going to speak with in this world.
And if she didn't say something, the poor girl would have a nervous breakdown.
'Gwen Stacy. So that's your name, huh?'
"Hello. I'm Seol Hwa. Nice to meet you, Gwen," Seol Hwa calmly replied, her voice warm and steady.
Of all the things she had envisioned, her otherworldly voice wasn't one of them.
It was soft, so incredibly soft like satin.
Gwen felt her anxious thoughts and heart settling down just from her words.
"S-Seol…Hwa?" She whispered, the name feeling so foreign and so right on her tongue.
"Beautiful name. It's just as beautiful as you," Gwen said, thinking she was smooth with that one. She kept its uniqueness to herself.
Seol Hwa faintly smiled.
Gwen instinctively swallowed, her eyes stuck on that breathtaking smile.
'How can her smile also be so perfect?'
'Last time I checked, I wasn't into girls.'
'I thought I was as straight as a ruler.'
'But why? Why does she look like a dream?'
Seol Hwa had such a lethal effect.
"I'm flattered by your words. Thanks. You are also beautiful for a mortal," Seol Hwa remarked.
'Beautiful? She also thinks I'm beautiful? I feel extremely validated. I don't think I will get tired from hearing her voice.' Gwen shyly looked down at her feet before sneaking a glance.
'Stop being weird, Gwen.'
'She was just being polite.'
'But what did she mean when she said "beautiful for a mortal"?'
'Her way of speaking is definitely…special. She looks the same age as me.'
There was a momentary quietness between them after that.
'Not much of a talker. She looks cool though,' She thought, absent-mindedly fiddling with her fingers.
Yes, Gwen, talk to her.
You just want to hear her voice, right?
"Um, I haven't seen you around, Seol Hwa," Gwen said hesitantly. 'Just stick to Seol, Gwen.'
'Definitely wouldn't have missed you on my radar.' She silently admitted to herself.
"Oh?" Seol Hwa slightly tilted her head.
'Awww, so cute.' Gwen screamed internally.
"I hope I'm not being intrusive," she smiled nervously.
"I don't mind. We have only recently moved in, and I was unwell during the week," Seol Hwa shook her head as she replied, diverting some of her attention to the numbers showing above the elevator door.
'Second floor,' she noted.
"I-I'm sorry. I hope you are recovering well," Gwen said with a genuine concerned expression.
Without her realizing it, she had already moved close to Seol Hwa. She couldn't imagine that such a beautiful existence could get sick.
But that was the mark of being biologically human and Seol Hwa was just as mortal as her.
Was she truly…human?
Her beauty and aura begged to differ.
"I'm fine now. More than ever," Seol Hwa smirked, her eyes shining with a mysterious glint.
Her last words insinuated something deeper; however, Gwen didn't catch on.
Gwen's attention lingered on her ethereal smile. She was easily captivated as much as she didn't want to admit it.
'Could this be my gay awakening? I doubt so.'
'Seol Hwa is the reason.'
'She's the one that's different and I don't know how to act normal around her.'
Luckily, her eyes flickered to the MetroCard in Seol Hwa's hand. She feared Seol Hwa would get tired of her constant stares.
Gwen didn't know that Seol Hwa found her endearing.
"Are you a student? Which school do you go to?" Gwen inquired.
"Midtown School of Science and Technology."
A look of immense surprise flashed on Gwen's face.
"You go to Midtown High? That's perfec— I meant that's my school."
"But I have never seen you. You must be a transfer, right?" she asked enthusiastically, her face brightening.
"Yes. First day."
Ding!
The elevator opened, having finally reached the lobby.
Seol Hwa adjusted her bag as she stepped out. Gwen impatiently followed behind.
"This is totally cool. Since we, like, go to the same school, do you mind if I show you around? We could go to the subway together. You look fresh for New York, and the subway can get pretty nightmarish during rush hours. Have you received your schedule? Can we be friends?" Gwen couldn't stop herself from rambling continuously.
She surprised herself.
"Sorry, I have totally ruined it with my yapping." Her expression deflated in disappointment.
Seol Hwa stopped in her tracks. Gwen nearly collided with her back due to the suddenness.
"Yes, you are a yapper," Seol Hwa started without looking behind, her words making Gwen visibly tense.
"But…I don't mind it. You are certainly worthy of being my guide." She finally gazed at Gwen.
The blue-eyed girl was like an open book. She was so energetic and her actions and words exposed most of what she felt.
"I'll be in your care, Gwen Stacy."
Gwen swore her heart skipped a beat as she heard her name roll off Seol Hwa's mouth.
"I'll be in your— no, you're in my care. I'm deeply honored, my lady." She did a mock bow like a medieval butler.
Her theatrics earned her a small smile from Seol Hwa.
Gwen beamed like the sun at the acceptance. Seol Hwa hadn't been off-put by her bubbliness.
However, one thing stuck at the back of her mind.
Seol Hwa didn't answer her question about being friends.
Maybe she had been overwhelmed by my rambling?
'Was I too straightforward?' Gwen mused lightly as she led the way. 'I can't give up yet.'
Seol Hwa quietly watched Gwen as she walked in front of her.
'What a strange girl. Do you truly want to be a friend of the Bloodborne Devil Empress?' A melancholic look briefly flashed on her face before looking up at the sky.
It wasn't as pristine as the skies of Murim.
This was going to be her reality.
The January winter air had to up its game if it wanted to sting her skin.
It was inconsequential, but the same couldn't be said about Gwen.
The tip of her nose had slightly reddened as they hurried through the streets.
***
The subway station was crowded due to the morning rush.
Gwen and Seol Hwa were lucky to secure some space near the window in the packed train.
Seol Hwa noted the influx of people. It was surely noisy and smelly.
She disliked overcrowded places, but she had to keep an open mind when it came to mortal ways of traveling.
It was the perfect place to have a hidden dagger dig deep into your abdomen.
'I suddenly miss flying. Hmm, I hope they don't have strict air traffic rules,' she thought.
'Damn, with the meagre 10% of spiritual essence, I wouldn't fly as comfortably as I want. It seems I need to cultivate more urgently.'
The best outcome of her body's transformation was the body tempering. Her skin, internal organs, blood, marrow, bones, muscles and mind (spirit) had been completely refined.
She deduced she had skipped a major realm in her new cultivation system.
'Body Tempering, Spiritual Qi Refinement…' Those two realms had already been extrapolated. The subsequent realms had to be deduced as she grew in strength.
It was a new experience and she liked the unpredictability.
Gwen looked at Seol Hwa's carefree, almost detached expression.
'Doesn't she know that people are blatantly ogling her? And some clearly with gross intentions?!' She couldn't hide her annoyed expression as she side-eyed a suspicious man with a hoodie trying to move closer to them.
He wasn't being subtle about it, with a leering expression plastered on his unhealthy, sallow face.
To the left was a middle-aged man in a business suit who thought he was being sneaky with the deliberate leaning in her direction whenever the train had some turbulence.
'Is she that innocent or just unaware of her surroundings? Well, as a good friend, I'll just protect her.' Gwen decided resolutely.
Thud.
Two slim hands slammed against the window on each side of Seol Hwa's face.
She blinked, wondering what Gwen was trying to do, caging her against the window.
She stared down at the blonde.
"What are you doing?"
Gwen furiously blushed as she looked up at Seol Hwa.
'Was she this tall? I didn't notice in the elevator. She's at least five-nine.'
"I'm protecting you from scum. New York has all sorts of weird people. You would be surprised," she said in a firm tone, holding Seol Hwa's gaze without blinking.
'I don't want anyone touching you in my presence.' She kept that thought to herself.
"How bold of you. Do you think you can protect me from…them?" Seol Hwa asked in amusement. She had already noticed the two men and a few others.
How uncouth.
Only the modern laws she had skimmed over the internet prevented her from causing a bloodbath there and then.
The first thing she would have done if she were still in the Murim was gouging their eyes out.
Gwen smiled embarrassedly, her shoulders tense from supporting herself.
"I'm tougher than you think. Don't look down on me."
"I didn't expect you to be braver than you look," Seol Hwa told her before diverting her gaze to the annoying pests.
"I'm not brave," Gwen muttered, her voice almost inaudible.
Seol Hwa heard it but sidelined it.
The two men needed to be taught some brutal lesson.
With her experience, she could spot these kinds of sick perverts with just a glance. The sexual offenders in Murim were the worst.
Seol Hwa decided to show them an infinitesimal amount of her killing intent.
It was all it took to give them the greatest fear of their lives as they backed off, wanting to get away as far as possible from Seol Hwa.
In their escape, they caused some scuffles on the train.
Their feeble, mortal minds couldn't handle the pressure, and the seed of nightmares had already been planted in them.
They wouldn't think about messing around in the subway or other places anymore.
Not killing them was mercy on her part. If they killed themselves due to the nightmares, it wouldn't be her fault.
'It's funny that the Heavenly Demon must be a law-abiding citizen. How the mighty have fallen.' She smirked.
The train rocked. Gwen leaned forward, trying to stabilize herself.
Her chest nearly touched Seol Hwa's. They were so close, so intimate.
It was then a sweet, natural scent hit her face.
It was the best scent she had ever smelled.
She suddenly had the urge to just bury herself in Seol Hwa's scent.
And it creeped her out.
'Just how much effect can one person have?' She began spiraling in thoughts.
'Why do I want her all to myself?'
'We just met and I'm already thinking about weird stuff.'
As much as Gwen didn't want to acknowledge it, there was something more to Seol Hwa. Things that the sciences she prided herself on couldn't explain.
She wanted to unravel the mystery behind her face.
Were the calmness and certainty in her eyes a façade or the real deal?
"You are a silly person," Seol Hwa suddenly said.
"And you are a very mysterious person," Gwen countered in a light tone.
"And I accept your friendship."
"Really? We…We can be friends?" Gwen asked in disbelief, her excitement soaring. 'Yay!'
"You protected me without caring about yourself."
"That's…that's just basic human decency."
"Not all humans are capable of that. Only a few have a heart like yours," Seol Hwa reminded, her tone profound.
It was a simple act of shielding her, something laughable in her eyes.
But within that simplicity she saw mortal purity and genuine care.
While the mortal might have some secret agendas, Seol Hwa didn't sense animosity from her.
The train began slowing.
"Oh, I guess this is where we stop," Gwen said, looking away.
Something told her Seol Hwa had a story of her own. She didn't think to pry though.
"I guess so. I can't wait to see how Midtown is."
"You'll see for yourself."
It was then that Gwen noticed the breathing space around them.
People had been giving them space and she hadn't noticed.
'When did that happen?'
'Weird. Super weird.' She returned her gaze to Seol Hwa's serene visage.
'Could it be her doing?'
"Do I have something on my face?" Seol Hwa gently asked.
"No— yes, no…sorry." Gwen's cheeks burned a deep shade of pink as she stuttered an apology.
"You like apologizing an unhealthy amount." Seol Hwa poked at her.
"S-Sorry…"
"See?"
"Damn."
They grinned at each other.
"Aren't your hands getting tired?"
"…" Gwen froze.
"Don't worry, I don't mind them."
Soon, they stepped out of the train.
—<>----
Gwen was truly dedicated to her guide role.
She successfully led Seol Hwa to her would-be school.
Midtown School of Science and Technology.
She found it a mouthful.
"I hope we will meet soon," Gwen said in a sad voice as she escorted Seol Hwa to the admin office.
She didn't have her schedule yet so…
"This is where I say goodbye, Seol."
"So dramatic, Miss Stacy," Seol Hwa replied jokingly.
"I didn't expect you to also be the joking type."
"I'm many things."
Various students couldn't stop looking at the two.
They were the center of attention, naturally due to their exceptional beauty.
And Seol Hwa was a new face whose beauty seemed to transcend logic.
Hushed voices and a few unintelligent whistles could be heard as the students walked to their first period classes.
"Bye." Gwen finally albeit reluctantly bade her farewell.
"Bye."
---<>---
By the time Seol Hwa received her schedule and school rules, the first period had already ended.
The secretary, Mrs. Lockwood, a bespectacled woman in her late forties, led her to her class before leaving.
On the other side of the door, a biology class was ongoing.
"What is apoptosis?"
"Yes, Parker."
"It's a process where the body destroys damaged or aged cells as part of its own biological development."
"Correct. Apoptosis is simply programmed cell death. It's necessary for cells to die in the human body."
"If—" Mr. Dawson stopped mid-sentence, his eyes slightly widening.
Suddenly, the classroom doors silently opened.
Seol Hwa sauntered in.
All heads turned to her.
She was an unnervingly flawless stranger.
She seemed genuinely misplaced while standing there.
She was simply incomparable to those mystery girls one might meet in the streets and never saw again.
Silence loomed as everyone's attention was snatched by Seol Hwa.
They feared that if they blinked, she would disappear.
Thankfully, the teacher was the first one to break the suspense.
"Who are you, miss?" Mr. Dawson, the biology teacher asked, confusion in his eyes. "Introduce yourself."
"I am Seol Hwa." She started before handing in the note Mrs. Lockwood had given her.
Mr. Dawson took it and briefly read it.
"Oh, you are the new transfer student, Seol Hwa Park. Welcome to Midtown." He smiled at her amiably.
"I'm Mr. Dawson, your biology teacher."
"We were just in the middle of biology. Find a suitable seat for yourself, Miss Park."
"Hmm," Seol Hwa nodded before scanning the class for an empty seat.
She saw a familiar face.
Gwen Stacy.
She sat close to an average-looking boy with brown hair.
His eyes were unusually sharp, filled with calculated purpose.
Behind that ordinariness, Seol Hwa could sense something else.
It was power hidden in that seemingly balanced body.
As insignificant as it was in her eyes, it was power nonetheless.
And those with unique powers seemed to be a rarity in this world.
'But it's only at the level of a first-rate martial artist at best. If cultivated and trained well, the potential to surpass themselves is high.' She mused as she elegantly walked toward an empty seat in the middle.
'This place isn't bad at all. I hope there are others like him or my school life would be boring.'
Apart from Gwen Stacy and that average-faced boy, the other students didn't interest her.
'Now, what is this biology all about?' A focused expression formed on her beautiful face.
She blocked out all the stares and distractions and listened to the teacher.
The 666th Heavenly Demon was going to be a studious student.
---<>---
Yu_ner's Corner:
Why is Gwen being sweet? Dang.
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