"This is… the 'power' that Jae injected into our bodies."
Ria's small palm flickered with black energy.
It closely resembled the 'black snakes' Tiel had seen in her dreams and was akin to the numerous shadows Tiel had encountered before.
Ria bit her lip, seeming unable to speak further. Karsus and Tiel did not rush her, waiting instead for her next move.
"When this power is injected, it causes nightmares and negative thoughts. And on your own… you can't wake up from the nightmares."
The girl continued cautiously.
Tiel gasped, covering her mouth. Was the reason she had been unable to sleep properly because of this power?
"And… probably the power they tried to implant in you through me was also this power."
As Ria clenched her hand, the flickering power on her palm burst with a pop! Tiel swallowed hard.
Karsus was still unaware that this power was implanted in his body.
Tiel remembered a slight pain in her fingertip the first day she met Ria.
'Could it be then?'
Was it injected in that brief moment through her finger? Despite Ria's efforts to block it, some of it must have splashed onto Tiel.
Tiel, unsure of what to do, clenched her eyes shut.
'Dad might kill her if he finds out.'
She didn't like having an unknown power inside her. But she liked the idea of Ria dying because of it even less.
Ria had tried her best to block it. It was just bad luck that some had splattered.
As Tiel looked anxiously at Ria, not knowing what to do, it was then that Ria spoke again.
"This power is also implanted in your body, Head of the House."
Before Tiel could speak, Ria declared this clearly.
Karsus, holding Tiel, looked down at the girl. Murder flickered briefly in his eyes.
"You're saying something like that is implanted in my daughter's body?"
His voice might have sounded to some like a wild beast growling. Ria flinched, stepping back.
But the girl neither ran nor averted her gaze from Karsus. She met his eyes squarely and said:
"Yes. It's probably because of me."
"Do you realize what you are saying?"
Tiel, who was held in Karsus's arms, clung to his neck.
She realized he was struggling to control his ability due to his anger. Tiel clung to him desperately.
"Dad!"
"…"
"But there's a way. Miss, no, Head of the House, there's a way to remove the power inside you…"
Ria spoke up, trembling. Tiel and Karsus both turned to her. Despite Karsus's intimidating presence, the girl stood her ground, neither sitting nor crying nor running away.
"Speak the method."
"I, I can absorb it!"
"What?"
Tiel furrowed her brows at Ria's words. Absorb it how?
"As you saw. I already have that power absorbed. So, I can extract and absorb the power in Miss's body too."
Ria bit her lip, nodding firmly. Tiel looked at her startled and asked:
"You mean to absorb it? And you'll be alright?"
"Yes, I'll be fine. I've undergone similar experiments several times before. So absorbing a bit more won't harm me."
Ria's voice was full of self-assurance. Tiel felt an odd unease. Was it really okay?
"Dad, this seems…"
Tiel began, worried Karsus might immediately command Ria to absorb the power for fear of endangering Tiel.
However, Karsus's response was unexpected.
"Then it's not immediately dangerous?"
"No, it's a very small amount, so it shouldn't be dangerous if we act quickly."
"Then we'll catch Jae and make him resolve this."
Karsus stated. Startled, Ria looked up sharply. Tiel was also surprised by the unexpected response.
Karsus appeared very confused. He was indeed in a turmoil.
If he were thinking solely of his daughter, he would command the girl immediately to absorb the power and remove it.
However, despite appearing older than Tiel, the girl before him was also a young, immature beastkin.
She was still a young girl, and Karsus, before being a father, was an adult who couldn't just endanger the girl before him to save his own daughter.
Even though she said it was not dangerous.
Tiel, sharing his sentiment, hugged Karsus tighter, happy he shared her thoughts, and kissed his cheek.
"Dad!"
"Just makes me sigh. Once I catch that bastard Jae, I'll tear him to pieces."
Karsus growled. Tiel, whether her father was irritated or not, was relieved that the girl before her would not be endangered and turned to look at Ria.
But Ria did not look relieved. Nor did she seem to dislike it.
She wore an expression Tiel had never seen before, looking steadily at Karsus and Tiel.
"It's really not dangerous."
"Enough, Ria. Dad will catch this Jae soon."
"Because I put Tiel in danger, please let me fix it."
Ignoring Tiel's words, Ria stood firm. Tiel, still in her indoor clothes and held by Karsus, tapped on his shoulder.
It was a signal to be let down. Karsus, understanding that Tiel wanted to get down, set her on the floor.
"Ria, why? You really don't need to strain yourself."
"It's not straining. It's my responsibility because it happened because of me. I've transferred a power from someone else's body to mine before... I was fine then. So."
Ria's large, round eyes met Tiel's. Tiel, standing face to face with her, blinked.
"Let me take responsibility."
"If you're so intent on taking responsibility, then do it."
Karsus said. Tiel was startled and looked back at her father.
"Dad?"
"It's not right to stop her all the way if she wants to do it. She's done it before, so it should be fine. Keeping this power any longer doesn't seem like a good idea either."
Karsus looked at Ria as he spoke. He had already told the girl once that there was no need to strain herself.
However, Ria had expressed a desire to remove the power implanted in Tiel, and he had no intention of stopping the girl who spoke so determinedly.
Karsus's favor ended the moment he said there was no need to strain.
Tiel looked at Ria with wide eyes as Ria, given the permission, grabbed Tiel's hand immediately. A flustered Tiel looked back at Karsus and then at Ria.
"Um, Ria? If it's really not necessary to remove it right away, let's just wait a bit. You don't need to take it out. Dad will catch Jae, right? Eh?"
"It might feel a bit unpleasant."
Ria closed her eyes and concentrated, holding Tiel's arm.
It resembled the times when Tiel used her abilities. Tiel felt the same unpleasant sensation surge inside her as Ria closed her eyes.
"Uh, ugh…"
Tiel involuntarily twitched her hand. From Tiel's hands, two fish made of light leaped out and swirled around her, as if worried.
But.
"Tiel, your fish…"
Karsus narrowed his eyes. There were black stains on the fins of Tiel's fish.
Tiel's fish had never been stained before. The fish that Tiel summoned were themselves manifestations of light.
Have you ever seen stains on light? Stains on light are commonly called shadows.
Tiel, despite Karsus calling her, struggled not to shake off Ria's hand.
Tiel's indoor clothes were once again soaked with cold sweat. The fish increased their speed, swirling around Tiel.
Ria's forehead was also dotted with cold sweat.
And then, in that moment.
Boom!
The room filled with a dazzling bright light.