Céline, noticing the numerous vacant rooms in their vast mansion, felt compassion for Nia'le, who was sleeping alone in the living room. Determined to make a change, she decided to clean a room for him. As she opened the heavy curtains, a breathtaking sight unfolded before her eyes—a beautiful, albeit neglected, garden. This discovery left her in awe, realizing that she had never noticed it despite its apparent abandonment over the years.
Intrigued by the garden's allure, Céline recalled that Tassa had resided in the mansion longer than Nia'le. Eager to share her newfound revelation, Céline wanted to inform Tassa about the enchanting abandoned garden visible from the adjacent room. However, her enthusiasm got the better of her, and she clumsily tripped over the broom resting on the table.
The broom's fall threatened to upset the table's balance, creating the potential for a noisy mishap. Swiftly reacting, Céline managed to catch the falling table just in time, preventing any disruptive commotion. But a the small round pebble tumbled from the table, it rolled across the floor until it collided with an old, weathered cabinet. Céline's curiosity was piqued, and she couldn't resist the urge to explore its contents. With a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, she opened the cabinet, only to be met with a wave of sadness as she discovered its emptiness and the thick layer of dust that had settled within.
A sudden sneeze erupted from Céline as the dust filled the air, causing her eyes to water and her nose to tingle. Amidst her discomfort, she noticed something hidden beneath the cabinet—a forgotten relic of the past. It was an old newspaper, yellowed with age, dating back to the year 1984. As she delicately picked it up, her hands trembled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
With bated breath, Céline began to read the article printed on the fragile pages. Every word was absorbed with painstaking attention to detail, as if she were unraveling a long-lost secret. The weight of the words hit her like a tidal wave, and tears streamed down her face as she learned of the horrifying truth—the night when Nia'le had taken the lives of 43 individuals.
Her heart ached with sorrow and confusion, struggling to reconcile the person she knew with the darkness that had consumed him in the past. The room, once filled with the enchantment of the hidden garden, now felt heavy with the weight of this revelation. Céline's mind raced, replaying the moments when Nia'le had hinted at his past actions, only to abruptly halt his words.
"Why didn't you continue what you were about to tell me, Nia'le?" she burbled, her voice choked with emotion.
As Nia'le entered the vacant room and saw Céline holding the old newspaper, he could sense the weight of the revelation sinking in. Céline, overwhelmed by the shocking discovery, couldn't contain her emotions and asked Nia'le if the article was true and if he had indeed committed such a heinous crime. Nia'le remained silent, turning away from her and clutching the crumpled newspaper in his hands.
In a moment of vulnerability, Nia'le admitted, "And if it's true, are you going to be afraid of me? I am not forcing you to live with us. So if you want to leave, I won't stop you from leaving. Now go, Céline, if that's what you want."
Céline, torn between the person she thought she knew and the dark past now revealed, was left speechless. The room, once filled with the allure of a hidden garden, now echoed with the heavy silence of an uncomfortable truth. Nia'le's offer for her to leave hung in the air, leaving Céline to grapple with her own feelings and decisions.
Meanwhile, Ayamani informed Tassa about Céline's discovery of Nia'le's dark past. Tassa, eager to intervene, was advised by Ayamani to let Nia'le handle the situation, recognizing it as his personal struggle. Despite her curiosity, Tassa chose to eavesdrop on the unfolding conversation, acknowledging the sensitivity of the matter. The vacant room next to theirs became a silent witness to the emotional turmoil and difficult choices that unfolded within.
Céline's gaze fixated on Nia'le's hands, the hands that had once embraced her with warmth and gentleness. But now, they seemed stained by the shadows of a haunting past. A slow realization dawned upon her, and she took a hesitant step backward, distancing herself from the person she thought she knew.
"So, you are just like one of them?" Her voice trembled with a mix of anger and sorrow. "You were all just the same. Half human, half monster who kill and hurt one another!"
Nia'le, burdened by the weight of his own actions, met Céline's accusing gaze with a heavy silence. He knew that the truth had shattered the image she held of him.
"Yes, I am, Céline," he admitted, his voice carrying the weight of regret. "So loathe me until you die."
Before he could finish his sentence, Céline's emotions erupted. In an unexpected turn, she ran towards Nia'le, her steps fueled by a mixture of anger, confusion, and a longing for understanding. Without hesitation, she embraced him, burying her face in his stomach as tears streamed down her face.
Nia'le, frozen in shock, could only stare down at her with wide-eyed amazement. Her sudden action had caught him off guard, and the weight of her tears against his stomach stirred a complex array of emotions within him. In that moment, the vacant room became a battleground of conflicting feelings, as the past collided with the present, and two souls grappled with the complexities of forgiveness and acceptance.
"I don't care about whatever the newspaper said. It can't change my mind or my point of view. My sweet Nia'le, you are what you are, and they cannot change what I have seen in you. Why doubt me, Nia'le? I love you and Tassa. You've shown me what it feels like to have a family. They say family is a gift from heaven. At first, I didn't understand that, but now I realize how lucky I am to live with you guys. I'm truly happy to be with you two. I love you, Nia'le, more than anything in this world. And I will never abandon you over anything. I just love you, so much, unconditionally!" Céline declared.
"What do you mean?" Nia'le asked.
"What I mean is I love you! And I will never reject you just because of a foolish newspaper. Everyone has a point of view, and for me, you are a half good and half bad guy. And I don't dislike it," Céline emotionally conveyed to Nia'le, breaking through the barriers of judgment with a heartfelt affirmation of love and acceptance. Tassa, determined to join the others despite Ayamani's attempt to hold her back, broke free from his grip and entered the room. With open arms, she embraced both Nia'le and Céline, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for giving him a chance, Céline. Thank you for accepting him, and thank you for staying."
Céline, overwhelmed by a sense of belonging, expressed her love for the mansion and her desire to remain there. She couldn't quite explain it, but the place seemed to resonate with her, as if it held a deep connection to her own memories and identity.
Nia'le, his heart brimming with joy, smiled at Céline's words. Overwhelmed by his feelings, he couldn't help but lift her up and hold her tightly, cherishing the moment. He was grateful beyond words that she had accepted him, despite the knowledge of his dark past as a heinous criminal. It was a testament to the power of love and forgiveness.
Meanwhile, Ayamani found himself grappling with uncertainty. The unexpected turn of events left him questioning the rightness or wrongness of his plans. Seeing Nia'le and Tassa together, resembling a married couple with a baby girl, stirred conflicting emotions within him. But amidst his own concerns, Ayamani's true worry lay in Tassa's feelings towards Ixartxist. Tassa remained deeply in love with Xart, unaware that he was the same demon who had named himself Ixartxist—the one she despised the most. The dilemma was that Ayamani couldn't reveal this truth to her, as doing so would likely lead to dire consequences for him.
On that beautiful day, the sun cast a warm glow over the mansion, creating a serene atmosphere. Nia'le, with dirt-streaked hands, was passionately tending to the vegetable garden, nurturing the vibrant life that sprouted from the earth. The scent of freshly turned soil mingled with the sweet fragrance of blossoming flowers, creating a sensory symphony that enveloped the surroundings.
Inside the mansion, Tassa and Céline were collaborating in the kitchen, preparing a delightful breakfast. Tassa, with a playful smile, cracked open an egg and posed the age-old culinary question to Céline. "How would you like your egg, fried or boiled?"
Céline, wearing an apron with a whimsical design, chuckled and replied, "I'll go for a hard-boiled egg, please." Her eyes sparkled with a light-hearted joy that echoed the newfound happiness she had discovered within the walls of the mansion.
Meanwhile, Nia'le took a moment to relax, sitting amidst the flourishing greenery. Tassa, curious about his egg preferences, strolled into the garden and posed the same question. "Nia'le, what do you like to do with your egg?"
Nia'le, known for his playful nature, couldn't resist injecting humor into the moment. He grinned mischievously and began to share his whimsical thoughts. "Well, there are times when I want to scratch it when it gets itchy. And sometimes, I'm playing with it. There are even moments when I want it out in my underwe—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Tassa's patience wore thin. With a swift motion, she threw the egg at Nia'le's face, a mixture of surprise and annoyance evident in her expression. "Do whatever you like to your egg, jerkhead," she declared, clearly unamused. "Stupid Nia'le, just what the heck was he talking about? Uh, who cares, who asked him anyway?" she added, storming back towards the house, leaving Nia'le in a state of shock.
Céline, her gaze fixed upon the world beyond the kitchen window, contemplated the complexities of the adult interactions unfolding before her. The exchange between Nia'le and Tassa had left her perplexed, her innocent mind grappling with the intricacies of human relationships. "What are they, a friend or a foe?" she pondered silently, her eyes searching for answers in the vast expanse of the outside world.
Ayamani, a silent observer of the unfolding drama, couldn't help but find amusement in Nia'le's predicament. With a mischievous grin, he chuckled at Nia'le's expense, his laughter echoing through the corridors of the mansion. "Serves you right, you freaking pervert," he jested, adding a touch of levity to the tension-laden atmosphere.
As the culinary symphony reached its crescendo, Tassa and Céline completed their breakfast preparations. Tassa, determined to bridge the divide that had formed, implored Céline to call Nia'le to the table. Céline, ever the dutiful one, responded with a joyful "Kay" and made her way to the verdant garden.
Approaching Nia'le amidst the vibrant tapestry of nature, Céline delivered Tassa's message with a gentle smile. Nia'le, his heart heavy with remorse, couldn't help but seek reassurance. "Is Tassa still mad at me?" he inquired, his voice tinged with vulnerability.
Céline, her eyes filled with empathy, offered a glimpse of insight into the enigmatic depths of Tassa's emotions. "It's up to her, if she'll talk to you or not. And if she don't, that only means she's still mad at you," she explained, her words carrying the weight of their unspoken history.
In the serene ambiance of the dining room, Nia'le and Céline entered to find Tassa seated calmly, her demeanor reminiscent of the tranquil sea before the arrival of a mighty tsunami. A sense of unease settled upon them as they exchanged awkward glances before quietly taking their seats.
Nia'le's plate, to his dismay, held nothing but a meager serving of peas and rice. Frustration welled up within him, and he couldn't help but voice his complaint to Tassa. However, before he could utter a word, Tassa began to pray, her words resonating with a sense of gratitude and reverence. Respectfully, Nia'le waited for her to finish before speaking.
With a resounding "Amen," Céline and Tassa concluded their prayer, their voices harmonizing in unison. Nia'le, still dissatisfied with his meager portion, gestured to Céline, silently indicating his desire to share some of her boiled eggs. Yet, before he could make his request, Tassa interjected, her voice firm and unwavering.
"No sharing at this table, in this mansion, and in this place," Tassa declared, her words leaving no room for negotiation. Nia'le, feeling a surge of frustration, objected to her decree, his voice filled with defiance. "I object!" he exclaimed, hoping to challenge the established rule.
Tassa, however, swiftly responded with a decisive "Overrule," asserting her authority and dismissing Nia'le's objection. The tension in the room thickened as their conflicting desires clashed, each seeking their own version of fairness.
Annoyed by the situation, Nia'le confronted Tassa, his words laced with irritation. "Listen to me, woman! How come you two have an egg on your plate, while I don't?" he questioned, his frustration palpable.
Tassa, unyielding in her stance, urged Nia'le to simply eat what was on his plate and cease his complaints. Her patience wearing thin, she retorted, "Just eat whatever's on your plate, and stop complaining, will ya!"
Nia'le, feeling misunderstood, persisted in expressing his frustration. "Well, I'm sorry if you can't see it!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with exasperation.
"Eat it, Nia'le!" Tassa commanded.
"I will, if there is something on my plate, but I don't! Why don't I have an egg on my plate? But just rice and peas?" Tassa scolded him, her tone stern and reproachful. "What are you, a kid? Besides, you already have one, or two, so eat 'em." She punctuated her statement with a sarcastic smile, further fueling Nia'le's frustration. Undeterred, he placed his chin on his hand, glaring at her as he begrudgingly took bites of his meager meal.
In the midst of this tense dinner scene, Ayamani, ever the unpredictable force, intervened. Without a word, he transported them to another dimension, catching them off guard.
Tassa, visibly surprised, couldn't help but question, "Why are we here, Ayamani?" Nia'le, on the other hand, expressed his relief with a loud proclamation, "I'm glad we're outta there, Ayamani." Tassa shot him a glare, and Céline, sensing the escalating tension, reached out to hold her hand, pleading, "Please stop fighting, you two." Ayamani spoke with urgency, revealing a looming threat. "Listen, Ixartxist is on his way to find you, Nia'le, because I lied about killing you. I'll preserve your body for now, so the three of you need to stay here for about 10 minutes."
Tassa, concerned about the timeframe, remarked, "But that's equivalent to two and a half months."
Nia'le, puzzled by the situation, questioned, "Why would a demon want me dead?"
Ayamani, describing the demon as purely evil, explained, "Because he's evil, no other word can describe that rotten demon."
Nia'le, trying to understand the motive, summarized, "So you're telling me his only purpose is to kill me and take his girl back."
"I'm not his girl!" objected Tassa. Ayamani looked away and mumbled, "I really hope so."
Ignoring the tension, Nia'le pressed for more information. "Okay, what does this Ixartxist want from her?" Ayamani, adopting a more confidential tone, draped his arm around Nia'le and shared, "Well, we all know how pretty Tassa is. Even demons can't help but be captivated by her. Ixartxist is so obsessed with her. That's why." The unfolding drama took an unexpected turn, revealing the depth of the challenges they were about to face in this mysterious dimension.