I let the water stream through my fingers and spill onto the ground. It stayed dark for a few moments, soaking into the soil like something rotten, before its shade thinned and shifted into a clear shimmer that vanished among the blades of grass.
I shook the last droplets off. I didn't want to touch it any longer than necessary; the moment it turned that deep purple, something inside me tightened, as if the liquid carried a presence that my body instinctively rejected. It had to be a natural defense against demons, but the disgust still lingered faintly on my skin.
"Ahhh… I feel so full now. This is amazing, Beatrice—" Elira's smile faded the instant her eyes settled on me. Maybe she noticed the tension in my jaw, or maybe she simply sensed the unease I couldn't hide after watching the water change.
