The next day dawned, bringing with it a subtle chill between Sillia and Sky. They hadn't spoken much. Sky had departed early, engrossed in his own affairs. Sillia sat by the window, soft sobs of regret escaping her. She cursed herself for revealing her feelings to him, for letting him see a truth she wished remained hidden. She should have remained silent.
What if… what if he starts to maintain a distance from me because of that? I don't want that… no— Sillia's mind raced, her sobs continuing.
Meanwhile, on his way to Isha's room, Sky was deep in thought, forming a plan. He was increasingly worried. Isha knew too much about him. If even a single detail about him leaked, he would be in serious trouble. And if the information reached government officials in this country, his very existence would be jeopardized. If they learned of superhumans like him and Kuin, they would undoubtedly try to force his loyalty, turning him into a weapon for their army or a personal bodyguard.
He considered the alternative: he could demand money and security for those close to him. But he knew that if they learned about the people he wished to protect, they would inevitably use them against him. They might blackmail him, forcing him to follow their every order, threatening to harm his loved ones otherwise. It might seem like a good offer to gain government protection for his family, but it was anything but.
Or I can do one more thing. I should just stay hidden like a normal person, just like now. I don't need to show myself to the public or anyone until they themselves knock on my doors, Sky thought as he landed outside Isha's window. He couldn't go inside directly since the window was locked, so he knocked. He saw Isha inside, brushing her hair.
"Oh my… you really came!" Isha exclaimed, looking at the window after hearing the knock. She immediately lifted the window glass, and Sky stepped inside.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" she asked, looking at him from head to toe, her eyes seeming to savor something Sky didn't perceive.
"I haven't told you yesterday night…?" Sky asked, confused.
"No, you only said 'tomorrow,' and I didn't understand what you meant at all. And why the hell did you block me? Why?" she demanded, her voice starting to shake.
"Ahh… well, aren't you going to close the door or window before asking me? Others can see, you know," Sky reminded her. Isha immediately locked both the door and window.
"Now tell me, why did you block me? Tell me the exact reason. I thought… I thought you abandoned me because I did something to offend you," Isha said, her eyes welling up. Sky looked at her before calmly stating, "Look, I guess I've explained the reason for not contacting you. I have no reason to contact you anymore; I've dealt with that guy. And I want you to live normally, like you used to. I don't want you to get in trouble because of me."
"I will not get in trouble because of you! You saved me, not harmed me!" Isha shouted, tears beginning to fall.
"I know, but for how long? The government will eventually learn about my existence, and the people close to me would be in very big trouble, and I definitely don't want that. So, girl, live a good life here and forget about my existence. It would be good for both of us. Plus, don't worry, that guy wouldn't attack you at all. I promise you that," Sky explained everything. Isha's eyes widened in astonishment.
"I can't… I can't forget about you," Isha cried, moving towards him and hugging him. Sky looked at her with numb eyes, his little sister's face flashing in his mind, before asking, "Why can't you…?"
"Because… I love you… I can't live without you," Isha whispered in a low tone. Sky heard her.
"Love me? I don't think I did anything to make you love me," Sky said, gently caressing her head.
"You did, you did many things for me," Isha insisted, reminding him how he had saved her in her most desperate situation. She recounted how she spent most of her time thinking only of him and many other things.
"I haven't even gotten married, even though I'm 26 years old, thinking that someone special would come to me. Now that I've found you, I don't want to let go of you," Isha said with a tear-filled smile.
"Hmm… I understand. So what do you want from me?" Sky asked, seeking a clear understanding of her desire.
"I… I want you to be my husband. And never leave me, no matter what…" Isha said. Sky's thought interjected: What the fu—why the hell am I thinking about Sillia? Oh, hell nah…
"Why do you want me to be that? What would you get from me anyway? If you're thinking about a child or something, you can get that from any man…" Sky said directly. Isha immediately looked at him, surprised, then pouted her cheeks.
"Shut up, don't say such things!" Isha exclaimed, pinching Sky's cheek. "I don't want a child or anything. I just want to be with you, and even if I want a child, it should be from you." Isha then buried her face in his chest.
"Huh…? Why? Girl, don't you understand the depth? If you want to be with me, it would be full of darkness, and I can't guarantee that you will live a long and good life," Sky tried to make her understand.
"Are you saying this because you don't like me, right? Because my life has already been bad and filled with darkness," Isha said with a sad tone.
"That's not what I mean. You know you will die if—"
"Wait, tell me one thing… what will happen after I let go of you and don't want to meet you any longer? In short, I forget about you. Then, then what?" Isha asked.
"Then you will be able to live a good life with someone you marry, whom you like, and continue your life happily without any worries," Sky explained.
"No, you are wrong. I wouldn't be happy. I wouldn't be happy at all, and I would die eventually anyway. Either a natural death or be slaughtered by a monster like him. So isn't it better if I had a possibility of living a good and happy life with you than with someone I don't even want to marry…?" she asked. Sky fell deep into thought.