On his way home from his meeting with Serenity, Leuliang was still haunted by one question that kept nagging at his mind, "Who exactly is Serenity? And why did the observer of the world give me something I don't even understand?"
Before he knew it, he had arrived at his small rental. He entered his room, threw his bag down, and then let himself fall onto the bed.
"Why did she... choose me?" Leuliang muttered. There was no reaction in his palms. Only the remnants of the strangeness clung to his mind.
He glanced at the clock on the table. It was two in the morning. He hadn't even realized how long it had been.
Leuliang tried to sleep several times, but his eyes remained open. His thoughts revolved around the lost job, the shrinking future, the strange symbol that had suddenly appeared on his palm.
Finally, he sat up. "I have to find a job... and I have to know what this symbol is?" he said softly, staring at his right palm, which now looked normal and devoid of any sensation, as if the symbol had never existed.
He opened his phone and searched for job vacancies. One page ran out, and he scrolled to the next. Everything no luck.
"If I fail this month... it's over," he complained. He wasn't even sure he would be able to eat for the next few days.
After hours of searching, he found one suitable job vacancy. The pay was low, even insulting. But he had no choice but to apply.
He then looked up information about Serenity and that strange symbol.
"Nothing came out the way I expected."
It was as if everything was just an illusion etched into his memory.
Without Leuliang realizing it, time passed. Sunlight showered slowly through the curtains. He felt sleep overcome him, a mixture of physical exhaustion and mental burden. He fell asleep, uttering a familiar name.
"Serenity..."
He woke with tears streaming down his cheeks. It was already dusk. "Why... did I even dream about her?"
The sound of his stomach interrupted his reverie. He hadn't eaten since yesterday. He took a quick shower, then headed to the supermarket, his steps already unsteady. He grabbed the cheapest bread after checking the expiration date three times.
On his way home, his head began to spin. His body was hot. His vision was blurry. "Damn... I have to get home quickly..."
But his steps stopped abruptly.
There was something in the middle of the busy street.
Pitch black. Tall. No face—just a pair of pure white eyes staring straight through him. The air around him cracked, like glass forced to accept the creature's presence.
No one around seemed to notice or see it. Only Leuliang.
His body trembled greatly. His breath very heavy.
The creature grinned, a wide smile that revealed rows of teeth that no creature in this world should have.
"Wh—what is it..." Leuliang forced his body to move, but his joints froze.
The creature approached. Leuliang felt a piercing cold, like air coming from a vacuum. A trembling voice came from a cavity that wasn't his mouth, making Leuliang's teeth chatter uncontrollably.
"LORD ESCULENTA."
The world around him seemed to freeze.
"WE HAVEN'T MET FOR A LONG TIME."
Hunger, fever, and unimaginable horror finally merged. Leuliang's vision faded into black spots. The sound "LORD ESCULENTA" was his last echo, and before Leuliang could scream, everything went black.
***
Meanwhile in Ipsix, Serenity's realm, a few hours earlier, Serenity walked briskly into the Peaceraft family residence. The house, or rather, palace, was a pure white, reflecting light. White was everywhere, even the garden was adorned with white flowers. A white that never brought a sense of calm, only a reminder that everything has limits, rules, and consequences.
Serenity walked into her room. But someone was already standing there.
Rhea. A young girl with short blonde hair, dressed in a simple yet elegant maid's uniform.
"Miss, you're back now," she said with a smile, that couldn't hide her worry.
"I just stepped out for a moment," Serenity replied curtly.
"Miss... I know you. You met him, didn't you?"
Serenity fell silent.
Rhea bowed respectfully. "Please, stay away from the experimental subject."
"Don't call him that, you know who Lian really is," Serenity replied, more sharply than she intended.
Rhea lowered her head. "Forgive me, my lady. I was only following Master Avalon's orders." Rhea then bit her lip. "Don't you remember your last punishment?" Her voice trembled. "Two years in the Oblivion Tower... and you haven't been free for long."
Serenity put a hand on her shoulder, reassuring her. "I was simply conveying my wishes. This is the last time I meet Lian."
Just then, a knock sounded. The white-haired, sturdy bodyguard, Ashil, delivered a brief message, "Master Avalon summons Miss Serenity."
"Father knew I was back so quickly," Serenity thought.
Serenity immediately leaves Rhea. She walks to her father's study room, passing through marble hallways with white granite floors that echoed with her footsteps.
At the door, Ashil's twin, Vashil, bowed. "Master is waiting, Miss Serenity."
Serenity entered.
"Father," she said while saluting.
Avalon Peaceraft didn't turn around. He simply looked at the stack of papers on his desk and said quietly, "What do you think about the subject of Esculenta?"
Serenity was silent. The question wasn't new to the Peaceraft family, but this time the tone was different.
Avalon stared at her coldly. "How do you see it... as a biological weapon?"
A silence hung. However, it wasn't an ordinary silence, but the kind that could turn into tragedy.
To be continued...