Aftermath

"So, how was it"

"Nothing much." She answered, her voice betraying an obvious attempt to hide the inner turmoil bubbling beneath the surface.

'What does she mean by 'nothing much'?'. Aquarius thought, standing up. His eyes scanned the room—what was once a battlefield was now nothing more than ruins. 'Well, it was ruins to begin with'.

He shook his head, letting out a quiet sigh. His gaze met Ina's, who was staring intently at him.

"What?" he asked, the weight of the pain still probing at him.

"Are you ready to answer my questions?" She asked, her tone steady, but there was something in her eyes that hinted at unease.

Aquarius turned away, his posture stiffening. "You don't need to know," he paused as he stood slightly hunched. "Most times, ignorance is bliss."

'What does he mean by 'ignorance is bliss'?'. Ina sighed, her irritation flaring up. She couldn't get a proper read on him. She knew he was hiding something, but what?

"Well, aren't you going to ask about what I got after awakening?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of expectation.

"Why would I?" Aquarius replied, his gaze indifferent.

"I don't know," she muttered, lowering her gaze. "I figured, since you helped me awaken, you'd ask for something in return." She snapped her fingers absentmindedly. "Like help with your awakening."

Aquarius' face twitched at the mention of those words. "There wouldn't be a need for that."

Her expression shifted to one of confusion. "There's no way you've awakened yet. We've been together since we entered."

"I told you," Aquarius said, turning toward her with a calm smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts, "there are some things better left unknown."

"But—" Ina started but was swiftly cut off. Aquarius pointed toward the huge hole left by the venom of the blight.

"Through there, we can find water... and some clothing." His voice shifted back to normal as his hand pointed at a hole that served as evidence of their battle.

Ina, sensing that pressing him further would get her nowhere, simply nodded—her usual gentle gesture.

---

As they entered the next segment of the ruin, Aquarius quickly noticed the subtle differences between the two areas. Unlike the entrance, the inner segment was made of wood—or more accurately, reinforced with wooden layers. The floor was made of marble, and the high, arched ceilings gave the space an eerie, almost regal atmosphere.

Stepping into the passageway, Ina turned and faced the hole they had just walked past. "Did you feel that?". She asked her expression stern.

"Act as if you didn't notice anything," Aquarius replied, his voice turning grim. "We can never let our guard down here. Instant death if we do."

They passed several areas that betrayed the fine craftsmanship of the woodwork. "Someone's living here," Ina said, gripping Aquarius by the sleeve.

"Why do you say that?"

"It's warm."

"Warm?" Aquarius touched his face, puzzled by the lack of warmth he felt. 'Is something wrong with me?'

Seeing his confusion, Ina grinned mischievously. "Not that type of warmth."

'What other type of warmth is there?' Aquarius, raising an eyebrow, patiently waited for her answer.

"You know... the warmth from a family living together." She shrugged and embraced herself, a soft smile on her face.

'So people feel that?'. Aquarius thought, watching her with a bemused smile. 'She's a lot more feminine than I thought'.

"So, any idea where this family is?" he asked.

Ina nodded and stepped forward, walking toward an area with less intricate woodwork.

'Isn't the warmth supposed to go with the wood?'.Aquarius sighed, shaking his head. 'People sure are confusing'.

The sound of clanking footsteps soon alerted the owner of the house. The door slowly creaked open, revealing a large, tanned man with a long beard and a low haircut. He wasn't wearing armour or anything practical—just a white tunic and sandals.

'So he's Mr Warmth', Aquarius thought sarcastically.

The man gave them a long glare with both fear and astonishment written on his face. But he couldn't let his thoughts hinder his duties.

"Human or monster?" the man asked, his voice low and booming.

'Are you for real?'. Aquarius was about to form a reasonable response, but before he could speak, Ina beat him to it.

"That's a very stupid question."

The man blinked, stunned by her boldness, while Aquarius' skin turned almost as white as his tunic. 'Is she crazy?'

But she didn't stop there. "Now let me ask you: are you potent or impotent?"

The man's mouth opened, then closed with a snap.

"No matter who I ask, the answer's the same," Ina continued, her tone sharp. "So how would your question even answer anything?"

The man looked down, visibly weak in the knees, and clicked his tongue before shifting his gaze to Aquarius.

"Okay, you win. But are either of you Awakened?"

Aquarius groaned, covering his face in embarrassment before answering. "Yes, we both are."

The man's face lit up with a wide grin. "Then welcome to our humble establishment!"

Ina fixed Aquarius with a straight face, though her eyes told a different story. "When did you awaken?"

Aquarius met her gaze, preparing to offer a predetermined answer, but Ina cut him off. "And don't give me that 'ignorance is bliss' nonsense."

He sighed, ruffling her hair with a chuckle. "Well... not now." He paused, his smile widening. "I stink."

As the pair entered through the wooden door that blended seamlessly with its surroundings, Aquarius couldn't help but be taken aback by the intricate design that lay beyond the locked door.

It was familiar, yet distant. The interior had a long, narrow passageway, with beautiful wooden doors engraved in strange patterns along each side. The walls were crafted so masterfully that they made modern technology feel primitive in comparison. The fragrance of white lilies, with hints of lavender, lingered in the air. The atmosphere felt like a four-star hotel from a movie.

At the end of the hallway stood the only metal in sight—a large table with a matching chair serving as a reception desk. Seated behind it was a beautiful woman dressed in the same tunic, with red hair and amber eyes that contrasted perfectly with the LED-like bulbs in the wooden ceiling.

"Wow," Ina murmured under her breath, clearly impressed.

The man grinned as he led them to the receptionist.

"Hey, Cecilia. We got new flocks."

Cecilia raised her head, analyzing them as if reading a book. She straightened her posture and gave them a sharp smile.

"Welcome to Juggers." She then opened the second drawer and retrieved a large book.

Flipping it open, her gaze flicked between the two strangers. "Life must have been tough on you kids."

Aquarius lowered his gaze to mask his unease. "Yeah, really hard."

Ina stared at him, confused, before following his lead. "So... can we get somewhere to stay?"

The receptionist smiled. "Yes, of course, as long as you're awakened."

The tanned-skinned man beamed. "I hope you put in a good word for me, Cecilia."

She sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I'll try." She then turned her focus back to Aquarius, her smile deepening.

Aquarius, growing wary, scanned the room to ensure no one was behind him. His eyes narrowed. 'Why is she smiling at me?'.

"Fill in the necessary form," she instructed, but then added, "But… the boy can meet the boss without filling anything."

Immediately, a grotesque image of a fat man with a potbelly and a naturally distorted face appeared in Aquarius's mind. He stifled the urge to turn and bolt through the door. "Don't worry," he muttered, "I like a quiet life."

Ina chuckled at the sight of Aquarius's usual composure slipping. She then looked at the book in front of them. It contained the usual details like name, age, and other common necessities. But below that, things took a turn—there were spaces asking for their Karmic Law and possible Constellation code.

She gulped and glanced at Aquarius, but as usual, his expression was unreadable. 'At least he knows what to do'.

Then, Aquarius spoke words that seemed to freeze the receptionist in place, her expression faltering. One single word that shook her to the core.

"Alucard."