Deviant: No Longer Human

"You really don't hesitate, do you?" Wang Xiao murmured, leaning against the rough-hewn stone wall.

They were no longer beneath the open sky but within a secret grotto that seemed, impossibly, to be a home.

Rooms branched out like corridors of a forgotten realm, the cavern aglow with ghostly fireflies that stirred as they entered, their light casting an otherworldly shimmer over strange artifacts and herbs strewn in odd corners.

The faint scent of incense lingered in the air, mingling with the damp, earthy aroma.

He could tell at a glance that this was a place uniquely tied to Aurora. Explore more at mvl

'Yes… this is certainly a witch's home,' he thought with an inward sigh.

The cavern lacked any traditional furniture, but a large, tranquil pool of water dominated half the chamber, its still surface like polished obsidian beneath the glow of the fireflies.

A flicker of amusement danced in his gaze as Aurora let her cloak slip away, pooling at her feet like a silken shadow. Beneath, her snow-kissed skin glowed faintly in the dim light, bare and unadorned as she stepped forward, her figure as artful and fluid as a brushstroke.

The graceful delicate curves and slopes that rose like hidden jade hills—caught the fireflies' glow, casting soft reflections across the still water.

A blush of warmth traced her cheeks despite herself, as she moved with the effortless confidence of someone unbound by mortal modesty.

As her form merged with the water, ripples fanned out in silken waves, caressing her as she leaned against the edge, half-submerged in shadow, her gaze smoldering.

"Not that you would look away, even if I asked," she teased, a sly glint in her eyes.

Wang Xiao let a faint, challenging smile tug at the corners of his mouth, his tone dry. "This is your idea of a secret place? I was expecting… more."

"…" Aurora's eyes narrowed, though the faintest smile played at her lips.

She tilted her head,"The true suprise is beyond this door," she said, her fingers lifting to point toward a shadowed wooden door in the far corner—a door veiled by the flickering light, leading deeper into the mountain's heart.

Wang Xiao extended his divine sense, expecting a scene of indulgent luxury, yet what he glimpsed sent a spark of surprise through him.

"What…?"

All four walls of the chamber bore carved alcoves, each filled with glimmering, jewel-toned fruits—rich crimson, deep amethyst, and bright gold—that pulsed with an otherworldly glow.

They looked exotic, unfamiliar, and each seemed to hum with a faint, unnatural life force. But at the center of the room lay something even more unsettling.

A coffin!

Its dark, rugged surface shone faintly under the firefly light, casting ghostly reflections across the room. The wood was adorned with arcane symbols that seemed to shift and shimmer in the dimness, almost as though whispering secrets only the dead could understand.

Wang Xiao stared at it, feeling an uncharacteristic chill crawl up his spine.

He couldn't tell who—or what—rested within.

Turning to Aurora, his gaze questioned her, but she only smiled, her expression mischievous, as though delighting in his unease.

"Surprised?" she murmured, a sly glint in her eyes, her brows lifting in innocence.

"You… Why would you keep something like this here?" he muttered, exasperation mingling with wariness.

He had called her a witch in jest before, but now he couldn't help wondering if there was more truth to it than he'd intended.

Her laughter was soft, teasing, as though she enjoyed every moment of his discomfort.

"..."

"Huh—"

Wang Xiao's brow furrowed in mild irritation as he took a step toward her, feeling that perhaps she needed an occasional reminder not to laugh at him so boldly.

SPLASH!

Without warning, he slipped into the water, his movements swift. Aurora's eyes widened in surprise, her voice catching as she tried to stop him, but it was already too late.

"Wait—Mmm!"

Aurora gasped, her words cut off as his closeness enveloped her. She hadn't had time to explain that this pool held a unique, sacred energy—its waters meant for pure cultivation rather than indulgence. Now, that thought would have to wait.

Meanwhile, outside the cave, Aura, the dragon, stood sentinel, her vast form coiled like a protective statue watching over her two "cubs."

Her amber eyes glowed with quiet approval…until a series of soft yet unmistakable sounds began to filter from within the cavern.

Her nostrils flared, and she gave an exasperated snort, lifting her head toward the night sky.

With an indignant huff, she gathered her wings and took flight, soaring into the heavens, her silhouette a majestic sweep against the moonlit clouds.

The sight of a dragon winging over Japan that night sparked a frenzy on the news, though no one could guess her reason for departing.

____

A Few Hours Later

Click!

"Don't… eat anything inside…" Aurora warned, her voice still rough, each word catching on her breath.

She shot Wang Xiao a tired but wary look as he dressed and reached for the door of her secret chamber. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair tousled—a rare sight that had him smirking to himself.

She hadn't expected him to be so fierce, and now her usual teasing had vanished, replaced by a caution he found almost charming.

"Yeah, yeah…" he muttered with a dismissive wave, not bothering to look back.

He pushed open the door and stepped inside, greeted by a shadowy chamber carved from stone, its rough walls dressed with wooden carvings and strange symbols.

In the center, that damned coffin lay, half-draped in darkness. He barely spared it a glance. No, he'd leave that for later, once she was close enough to give him some answers.

Right now, his mind was on her little warning about not touching a thing.

That only made him want to touch everything.

His eyes traced the walls, each one carved with niches, each niche stuffed with fruits of every color—ripe, exotic, their skins like polished jewels in shades of midnight blue, blood red, and dark gold.

They almost seemed to glow, like they'd been soaked in the light of the heavens. He could feel the faint hum of aether pulsing from them, so subtle it was nearly a whisper, but it was there.

"Are they filled with aether…?" he muttered under his breath, feeling the heat of greed spark inside him.

Aurora had been hiding some treasures, alright.

These fruits were practically humming with power.

He couldn't help but wonder if the coffin itself held something even more forbidden.

Without another thought, he reached for a dark purple fruit, its skin smooth as a polished stone.

He brought it to his mouth and took a bite, feeling the sweet, almost electric juice burst over his tongue.

Crunch…

"Damn," he murmured, tasting the rich, forbidden sweetness laced with a rough edge that hit just right.

Ignoring every ounce of sense and her warning, he reached for another, and then another.

The fruits were too good to stop, each one a different shade of strange and powerful, the flavors practically daring him to keep going.