The girl's eyelids fluttered. The gold in her eyes moved like a dying candle. She blinked. For a fraction of a breath she looked at him. The smallest spark — maybe recognition, maybe reflex.

"Good," Aiden said. "See? You can see me."

He was improvising on a broken thing. He crouched even lower, until he was at eye level, the space between them charged.

"Mummy..." Leona called softly from Lysandra's arm. "She looks so sad. I think she need hugs."

"Ohh... Baby." Lysandra said warmly, as She hugged her tightly, rubbing her cheeks against hers.

"Hey," he said, quieter. "You — you used to have a fight in your eyes. You used to be someone who took and didn't ask. Who are you?"

No answer.

Luna rested a hand on her belly, "Master..." She muttered, softly.

"Name," Aiden urged. "Say a thing you used to like. Tell me your stupid favorite animal. Say the thing the bastards beat out of you. Make a sound. Make me hear the person nobody stole from you."

The girl's breathing came ragged. A whisper came out — a syllable maybe, a scrap of something. No one else could make sense of it. A small, defiant noise like a far-off animal.

"That's it," Aiden said softly, like it was a triumph. "That sound is something. That sound used to be you. Keep it. Don't pretend you're empty."

Venya's hands were white at her sides. "My Lord's harsh."

"He's honest," Seraphina said, eyes wet.

Aiden's face didn't soften much, but his voice did when he lowered it: "Look at me. I bought you. I bought you out because you matter. You matter whether you know it or not. I didn't pay this scum to be generous. I paid to remove you from their hands and give you back a chance."

She made the tiny sound again. It came closer to a syllable this time. Her fingers curled around his thumb.

"I'm not telling you to forgive them," he said. "Forgiving is optional. Living isn't. If you live, you can burn them later. If you die, they keep laughing. Your choice."

Thristle's voice, unexpected and raw, cut in: "You idiot. Saying that will scare her off."

Selvara clenched her jaw, silence snapping out of her.

The girl coughed, a wet rattle that made half of them flinch. Her head turned; her eyes were focused, not on Aiden now but on the corridor — distant — on some ghost of memory.

Aiden held her gaze, like he could pull that memory closer. "Name?" he asked again.

She tried. This time a sound came closer to a word. It didn't matter what it was.

"Maybe," Aiden said. "Or maybe it'll make her angry. Anger is better than void."

Aiden didn't smile. He didn't coo. He leaned closer, voice low but carrying a dangerous heat. "If you want to keep dying inside that shell, fine. I will do it for you. I will end you the easiest, fastest way I can if that's what you want. I will not babysit someone who chooses rot."

The girl's hand tightened and let go, then tightened again. It was mess and small victories. A sound like a hiccup, a sob, broke free, ugly and human.

Aiden's thumb rubbed a line on her knuckle. "Don't thank me," he said. "I don't want thanks. I want you to keep going. If you fall, I'll drag you up. If you refuse, I'll do it anyway. Not for the world — for you."

The girl's eyes filled. Tears tracked through the grime. She choked on a laugh that could have been a sob.

"Please," She rasped, tiny voice barely a thread. "Please… help me." As she wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him.

Aiden's face shifted just a fraction — something like softness edged into his voice. "Then say it. Fight for it. Say, 'I will live.' Say it ugly if you have to."

She made a sound, low and horriblehorrible, crying, "I — will — live."

Aiden didn't smile like some cheesy saint. He just grunted, like good, and pulled her in when her arms suddenly lurched and clung to him.

She buried her face into his chest and just broke. Not graceful crying. Not quiet crying. Full-on shaking, choking, slobbering, snot-coming-out crying. Hands fisting his clothes like if she loosened even a little, she'd fall straight back into hell.

Aiden didn't push her away. He just patted her back, firm and awkward, like yeah, cry it out, get that shit out of your lungs before I make you start talking again.

Selvara wiped her eyes with her sleeve — aggressively, like her eyes weren't watering.

Venya turned her back and sniffed.

Thristle just muttered, "Fuuuck that's painful."

Leona peeked from Lysandra's arms. "Mummy… she's crying lots."

"I know, sweetheart," Lysandra whispered, stroking Leona's hair. "Sometimes people cry like that when they finally stop dying inside."

Luna rested both hands on her belly. "Master… you're… harsh. But it works."

Aiden didn't respond. His hand stayed on the girl's head, pushing her deeper into his chest like yeah, cry harder if you want, I'm not going anywhere.

Her voice cracked between sobs. "P-Please… please…"

"I heard you," Aiden said flatly. "Don't repeat yourself. You asked. I'm doing."

She trembled — then suddenly jerked her head up like she remembered something.

Her weak hand rose and pointed shakily. "P-Please…" She coughed hard, almost falling over again. "Please… save my little sister."

Everyone turned.

Right beside them — against the wall — there was a filthy pile of cloth. A dirty, moldy, disgusting rag heap. Except… it moved.

Selvara didn't wait. She was already crouching. "Oi—"

She yanked the disgusting cloth away.

And there she was.

Same color. Same big-ass curves. Same face structure. Same body type.

Except this one had mulled wine red hair instead of silver, different tattoos.

"Shit," Venya whispered, crouching beside Selvara.

The little sister was barely breathing. Eyes half open. Chest barely moving. Lips cracked, dark blood at the corner. Slave crest glowing faintly like it was eating her alive from the inside.

Selvara checked her pulse. Face dropped. "My Lord… she's bad. She's real bad. She's gonna die."

"NO!" The older sister, still hugging Aiden, suddenly spun, crawling toward her twin, practically dragging herself on the floor. "No—no—NO! WAKE UP!"

She shook her, weakly slapping her cheek. "Open your eyes! Don't leave me!" She coughed more blood mid-scream.

Aiden turned toward the merchant, angrily "What disease?"

The merchant blinked like oh right I'm still here. "Ah—uh—Repaloinsiya."

Aiden narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"It's… uh… like magical tuberculosis but worse? No cure available yet. People give up on them."

The younger twin coughed violently at the worst timing. Then, somehow, she managed to lift her fingertip slightly, touching her sister's cheek.

"Onee…Chan…" Her voice was barely audible. "Leave… with this man. He… is different."

She coughed up blood. "I… can feel it."

Silence.

Aiden's wives stood still.

Seraphina squeezed Nivara's hand.

Luna clutched her belly tighter.

Lysandra hugged Leona like a shield.

Venya pressed her lips together.

Thristle frowned.

Arisha bit her lip.

Nyxion's lips trembled.

Zerra clenched her fists.

Vegia swore under her breath.

Ivy hugged Fluffynugget tighter.

Fluffynugget chirped softly, sad.

Aiden inhaled sharply.

*System. Do something.*

---

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION] [CRAFTING UNLOCKED]

NOTE: USER CAN NOW CRAFT.

AVAILABLE RECIPE: S-RANK HEALING POTION

NOTE: THE REAL EFFECT OF THE POTION WORKS ONLY ON THE USER AND BONDED BEAST.

REQUIRED INTELLIGENCE LEVEL: 100

CURRENT INTELLIGENCE LEVEL: 120

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CRAFT THIS POTION?

→ YES | NO

---

*YES!* Aiden snapped.

The older sister didn't even look up. Still shaking her twin like she could force her soul back in.

Aiden stood.

"Leave everything to me."

---

5 SCORPION STING — USED

4 WOLF BONE — USED

3 DRAGON LIVER SCALES — USED

1 DROP DRAGON BLOOD — USED (CRAFTING...)

---

Aiden turned to the two of them. "Before I save her — I'm making one thing clear."

The older sister lifted her head, crying messily. "Anything! I'll do anything!"

"You two swear loyalty to me. Forever."

"Yes!" She slammed her head on the ground. "I'll be your anything. Just save her!"

Aiden grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You understand what forever means? You don't get to die. You don't get to give up. You'll fight even when you hate me. You will live even when it hurts. You belong to me means you don't get to stop."

She nodded frantically. "Yes—yes—YES!"

Aiden turned to the younger one. "Do you agree?"

Her eyelids fluttered. "Y… yess…" She slumped.

---

[BONDING SUCCESSFUL]

NOTE: NAMING PROCESS PENDING DUE TO CURRENT SITUATION.

---

The potion materialized in Aiden's hand — a golden vial, glowing like molten sun trapped in glass. He

The merchant's jaw dropped. "Wh—what in the—"

"Shut up," Aiden muttered.

He crouched beside the unconscious twin and tilted her head slightly.

He poured the potion into her mouth.

It went down her lips and chin — barely.

"Oi. Wake up," The older sister begged, shaking her harder.

Aiden clicked his tongue. "No choice then."

He lifted her by the chin. Opened her lips with his thumb.

Then he sipped half the potion in his own mouth…

…and pressed his lips to hers.

Everyone froze.

Even the merchant.

Venya's jaw dropped. "My Lord just—"

Thristle threw her hands in the air. "OH SHE'S LUCKY AS HELL."

Selvara growled. "I WILL BREAK HER IF SHE DOESN'T LIVE."

Aiden kept feeding it to her — slow. Patient. Literal mouth-to-mouth potion transfer.

He pulled back. Wiped his lips like it was nothing.

Then shoved the vial into the older sister's hands. "Drink. Now."

She gulped it immediately with both hands shaking.

The younger one coughed — violently — then arched like lightning struck her spine.

Her fingers twitched.

Her slave crest flickered.

Her breathing steadied.

Her eyes… slowly opened.

Alive.

The older sister dropped the vial and launched herself, hugging her. "YOU'RE BACK! You're back—you—don't you dare die again!"

The younger sister — weak, half-awake — whispered:

"…did… he… kiss me?"

Aiden stared.

Selvara cackled. "HAH! SHE NOTICED!"

Venya clutched her chest. "I'm so jealous."

Thristle flopped on the floor. "My heart can't take this!"

Aiden stood, cracking his neck. "Enough crying. Both of you — from now on, you don't collapse. You don't die. You stay glued to me until I decide otherwise. Got it?"

Both nodded.

---

END OF CHAPTER : 129 : TWIN SLAVE!

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