I let the water stream through my fingers and spill onto the ground. It stayed dark for a few moments, soaking into the soil like something rotten, before its shade thinned and shifted into a clear shimmer that vanished among the blades of grass.

I shook the last droplets off. I didn't want to touch it any longer than necessary; the moment it turned that deep purple, something inside me tightened, as if the liquid carried a presence that my body instinctively rejected. It had to be a natural defense against demons, but the disgust still lingered faintly on my skin.

"Ahhh… I feel so full now. This is amazing, Beatrice—" Elira's smile faded the instant her eyes settled on me. Maybe she noticed the tension in my jaw, or maybe she simply sensed the unease I couldn't hide after watching the water change.

"Shall we keep moving?" she asked softly, giving me that brief, searching look before turning her attention to the horizon. From where we stood, a slender structure rose in the distance—something like a watchtower, marking what had to be a small settlement.

A thin trail of smoke drifted above it, carried slowly by the wind. The thought of being discovered made my stomach twist, yet we needed information and a direction. Hiding wouldn't lead us anywhere. I had to adapt, grow stronger, and learn how to stand above both sides. I didn't want to remain a castaway forever.

"Let's remain vigilant as we proceed. I don't want anyone discovering who I am… and—" I caught my reflection in the water and paused. "I need to hide my true appearance somehow. I stand out too much."

My deep crimson eyes alone were enough to draw suspicion in Ashvale; if not for John, I wouldn't have walked a single street without trouble. But here, in the land of the pure, one glance would brand me a demon. And that was without even counting my wings, which stood out like a glaring flaw I had no way to cover.

"Hmmm…" Elira rose to her feet, tapping her chin in thought. "Can you retract your wings? I've heard some vampires could do that. Or was it just another story meant to scare children?"

"Retract my wings?" The idea had never even crossed my mind. The book I'd read offered very little about vampires, especially anything that explained how they blended among humans. Yet as I stood there, the pieces came together. Vampires were once feared for their ability to disappear into crowds during the ancient days, slipping through cities without raising suspicion. That part, at least, I remembered clearly. So maybe… maybe it was possible.

But the question was still how. I tried focusing on the sensation of my wings, willing them to pull back into my body, but nothing shifted. They remained firmly in place, healthy and very visible. Back in Ashvale, when Hera had cut them off, I had ached for them to return… and now I was trying to hide them? The irony tasted bitter, yet survival demanded adaptation.

"It's not working…" I let out a slow breath. With my wings exposed, there was no chance of entering any city unnoticed. We needed another plan. "What if we find something for me to wrap around my back? A cloak, maybe. I could fold my wings tightly and keep them covered. As long as I don't extend them, it should hide everything—assuming no one decides to check."

"But where are we supposed to find a cloak for you, Beatrice? Out here?" Elira crossed her arms, frowning at the empty landscape. "And don't forget Beelzebub. He has wings too. Unless he hides under the same cloak every time, it won't help much."

She was right. It wasn't a perfect plan, just the only one I had for now. I would need to learn my body better, but that would take time we didn't have.

"You could enter the human settlement and bring me some clothes," I suggested. "Did you forget you're human?"

"I mean…" she looked at me with that soft, hesitant gaze. "I could, but what about you? Where will you stay while I'm gone?" Her expression said everything she didn't voice. She didn't want to leave me here alone, and the worry in her eyes made it clear she imagined every worst possibility.

"I'm not a baby. I can take care of myself." I tried to ease her concern with a small shrug. "While you're gone, I'll focus on studying my body and figuring out a way to blend in. If it comes to the worst, I'll fight. And if I can't win, I'll run. Simple as that." I rolled my neck, feeling a strange itch for combat stirring beneath my skin.

Part of me almost hoped danger would come. Especially if that danger happened to be Hera. Just thinking about her made a low heat rise in my chest. Oh, how I wanted to pin her down and remind her exactly who she had tried to kill, to make her regret every attempt she made on my life.

"I know… I know… but I can't help being worried." Her voice trembled slightly, and the moment I felt the tension in her pulse, I stepped closer and took her hands, holding them gently by the fingers.

"Listen, Elira. I trust you. So you have to trust me too. We're a team, right? We chose to travel together, so we help each other however we can. If this were the demon continent, I'd rely on you to stay safe while I searched for a way to make you blend in." I met her gaze, letting her see the certainty in my crimson eyes. Her golden ones wavered for a heartbeat before softening, and a warm smile spread across her face.

"Alright then. You stay hidden around here and wait for me. I'll be back as soon as I find some clothes for you, and for Beelzebub too." She glanced at the hamster, and he gave a tiny squeak that sounded almost like, "At least you remembered me."

We both laughed, the tension easing between us. The moment she turned away, the warmth at my side faded as she headed off, leaving me and Beelzebub alone under the sun with the whole world ready to pounce on us. Yet inside, I felt surprisingly calm, prepared to greet whatever came our way with claws, fangs, or fists if needed.

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