Chapter 11
Adam took a deep breath.
He looked at the sky for a few seconds, then turned to Tessa with a drier tone.
Look, this is not something to be arguing on the roof of a hospital.
Tessa watched him, silently.
Let us change the subject.
How is the drone like that? J.
For a moment, the face of Tessa tensed up.
His brow furrowed... but immediately a shadow of sadness slipped through his eyes.
She is broken, she said, lowering her voice.
I tried to repair it, but it is a more advanced model than I thought.
I do not recognize most of their systems.
It is as if it came from a technology that should not exist here.
Adam crossed his arms.
Wow, how convenient, he muttered.
Tessa looked at him sideways, annoyed by his tone.
Adam shrugged.
He seemed indifferent.
But inside, I knew how important J was to his sister.
It was not just a drone.
She was his first ally.
His first real loss.
Do you think it can work again? he asked, this time with a more neutral tone.
Tessa hesitated.
I don't know.
But I am not planning to give up.
Adam sat on the floor. Tessa came and sat next to him, lying her head on his shoulder.
Look, relax, Adam said in a low voice, inhale, exhale, exhale...
Adam took his hand gently.
I'm calm, Tessa. I'm here... relax. I'm taking care of you.
Thoughts from Adam: Seriously, I don't want to get my parents into this.
Kan was running through the city, hidden in shadows and damp walls.
His body was shaking.
He struggled to stand up.
The cursed blood in their veins was burning, demanding food... power... something.
He got into a narrow alley, amidst garbage and graffiti turned off.
His breathing was heavy.
He held onto the wall with one hand.
No, I can do more, he whispered, clenching his teeth.
Her purple skin glowed slightly, barely contained under a dirty coat coat.
His eyes were sunk, and the veins in his neck were churning like anxious snakes.
He almost fell to the ground.
He had to kneel.
The curse inside called for flesh... life.
Then, he heard footsteps.
Slow down. Clumsy.
A drunken man was staggering down the alley, aimlessly clear.
Kan saw it.
And he knew he could no longer hold on.
Forgive me, he muttered, though his voice had no regrets, only hunger.
The drunk did not even notice it at first.
But when Kan jumped on him, it was too late.
A dry blow.
A muffled scream.
A stream of blood on the wall.
Kan fed himself with restrained violence.
Not for pleasure... but for necessity.
When he finished, his hands were shaking less.
His body hardened again.
And in his eyes, for a second, a spark of humanity reappeared...
That it went off as soon as it arrived.
After feeding, Kan left the streets. Its distorted shape faded into the fog.
Their fate: a floating building, suspended in the sky by forces that defied all logic.
A place that only a few could see... let alone survive when they entered.
He went through the dimensional veil and, upon entering, immediately knelt on a ground that pulsed like raw flesh.
My Lord.
The echo was quick to respond.
A deep voice, without body or direction.
> - Speak.
I found two specimens.
Children, human.
But not common.
Kan looked up just a few degrees.
Both show abnormal growth, eye power, indomitable will.
I think they could... fight the Absolute Solutioner.
A deep silence covered the place.
The air vibrated. The light went out for a moment.
> - Are you sure?
Not completely, Kan admitted, but...
They are different.
And if we let them grow, they could be the key.
> - Interesting.
> - Observe. Manipula.
If one of them survives the pain...
He will be our champion.
And if not...
Kan lowered his head.
Then, it will become food.
> - Go.
Hey, Adam, said Tessa, in a serious tone.
Our father .
Adam turned to her, confused.
What? What happened?
Not serious, not just observation.
But while I was there, they asked me...
If I had powers.
And what did you say? asked Adam, already with his body in tension.
I told them no.
I don't want to get them into this without talking to you first. This also involves you.
Adam looked at her for a few seconds.
Thank you...
Really.
Tessa smiled, then looked down on the ceiling floor.
The cold wind grazed their hair.
I want to protect us, Adam.
And... I want to be stronger.
Adam nodded.
Me too.
Tessa looked at him sideways.
And how is your inner domain?
Adam blinked.
My what?
- Your domain. Aren't you working on that? she insisted.
You used complex damn techniques... you should have felt something.
Adam stared at her as if he had just said the most absurd thing of the day.
Tessa...
Do you know how many five-year-olds have an "inner domain"?
Zero, she replied.
But we are not normal children, remember?
Adam opened his mouth to answer... but he said nothing.
Just smiled.
Touché.
Tessa crossed her arms.
That is exactly an "expansion of domain," you can explain it to me.
-
Adam remained silent for a moment.
Then he sighed and sat on the edge of the wall.
Okay, okay. Listen.
He raised a finger.
First, a domain expansion is an enclosed space.
A place that you create by expanding your cursed soul and energy to the point where you completely master what is going on in there.
Second, within that space, your attacks do not fail.
Literally. Every technique you use is right. Unless the enemy has a stronger dominance or a special defense.
Third, everything you do within the domain...
It is much stronger.
- The techniques are amplified to 200%.
Sometimes even more so, if the domain has a custom form, adapted to your combat style.
Tessa looked at him, surprised.
And can you do that?
Adam nodded, with a half-smile.
- An incomplete version. It has no hit yet, but the techniques are still enhanced.
It is unstable... but functional.
Wow, whispered Tessa, it sounds crazy.
Adam later shrugged his shoulders at Elliot Mansion.
Adam crossed the main corridor of the mansion slowly.
His side still hurt, but not as much as the silence that had remained after the fall of J.
It was then that he saw her.
A slender-figured drone, white metallic skin, faint red eyes.
I was by the staircase, holding a tray with a jug of water and two glasses.
His hands were barely shaking.
Are you? asked Adam.
The drone looked down with shyness.
- Unit V... domestic model.
I have been assigned to assist them as long as Unit J is not operational.
His voice was soft. He was almost muffled.
Tessa appeared from the back of the hallway.
Our parents brought her two days ago.
They said it was a temporary replacement.
It has no combat or security functions, only basic tasks.
Adam nodded slowly.
And why the name?
His name was V, Tessa replied.
And I didn't want to change it.
I thought it was...
Beautiful.
V nodded timidly.
I am here to serve you... if that is okay.
Adam tilted his head.
There was no hostility in it. Only...
A strange calm.
Yes, okay, he replied, finally.
And for the first time, V seemed to smile. Very slightly.
Adam looked at V with the most serious face in the world.
You can leave the tray anywhere...
And then you come.
Do you understand?
V nodded immediately.
Yes, Mr Adam.
He came out almost tripping over his own steps. Tessa, seeing the scene, crossed her arms.
Don't go overboard. I know you don't like drones, but you shouldn't scare her either.
Adam did not blink.
I am being professional.
Tessa raised an eyebrow.
Aha...
V returned, visibly nervous. Her hands clasped, her head down.
Adam looked at her intensely.
I will be clear to you.
I do not repeat.
Do you understand?
V nodded tremblingly.
- S-yes...
Your arm. I want you to put it in the shape of a T.
Now.
V obeyed instantly, raising his arm clumsily and straight.
She was so tense that she seemed about to disarm.
What else? Mr Adam?
Adam slowly approached.
He lifted her by one arm with surprising gentleness.
How cute...
And without warning, he turned his cheek against V.
V froze.
- Mr Adam, Mr Adam, p-for... p-you can tell me s-only A-Adam...
Tessa put her hand to her face.
What kind of scene is this...?
Adam, without losing his pose, muttered:
I got a sugar drop.
Adam still had his cheek leaning against that of V.
You can say, "Adam, my little sugar.".
Come on. Say it.
V blushed. Literally. His thermal sensors rose slightly in temperature.
- A-Adam... m-my sugar tenrosito...
Adam smiled as if he had just received the best compliment in the world.
Awww... what a cute robot!
All drones that do not resemble my sugar tenrosito are clearly defective.
Tessa, from the bottom up, no longer knew whether to laugh or scream.
Adam!
Are you saying that J was defective?
Adam turned his head calmly.
It does not look like V.
So... yes.
Defective. And period.
Tessa looked at him as if he had just committed blasphemy.
You are completely crazy...!
Adam hugged V like a pillow.
My little sugar tenrosito...
The most perfect drone in the world.
V didn't know where to get in.
It literally trembled in "mild emotional error" mode.
V was completely stiff in the arms of Adam.
Their sensors were soaring. Their internal temperature was soaring.
His entire emotional system was on the verge of critical error.
A-a-Adam, can you... let me go?
Adam looked at her as if he had just made a ridiculous request to her.
Whatever you want, my sugar tenrosito.
And he gently let it go.
V walked out clumsily, not looking back, his footsteps echoing as if they weighed a ton.
---
Tessa, from the bottom, crossed her arms.
I watched him with a mixture of disgust, anger and utter disbelief.
Why are you not like that with J?
Adam slowly turned to her, with his most serious expression... but obviously exaggerated.
Look, I don't know you...
But when I hear "super-advanced experimental drone," it sounds like "nuclear bomb with emotions" to me.
J was great, yes...
But my sugar tenrosito has charm.
Tessa looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
Love?
Exactly, sweetness, innocence.
Existential fear.
Everything a perfect drone should have.
I can't believe you are comparing that J to V...
Adam put a hand on his chest dramatically.
Compare?!
Compare my sugar tenrosito to J?!
Please, Tessa, I respect it a little.
Tessa turned around with a sigh.
I will start training alone... before you drive me crazy.
Adam watched her leave and then muttered, still in his mocking tone:
Be careful, do not get jealous too...