Synn remained motionless for a moment, still with her back to Paige. The steam from the tea began to rise in the air, but something in her unseen expression seemed to harden. Slowly, she turned her face toward Paige.
And then, her left eye began to glow.
A pink energy with violet sparks burst from her eye socket, dancing like a tiny living spark.
Synn:You're in the Underground… the home of monsters, as you humans call us.
Her voice was deeper, graver… different from before.
Paige instinctively leaned back in her chair. The tone, the look, the unfamiliar energy… it all sent a chill racing down her spine. Her hands clutched the edge of the seat, and her body began to tremble.
Paige:Ek!
Fear returned in an instant, like a dark wave crashing over all logic.
Synn immediately noticed the shift in Paige's face.
The fear.
The girl trembled, her wide eyes fixed on the glow from that socket, sparkling with unknown power. Synn realized at once what she had done. The light in her eye faded instantly, vanishing as if it had never been there.
And without thinking, she ran to her.
Her bones creaked rapidly as she moved, and she dropped to her knees beside the human—agitated, desperate.
Synn:I'm sorry, Paige. I didn't mean to scare you.
She said it with a trembling voice, almost on the verge of panic. The tone was completely different from before—no longer deep or confident, but broken, afraid of having caused harm.
Paige didn't answer. She continued to shake, hugging herself tightly, trying not to collapse again.
Then, Synn moved even closer… and hugged her.
She wrapped her skeletal arms around her—gently, awkwardly, but with visible sincerity. There was no threat in her gesture, only a silent plea.
A request for forgiveness.
After a long embrace, with Paige still trembling in Synn's bony arms, the silence grew thick—but also necessary. When Synn finally pulled back a little, she lowered her head.
Synn:I'm sorry, Paige.
Paige:I-It's… okay…
She said it with a trembling voice, squeezing the words out between unsteady breaths. Her hands wouldn't stop moving—nervous, fragile.
Wanting to help in some way, Synn stood up immediately.
Without saying another word, she turned and ran through one of the doors at the back, leaving Paige alone for a moment.
The room fell silent. Steam still rose from the teacup. Paige, with trembling hands, picked it up. She brought the cup to her lips and took a small sip. The warmth offered a sliver of comfort, and gently, she set the cup back on the table.
At that moment, Synn returned.
She entered through the door with a folded blanket in her arms. It was pink. She approached and handed it to Paige with shaking hands. The girl accepted it and wrapped it around her shoulders, snuggling into it.
Paige:Th-thank you…
Synn:Y-y-yeah… and I'm sorry for scaring you.
Synn kept apologizing. Her voice was an unsteady whisper.
Synn:The reason I got upset… is because there's a story from the past. My grandmother… and my mother… they died in a war that happened decades ago. And that's why we monsters—as you humans call us—live in the Underground. That's where you are now.
As she spoke, she slowly placed a hand on her skull, as if needing to steady herself. There was no anger in her voice this time.
Only pain.
Paige:War? Underground?She asked with a weak voice, but full of confusion. Her face showed a whirlwind of emotions: fear, uncertainty, doubt. Still trembling, she hugged the pink blanket close, not knowing whether what she was experiencing was real—or just some strange dream she hadn't yet woken from.Nothing made sense. The word war echoed in her mind. And Underground… she had never heard of such a place.
Paige:Could you explain to me about that war… and this place called the Underground? Please…
Synn watched her in silence for a moment. Her hand still rested on her skull. Then, she slowly lowered her arm and let out a sigh.
Synn:Sigh… Of course…
And so, Synn began to explain.To tell the story—Of how the creatures—the monsters—Ended up banished to that place called the Underground.