reveal

Amaias couldn't shake the image of what had just happened. He spent the entire day flustered, his mind racing every time he thought about how they had ended up in that awkward position. The blush on his face refused to fade, and his thoughts kept spiraling.

"Hey, doofus, you're a boy, and straight, for crying out loud! How can you be flustered like this for your own friend? I need therapy," he muttered to himself, pacing back and forth in his room. His embarrassment was just too much to handle, and every time he remembered how close he'd been to Cior, his face turned an even deeper shade of red.

"I should be focused on the case, not on... that," he added with a frustrated sigh, trying to push the thoughts away. But it was easier said than done.

Cior jumped up in excitement, her face lighting up as she exclaimed, "I did it! I figured it out!"

Amaias glanced at her, his eyes narrowing as he took in her disheveled appearance. "Yeah, with eyes full of bags, messed-up hair, and malnourished," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Hey!" Cior retorted, feeling slightly self-conscious. "I'm fine! This is just... focus! Extreme focus!"

"But congratulations," Amaias said with a smirk, crossing his arms. "Though, you might want to eat something before you crack the next big case. At least a snack. Or a full meal. You look like a zombie."

Cior stuck her tongue out playfully. "Thanks for the support, Amaias," she said with a sarcastic grin before diving back into her work.

Cior, still buzzing with excitement, turned to Amaias. "So, who are they?" he asked, eager to catch the culprits.

Cior looked determined. "Let's go and catch them. They're not in school right now."

Amaias crossed his arms, a skeptical look on his face. "First, eat something and fix yourself," he said, eyeing her appearance, which was still frazzled from hours of intense focus.

Before Cior could respond, Arven, who had been listening in from across the room, piped up with a teasing grin. "Hey, now days you guys give us no attention. Are you two dating or something?"

Cior's eyes widened in mock outrage. "Hey! Shut up! We have important work to do, doofas!" she snapped, clearly flustered by the sudden teasing.

Amaias chuckled, but he wasn't letting Cior off the hook just yet. "Yeah, Cior, you should probably eat something... unless you're planning to work yourself to death."

Cior groaned, her face turning a little redder at Arven's words. "You're all impossible," she muttered, but ultimately agreed to take a break, grabbing a quick snack before heading out to track down the culprits.

They teleported to the location, and as they arrived, Amaias scanned the area, eyes narrowing. "So, here they are," he said, his voice serious.

Cior nodded, her determination clear. "Yah," she replied, her tone equally focused. They had arrived at the right place, but now they needed to find the culprits and bring everything to a close.

Amaias glanced at her, his usual playful demeanor now replaced by a sharp intensity. "Let's get this over with then. I have a feeling we're in for a wild chase."

Cior smiled slightly, her excitement and nerves mixing. "Exactly. Let's go." With that, they both moved forward, ready to face whatever was coming next.

They had searched the forest for what felt like hours, but despite their best efforts, nothing was coming up. Disappointment hung in the air, but Cior and Amaias didn't give up. They pressed on, determined to find something.

Then, they spotted it—a cave. They exchanged a glance before putting on their disappearing cloaks and entering the dark, eerie space. What they found inside was enough to freeze their blood. The sight triggered a deep, visceral panic in Cior—children undergoing the same cruel experiments she had endured in her past life.

She froze, panic seizing her chest. The memories hit her all at once—the cold metal of the equipment, the sterile rooms, the feeling of helplessness.

Amaias, noticing her distress, gripped her arm firmly. "Cior," he said quietly, pulling her back from the overwhelming memories. "We have to stay focused. Let's take the evidence and go."

But just as they turned to leave, one of the figures detected them, a dangerous ability honed in on their presence. Amaias reacted quickly, using his nullifying ability to shield them. He grabbed Cior, spreading his wings, and they flew, escaping the danger as rain began to pour down, soaking them both in moments.

When they landed in a secluded cave, the storm still raging outside, Amaias turned to check on Cior. "Hey, are you okay? You don't seem well," he said, worry evident in his voice.

Cior was silent, her gaze lost in thought as she sat in a corner, her shoulders trembling. The memories had overwhelmed her, and for the first time in a long while, she couldn't hold it in.

Amaias knelt beside her, his voice gentle. "If you don't want to talk, that's fine. But know that I'm here for you. Whenever you're ready, I'll listen."

Cior didn't respond at first, her emotions too tangled in the storm inside her. Then, the tears came—quiet at first, but soon they were flowing freely. Amaias didn't say a word, only offering his shoulder as a silent support. He didn't try to fix her, didn't offer words of comfort—he simply let her cry.

Eventually, she calmed enough to fall asleep, exhausted from the emotional turmoil. Amaias watched over her, his heart heavy. Knowing she'd been through so much, he felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness.

But as he looked at her, soaked from the rain and still trembling, Amaias realized something. He had extra clothes with him, a precaution he always took, so he decided to change her into a dry shirt, just to make sure she didn't get sick.

As he carefully unbuttoned her wet shirt, he noticed the bandage around her chest. It was tight, a clear effort to conceal something. His heart skipped a beat. He had been so caught up in everything, he hadn't noticed until now.

"Wait a minute," Amaias muttered to himself. "Cior... you're a girl?"

His words hung in the air, disbelief mixing with surprise. He'd never suspected it.