A knock echoed through the training room, sharp and official. Rael glanced at the door before wiping the sweat off her brow. Vial was lying flat on his back on the mat, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling like waves during a storm. His body was sore, limbs refusing to move. Training with Rael had been brutal—merciless but necessary.
The door slid open with a smooth hiss, and a female guard stepped inside. She was dressed in standard black tactical gear, a subtle emblem on her shoulder indicating her authority. She gave a respectful nod to Rael, then approached Vial.
"I'll be in charge of escorting and guarding you from now on," she said flatly, her tone professional.
Vial's eyes opened slowly, his hair sticking to his forehead. He blinked, then gave a slight nod, voice hoarse from exhaustion.
"…Alright. Let's head back."
The guard extended her hand, but Vial pushed himself up with a quiet groan. He didn't want to seem weak—especially not now.
They exited the training room and walked toward the waiting vehicle. The trip was silent. The guard didn't make small talk, and Vial appreciated it. His mind was too fried from training to bother with words.
Once they arrived at the VIC, the vehicle pulled to a secure entrance. The moment Vial stepped out, the surrounding staff instinctively gave him space. Their eyes followed him with a strange mix of reverence and awe, as if watching a sacred artifact walking on its own.
He didn't have to flash any ID or stop at any checkpoint. Everyone here already knew:
This was the male.
The treasure.
Untouchable.
He walked back to his assigned room with his guard quietly trailing behind. Once inside, the door shut behind him, and he let out a deep sigh.
His shirt stuck to his skin. Every muscle screamed. Without a second thought, he began undressing. One article of clothing after another hit the floor until he was completely bare. The bathroom was calling to him. A cold shower was exactly what he needed.
Vial pushed the bathroom door open.
He froze.
Inside, surrounded by steam, was Celeste—completely naked, water cascading down her body in soft rivulets. Her back had been turned to the door, but the moment she heard it open, she looked toward the sound.
Their eyes met.
Then her gaze dropped.
Celeste's face went pale.
Then red.
Very red.
Her eyes widened to impossible size. "W-WHAA—!?"
She crouched down immediately, covering herself with her arms and trembling in disbelief.
Vial's mind took an extra two seconds to catch up. When it finally did, he gasped.
"Ah—S-Sorry!" he shouted, stumbling back. The door slammed shut behind him.
He stood still for a moment, heart racing from sheer shock and embarrassment.
Why the hell was she in there!?
Quickly, he threw his clothes back on, sitting down on the edge of the bed, trying to process what just happened. The image of Celeste's shocked expression—and everything else—still burned into his mind. He pressed his palms into his face.
Inside the bathroom, Celeste was crouched on the tiles, still flustered, her body dripping.
"W-What was that…!?" she muttered under her breath. "His… It was just… hanging like that…?"
Her face flared red again, and steam wasn't the only thing making her cheeks warm.
She stayed like that for a minute before finally gathering herself. After drying off with a towel, she changed into the clothes she'd brought with her. Her hands were still shaking as she fixed her blouse.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, Vial immediately stood.
"I'm sorry," he said quickly, looking genuinely embarrassed. "I didn't know someone was in there."
Celeste avoided his gaze, but gave a nervous laugh. "It's… It's alright. I should've locked the door."
He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Why were you here, though?"
"Oh—right," she said, tugging at her sleeve. "I was called in for a witness testimony. About what happened… when Kaelene tried to take you."
Vial's expression tightened at the reminder. "I see. So you had to come here… because of me."
She nodded quietly.
"…Sorry again. For everything."
Celeste blinked. She wanted to say "It's okay" again, but her voice caught in her throat. Instead, she nodded with a small smile.
After a brief pause, Vial scratched the back of his head. "Uh… would you like to eat with me in the cafeteria? After I properly shower this time."
Celeste looked surprised. "Oh—um… sure."
Fifteen minutes later, they walked side by side through the VIC's pristine halls. The lights glowed softly from above, casting gentle shadows beneath their feet. Neither of them spoke for the first few minutes, both too aware of the earlier incident.
The silence wasn't hostile—just awkward.
Celeste kept her eyes on the floor, while Vial kept his hands in his pockets. Every now and then, they would glance at each other and quickly look away.
When they reached the cafeteria, the doors slid open, revealing a quiet, high-end dining space. Staff members inside glanced up, instantly recognizing Vial.
"Go ahead," he said, turning to Celeste. "What do you want to eat?"
"H-Huh? Oh… uh…" she looked caught off guard, clearly distracted. "Anything's fine."
Vial nodded and selected a few simple dishes—grilled meat, rice, and a light salad. He added two fruit drinks and handed her a tray.
They found a seat near the back. It was oddly peaceful. As they began eating, the tension slowly melted away.
Celeste took a bite and hummed softly. "This… actually isn't bad."
Vial chuckled. "For institutional food, yeah. Could be worse."
She laughed a little, and it finally felt like the air cleared between them.
They continued eating, this time speaking casually about the food, the taste, and the training room. Celeste asked if Vial was okay after the intense session with Rael, and Vial explained with mock exhaustion how brutal it had been.
By the time they finished their meal, the earlier embarrassment had faded into just another strange memory. They stood up together, smiling a little awkwardly—but no longer painfully.
And as they walked back to the room, side by side again, it felt different.
Still uncertain.
But a little closer.