Vilyn's laughter echoed through the room, filled with a mix of amusement and affection. "Don't worry, honey," she reassured him, her voice dripping with warmth. "You will soon find someone who truly appreciates you. And when that happens, Mama will be overjoyed for you." Her words were meant to comfort, but they carried a hint of worry, as if she knew something that Calguas didn't.
Intrigued by Vilyn's cryptic response, Calguas turned to Nia'le and asked, curiosity lacing his voice, "How did you come to know that Xart and Ixartxist are the same person, Nia'le? Who told you this? Please don't tell me it was Vilyn." Vilyn's smile faltered, her expression betraying a mix of awkwardness and concern. "Well, it's not exactly like that," she stammered. "Let me explain what really happened."
The scene shifted to Nia'le and Vilyn sitting at a dinner table, their plates filled with delicious food. Vilyn leaned towards Nia'le, her eyes filled with genuine interest. "Tell me, dear," she inquired, her voice filled with curiosity. "What kind of mission are you and your father up to?" Nia'le paused for a moment, contemplating how much he should reveal. Finally, he decided to share a part of the truth. "I need to help Tassa," he admitted quietly.
The mention of Tassa's name caused Vilyn's expression to change. Her lips formed a slight pout, and a flicker of sadness passed through her eyes. "Tassa... I hope it's a different girl named Tassa," she murmured, almost to herself. "Not the Tassa who caused so much heartache in my life. My ex-boyfriend, Ixartxist, left me for a girl named Tassa. A young blonde girl who stole his heart. But that's all in the past now. I have you and your father, and we are a happy family, right?" Vilyn's words held a touch of vulnerability, as if she was still healing from the wounds of her past.
Confusion clouded Nia'le's face as he tried to piece everything together. He couldn't help but ask, "So, Xart and Ixartxist... are they really the same person?" Vilyn's gaze locked onto Nia'le's, her eyes searching for understanding. After a brief silence, she replied, her voice tinged with exasperation, "Well, my dear Nia'le, isn't it obvious? I-Xart-xist and Xart... what do you think? Surely it didn't take you two whole minutes to figure it out." Nia'le's shock was evident as he processed this new information. Finally, he managed to respond, his voice filled with disbelief, "No, it took me two whole years to decipher that." Vilyn's stare lingered for a moment, before she broke into a smile. "Well, that's dumb. Wait, as long as you know prime numbers, you're definitely not dumb. Do you know what a prime number is?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Nia'le, determined to prove his intelligence, confidently replied, "A prime number is a whole number greater than 1, whose only factors are 1 and itself. Its first known use was in 1570." Vilyn couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. She clapped her hands, her eyes shining with admiration. "You truly are brilliant, my son," she exclaimed, pulling him into a tight embrace. Nia'le, however, brushed off her praise, his tone filled with bitterness. "It's audacious for her to call me dumb," he muttered. "Little does she know that almost every school here in America refuses to accept me because of my intelligence. The real fool is Tassa, for falling in love and loathing the same person. What a lovesick fool she is."
Vilyn took a deep breath, gathering herself before continuing the story. "And that, my dear husband," she said, turning to Calguas, "is how it all unfolded. Do you understand now?" Calguas's gaze hardened as he locked eyes with Vilyn. "What other things have you been hiding from me, Vilyn?" he questioned, his voice laced with a mix of suspicion and concern. Vilyn's eyes widened, a flicker of worry crossing her face. She reached out, hoping to ease his worries. "Are you mad at me for telling Nia'le about Ixartxist and Xart?" she asked softly. Calguas took a deep breath, his anger dissipating as he gently held her hand. "No, let's put that aside for now. Let's focus on enjoying this meal together. Come on, Nia'le," he said, his voice filled with a sense of calm and resolution. As they sat down to eat, the tension in the room began to fade, replaced by a shared moment together.
The rain continued to pour relentlessly, matching the turmoil raging inside Ixartxist's heart. Frustration and confusion overwhelmed him as he destroyed objects around him, hoping to find some release for the emotions that threatened to consume him. "What do you want from me, Quart? You're a fiend, but you're all I need. This magic, this connection between us, it's shrouded in mystery, and I can't make sense of it," he cried out, his voice filled with desperation. He fell to his knees, his arms resting heavily on a nearby table as he looked up towards the heavens, seeking guidance. In that moment, thunder roared, and lightning illuminated the sky, mirroring the storm within him.
Meanwhile, Tassa braved the torrential rain, determined to find Ixartxist and Suman within the confines of the mansion. She scoured every room, hoping to stumble upon them, but her search proved fruitless. Suman's room stood empty, devoid of any signs of life. Undeterred, she made her way to Ixartxist's room, her heart pounding with anticipation. As she opened the door, a sense of unease washed over her. The room was vacant, its stillness unsettling. Determined to uncover any clues, she approached the cabinet, her fingers tracing the edges. To her surprise, a collection of her old clothes lay hidden within its depths. Confusion clouded her mind as she wondered why he would keep her old clothes. Her curiosity led her to check under his pillow, where she discovered yet another piece of her clothing. Holding it gingerly, she examined it closely, her face contorting in a mix of disgust and a strange sense of affection. "Why would he keep this? It's so gross," she muttered, her cheeks flushing with a blend of repulsion and a hint of tenderness. Shaking off her distraction, she refocused on her original purpose. "Where could my Xart be? I just want to apologize to him," she whispered to herself, her voice filled with concern.
Unfazed by the relentless rain, Tassa continued her search, determined to find any trace of Ixartxist or Suman. Spotting one of the mansion's maids, she approached her, hoping for answers. However, the maid ignored her, walking away without uttering a single word. Undeterred, Tassa turned to another maid, her eyes pleading for assistance. But once again, her pleas fell on deaf ears as the maid dismissed her, signaling her friends to join in their silent defiance. Confusion turned to fear as Tassa realized that something was amiss. Before she could react, the three maids launched a vicious attack, throwing scalding water at her and reveling in her pain. Their laughter echoed through the room, drowning out Tassa's cries for help.
Maid 1 sneered, "You're nothing but a flirtatious girl."
Maid 2 added, "There's no reason for you to stay here any longer."
Maid 3 chimed in, her voice filled with malice, "What should we do to her? Bury her alive? Or burn her to death?"
Maid 1 smirked, "Burying her alive sounds like the perfect answer."
Tassa, battered and bruised, tried to fend off the maids who were attacking her. She attempted to defend herself but was afraid to kill them because the military had previously told her that she had killed a troop of soldiers before, which was the reason they confined her. However, unbeknownst to her, these maids were not ordinary humans. Created by Ixartxist himself, they had become his personal demons, carrying out his every command. Overwhelmed and outnumbered, Tassa lost consciousness as her head collided with the table, the pain blurring her senses. The three maids, devoid of mercy, carried her lifeless body and buried her alive, sealing her fate in darkness.
Meanwhile, Ixartxist returned to his mansion, his weary form catching sight of the three maids standing outside, their demeanor suspicious. A flicker of concern passed through his mind, but he chose not to question them, instead continuing on his path and entering the mansion. He made his way to Tassa's room, standing at the threshold, his heart heavy with worry. He longed to check on her, to ensure her safety, but uncertainty held him back. Doubts plagued his mind, leaving him unsure of what to do, unsure if his actions were right or wrong. With a heavy sigh, he turned away from Tassa's room and retreated to his own. As he stepped inside, his eyes fell upon the discarded clothes strewn across the floor. Panic gripped his heart as he rushed to his cabinet, checking to see if Tassa had touched any of his belongings. The confirmation sent a surge of worry coursing through him. "Quart saw all of this. She entered my room without permission. She must think it's strange for me to hold onto her old clothes. Damn it!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with frustration and regret.
Unbeknownst to Ixartxist, his three maids had buried her alive and cleaned themselves before Ixartxist could become suspicious