The training ended earlier than usual.
Rael hadn't explained why—only that she had other matters to attend to. Vial hadn't questioned it. Truthfully, he welcomed the break. Fewer bruises were always a win.
Far from the training field, Rael sat alone in the driver's seat of her government car. The engine was off. Her hands rested idly in her lap—until one drifted upward. She pressed her palm to her chest, right where he had touched her during training. A strange warmth lingered.
Rael closed her eyes.
Focus, she thought. Her hand dropped back. The memory was just that—a memory. Nothing more.
Back at the VIC, Vial stepped through the clean glass doors with a rare spring in his step. For once, he wasn't limping. His arms were sore, sure, but no brutal beatings today. He allowed himself a little smile.
Inside his room, he collapsed onto the bed and checked his phone. There were several unread messages from Maki—he quickly tapped through them.
Vial lay on his bed, muscles still sore from training but in a strangely good mood. He grabbed his phone and checked the screen—one new message.
It was from Maki.
Maki:[Hey, are you alive? Haven't heard from you since... you know.]
Vial smirked and tapped a reply.
[Barely. The food here isn't trying to kill me, so that's something.]
A reply came instantly.
Maki:[Glad to hear! I was honestly worried they were doing weird experiments or something. Are you allowed to talk to people now?]
[Guess so. I'm not in a cage.]
Maki:[ So you are a rare treasure being guarded! Lucky me for spotting you first!
[Spotted? You practically froze on the sidewalk."]
Maki: [Shhh. Let me romanticize it.]
[Alright then. You found a mythical creature, and now he occasionally texts you.]
Maki: [A mythical creature... who can flirt? Damn. I hit the jackpot.]
[Don't get used to it."]
Maki: [Too late. I'm already imagining our next date.]
Vial paused, reading the last message twice before smiling. A real one.
He chuckled softly. It was nice having someone so... warm.
After that, he bathed, changed into something casual, and made his way to the cafeteria. The usual soft hum of conversation and clinking utensils filled the air. As he walked in, he spotted her.
Celeste.
She was sitting at the far end of the hall with a small tray of food. Her posture was a little tense, but her face remained downcast. Vial stepped forward, intending to join her, maybe talk—check if she was okay.
But as if sensing him, Celeste abruptly stood up with her tray and turned her back.
She left without saying a word.
Vial blinked.
Maybe she had something to do, he thought. Or maybe...
He let the thought trail off and continued to get his own food. The cafeteria felt colder somehow. He sat alone.
After finishing his meal alone, Vial tossed the tray onto the return slot and stretched his arms. His body still ached, but at least there were no new bruises today.
Just as he turned to leave the cafeteria, a guard approached him.
"Mr. Vial, Ms. Vivianne has requested your presence," the guard said calmly.
Vial blinked. "Now?"
The guard nodded.
"Alright," he muttered, brushing his hands through his hair before following.
A few minutes later, Vial found himself standing once again before the grand doors of the top floor—the same place where everything had started. They opened with a soft mechanical hum.
Inside, Vivianne sat behind her desk, the skyline stretching behind her like a painting. Elegant, composed, every movement deliberate.
"Good afternoon, Vial," she said, her voice smooth.
"Good afternoon," he replied, offering a short nod as he stepped in.
She motioned toward the seat in front of her. "Please, sit."
He did.
There was a moment of silence, then Vivianne spoke with a faint smile, "So, tell me… did Rael go easy on you during training?"
Vial let out a dry laugh. "Easy? She's merciless. I'm lucky I can still walk."
Vivianne chuckled softly. "Good. That means she did her job."
Vial raised an eyebrow. "Is her job secretly to kill me slowly?"
Vivianne gave him a knowing look. "No. But you'll learn how to protect yourself."
He leaned back slightly in the chair. "Comforting."
"Vial," she said more seriously. "I'd like to ask something delicate."
He leaned back slightly. "Alright."
"Have you considered… impregnating women to help restore the balance of our world?"
Vial choked on his coffee and coughed violently, quickly grabbing a napkin. "What?!"
Vivianne didn't flinch. Her gaze remained steady.
"You are the only known male capable of producing male offspring. I'm not asking this to pressure you, but… we have to consider the future. Not just for this city, but for humanity as a whole."
Vial wiped his mouth, still stunned. "Is it even possible for one guy to repopulate an entire gender? That sounds ridiculous."
"Maybe. Maybe not," Vivianne replied. "But it's a question worth asking. Every recorded attempt before you has failed. You're the first anomaly. If your immunity can be passed down… we may have hope."
"And what if it can't?" he asked, more seriously now. "What if my sons aren't immune? What if I'm just a fluke?"
Vivianne leaned forward slightly. "Then we adapt. Monitor. Test. We won't know unless we try. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to. But… should you be willing, I'll support it with every resource I have."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"I could even offer myself, if it came to that."
Vial's breath caught. He looked at her, speechless.
Vivianne only smiled gently. "You're not a tool, Vial. You're a person. That's why I'm offering — not commanding."
Vial leaned back in his chair, swallowing hard.
"I'll think about it," he said slowly, managing a small smile. "But it sounds like something worth considering."
Vivianne's eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement.
"Is my body not enough to tempt you, then?" she teased, a playful smile curling her lips.
Vial chuckled softly, the tension easing just a bit.
"Guess I'm harder to persuade than that."
Vivianne laughed quietly.
"Good. You should be."
Vivianne smiled slightly. "Don't worry about the process. You'll just be donating sperm."
Vial raised an eyebrow. "That sounds a bit disappointing. I was expecting something more… involved."
Vivianne chuckled softly. "Well, your body would take a serious beating if you tried doing it with multiple women instead of just donating. I won't stop you if you want to go that route, though."
Vial nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. Donating sounds a lot safer."
Vivianne leaned back, her expression unreadable as she spoke with a calm voice.
"If the process ever feels… difficult, I wouldn't mind assisting you personally."
Vial blinked. For a second, he wasn't sure if she was serious. He gave a light chuckle, scratching his cheek.
"Don't say things like that so casually… Someone might take you seriously."
Vivianne gave a soft, almost teasing smile, but said nothing more—leaving him to wonder if she was joking at all.