?


    Erwiny on his bed, his face twisted in anguish. Tears welled up in his eyes, their reddened gaze mirroring his excruciating torment. Sweat coated his entire body, causing a glistening sheen on his skin. The pill had taken a drastic toll, causing his body temperature to soar to such heights that smoke emanated from his form, turning his once-paleplexion a blistering shade of red.


    The initial effects of the pill were not as painful, only manifesting when the gray matter in his bloodstream began to reform and infiltrate his muscles. The sensation felt like hundreds of needles piercing from within, an unpleasant experience. Typically, to alleviate the pain or numb the sensation, a person might scream loudly or cry, but Erwin found himself incapable of doing so as his vocal cords were also undergoing transformation along with his body.


    Erwin felt as if someone were gripping each part of his body differently, one hand clutching his bones, while another seized his muscles and veins, stretching them from the inside and infusing them with air. It became increasingly challenging for him to move his body independently. The only means through which he could express his pain was through tears, but even his tear nds were undergoing a painful transformation, making it agonizing for him to shed tears.


    His once-strong physique felt like a battleground, where unseen forces battled for control. Bones cracked and shifted, muscles convulsed and expanded, veins pulsated and reshaped. It was as if his very essence was being torn apart and reassembled, a cruel and relentless process.


    Erwin''s cries of anguish were muffled, distorted by the transformation affecting his vocal cords. They came out as strained whispers, barely audible echoes of the torment raging within. The tears streaming down his reddened cheeks were apanied by silent screams of pain, as even the act of crying became a source of suffering.


    Time seemed to lose all meaning as Erwin endured this excruciating metamorphosis. Minutes stretched into eternity, and he found himself grappling with the fear that this torment would never cease. The room around him seemed to blur, his senses overwhelmed by the overwhelming pain coursing through his veins.


    Regret flooded his mind as he muttered, ''I shouldn''t have done this.'' Doubt gnawed at him, questioning his decision to pursue greater heights and sumb to a moment of foolishness.


    Erwin''s primary issue stemmed from his disregard for the consequences of his actions. He acted impulsively, driven solely by his desires, often neglecting to consider the potential effects or ramifications of his choices. Despite his best efforts, he finds himself sumbing to the primitive impulses of his lower brain. Rationality takes a backseat as he is driven to act, unable to resist the call of the moment, regardless of the potential consequences.


    This time, he made another ill-fated decision, which led to him lying helplessly on the bed, subjected to the torment inflicted by his newfound impulses. The consequences of his actions were undeniable, as he surrendered himself to the agonizing consequences.


    *******


    Le sat in the cafeteria of the academy, sharing a meal with one of her newfound friends, a middle-aged man who engaged in conversation. However, her outward appearance of attentiveness concealed her wandering mind, as her gaze scanned the bustling crowd, searching for someone amidst the sea of faces.


    Le was chuckling, nodding in agreement with Mr. Dunfi''s words, it seems to. As they conversed, she actively participated in the discussion, asionally interjecting with her own thoughts and anecdotes. Their camaraderie was apparent, their connection seemingly deeper than mere acquaintances who had met for the first time that day.


    "Miss Le, I didn''t catch where you''re from," the man asked, scooping up a spoonful of the white mashed food from his te.


    Le, who had momentarily paused her search, directed her attention towards him and offered a polite smile. "I hail from the Zeroth Kingdom, Mr. Dunfi."


    "Really?" Mr. Dunfi responded, a hint of surprise evident in his voice.


    Le''s eyebrows arched in curiosity, taken aback by his reaction. "Why are you so surprised, Mr. Dunfi?" she inquired with genuine curiosity.


    "Isn''t that kingdom involved in a civil war for 10 years?" Dunfi''s voice carried a tinge of concern.


    Le''s expression dimmed slightly, and she nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words. Sensing her sadness, Dunfi, in aforting tone, asked, "Did you lose someone there?"


    Le remained silent for a moment, her nod serving as a response. Sensing her difort, Dunfi attempted to steer the conversation, asking gently, "Who did you lose?"


    Le managed a sad smile and replied, "Mr. Dunfi, can we not talk about it? I''m notfortable discussing it."


    Dunfi was taken aback by her pained smile, but was captivated by her beauty. He nodded understandingly and attempted to say something, but before he could, Le abruptly stood up from her seat. With a polite farewell, she stated, "Now, if you''ll excuse me, I have somewhere to be. Farewell, Mr. Dunfi. It was nice meeting you."


    Dunfi, not wanting to part ways with this enchanting woman, quickly stopped her, his voice filled with a hint of urgency. "Wait a minute, Miss Le. Can we meet sometime and have a meal together, like we did today? I truly enjoyed our conversation."


    Le paused for a moment, considering Dunfi''s request. She looked into his eyes, seeing a genuine warmth and sincerity that had touched her during their conversation. Despite her inner reservations, she found herself drawn to hispany.


    A soft smile graced Le''s lips as she replied, "I appreciate your kind offer, Mr. Dunfi. I must admit, I enjoyed our time together as well. Let''s meet again. How about next week, same time, same ce?"


    Dunfi''s face lit up with excitement as he eagerly nodded, his eyes reflecting his genuine interest. "Absolutely, Miss Le. I''ll be eagerly looking forward to it. Until then, take care and have a wonderful day."


    Le nodded in acknowledgment, a sense of anticipation building within her. "Thank you, Mr. Dunfi. I look forward to our next meeting. Farewell for now."


    With a final exchange of smiles, Le gracefully walked away, leaving Dunfi sitting at the cafeteria table, filled with a mixture of curiosity and a growing connection that had formed within such a short time.


    As Le stepped outside the cafeteria, a familiar voice called out to her. "How did it go?"


    Le turned to find Marees, herpanion, dressed in casual attire, like her own. She smiled and replied, "It went well. I''m going to meet him again next week at the same time."


    Marees nodded, acknowledging Le''s progress. "Good. Did you notice anything peculiar about him?"


    Le pondered for a moment, reflecting on their conversation, and shook her head. "Not yet. He seems like an ordinary person."


    "Well, let''s continue monitoring our targets and hope that they eventually reveal some clues," Marees sighed, a sense of determination in her voice.


    "I hope so too," Le replied, sharing the sentiment.


    Suddenly, Marees caught sight of someone in the crowd and announced, "Now, let''s meet in the room. My target is here."


    Le followed Marees'' gaze and noticed a tall man standing amidst the bustling crowd. She wished her friend luck and said, "Good luck with your mission."


    With those words, Marees began walking towards the man, a captivating smile on her face, causing heads to turn and attention to shift in the crowd.


    As Le watched her girlfriend, Marees, approach her target with a fabricated smile, she began walking towards the dorms, wearing a wide smile of her own. They had been living with Erwin for a little over a week now, but Le hadn''t had the chance to speak with Erwin alone. However, as she made her way to the dorm, she felt a sense of excitement at the prospect of finally having some time alone with him.


    Her girlfriend wouldn''t return for another three to four hours, giving Le ample time to spend with Erwin. In front of him, she acted as though the intense scene between them had been forgotten. She would asionally blush when she saw him, but she had mastered the art of concealing her emotions, ensuring that her true feelings remained hidden.


    Le loved Marees deeply, but somehow, she didn''t feelpletely fulfilled. Before her encounter with Erwin, she had been satisfied, but now she yearned for something more. She believed that Erwin was experiencing the lingering effects of the cruel experiment inflicted upon him and wanted to help alleviate his pain. However, since he seemed to be doing well at the moment, she patiently waited, convinced that he was receiving assistance from another source.


    Le quickly reached the dorms and ascended the stairs, her heart pounding with anticipation. Upon arriving at her room, she stood in front of the door,posing herself and suppressing her emotions. With a steady hand, she activated the door control and entered the main area, making her way towards Erwin''s room.


    As Le pushed open the door to Erwin''s room, her defensive instincts kicked in. Her eyes narrowed, sharpening her gaze, and she adopted a threatening posture. She confronted the person inside with a firm tone, demanding, "Who are you?"