Deviant: No Longer Human

Dressed in layers of thick winter clothes, she sat with legs playfully dangling, posing the question to Wang Xiao and the others, who shared a collective sense of bewilderment.

Although she should have been well into her twenties, there was a timeless quality about Emma. Like others in the village, she seemed untouched by the passage of years, a mystery woven into the fabric of their existence.

Seth, catching a glimpse of the enchanting mist-covered landscape around them, contemplated their next steps. "Perhaps we seek guidance from the elders or explore the surrounding areas. This temple holds mysteries, and understanding them may unveil our purpose," he suggested, the weight of the ceremony lingering in his thoughts.

A collective groan echoed through the crisp air as Emma, fueled by instant denial, dramatically leaped down from the rocky perch. "Nooooo! Are you dense, Seth? Can\'t we do something else, something more... interesting?"

Against the backdrop of the wintry landscape, Chris, nonchalantly leaning against a gnarled tree, caught Emma\'s eyes momentarily.

She shifted her attention, a spark of curiosity evident in her expression. "Hey, Chris, what are your plans?" she probed, her tone holding a hint of anticipation.

"Tch... It\'s that Chris again," Ray snorted, a palpable disdain coloring his features as he distanced himself slightly.

The subtle undercurrent of rivalry surfaced, fueled by an unspoken competition for Emma\'s attention, a dynamic that grated on Ray\'s nerves.

Wang Xiao, an observer to this drama, couldn\'t help but blink, his mind momentarily envisioning the intricate web of futures these interwoven relationships might spin.

In the midst of this, Chris, after a measured pause, decided to unveil a piece of his own future. "I\'ve received an offer from the security council to join them," he disclosed.

Seth\'s laughter echoed through the wintry air. "Of course, you would. Let\'s not forget who\'s at the helm of the security council – Senior Shin, after all!"

Emma nodded, revealing, "I\'ve got an offer from the foreign relations department."

Seth\'s eyes widened in genuine surprise. "What? Seriously? That\'s not something you hear every day."

His disbelief lingered, underscoring the rarity of such an opportunity.

Emma, her cheeks tinted with a hint of embarrassment, admitted, "Well, they were in a bind, and the relations between different Ratwalkers communities are worsening."

Ray, leaning against a nearby tree, raised an eyebrow casually. "Why not just take them out?"

The suggestion lingered in the crisp air, a stark reminder of the stark difference in perspective.

After all, Ratwalkers were classified as a beast species, not human, opening a moral abyss where questions of coexistence and conflict blurred into shades of gray.

Emma\'s brow furrowed in thought. "We can\'t really do it. It would cause mass panic, and they might revolt. And we all know how that would end. Besides, with our population being so low, those Ratwalkers are the ones helping us run those factories."

Ray, with a mocking laugh, interjected, "You mean the Ratwalkers who are forced into slavery by us?"

Emma\'s expression darkened, a retort on the tip of her tongue, but even Chris raised an eyebrow in contemplation. The weight of the truth lingered in the chilly air.

In a surprising turn, Seth stepped in, placing a reassuring hand on Emma\'s shoulder, clad in a thick jacket. "It\'s alright. No one is enslaving anyone. We provide protection to their community as well."

Emma, taken aback by the unexpected support, let out a small, appreciative smile, the tension momentarily diffusing.

Wang Xiao couldn\'t help but release a silent laugh, shaking his head, \'Haha... These fools,\' he mused inwardly, a wry smile lingering on his lips. \'What a weird group.\'

As Emma\'s eyes expressed gratitude towards Seth, Wang Xiao found himself momentarily at a loss for words.

The girl who believed she harbored feelings for Chris appeared to share an undeniable synergy with Seth, an emotion that she had conveniently tucked into the realms of friendship.

The complexity of their relationships left Wang Xiao bewildered.

Yet — Why all of this?

The roots traced back to their school days, where individuals were compelled to choose future partners. Although such decisions typically waned post-graduation, Emma and Chris had been designated partners.

Emma, holding onto the connection more earnestly, seemed to still cling to that designation, while Chris, by contrast, appeared to view it with a more casual indifference.

The tradition of pairing, initially established to ensure each male had a female counterpart for reproduction and village prosperity, had undergone significant changes.

In the past, it was mandatory even post-graduation, but a pivotal moment during Amelia, Shin, and Victoria\'s school years brought about a drastic shift.

Shin and Victoria were paired together, but Victoria, refusing to adhere to tradition, initiated a series of unconventional actions.

This rebellion prompted the introduction of new rules—pairs formed in school were no longer binding for a lifetime, and it became the students\' choice to continue such relationships after graduation.

Wang Xiao, Seth, and Ray had their respective female partners, but they chose to disregard the traditional expectations, charting their own course.

However, beyond the complexities of Seth, Emma, and Chris\'s relationships, what made this group even weirder?

Wang Xiao\'s gaze shifted to the short-haired Ray, noticing the faint mark on his neck—a lingering wound from a forgotten conflict with Chris.

The memory of the fight had been erased from their minds, leaving them blissfully unaware of the past conflict.

However, the incident had unwittingly exposed Ray\'s concealed feelings for Emma, shedding light on his evident disdain for both Chris and Seth, who shared varying degrees of closeness with Emma.

In the aftermath, with wiped memories, everyone believed their secrets were safely guarded.

But Wang Xiao, unaffected by the memory wipe, recalled every detail and found amusement in their behaviour.

His laughter, punctuating the quietude, caught the attention of the group.

Emma, sensing there might be more beneath the surface, questioned, "Wang Xiao, what about you? What are you going to do now?"