Deviant: No Longer Human

"Oh, Freya! You\'re back?" Ericka\'s voice cracked through the silence as she finally noticed another presence entering the room.

Her eyes, previously glued to the microscope, now lifted in curiosity. The moment her gaze landed on Freya, her eyebrows furrowed in concern. "What on earth happened to your face? Why do you look so—?"

"I am beyond pissed off!" Freya interjected, her words sharp as knives, echoing through the tense air in the room.

With a huff of frustration, she flung her backpack across the room; it landed on the couch with a thud.

Moments later, she collapsed beside it, embodying defeat.

\'Bad! Bad! Bad!\' The words escaped her lips in a vehement whisper, each syllable a hammer strike against the soft fabric of the couch.

She twisted and turned, her fists pounding rhythmically as if trying to beat her disappointment into submission. Never before in her life had she tasted the bitterness of defeat, but today was different.

Today, Wang Xiao had coerced her into a corner, making her do something utterly against her will.

And now, fear mingled with her frustration.

Was she actually terrified?

From a corner of the room, Ericka could only watch, her heart aching for her friend. "What in the world happened to her?" she murmured under her breath, her curiosity piqued.

Seraphine, who had been silent until now, felt a bitter smile run down her face.

Her heart skipped a beat, realization bubbling up.

Could this be linked to Wang Xiao?

As if summoned by their conversation, a series of calm, collected footsteps resonated from the staircase.

Tap.... Tap...

The sound, methodical and steady, seemed to herald the arrival of someone significant. A shadowy figure descended, each step measured, exuding an air of tranquility that contrasted sharply with the chaos of the room.

"Ericka, that\'s Wang Xiao," Seraphina murmured, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and caution. She gestured towards the figure, now visible in the doorway, causing Ericka to turn and face the newcomer. Her initial surprise at seeing Wang Xiao was replaced by curiosity. \'Why does he look so—?\'

Her thoughts momentarily wandered to the incongruity of his appearance—a fusion of ancient and modern, as if he had stepped out of time itself.

\'Is he preparing for a movie role?\' she wondered, momentarily distracted by the incongruity.

But as quickly as the thought appeared, it vanished. Shaking her head slightly, Ericka cleared the fog of confusion.

The realization of who stood before them brought a wave of excitement, tinged with a hint of apprehension.

"Wang Xiao... I\'ve heard so much about you— from Sera," Ericka said, her voice laced with an enthusiasm.

She walked forward and extended her hand in greeting, her demeanor shifting to one of cordial professionalism mixed with a keen interest in the enigmatic figure before her.

"Oh, sorry, I am Ericka!" Her introduction was warm, yet carried the weight of her status as both a mother and a renowned scientist.

Her eyes, bright and inquisitive, darted over Wang Xiao, seeking to decipher the puzzle he presented, a blend of ancient mystique and contemporary fashion that seemed oddly fitting within the walls of her laboratory.

Wang Xiao, for his part, responded with a subtle nod, his demeanor exuding calm confidence. "I\'ve heard much about you, Dr. Ericka. Your reputation in the scientific community precedes you."

"Really? You have?" Ericka\'s surprise was evident in her tone.

"Disgusting!" Freya sat up abruptly, her eyes narrowing with contempt as she glared at both of them. She couldn\'t stand her mother\'s deferential tone towards Wang Xiao.

Wang Xiao, noticing Freya\'s change in demeanor, found himself momentarily unsettled by Ericka\'s reaction and Freya\'s evident displeasure.

He shook his head slightly, aiming to clear the misunderstanding. "No, I think I have never heard about you," he stated, attempting to maintain a diplomatic tone.

??

Ericka, still grasping his hand, paused, her expression frozen in a mix of bewilderment and realization.

"Heh?"

The sound escaped her lips before she could compose herself, her mind racing to process the abrupt shift in the conversation.

Wang Xiao cast a quick, questioning glance at Seraphine, silently inquiring if all human interactions in this household were as perplexing as this.

Seraphine, though aware of the tension, could only offer a noncommittal shrug, providing no clear answers but suggesting a longstanding familiarity with such odd dynamics.

Turning back to Ericka, who now looked a combination of shocked and slightly embarrassed, Wang Xiao sought to soften the impact of his words. "Although I haven\'t heard about you... You are still pretty well known..." He ventured, hoping to navigate the social faux pas with some semblance of grace.

"Oh..." Ericka\'s response was a deflated sigh, her initial enthusiasm giving way to a mild disappointment.

"You don\'t need to be disappointed, Ericka," Wang Xiao interjected, his voice carrying a hint of empathy. "In fact, your presence is likely well-known within your community."

Ericka\'s face fell even further, as if Wang Xiao had uttered some forbidden truth.

A mixture of disappointment and embarrassment washing over her.

Was her reputation not as illustrious as she had thought?

Behind her, Seraphine couldn\'t help but smirk, unsure if Wang Xiao\'s words were deliberate or accidental, but enjoying the moment nonetheless.

Ericka had been eagerly anticipating the meeting with the living Guardian, hoping it would be a moment of profound enlightenment.

Instead, she felt a heavy sense of disillusionment weigh upon her — a wave of depression crashing over her.

Having already concluded his work with Freya, Wang Xiao\'s attention wandered, his gaze scanning the room until it settled on a particularly intriguing piece of paper resting on the desk.

Intrigued, he strode over and plucked it up, his fingers tingling with anticipation as he unfolded the document

"Hm? What..." As his eyes scanned the text, his mind abruptly ignited with sudden realization.

"Where did you find this?" His tone was sharp as he spun around, his gaze piercing as he demanded an answer.

??

Seraphine and Ericka both jolted, startled by the sudden intrusion of his voice. It took a moment for Ericka to compose herself before she explained, "Ah, that strange letter... It was Magnus who left it there, though it seems to be the result of someone\'s idea of a joke. It doesn\'t even have an address; Magnus stumbled upon it lying abandoned outside."