Deviant: No Longer Human

Seeing the colossal dog, Wang Xiao was taken aback. "What the hell is this thing?" he exclaimed, eyeing the animal that was larger than him, its long fur making it resemble the size of a lion.

Woof! Woof!

The dog continued to circle around them, finally settling next to Eveline, who broke into a slight smile as she petted its massive head.

This display of affection seemed to irk Wang Xiao, who watched with a frown creasing his brow.

"This is a Tibetan mastiff; they are usually this size. It belongs to a small girl from the tribe that lives nearby," Eveline explained, her voice softening as she stroked the dog\'s fur.

Wang Xiao appeared indifferent to the explanation. "Stay away from it," he said with a hint of disgust, before reclining back on the ground.

"Hm?" Eveline looked at him, slightly surprised by his reaction. "Stay away from it?"

Woof!

The dog barked again, its deep, resonant sound filling the air, but Wang Xiao remained unfazed. "Just stay away," he reiterated firmly.

Eveline, puzzled by his strong aversion, watched him for a moment.

The dog, sensing perhaps the tension or simply content with Eveline\'s attention, lay its head on her lap, gazing calmly at Wang Xiao.

Eveline\'s hand continued to move through the thick fur, her actions gentle and reassuring, contrasting sharply with Wang Xiao\'s evident discomfort.

She wondered what might have caused such a strong reaction from him towards such a generally beloved creature.

Eveline was left confused by his prolonged silence, her mind trying to reconcile Wang Xiao\'s unexpected reaction.

It was one thing to be cautious about other people, but his aversion to a dog was perplexing, even for her.

Finally, the massive dog lumbered away as a small girl from the nearby tribe approached to retrieve it.

Wang Xiao\'s face relaxed visibly, which didn\'t escape Eveline\'s notice.

Her eyes blinked in surprise at his change in demeanor.

"… Were you really serious about that puppy?" she finally asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Wang Xiao remained silent, his lack of response only deepening Eveline\'s confusion.

She couldn\'t fathom what kind of restrictions he imposed on himself—or why a Tibetan mastiff would trigger such a strong reaction.

Rustle...

The next moment, Wang Xiao\'s eyes opened with a flicker of annoyance, only to find Eveline leaning over him.

As she positioned herself just a few inches above him, the faint, fresh citrusy scent emanating from her teased his nose, a soothing contrast to the tension between them.

Her long light blonde hair cascaded down, brushing against his face, soft strands tickling his nose.

Eveline\'s gaze was intense, probing for an answer in his eyes.

Her face, though not overly emotional, radiated a brightness like the sun, compelling yet gentle.

She supported herself on her limbs, pressing down into the ground as she looked into his eyes, searching for something in his expression.

Finding no flicker of response, she eventually turned away and fell back against the ground beside him, exhaling deeply.

"Weirdo…" Wang Xiao muttered under his breath, still baffled by her proximity and her probing eyes, the lingering scent of citrus mingling with his thoughts.

Eveline let out a small sigh, the grass rustling beneath her as she lay next to Wang Xiao. The sun was warm but her tone carried a hint of cool reproach. "You\'re a weirdo. Any normal person in your place would have hugged me by now."

Wang Xiao\'s eyes flickered, his annoyance briefly surfacing. "And then what? Am I supposed to cry like a river?"

"It\'s not about crying," Eveline countered gently, her voice carrying a hint of patience. "It\'s about feeling. There are situations that naturally trigger intense emotions. Embracing someone, sharing that moment—it\'s being human."

He scoffed lightly, a wry smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Oh, great. I don\'t feel the urge to hug your shoulder and weep... Are you happy about that?"

"Why should I be happy about that?" Eveline replied, her confusion genuine as she propped herself up on one elbow to look at him more directly.

"Then by all means, feel free to cry on my behalf," Wang Xiao retorted, his voice dry.

Eveline paused, a shadow of a frown crossing her face.

Silence fell between them for a moment, the only sound the rustle of the grass in the breeze.

Wang Xiao continued, his voice softer but with an undercurrent of frustration. "It seems like you all want everyone to conform—to react as you do. And when someone doesn\'t, they\'re labeled as alien, metally ill. Most humans can\'t tolerate difference... Perhaps it\'s time you consider that what\'s normal for you isn\'t the norm for everyone."

"You\'re right..." Eveline admitted quietly, her tone softening as she lay back down, her gaze returning to the sky.

Her voice was soft, stripped of any desire to argue further.

She lay back, feeling the cold grass press against her spine, the early signs of dew forming.

The cold winter air settled heavily around them, the mountain\'s chill penetrating despite the tranquil silence that Eveline found comforting.

It was a quietness that seemed to mute the world\'s chaos, providing a rare peace.

Suddenly, a thought seemed to strike her, breaking the stillness. "Your child..."

Wang Xiao shifted his gaze, puzzled, briefly glancing toward her slender abdomen. "What about it...?"

"Not this one, Anran\'s," Eveline clarified, turning to meet his eyes squarely, a seriousness etching her features.

"What about it?" Wang Xiao asked again, his tone tinged with skepticism and a hint of guarded interest.

"It\'s alive. They were alive when I arrived, so I saved them," Eveline murmured, her voice low, almost as if she was confessing to herself rather than informing him.

Wang Xiao squinted, surprised by the revelation, yet his response came out sharp, almost defensive. "Didn\'t expect that from you."

Eveline\'s gaze drifted back to the sky, her expression softening. "I have a soft spot for pregnant women... and their children..."

Seeing her melancholic look, Wang Xiao\'s curiosity deepened, his brows furrowing. "It seemed to be only children. Why didn\'t you save both?" His voice carried a mix of accusation and frustration.

It was one thing to accept the loss of life in abstract terms, but confronting the possibility that someone could have intervened yet chose not to was harder to digest.

Eveline sighed, her voice flat. "I can\'t bring back the dead; she was already gone... You should look to Aurora for that."