Deviant: No Longer Human

They had been exposed to it from birth, which altered their perception of what was normal.

To clarify her question about why they seemed to be airborne rather than on solid ground—typically, when Wang Xiao activated his domain, the ground beneath them remained visible and tangible, only becoming enveloped when there was no ground to begin with.

"Yes," Wang Xiao replied.

As he spoke, the void beneath them turned translucent, revealing the stunning landscape spread out below them.

The sudden visibility of the earthly beauty beneath the swirling dark matter only added to the magical feeling of floating in a boundless sky.

"Woah..." Wenxi gasped, her eyes wide with wonder as she beheld the world from their elevated vantage point.

"Dad, teach me to fly as well; it\'s so beautiful from up here."

As Wang Xiao\'s eyelids fluttered shut momentarily, strands of Wenxi\'s hair brushed against his face.

He breathed in deeply, the delicate fragrance of fresh white roses, carrying the essence of early morning dew, enveloping his senses.

It was a scent so tender and subtly sweet that it momentarily swept him away from the conversation.

"Dad!"

"Dad!"

Her voice, persistently calling him back to reality, was accompanied by the insistent tugging and shaking of his robe by her small tender hands.

Wang Xiao gave his head a gentle shake to dispel the floral reverie and opened his eyes, meeting her expectant gaze.

"What?" he asked, a hint of confusion dancing in his voice.

"Teach me flying," Wenxi repeated, her eyes shining with a decisive spark.

There was a quiet strength in her voice, a determination that seemed to echo the legends of old.

Wang Xiao couldn\'t help but feel a twinge of reluctance.

He had always been conservative with them concerning the secrets of his powers, scarcely imparting the deeper mysteries.

"Nope," he responded instinctively, dismissing the idea before it could take root.

Wenxi\'s eyebrow lifted inquisitively, her lips curling into a pout that would have melted the resolve of lesser men.

"Why not?" she challenged, her voice laced with a mixture of disappointment and curiosity.

"You would fly away, leaving Dad all alone," Wang Xiao replied, his voice carrying a playful, teasing tone, yet carried by a thread of genuine concern.

"Heh?" Wenxi\'s response was a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

She knew her father well enough to recognize a façade when she saw one.

Even at her young age, she understood the nuances of adult conversations, especially her father\'s tendency to weave ridiculous excuses.

"Dad, I promise I won\'t fly away for too long. I\'ll always come back!" she bargained, her voice earnest and pleading, her hands clasped together as if in prayer.

Wang Xiao\'s heart melted further as he watched the joy light up Wenxi\'s face.

"Okay," he conceded with a gentle nod, his reluctance still flickering in his eyes.

"Yay! Daddy, you\'re the best!" Wenxi cheered, her enthusiasm bubbling over as she leaned in and snuggled closer to him.

Wang Xiao felt the soft rub of her cheek against his, a tender gesture that brought a smile to his face despite his reservations.

"Hm! Hmm... Keep bribing Dad, but don\'t think it will work until you convince your mother to give her permission," he teased, his tone playful yet firm, hinting at the impossible hurdle yet to be cleared.

"Huh?"

Wenxi\'s excitement paused, her body tensing slightly as if a splash of cold water had doused her dreams of flight.

_______

As Wang Xiao immersed himself in what he considered \'productive\' endeavors, the sudden appearance of a vast black expanse in the sky drew the eyes of everyone around.

The area around Mary became increasingly crowded as more and more onlookers gathered, their faces etched with confusion and concern.

\'It\'s not going to be peaceful anytime soon...\' Mary thought grimly.

Knowing Wang Xiao\'s character well, she understood that he was not one to easily grant mercy.

_____

"What... happened to you two?" Yue\'s voice cut through the tension as she woke up, feeling dizzy.

Her eyes blinked three times, trying to make sense of the scene before her.

Wang Xiao and Wenxi were sitting apart, the space between them charged with an unspoken discord.

"Ask him!" Wenxi huffed, her patience worn thin.

She felt she was always the one trying to be the bigger person, while her father could be, in her eyes, quite petty.

Yue, taken aback by the stark atmosphere, merely shook her head in disbelief.

She adjusted her clothes, standing up to better survey her surroundings.

Her expression darkened as she pieced together the potential causes of the rift, her mind racing to analyze the little information she had.

As Yue pieced together the circumstances of their current environment—their placement within Wang Xiao\'s dark domain, the mysterious expanse that seemed to separate reality from an eerie unknown—she noted the distant wails of the winged man they had encountered earlier.

It all clicked together in her mind; she must have been saved by him.

Yue tiptoed through the delicate balance of emotions between her father and sister, her movements graceful and gentle, reminiscent of a porcelain doll.

The ambient light of the dark domain seemed to gather around her, emphasizing her youthful features and the inherent sweetness in her demeanor.

"Dad," Yue began, her voice as tender, and innocent, "It seems we\'re within your domain... and that man—the one with wings—is still out there."

She gestured with a finger towards the distance, her small hand pointing toward the faint cries of the winged man, which seemed both near and far in the vast expanse of the dark domain.

Turning to Wang Xiao with eyes wide and earnest, Yue\'s expression was one of pure gratitude, her cheeks flushed with relief and appreciation. "I believe you saved us. For that, we are thankful," she said, her voice carrying the soft chime of sincerity.

She bowed her head gracefully, her long hair cascading like silk, catching the subtle shifts of light within the darkness.