I sighed in relief.
"I finally got that musty scent out of the room."
Then I collapsed, face-first onto the wooden floor, drenched in sweat, soap, and... something else.
Honestly, I don't even want to guess what the other thing is.
It's been two weeks since I was reborn.
Two weeks of pain, discipline, and pushing this frail body to its limits.
And my reward?
I've managed to open exactly zero veins.
"Seriously? Not even one?"
I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling.
"What the hell is this body? The first dormant vein is supposed to be the easiest to open. What is going on?"
I've done everything right. Meditated until my legs went numb. Practiced breathwork until I almost passed out. Flooded my internal channels with controlled pulses of energy, drop by agonizing drop.
Nothing.
It's like the pathways are locked. Not resistant, but sealed.
No give. No response.
I gritted my teeth, fists clenched on either side of me.
The Martial God couldn't even crack open the first vein in two weeks.
What a joke.
But deep down, I know the truth.
This body wasn't just neglected. It was abused. Malnourished. Ignored for years.
I've seen glimpses of it. Memories of hunger. Of pain. Of the original Aziel lying in bed, unmoving, too empty to cry and too bitter to care.
He was weak. Not just in body, but in spirit.
And now I'm paying the price.
Still...
That's no excuse.
I've been through it all.
In my old life, I had a unique constitution that drastically boosted my physical capabilities, but made opening my veins much harder.
So what if this body is failing me now?
I have my methods of forcing these veins to open, whether they like it or not.
However… I do need money for that.
Click.
The door flew open with a jolt, smacking into the wall behind it.
"Brother!"
Sena stood in the doorway, hair tied in a loose side ponytail, her expression beaming with excitement. She was dressed in a soft blue cardigan and wheeled herself in with her usual cautious grace, but her entrance was anything but quiet.
I blinked at her, caught off guard.
She never entered my room without knocking before.
Then I realized.
She wasn't afraid anymore.
Her eyes scanned the space quickly, and her jaw dropped slightly.
"Wha… did you… clean?" she asked, as if unsure she was seeing things right. "And–oh my god, you look.."
She paused.
I could see her trying to find the right word.
"Not dead?" I offered.
She let out a laugh, bright and unrestrained.
"You look… healthier."
Her eyes shimmered a little.
"I'm really happy, you know. You've changed so much."
I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly embarrassed. "I still smell like cleaning fluid."
She wheeled herself a little farther and looked around.
The rotting boards were gone, the mold cleaned, furniture rearranged. I even managed to scavenge an old curtain from the closet to let in sunlight without frying my eyeballs.
"You did all this yourself?" she asked.
"Every moldy inch."
She shook her head, smiling. "I don't even know what to say."
"You could say I'm amazing and the best big brother in the world," I suggested.
"Mm… I'll think about it."
We both laughed.
There was a time when she could barely look me in the eye.
Now she barged in without knocking, making fun of me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"You're up early," I said. "Something happen?"
"Oh! Right! Mom and Dad should be back later this evening," she said, clasping her hands together. "I just got a message on the orb. They said they should be home before sunset."
That gave me maybe five or six hours.
"Good," I nodded. "I need to talk to them."
"About what?"
"Getting money."
She tilted her head. "...For?"
"Supplies," I said vaguely. "Medicine. Food. Some materials I need."
She raised a brow. "You mean for training?"
"Among other things."
She stared at me for a few seconds, then smiled softly.
"I'll help you ask."
"What?"
"I'll back you up. If they say no, I'll vouch for you. Tell them how hard you've been working. How different you are now."
I blinked, then smiled. "…Thanks, Sena."
"Don't get used to it," she said, trying to sound tough.
But her cheeks were red.
"Brother. Are you trying to be like the people on TV?"
I blinked. "You mean a Channeler?"
"Yeah! Yeah! The really cool people. I saw one pick up a building and throw it!"
Child's play. In my previous life, I could pick up a mountain and hurl it like a stone.
I smiled.
"Yeah… they're really cool. Who knows."
She grinned, clearly excited by the idea.
"I bet you'd be amazing. Like one of those calm and serious ones that only talk when it matters," she said, mimicking a deep voice. "'I'll handle this.'"
I snorted. "I'm not that dramatic."
She raised a brow. "You literally cleaned the whole house and started training in silence like some warrior monk."
I couldn't argue with that.
We spent a little more time chatting, just small things. Things she never used to tell me. She talked about her favorite shows, her dreams, how bored she'd get being stuck in bed. She smiled more. Laughed more.
And I listened. I actually listened.
Eventually, I helped her back to her room and made sure she had everything she needed. Her meds. Her water. A clean blanket.
"Thanks, brother," she said, just as I was about to leave.
"For what?"
"For being you… lately."
I didn't know what to say.
I just nodded and closed the door gently behind me.
Not long after, I heard the front door creak open.
Voices followed. Familiar ones.
My heart beat a little faster.
Mom and Dad were home.
I stepped into the living room just as they were taking off their coats.
My mother turned first. Her eyes landed on me—and widened.
"Aziel?" she asked, almost like she wasn't sure it was me.
My father looked up next. He didn't say anything, just stared. His gaze scanned me, from my cleaned-up hair to the fitted shirt clinging to my frame.
I had grown leaner. Stronger. I stood straighter now.
"Welcome home," I said, keeping my voice even.
My mother blinked. "...Did you clean?"
"Yeah. I figured it was time the house didn't look like it was falling apart."
There was a pause. She exchanged a quick glance with my father. They didn't say it out loud, but I could see it in their eyes.
Confusion. Curiosity. A hint of disbelief.
"Where's Sena?" my father asked.
"In her room. She's doing good today," I replied. "I think she'll be happy to see you."
Another pause.
Then my mother smiled, slowly. "It's… good to see you like this."
My father gave a small nod. "Yeah. It is."
They didn't press. Didn't ask what caused the change.
But I knew they were wondering.
And that was fine.
I wasn't ready to tell them the truth. Not yet.